The fantasy baseball season is rounding third base. Hopefully, your team is still in the game. And much like deciding on a pinch-hitter or which arm to go with out of the bullpen, how you fill out your fantasy roster can depend a lot on where you are in the standings. If youâve blasted your competition out of the park and are simply rounding third in a home run trot, youâve got it easy. Just donât go to sleep at the wheel. Keep healthy guys in your lineup and make no major changes.
Normally, it takes a lot of hard work and an incredible run of luck (good or bad) to make dramatic changes in rotisserie standings this late in the season. But then again, if your team is coasting home, you probably already knew that.
Maybe your team is akin to having a runner in scoring position with the outcome undetermined. You need a big hit to bring home the win. If this is the case, donât be afraid to juggle the back end of your rotation, as long as you have some innings to burn. Drop and pick up pitchers on a daily basis, based on matchups, if youâre weak at your deep pitching posts.
Donât be afraid to pick up Mike Pelfrey and drop Mark Buehrle for a spot start. Maybe three days later you do the same thing in reverse. You could do the same with Brett Myers, Gil Meche, Randy Wolf and the like. Just remember to check the matchups. You donât want to drop Meche (who has been great recently) and pick up Wolf if Wolf is making his start in Philadelphia â home run-hitting lineup in home run-hitting park. But if Wolf is starting in San Francisco, make the move.
If your team is down to its last out and you have no one on base, then you have to start swinging for the fences. Donât be afraid to make a bold deal (assuming your trade deadline hasnât passed), like trading away Manny Ramirez to get upgrades at multiple positions. When setting your lineup, go with the guys who are hot. With the exception of your superstars, check out the production of your squad over the last week or two and play the guys who are producing. Donât feel like you have to start J.D. Drew if Randy Winn has a hotter bat.
And if you already have tossed your fantasy batting helmet in the bag for this year, well, fantasy football drafts already have begun.