Fantasy Baseball 2012: Projected Hot/Cold Hitters for April 9-15

Here are 10 premium hitters (and their current fantasy positions) who should fare extremely well for the week of April 9-15.

Good Vibrations

1. OF Matt Kemp, Dodgers
Skinny: With six home tilts against the Pirates and Padres, Kemp (six runs, eight RBI in the opening series) should be a five-category stud this week.

2. 2B Robinson Cano, Yankees
Skinny: Cano (annual lock for 27 HRs/100 RBI/100 runs) gets the cozy confines of Camden Yards early in the week and then avoids Jered Weaver for the Yankees' home-opening weekend.

3. 1B Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
Skinny: Even the Rays and White Sox can't slow down Miggy (three HRs, eight RBI vs. Boston) in the middle of a hot streak.

4. OF Josh Hamilton, Rangers
Skinny: Hamilton, a good bet for top-20 numbers in homers, RBI and runs in April, draws the Mariners and Twins this week.

5. 3B/OF Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
Skinny: Bautista could be looking at a three-homer, 10-RBI week against the Red Sox and Orioles.

6. 1B Albert Pujols, Angels
Skinny: Pujols should be a regular on this weekly list, regardless of venue or specific pitching opponent.

7. 1B Eric Hosmer, Royals
Skinny: It's very early, but at least the catcalls from assigning Hosmer a Round 4 value in March have subsided.

8. OF Justin Upton, Diamondbacks
Skinny: Upton should enjoy the creature comforts of spacious Petco Park (San Diego) and homer-friendly Coors Field (Colorado) this week.

9. 2B Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
Skinny: Perhaps the toughest out in baseball, Pedroia could yield four-category goodness against the Blue Jays and Rays.

10. 2B Ian Kinsler, Rangers
Skinny: You can't discuss Pedroia without giving equal props to Kinsler, the lead engine that propels the Rangers' attack.

On the flip side, this quintet may struggle against top-notch pitching in the next seven days.

Bad Tidings

1. 3B Brett Lawrie, Blue Jays
Skinny: Lawrie, one of four Toronto players with five or more strikeouts in the opening series, has yet to register an extra-base hit.

2. OF Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
Skinny: This status is a reflection of McCutchen's possible opponents for the week—Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner—not a referendum on his sublime talents.

3. C Brian McCann, Braves
Skinny: McCann's lost weekend in New York (1-for-11, three strikeouts; swept in three games) may be compounded with some troubles against the Astros and Brewers in Week 2.

4. OF Desmond Jennings, Rays
Skinny: It's been a sluggish start for the mercurial Jennings (no extra-base hits, one steal, .231 batting). Fantasy owners should exercise a little patience here.

5. 1B Mark Teixeira, Yankees
Skinny: Teixeira (1-for-9 against the Rays) and his notoriously mediocre April starts are one of baseball's great mysteries.

Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons.