Having a reliable leadoff hitter is important once a game. But these guys also get the most opportunities at the plate so you better make sure that guy can hit in any situation, as well as being a spark plug in the 1st inning. Every team has a different approach with their leadoff hitter. Some managers just slot their fastest player at the top of their lineup, while other managers make sure whoever is leading off, has a high on base percentage.
You will have a hard time finding any fantasy baseball scoring system that ranks anyone above the Houston Astros Jose Altuve. His .305/.400/.611 slash has let to 20 runs scored, 13 RBI and 9 stolen bases after just one month. On top of that, he has 17 XBH, including six home runs.
Right behind Altuve, you find Dexter Fowler hitting .347 to begin the season with 13 XBH. Fowler’s 17 walks drawn has led to a .474 OBP.
Mookie Betts has been a bit of a disappointment, owning a .266 BA and just 5 walks drawn, but he has managed to score 19 runs while driving in 17.
Ian Kinsler and Jean Segura are the only leadoff hitters with 30+ hits, but Kinsler’s has yet to find his power with just 8 XBH (4 HRs) while Segura’s Diamondbacks teammates have struggled to knock him home as he has crossed the plate just 12 times, including four home runs.
Over his last 10 games, Logan Forsythe has seen his BA rise from .250 up to .341 thanks to three 3 hit games, and three 2 hit games.
