Sleeper Watch

If you’re locked in a tight roto race, stolen bases is often the easiest category to gain an edge in this late in the season. Unfortunately, the premiere basestealers such as Scott Podsednik or Carl Crawford won’t be available, but Cleveland’s Coco Crisp and Cincinnati’s Ryan Freel, who both have six steals in the last four weeks, may still be out there.

Crisp started the season poorly, yet has played very solid ball since July, raising his average from .211 to .285 in the process. He doesn’t draw nearly as many walks as you’d like to see in a leadoff speedster, but he’s not afraid to take off once he gets on base. Lately, he’s been reaching base often, with a .351 average over the last month. And while he won’t provide you with power, Crisp will score a decent number of runs.

Freel also struggled early in the season and was sent down to the minors, but has looked sharp since rejoining the Reds. He recently missed a dozen games with a strained hamstring, which usually doesn’t bode well for base stealers, yet he showed no lingering effects when swiping second against Pittsburgh in his return.

For a quick speed infusion, Coco Crisp and Ryan Freel might be just what the doctor ordered. Above all, they won’t hurt you in other categories, as Henry Mateo or Gary Matthews, Jr. might.