2023 Fantasy Baseball Week 1B Start/Sit: Cedric Mullens, Taijuan Walker, More (4/3/23)
It’s April! And that means we’re officially starting our first full week of the 2023 fantasy baseball season. We only have three or four games to go off so far, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start making early conclusions, extrapolating stats to a 162-game schedule, and frankly, overreacting. That’s what makes this all fun, right?
I’ll be back later in the week to look at Trade Values (Wednesday) and to dive into the Closer Report (Friday), but for today, we’re going to take a look at who we should stat and sit this week.
Let’s go position-by-position and identify the right (or wrong) players we should have in our fantasy baseball lineups for the week of April 3.
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Catcher
Start
Logan O’Hoppe, Los Angeles Angels
O’Hoppe may not last the month as the Angels starting catcher as Max Stassi should return from the injured list soon, but that doesn’t matter for this week. O’Hoppe is hitting .400 with a home run through three games and has a shot to start at least four of the Angels six games this week. Let’s roll with him!
Sit
Sean Murphy, Atlanta Braves
Murphy is a good player, but he’s stuck in a timeshare with Travis d’Arnaud and just isn’t worth the headache right now. While I wouldn’t outright drop him, he belongs on your bench until he plays himself into more playing time.
First Base
Start
C.J. Cron, Colorado Rockies
Cron has two home runs through four games, and neither happened at Coors Field! He’ll five games at Coors this week and should be able to add to his mashing ways to start the 2023 campaign.
Sit
Josh Bell, Cleveland Guardians
As much as I don't love to chase stats, I also don't like to be scared by a minor cold streak either. That said, Bell is scuffling and there are better options to start this week as he tries to dig out of his 1-for-12 hole. Don't drop him, but don't start him either.
Second Base
Start
Jonathan India, Cincinnati Reds
I don’t love chasing stats, but India is a streaky player and I’m chasing his stats this week. He’s hit safely in all three of his games to start the season and has one home run and one steal. He has six games on tap this week and is seemingly healthy (something he was not last year).
Sit
Jean Segura, Miami Marlins
Segura has been a fantasy go-to for me for years. Always available on the waiver wire. Always dependable. I went back to the well this year and I think the wheels may be falling off on the 33-year-old. He only has one hit in 11 at-bats to start the year and will be going back to my bench for this week.
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Shortstop
Start
Wander Franco, Tampa Bay Rays
Franco is off to a hot start and I’m chasing his stats because I think he can somewhat sustain it. He’s hit safely in all three games to start the season and is currently hitting .636 with one home run and one steal. He should be able to feast on three lowly teams this week with the Nationals, A’s, and Red Sox on tap.
Sit
Javier Baez, Detroit Tigers
I’m willing to put up with a low average if I’m getting home runs and steals. Baez has given us neither of those things to start the year, and he’s only had one hit in 10 at-bats. With just five games on tap for the Tigers this week, Baez belongs on your fantasy bench.
Third Base
Start
Yoan Moncada, Chicago White Sox
Is the 28-year-old finally breaking out? Might be a few years too late for anyone playing in dynasty leagues, but that doesn’t matter for our purposes. Moncada has hit safely in all four of his games to start the year and has homered in two straight games coming into Monday. With mediocre teams like the Giants and Pirates on tap this week, there’s no reason Moncada can’t keep mashing.
Sit
Brandon Drury, Los Angeles Angels
Drury is on quite a few fantasy teams due to his multi-position eligibility, but he’s not playing full-time right now. And perhaps more importantly, he’s not hitting. While Drury may be useful this season, that time is not right now and he’s better left on your fantasy bench until he at least records a hit.
Outfield
Start
Cedric Mullens, Baltimore Orioles
It’s only been three games, but there is no hotter batter in baseball right now. Mullens is hitting .385 and has two home runs and three steals through three games. While he won’t be facing an awful Red Sox pitching staff this week, Mullens should be cementing in your lineup until he proves otherwise.
Sit
Trayce Thompson, Los Angeles Dodgers
I get it. Three home run games are fun! But Thompson is more of a platoon player and I can almost guarantee he won’t hit three home runs in a game again all season. He may not even hit two in a game. Don’t chase the stats here.
Pitcher
Start
Taijuan Walker, Philadelphia Phillies
Of all the two-start pitchers this week, Walker is my favorite. The 30-year-old is playing on one of the best teams in the league so I’m thinking he should get us at least one win this week. I don’t love his matchup against the Yankees to start the week (I’m also not worried about it either), but I do like his matchup against the Red later in the week so I think he’s safe to roll out there if you lock weekly lineups and are looking for a two-start pitcher.
Sit
Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox
I took a flier on Sale as a late-round pick who might have some upside. I may end up being right, but it’s not looking so good right now. Sale got absolutely pummeled in his first start of the season and is just way too risky to start this week (and for the foreseeable future).
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