Fantasy Baseball 2012: 5 Start-or-Sit Matchups for Week 7 (May 14-20)

The following slideshow touts five start or sit matchups to consider for fantasy Week 7 (May 14-20), featuring six overall hitters and four starting pitchers.

All five battles involve players at the same position, with similar circumstances heading into this week's action.

It's important to note that all 30 Major League Baseball teams will play seven games this week, with 28 clubs closing the seven-day window with interleague clashes (Dodgers and Cardinals excluded).

Enjoy the show!

2nd Base: Jason Kipnis vs. Brandon Phillips

Phillips (two HRs, 15 runs, .252 batting) may have been the more heralded asset during the March drafts, but Kipnis wins this seven-day battle on the strength of better seasonal numbers (six HRs, 22 RBI, 22 runs, six steals, .284 batting) and short-term production (three HRs, .317 batting since April 29).

As a bonus, Kipnis has five home games (Mariners, Marlins) for the week, where Phillips and the Reds hit the road for all seven games (Braves, Mets, Yankees).

Starting Pitcher: Neftali Feliz vs. Shaun Marcum

This is an interesting matchup of one-start pitchers...facing the same club (Astros) on back-to-back nights in Houston.

Marcum (2.84 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 33/16 K-BB) has better 30-day numbers than Feliz (4.06 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 27/16 K-BB).

He also has a greater penchant for holding opponents to three or less runs per outing while racking up at least six strikeouts.

This isn't the sexiest pick in the world—given Feliz's 10-strikeout potential every time he takes the mound—but Marcum is the healthier option for head-to-head leagues in Week 7.

Outfield: Michael Cuddyer vs. Hunter Pence

Cuddyer has better numbers since April 29 (two HRs, 10 RBI, eight runs, three steals, .244 batting), but I am sticking with Pence against the Red Sox and Astros at home and the Cubs at Wrigley.

I mean, who is going to pass on Pence (my preseason pick for NL batting champion—oops!) getting five chances against Boston and Houston pitching...at Philly's Citizens Bank Park?

Bottom line: Pence's resurgence has to start somewhere, and this week seems like an ideal launching point.

Outfield: Justin Upton vs. B.J. Upton

Now that Justin Upton (two HRs, .222 batting since April 29) has seemingly overcome a thumb injury from a few weeks ago, can we expect him to have a Giancarlo Stanton-esque spurt in the coming weeks?

Something in the neighborhood of five homers, 10 RBI and three steals in a 12-day window?

If such a run is in the cards, he's a sound pick to start against the Dodgers, Rockies and Royals in Week 7—at least after Arizona faces Clayton Kershaw on Monday.

As for brother B.J. (one HR, five RBI, five runs, three steals, .229 batting since April 29), he could have a productive week against the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Braves. The Longoria-less Rays need an offensive spark to maintain their spot in the crowded AL East standings.

The verdict: It's a close battle of hermano y hermano...but let's ride Justin for the week.

Starting Pitcher: Jeremy Hellickson vs. Mat Latos

This matchup is a self-serving one, since I have Hellickson (3-0, 2.95 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 29/16 K-BB) and Latos (2-2, 4.54 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 33/18 K-BB) laboring on a CBS team.

As a point of comparison, Hellickson (vs. Red Sox) and Latos (at the Mets) both have one start this week.

The verdict: Latos possesses a higher ceiling for strikeouts; he also faces the lesser squad, offensively speaking. But in the end, I prefer Hellickson's capacity for fewer runs, a lower WHIP and one victory against Boston.

In 18 appearances at Tropicana Field, Hellickson has an 8-5 record, 2.51 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. I'll take that over an enigmatic Latos.