Zack Cozart could be a useful addition for the weekend and beyond
If you are down fantasy points heading into the weekend, these are pickups to strongly consider. These pitchers/hitters can give you an edge this weekend and help you pick up a win.
Get free start/sit and waiver wire advice for your fantasy team 
Hitters
Zack Cozart (SS – Reds) – ESPN 22.3 % owned – Yahoo 18% owned
With the Cubs, Cardinals and Pirates all in the NL Central, many people don’t talk about the Reds, so I’m going to catch you up on what’s going on in Cincinnati. They have a 9-13 record this year (4th in the NL Central), which is probably what you were expecting, but there is something about them I bet you didn’t know. The Reds’ best hitter to start the year isn’t first baseman Joey Votto. It’s actually…Zack Cozart!
Cozart leads the team with a .414 wOBA, .603 SLG and 162 wRC+. He is a guy that will help your team’s batting average, and someone to consider keeping, especially if you are in a deeper league. I know he isn’t a household name, but he’s been swinging the bat well and should be on your team.
Nick Castellanos (3B – Tigers) – ESPN 52.7% owned – Yahoo 40% owned
When you hear “Detroit Tigers,” Castellanos probably isn’t the first thing you think of, but he is quietly having a nice start to 2016. I know it might shock you, but Castellanos has better numbers than some of Detroit’s stars.
He has a .347 wOBA (better than Miguel Cabrera and Justin Upton) and .478 SLG (better than J.D. Martinez, Cabrera and Upton). He will be going up against an average rotation in Minnesota, so go ahead and pick him up this weekend. He will give your team a boost in batting average and RBI.
Justin Bour (1B – Marlins) – ESPN 31.6% owned – Yahoo 20% owned
Justin Bour is more of a matchup-based pick, as he has done nothing this season to brag about.
He will be going up against three right-handed pitchers who have struggled to start the year; Zach Davies 9.72 ERA, Wily Peralta 7.40 ERA and Chase Anderson 4.50 ERA. This is the perfect opportunity for Bour to get something started and to put one in the seats, especially playing at Miller Park, which is one of the friendliest parks to hitters. Definitely some risk involved, but Bour is in a perfect spot to have a successful weekend.
Pitchers
Ross Stripling (SP – Dodgers) – ESPN 19.8% owned – Yahoo 19% owned
If you are looking for a spot-start this weekend, then go and get Ross Stripling. He will be going up against the Padres this Saturday, who have been one of the worst offensive teams this season.
San Diego has a 24.8 K% (5th highest in MLB), .124 ISO (27th in MLB) and .290 wOBA (28th in MLB). The Padres have struggled to put the ball in play as well as hitting for power, which makes Stripling an excellent pickup.
Stripling might be a rookie, but he has had a nice start to 2016. Don’t let his 0-1 record fool you; he has a 3.22 ERA, 47.7 GB% and 1.30 WHIP. His 17.0 K% isn’t impressive, but he will be going up against a team that strikes out. He should have a quality start and possibly pick up his first career win in the big leagues. I’m all in on the rook!
Rich Hill (SP – Athletics) – ESPN 31.8% owned – Yahoo 50% owned
Looking for some strikeouts this weekend? Then Hill is your guy! He will take the mound this Sunday against the Astros, which puts him in a perfect position to rack up the Ks.
It has been amazing to watch the 36-year-old southpaw pitch. Not only does he have an 8.8 BB%, but he also has a 33.6 K%! He is making batters look silly at the plate, and I expect that to continue.
Sure, that Astros’ offense is one that will scare most fantasy owners, but little do they know that this puts Hill in the perfect position. The Astros have a 27.2 K% (highest in MLB) and a .233 AVG (21st in MLB). There is some risk involved, but I love the upside Hill presents. I’m going to go ahead and say he fans 10 batters in this one.
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud | TuneIn | Google Play
Nick Rodriguez is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Nick, check out his archive or follow him @NRodriguezDFS.
