The first scoring period after the All-Star break, which begins on a Friday rather than the usual Monday, typically goes one of two ways. It's either shortened to three days or extended to 10 days.
The CBS default is the former (three days), and so most of my sleeper recommendations are for that scenario. But enough leagues opt for the latter (10 days) that I'll offer a few recommendations for it as well.
As always, my selection is limited to players rostered in less than 80 percent of CBS Sports leagues.
Sleeper hitters for short Week 16 (July 14-16)
De La Cruz ended a strong first half with a four-hit game and will face a couple of volatile pitchers (Dean Kremer and Kyle Gibson) in a three-game series against the Orioles to open the second half.
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A doubleheader gives the Padres four games rather than three coming out of the break, and other than Zack Wheeler, their matchups in the Phillies series aren't so tough. Meanwhile, Kim has been plenty productive of late, batting .333 (26 for 78) with five homers and five steals in his past 22 games.
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Duran reasserted his place in the Red Sox outfield, and even at the top of their lineup, with a 14-for-23 (.609) performance heading into the break. The matchups against the top of the Cubs rotation could be better, but they could also be worse for this hot-hand play.
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You'll want to start all of your Yankees for their three-game series at Coors Field to open the second half. Among those available enough to qualify as a sleeper hitter for Week 16, Bader is the most promising.
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The Cardinals rotation has been combustible all year, which gives the Nationals lineup an opportunity to begin the second half right. Candelario ended the first half right, hitting safely in 20 of his final 22 games for a .310 (26 for 84) batting average, five homers, four steals and a .983 OPS.
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The MVP of the All-Star Game punched his ticket there mostly because of his performance at home, where he's batting .321 with a .903 OPS. That's where the Rockies will be to begin the second half.
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Raley was quiet to end the first half but should come out of the break piping hot with three Royals righties on tap. He of course only plays against righties, and these three are particularly mashable.
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Cooper was a successful sleeper pick in Week 15, batting .370 (10 for 27) with two homers, so I'm going to ride that hot hand right into Week 16, with the Marlins facing an Orioles rotation that's far from overpowering.
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At long last, Abrams finally began to make use of his considerable speed just before the break, stealing five bases in four games. A string of multi-hit games helps, and he'll hopefully keep that momentum going against a shaky Cardinals staff to open the second half.
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The converted pitcher is an understandable late bloomer at age 27 and seems to have secured the center field job for now after a ridiculous showing at Triple-A Jacksonville. And with only a 6 percent roster rate, Myers is streamable even in the deepest of leagues for his three-game series at the Orioles.
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Best hitter matchups for short Week 16
1. Yankees @COL3
2. Padres @PHI4
3. Rays @KC3
4. Brewers @CIN3
5. Twins @OAK3
Worst hitter matchups for short Week 16
1. Tigers @SEA3
2. Royals TB3
3. Dodgers @NYM3
4. Braves CHW3
5. Orioles MIA3
Sleeper hitters for long Week 16 (July 14-23)
Fraley contributes both power and speed and has seen his RBI total elevated by batting in the heart of the Reds lineup. Of course, that doesn't happen against left-handers, but the Reds are scheduled to face only two of those in their 10 games.
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With a batting average over .300 and speed to spare, Friedl has emerged as a full-time player for the Reds, even batting leadoff against righties. The team's matchups this week are mostly favorable thanks to four games against the Giants' pitching staff and three games against the Diamondbacks'.
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Those Orioles matchups that earned De La Cruz a nod for the short scoring period are actually the toughest he'll face over the longer scoring period. They only get better at St. Louis and vs. Colorado.
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The Red Sox's matchups over the extended scoring period include a three-game series against the Athletics pitching staff. Duran entered the break as arguably the hottest hitter in baseball and is likely to bat leadoff most days.
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One of the biggest underachievers of the first half, Suzuki rolled into the break with a modest six-game hitting streak and has pretty good matchups this week, particularly once he gets past the Red Sox series. Best of all, five of the 10 pitchers on tap throw left-handed, and he's batting .319 against lefties this year.
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Best hitter matchups for long Week 16
1. Yankees @COL3, @LAA3, KC3
2. Astros @LAA3, @COL2, @OAK4
3. Giants @PIT3, @CIN4, @WAS3
4. Rays @KC3, @TEX3, BAL4
5. Cardinals WAS3, MIA3, @CHC4
Worst hitter matchups for long Week 16
1. Blue Jays ARI3, SD3, @SEA3
2. White Sox @ATL3, @NYM3, @MIN3
3. Orioles MIA3, LAD3, @TB4
4. Mariners DET3, MIN4, TOR3
5. Royals TB3, DET4, @NYY3
