05.16.11 Fantasy Baseball Hot & Cold List

Have a player who’s playing out of his mind or drastically underachieving? Keep reading right here and get our advice on some of the hottest and coldest players in the majors.

HOT

Adrian Gonzalez

Last 7 games: .387 Avg, 9 R, 6 HR, 12 RBI, 0 SB

Call: Buy

Now don’t expect Adrian (I call him that because we are tight) to hit for this kind of average all year, but the power is legit. He’s back on track for a 40 homer season which looks about right with some line up protection for Gonzalez.

Curtis Granderson

Last 7 games: .333 Avg, 7 R, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 2 SB

Call: Buy

Granderson on the year is hitting a little above his career average, but not extraordinarily so. However, he has some new-found pop in the bat. He’s been able to maintain for the first quarter of the season, so at this point I’m a buyer.

James Shields

Last 3 games: 2-0, 1.61 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 24 K

Call: Sell

Shields has never pitched to a sub 3.50 era or 1.10 WHIP. I do see this as continuing to be a great bounce back year for him, but not at the pace he’s currently on. His value will probably never be higher.

COLD

Jonny Gomes

Last 7 games: .158 Avg, 0 R, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Call: Sell

Gomes has turned into the true all or nothing player this year and unfortunately 6 home runs doesn’t make up for that atrocious batting average. Leave him on the wire until you see signs of life.

Miguel Tejada

Last 7 games: .192 Avg, 2 R, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 SB

Call: Sell

Talk about falling off a cliff. Teams live with the fact that his power was cut in half, but now he can’t even make contact. Throw in the fact that he already has 7 errors too and you have the recipe for a player about to see significant time on the pine.

John Lackey

Last 3 games: 0-3, 10.26 ERA, 2.28 WHIP, 5 K

Call: Sell

Our first repeat performer on the cold list! What a distinction for Mr. Lackey. Last week it was ugly, now it’s ridiculous. If he’s still in your rotation you must be trying to lose. Seriously.

Check out the previous editions here: 05/09, 05/02, 4/25, 4/18, 4/11