Fantasy baseball: These players can boost your playoff chances
There isn’t much time left in the fantasy baseball season, which means you have to find every advantage possible.If you have an opportunity to add a player (or players) who can provide a boost in multiple offensive categories, you must do so … immediately!Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler, who entered Friday with a 15-game hit streak, could be that guy.During this streak, he hit .393 with eight homers, 14 RBIs, 17 runs, three stolen bases and a 1.307 OPS.In 55 games since July 14, he raised his average from .179 to .265 after going 66-for-205 (.322) with 19 homers, 46 RBIs, 46 runs, nine stolen bases and a 1.053 OPS. Butler entered Friday with the ninth-best average, third-most RBIs and runs, and the second-most homers in the majors since July 2.He ranked in the top 35 in stolen bases, had the fifth-best slugging percentage and sixth-best OPS, and his 17.6 percent strikeout rate was 7 percent lower than his career mark.Butler, who has done most of his damage while hitting atop Oakland’s lineup, was the most added player in ESPN leagues this week, but is still more than 50 percent available.
The fact this may just be another hot stretch by a career .251 hitter is not a concern because of where we are in the season.If you can add a red-hot player who gets regular playing time and is proving to be a difference maker in multiple categories this late in the season, do it! But if Butler isn’t available, don’t worry, because there are other full-time players, available in 50 percent or more of leagues, who can provide categorical boosts while not hurting you elsewhere.
Here are some others to target:Eugenio Suarez hit .292 with 14 homers, 39 RBIs, 35 runs and a .952 OPS in his first 44 games since the All-Star break, and .354 with six homers, 18 RBIs, 14 runs and a 1.192 OPS in his past 13 games.He entered Friday tied for the league lead in RBIs in the second half.
He also had the third-most homers, seventh-most runs, 10th-best slugging percentage and 17t...