Here's a list of hot and cold player's and things you knew to know after week 1.
Hot
Pitchers
Matt Harrison- Harrison picked up 2 wins this week, only allowing 2 runs in 14 innings versus the Orioles and Red Sox.
Zach Britton- I have been most impressed with Britton than any other player opening week.
Dan Haren- Haren came in to pitch the 14th inning last night, and picked up the win. It was an added bonus for an already fantastic week.
Edwin Jackson- Jackson was dominate this week, picking up two wins and striking out 20 batters in only 14 innings.
Jaime Garcia- Garcia has only allowed 1 run in 15 innings this year while striking out 18 batters. He's done a good job avoiding a sophomore slump early.
Trevor Cahill- I loved the Oakland pitching staff coming into the season, and Cahill has impressed with a 1.42 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 12.2 innings.
Chris Narveson- Narveson was the last pitcher to make it in the rotation, and he now has 13 scoreless innings to begin the season. He is definitely worth the pickup to stash.
Gio Gonzalez- Gonzalez hasn't been overly sharp in the two starts I've watched him, but his stuff is so good, and his composure never lets him down. He has a 2-0 record with a .69 ERA over 13 innings this year.
Jordan Walden- The Angels pulled Fernando Rodney from the closer role and inserted the youngster. He throws in the high 90's and has looked impressive early this season.
Jonathan Broxton- The Dodgers are better this year, and Broxton has benefitted from it, saving 5 games in the first fantasy week.
Joel Hanrahan-When the Pirates win games, they win them close. Hanrahan has 4 saves this season and has only allowed one run.
Craig Kimbrel- Kimbrel started the season in a closer by committee, but has dominated enough to now be called the closer. In 3 save opportunities, he has six strikeouts and hasn't allowed a run or hit.
Catcher
Russell Martin- I was way off on this one, but Martin looks healthy, and now has three home runs on the early season.
Mike Napoli- When Napoli has been in the lineup, he's produced. He has three home runs and is batting .429 with 5 walks.
First Base
Joey Votto- Votto has picked up where he left off last season. He is batting .393 with 2 homers in the first week.
Mark Teixeira- You could think it's crazy to call a player with a .200 average hot, but Teix has 4 homers and 10 rbi's already this season.
2nd Base
Howie Kendrick- A lot of people were nervous when they missed on a top second basemen, but Kendrick has made them feel better this week. He's batting .412 with 4 homers.
Gordon Beckham- Beckham has hit .343 this year with a homer and a stolen base. The white sox have put a good lineup together, and Beckham should continue to shine.
Shortstop
Starlin Castro- The youngster is batting .353 with 2 doubles and 2 triples on the season. He looks more comfortable at the plate and should be a solid option.
Asdrubal Cabrera- If Cabrera stayed healthy I really liked him this season and he is showing off some power early. He has two homers with 7 rbi's batting in the middle of the Indians order.
Third Base
Alberto Callaspo- Like Kendrick he is having a great start batting .370 with 2 home runs and is an okay corner infielder in deep leagues.
Mark Reynolds- Reynolds hit his first home run of the season and he has 8 rbi's in 8 games. He has kept the strikeouts in check with only 1 a game.
Outfield
Nelson Cruz- Cruz leads the MLB with 5 home runs, and he should push 40 before the season is over.
Matt Kemp- Kemp seems a lot more focused this season, and he is batting .429 with 1 home run and 5 stolen bases on the season. The Dodgers will emphasize running this season
Jose Tabata- Tabata has been great for the Pirates batting .343 with 2 homers and 4 stolen bases.
Alex Gordon- The former top prospect has been carrying the Royals offense after a good spring. He's batting .378 with 5 doubles.
Not
Pitchers
John Axford- Axford had a very forgettable opening day blowing a 3 run lead to the Reds.
Tommy Hanson- The Braves don't like to scoring runs for Hanson and he hasn't been pitching well. He is 0-2 and only has 3 k's in 9 innings.
Clay Buchholz- People scoffed at me when I had Buchholz with a 3.5 ERA this season but he has struggled with his control, and leaving the ball down the middle. He has given up 5 home runs compared to 9 all of last season.
Ubaldo Jimenez- Jimenez has been put on the DL with a thumb problem, and hopefully for owners it won't linger for the righty.
Francisco Liriano- Liriano has started 0 and 2 this season and has walked 8 batters in only 9.1 innings.
Phil Hughes- He has struggled with his velocity and it is the main reason why his ERA is 16.50 over 6 innings this far. I'd be concerned if I was a fantasy owner.
1st Base
Adam Dunn- Dunn had an appendectomy and it hurt his production over the first week. He should be back for next week, but I'd keep him on the bench if you have any other options to be safe.
Freddie Freeman- Freeman is hitting under .200 for the Braves, but they have no plans on pulling them from their lineup. I would take him out of my fantasy lineup though.
2nd Base
Chone Figgins- Figgins is batting .147 and has no walks on the season. When you aren't getting on base, you aren't stealing bases.
Dan Uggla- Uggla and the entire Braves lineup has been struggling early. Uggla is hitting .176 with 2 solo home runs for his only rbi's.
Shortstop
Juan Uribe- A lot of people were relying on Uribe this week and he threw up a clunker. He is batting .120 with no walks and only 1 extra base hit.
Hanley Ramirez-Hanley's only batting .207 no home runs and 2 rbi's this season. Look for a better week two out of him.
Third Base
Evan Longoria- Longoria went from maybe missing a few games, to a three to four week injury. Get him out of your lineup.
Pedro Alvarez- Alvarez struggled in spring training with his patience, and it has carried over to the regular season. He has 13 strikeouts compared to only 2 walks this season.
Outfield
Michael Stanton- Stanton has had nagging leg problems all spring, and it kept him out of the lineup quite a bit. Hopefully, it doesn't sap his power for the long run this season.
Jay Bruce- A lot of people picked Bruce to breakout, but it hasn't happened yet. He's batting .241 with only 2 rbi's. He should kick it in gear for the first place Reds.
Carl Crawford- The entire Red Sox offense is struggling and Crawford is not an exception. He has been pressing a tad, and I expect him to bounce back quickly.
Things you need to take out of Week 1
- Zach Britton is really, really, really good. After being a fill in starter for Brian Matsuz, Britton has been electric. He is 2-0 in 13.2 innings with a .66 ERA. His most impressive start was against Texas, where he went 7.2 scoreless innings, and got 16 outs from ground balls. Next week he is pitching against the Indians, and should be a nice option.
-The Rangers offense is the best in baseball. After losing Cliff Lee in the offseason no one looked at the additions of Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli to the offense. But, it gives this team a new dimension. Surround them with Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, and a more mature Elvis Andrus, and this offense will be deadly.
-Red Sox fans should be concerned. As I'm writing this, the Red Sox are now 1-7. Yes, they will turn it around, but it won't be as easy as fans hope. The Red Sox pitching staff has been getting rocked, and the truth is Josh Beckett, John Lackey, and Dice K won't be as good as they use to be. Another problem for the Sox is the quality of the division this year. I think there will be 4 teams with winning records, and the Orioles and Blue Jays are the real deal.
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