Fantasy Baseball Week 1 Preview: Top sleeper hitters for both five- and 12-day period led by Munetaka Murakami

Chances are your lineup hasn’t been hit hard enough by injuries yet for you to turn to the waiver wire for replacements. If that’s the case, I want you to think of this article as superfluous. No matchup considerations are enough for you to stray from those big bats you drafted.

But if you have had a couple of injuries already or came out of your draft with some known weak points, these recommendations could be of interest.

I’ll come out with some every week, and they may prove to be more vital as the season plays out. Note that I’ll be limiting my selection this week to those rostered in no more than 75 percent of CBS Sports leagues.

This first week actually requires two lists. With the season beginning on a Wednesday, some leagues will choose to treat opening weekend as its own five-day scoring period (which is the CBS standard), but others will combine it with the first full week for an extra long 12-day scoring period. Rest assured that no matter how your league has opted to handle it, I have you covered.

Best hitter matchups for short Week 1

1. Astros LAA4
2. Marlins COL3
3. Cubs WAS3
4. Mariners CLE4
5. Brewers CHW3

Worst hitter matchups for short Week 1

1. Rangers @PHI3
2. Diamondbacks @LAD3
3. Padres DET3
4. Phillies TEX3
5. Nationals @CHC3

Best hitter matchups for long Week 1

1. Blue Jays ATH3, COL3, @CHW3
2. Cubs WAS3, LAA3, @CLE3
3. Astros LAA4, BOS3, @ATH3
4. Rays @STL3, @MIL3, @MIN3
5. Mets PIT3, @STL3, @SF4

Worst hitter matchups for long Week 1

1. Guardians @SEA4, @LAD3, CHC3
2. Reds BOS3, PIT3, @TEX3
3. Rockies @MIA3, @TOR3, PHI3
4. Padres DET3, SF3, @BOS3
5. Nationals @CHC3, @PHI3, LAD3