Fantasy Baseball 2012: 4 Unsung Roto-League Hitters to Ride for May 11

The following slideshow touts four unsung hitters (or standing free agents) from 12-team leagues who may experience fantasy nirvana on May 11.

I use the term "unsung" loosely here, since one of the four mashers is now in exclusive company with Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx, arguably one of the 10 best hitters in baseball history.

Enjoy the show!

4. (OF) Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians

Friday's Opponent: Clay Buchholz, Boston Red Sox

The Skinny

Brantley has been a great resource for batting average and RBI of late, batting .311 with seven RBI and nine runs since April 26.

He also has four multiple-hit games since April 29, a good sign his hitting resurgence won't be a fleeting accomplishment.

The obvious downside to Brantley this season? He has yet to crack one homer, a deflating (but expected) occurrence from a three-year career that has only wrought 10 combined homers.

3. (2B) Neil Walker, Pittsburgh Pirates

Friday's Opponent: Bud Norris, Houston Astros

The Skinny

For the season, Walker (one HR, seven RBI, 11 runs, one steal, .288 batting) has been a mild disappointment for fantasy owners who prioritized him over Jason Kipnis and Jose Altuve on draft day.

However, his numbers over the last 15 days (.370 batting) have allayed some of those early April worries.

It also helps that Walker has an established track record in his brief MLB career—12 HRs, 74 RBI, 67 runs and nine steals, with a capacity for 20 homers and 18 steals in the coming seasons.

Think of Walker as a poor man's Ben Zobrist. This should be an intriguing matchup against Norris on Friday.

2. (SS) Yunel Escobar, Toronto Blue Jays

Friday's Opponent: Nick Blackburn, Minnesota Twins

The Skinny

Escobar (one HR, 12 RBI, 19 runs, .265 batting) has had little regard for homers and steals this season, but he's still an attractive asset with deeper mixed and AL-only leagues.

Since April 26, Escobar is batting .340. In this month alone, he has four multiple-hit games. With an opponent like Blackburn on Friday night, Escobar's a credible threat to enjoy another big fantasy night—perhaps one similar to his 4-for-4 assault on Minnesota pitching Thursday, with three runs scored.

1. (3B) Brandon Inge, Oakland A's

Friday's Opponent: Rick Porcello, Detroit Tigers

The Skinny

We couldn't have a mini-countdown of unsung hitters without mentioning Inge (a recent Oakland pickup) and his once-in-a-lifetime association with Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx.

In the Athletics' illustrious franchise history, Inge (143 homers, career .234 hitter) and Foxx (534 homers, career .325 hitter) are the only ones (since 1932) to belt two grand slams over three games.

Let that stat settle in for a moment. Inge, a slick-fielding, light-hitting asset who'd outlived his usefulness with the Tigers last month, and Foxx, arguably one of the 10 best hitters in baseball history. Together.

Inge's first grand slam against Toronto was a walk-off shot. His Thursday blast against Detroit didn't alter the result of the game, but it must've felt good to remind his old team that—for one day—Father Time has not completely sapped Inge of his power.