Welcome to the new Corner Infield Mashup – same great information, different writer. JTells has done a fantastic job with the column this season and now he hands the baton to me. I’ll be taking you to the finish line by highlighting the best 1B and 3B options for all your fantasy formats. Whether you’re in a head-to-head league preparing for the playoffs or need a little boost in your roto leagues, there’s always room to tinker with the rosters. Some of these players are already on your squads presenting you with Start/Sit decisions or maybe you have some FAAB burning a hole in your pocket. Either way, I’ve got you covered. If you’re still in contention at this point of the season, you know the journey doesn’t slow down when fantasy football drafts begin. As we turn the calendar toward Labor Day, it’s even more important to keep up the great work. The destination, a berth in the fantasy baseball championship game, is just around the corner, and you still have a chance at the podium. So, let’s get on with it.
Nathaniel Lowe, 1B, Rangers: Nate Lowe has been on an absolute tear over the past couple weeks, to the tune of 22 hits, 6 HRs, and 16 RBIs. Coming into the season with a career slash of .255/.343/.422, Lowe has been a pleasant surprise for the underachieving Rangers with a .300/.349/.498 slash on the season. So, what’s different? He’s never had a problem hitting the ball hard but a GB% north of 54% draws industry comparisons to Eric Hosmer when Rangers fans are hoping for Pete Alonso. In 2022, he’s been able to reduce this number to about 46% and raise his FB% a couple ticks to almost 31%. Another clear difference is how he’s approaching LHP, raising his OPS almost .200 points against southpaws. If you have him on your fantasy team with daily roster moves, plant this flag and enjoy this ride as long as you can. When he eventually cools down, don’t be afraid to go with another 1B option, if you have a good one, but ensure you always start him when the Rangers face LHP.
Isaac Paredes, 1B,2B,3B, Rays: Isaac Paredes is also swinging a hot bat right now. Over the past week, he’s batting a cool .333 and his HR total (4) matches his K total, adding a half-dozen BBs to boot. He’s playing almost every day now for the Rays so feel confident in giving him a roster spot while this streak continues. Depending on your platform, he may even have eligibility at the keystone in addition to the corners.
Bobby Witt Jr., 3B, SS, Royals: You don’t need me to tell you to roster Bobby Witt Jr. Although he hasn’t been overmatched in his rookie season, he isn’t exactly tearing the cover off the ball either. Lately though, he’s starting to look like the player we expect him to blossom into. Over his last 3 series, he has been feasting on pitchers from Tampa Bay, Arizona and San Diego. With 3 HRs, 8 RBIs and 3 SBs during this stretch, he’s boosted his season-long OPS to a respectable .735. It’s scary how good this kid is going to get at the Major League level, we’re just starting to see it now.
Eugenio Suarez, 3B, SS, Mariners: Eugenio Suarez will never help you win a batting title, but you can usually count on him to build up his HR totals during the summer months. That’s exactly what we’ve seen during the month of August with 6 HRs and 15 RBIs over the past 3 weeks. If you need some power and can sacrifice batting average, Suarez may be your guy.
Jeimer Candelario, 3B, Tigers: Another “sleeper” on draft day that hasn’t quite panned out this season is Jeimer Candelario. In fact, Jeimer has been atrocious at the plate, batting .202 with a .620 OPS, down from an OPS of .872 in 2020 and .794 in 2021. So, there’s significant room for improvement in September. In fact, we may be seeing the start of that in real-time. Over his last 4 games coming into the week, he has amassed 6 hits and a pair of HRs. The Tigers will be at home all week, hosting Seattle and Kansas City, so why not see if Jeimer continues to fill the gap in his counting numbers?
Yandy Diaz, 1B, 3B, Rays: For my final recommendation, look at your waiver wire for Yandy Diaz (currently rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues). Historically a solid but unspectacular player, Yandy is on quite a run over the past couple weeks. Since August 14, he’s hitting .360 with 8 doubles and an OPS above 1.000. He’s been a DFS darling as well, as all us @realdfswars participants witnessed first-hand last Friday, and now he can help you in season-long leagues. Go see if he’s available in yours.
There you have it, my pre-Labor Day recommendations to give your fantasy rosters a shot of adrenaline for the stretch run. To share your thoughts on corner infielders or for any other fantasy roster advice, feel free to post a comment here or follow me on Twitter @Derek_Favret. Best of luck in all your leagues!
