Those predicting the demise of baseball are probably shocked to their core that the sport enters week four. There were serious questions after the COVID-19 outbreaks in the Marlins and Cardinals organizations. But, as of now, all teams are on the field and we can take a serious look at baseball hot and not to prepare for a winning fantasy week. Use the waiver wire accordingly and remember to wear gloves to prevent burns or frost bite as you make your moves.

Third Degree Burn Hot Players

Jesus Aguilar, First Base, Florida Marlins

For those that totally ignored all of the Miami Marlin players while they were bludgeoned by the virus, it is time to get back onboard. That is especially true with Jesus Aguilar. After blasting 35 homes and driving in 108 runs for the Brewers in 2018, Aguilar completely fell off the planet a year ago. He was traded to Tampa Bay and was even more invisible there than he had been in Milwaukee. He was designated for assignment after the season.

But, Miami acquired him off waivers and it has been a completely different story in 2020 15 games into his Marlins career. He is hitting .286-4-15 with only eight strikeouts in 63 plate appearances. Aguilar also had hits in seven of eight games before going 0-3 Sunday, including two or more hits in four of those games. He is scalding the ball and is definitely valued on fantasy rosters.

Brandon Lowe, 1B/2B/OF, Tampa Bay Rays

Blistering hot doesn’t begin to describe the tear that Brandon Lowe is on right now. He enters week four as the top offensive player in baseball with hits in eight straight games. Included in that stretch was at least two hits in four straight. He is hitting .338-7-20 with 19 runs scored. And on top of all that, look how many positions he plays.

Simply stated, he is the add of the week. Stop reading this and go see if he is available in your league. If not, try and trade for him. We will wait. OK, now that you are back, hope it worked out for you. Remember to tell your friends that Lowe is the HOT in the baseball hot or not edition this week.

Tommy La Stella, 1B/2B/3B, Los Angeles Angels

While the Angels as a team have been hit by a brick wall having been swept by the Dodgers this weekend, it certainly wasn’t Tommy La Stella‘s fault. Before going 0-4 Sunday, La Stella had hits in six straight. He is only hitting .277 on the season, but that average has been on a meteoric rise the past week.

Because of his versatility, he will be in the Angel’s lineup on a daily basis. Best of all, he is owned in only 12% of leagues so if all fails in adding Lowe, La Stella isn’t a bad alternate.

Luke Voit, First Base, New York Yankees

The annual migration of Yankees players to the injured list has begun with Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge and D.J. LeMahieu all nursing various injuries. Fortunately for New York, Luke Voit is mercury hot right now. Voit already has seven homers and 15 RBIs on the young season, but he has been unworldly hot this past week.

He has hits in seven straight games, including two home runs Monday against Boston. Voit took a seat on Sunday and with all of the Yankee’s injuries, should be a fixture in lineups for the foreseeable future. He is a must add for anyone seeking first base help.

Liquid Nitrogen Cold Players

Matthew Boyd, Pitcher, Detroit Tigers

There were several so-called experts that had Matthew Boyd set up for an ace starter caliber 2020. This was despite the fact that he had a terrible second half last year after making the All-Star team. He can strike out hitters by the bunches, as his 238 in 185.1 innings in 2019 clearly demonstrate. Boyd showed he is still capable of that Monday, striking out nine Chicago hitters in just four innings. But that is the end of the good news for Boyd this year.

The truth is that Boyd has been flat out terrible. He entered the game against the White Sox with the worst ERA of ALL qualified starters. He gave up home runs to the first two Chicago hitters. Boyd lost the game, doesn’t have a win yet and leads the league in hits (34), home runs (8) and earned runs (25) allowed. Despite all of that, he is still owned in 65% of leagues. I keep hearing the words eject, eject, eject in my mind regarding Boyd. That needs to happen before the entire plane (or fantasy team) is lost for good.

Mitch Garver, Catcher, Minnesota Twins

Recall last season as the Twins were the new monsters of the midway with almost everyone on the team hitting 30 homers? Mitch Garver was one of those, hitting 31 long balls in just 311 at bats. Those sure were the good old days, weren’t they? Too bad it seems like a distant memory right now. After 14 games in 2020, Garver has just one home run.

Even worse, he is only hitting a paltry .143 and getting regular days off. It is only because of a lack of quality catchers that I don’t recommend sending Garver to the outhouse right now. If he happens to be on your fantasy roster, monitor him and all back stops in the majors. When a move does come along that improves the team, make it. And don’t look back.

Adalberto Mondesi, Shortstop, Kansas City Royals

There is no question that Adalberto Mondesi came into the season as one of the young players in baseball to get excited about. He lead the majors with 10 triples and stole 43 bases in 2019. The arrow was pointed straight up. That would certainly explain the reason he is owned in 92% of leagues. However, coming into this fourth week of the season, Elvis has left the building and might be time to do the same with Mondesi.

Last week was a disaster of epic proportions. Mondesi has just two hits in his last 22 at bats. He is hitting .217 with two RBIs on the season. He has five stolen bases, but that isn’t nearly enough to salvage him. Mondesi may be one of those players with name recognition that can be traded with one of your less learned colleagues. Give it a try before he gets even worse.

Lourdes Gurriel, 2B/OF, Toronto Blue Jays

There are plenty of young players that Toronto are counting on to lead them back to the long gone days of World Series winning clubs. Lourdes Gurriel was expected to be the veteran of those players as he is in his third MLB season. He had an excellent 2019, hitting .277-20-50 in just 314 at bats.

However, the results so far in 2020 are missing in action. Gurriel is batting .227 with just one home run and three RBIs. Players that qualify at multiple positions should always have added value, but if they don’t get on base, they aren’t worth it. There are players out there who will give a fantasy team a much bigger boost that Gurriel. It is time to give him the old heave ho.

That’s it for this edition of baseball hot or not list. Have a great fourth week and please share if you have any recommendations on players to add to the list. I will see you next time!

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