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Jimmy Rollins is a “buy low” possibility that could get you back in the race for your fantasy baseball championship (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek).

Most MLB teams have played roughly 38-40% of their season, and with the season being a little past one-third of the way over, we have enough at bats and innings to decide on which players you can target to help your team win a fantasy title, or which players you might need to sell high, based on a track record of potential second half flop.

We will start the fantasy baseball reports with this installment noting some bigger names that you can possibly get at a discounted rate this summer:

Buy Low

Jimmy Rollins SS PHI

The Philly shortstop and former NL MVP has been off to a terrible start. With a current line of .217 AVG / 5 HR / 25 RBI / 10 SB / .584 OPS, Rollins and his putrid OPS have given fantasy owners fits. However, J-Ro has had two solid second halves each of the past two seasons, and one would think Rollins will bounce back. Even though his overall numbers might be mediocre, an owner might get top 5 production the rest of the way from Rollins.

Robinson Cano 2B NYY

The New York Yankees second baseman is actually starting off rather well, posting a line .298 / 11 / 39 / 3/ .822 this season playing in the launch pad know as new Yankee Stadium. Cano is known for his second half surges, hitting over .300 the past two seasons as well as putting up OPS’s at .953 and .815. His power numbers spike as well with the warmer weather and playing in Yankee Stadium will surely help. Expect a 30 HR / 100 RBI for Cano this season and see if you can grab him from an unsuspecting owner.

Cole Hamels SP PHI

Coming off a dominant playoff run where he willed his team to a championship, King Cole Hamels established himself as a dominant real-life and fantasy ace. This season has been rocky, however. Battling through injuries, Hamels posted a terrible April, and a better May, which saw him go 3-0 with 35 K’s, a 4.06 ERA, and 1.19 WHIP. Expect Hamels to continue to improve the rest of the way, and remember he has posted a sub-3.00 ERA the past two second halves, and well as a 0.96 second-half WHIP two seasons ago.

Brian Fuentes CL ANA

The new closer of the Angels is one of the league leaders in saves with 16, but disappointing ratios (4.71 ERA, 1.48 WHIP) might lead a fantasy owner to part with Fuentes if the price seems right. However, remember that Fuentes has been a dominant second half pitcher the past two seasons, posting a combined 1.64 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP, with a combined 12.7 K/9 rate. With the Angels playing many close games, expect Fuentes to be more and more dominant and finish with a top five closer season.
This first baseman hit .304 with 14 homers, 42 RBIs, and posted an OPS of .975 in the second half of last season. The year before, he went 8 / 37 / .312 / .854. Yes, that’s quality production in the summer months of the season. And that player is…..

Adam Laroche 1B PIT

Yes, Laroche has been an enigma to start the season most years, but always comes around in the summer. He is not a big name, and is probably sitting on the waiver wire in your league. Hey, he’s having a decent season so far, but fantasy owners should expect a lot more later this summer. Again, get some cheap, quality production if your team needs some “pop.”

DRang

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