Fantasy Baseball Weeks 4-5: Reasoning on the Riverwalk: Who to Start, Sit

The fantasy baseball season is starting to filter out the big fish from the small fries. 

Maybe your team was a few big flies away from first place in your league. Perhaps you were one win away from moving up.

Check out the advice within this column, and you could find some information from the insight provided in the show to help you make a move. You can't do it unless you come along for the ride by starting the show...

Carlos Beltran: The Outfielder Will Continue to Get Better

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 28: Carlos Beltran #15 of the New York Mets is congratulated by Jose Reyes #7 after scoring in the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 28, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Ima

Beltran is batting around .280 and moving better with every game. 

The Mets have an offense capable of scoring runs in bunches. They also have a tendency to go through dry spells and lose a lot of games.

Losing hurts morale in the long run, and I prefer players on winning teams for my fantasy rosters.  Beltran is working his way back into the groove and is still worth starting, though. 

Pablo Sandoval: Move the 1B, 3B Player to the Disabled List

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

DENVER, CO - APRIL 19: Pablo Sandoval #48 of the San Francisco Giants takes an at bat against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 19, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The svelte Sandoval will likely have surgery Tuesday to remove the broken part of his hamate bone, Yahoo Sports reports from San Jose Mercury News.

The prognosis for his return is four weeks at least. When he returns, his hitting could be off. 

I'd waiver him if in highly competitive leagues. If I had a deep team, I'd put him on my DL. Manage accordingly.

Asdrubal Cabrera: Start the Shortstop Until the Wheels Fall off the Ride

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

CLEVELAND - APRIL 06: Asdrubal Cabrera #13 of the Cleveland Indians hits an RBI single off of Daisuke Matsuzaka #18 of the Boston Red Sox during the game on April 6, 2011 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

How about Cabrera's five home runs, 17 RBIs and good health through week four? It was a handsome reward for his fantasy owners.

The Indians are rolling with the best record in the league and their lineup features a host of solid hitters. If you're like me, you'll continue to start Cabrera over other shortstops with similar games. 

Joe Nathan: Sit Him Until the Closer Proves He's Confident

Nick Laham/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 05: Joe Nathan #36 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates the win with Tsuyoshi Nishioka #1 against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 5, 2011 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Nathan started the season on fire with two impressive saves, but he took himself out of the closer role after blowing two saves in a row.

He's been all right in his last outings, but until he's named the closer—and Minnesota starts winning more games—keep him on your bench, or even waiver him.

Scott Rolen: The 3rd Baseman Is Experiencing Soreness in His Shoulder

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 10: Scott Rolen #27 of the Cincinnati Reds bats against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the Major League Baseball game at Chase Field on April 10, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Reds 10-8. (Photo by Christia

Rolen went on the disabled list, and he isn't allowed to do any swinging. 

The Reds are sitting in second place behind the Cardinals. Without him, they could easily start to swoon. You know how I feel about starting fantasy players from teams with losing records—I try not to.

Keep him on your bench for the foreseeable future.

Mike Stanton: He Should Be on Your Bench If You Want to Win a Title

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - APRIL 26: Gaby Sanchez #15 of the Florida Marlins is congratulated by Mike Stanton #27 after hitting a HR during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Sun Life Stadium on April 26, 2011 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike E

Stanton is one of those fantasy players who can hurt your squad for weeks. You wait for him to break out and show patience with him until it's almost too late.

Mike has outstanding potential, but he's batting under .240 and not slugging many home runs. Sit him down and be stern. 

Starlin Castro: Is He About to Sophomore Slump? Don't Count on It

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 30: Geovany Soto #18 of the Chicago Cubs high fives teammate Starlin Castro #13 after scoring against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning of the Major League Baseball game at Chase Field on April 30, 2011 in Phoenix, Ariz

Castro is more on the verge of becoming an All-Star than he is flopping in his second season. He'll be batting third in the Cubs order and producing more RBIs.

He's only hit one home run, but he's batting .348, stealing bases and scoring runs. Start him for sure—even over the likes of Alexei Ramirez and Derek Jeter.

Evan Longoria: The 3rd Baseman Will Go into the Lineup on Tuesday

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 19: Evan Longoria #3 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Oakland Athletics in the sixth inning during an MLB game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on August 19, 2010 in Oakland, California

With the Rays rolling through the rough waters, Longoria is set to return against Toronto on May 3.  The Rays have started to hit better and Evan will help Tampa tap teams out.

He hasn't played in a game this season, so he's opening his campaign soon. Look for him to start strong. 

A.J. Burnett: The Bronx Bombers Have Kept Him from Blowing Up and Imploding

Chris Trotman/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: A.J. Burnett #34 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium on April 25, 2011 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

A.J. is on the verge of an implosion.

He's surviving with help from the Yankees' hitters, but he's giving up a career-worst 1.2 home runs per nine innings pitched for New York.

He has four wins on the season, but be wary of him if you're concerned about ERA. He's humming along at just above league average in ERA and WHIP—3.93 and 1.28 respectively.

Jamey Carroll: The Utility Infielder Is Batting Around .300 for Troubled L.A.

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 11: Jeremy Affeldt # 41 of the San Francisco Giants shakes hands with Jamey Carroll #14 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after speaking about Brian Stow, the Giants fan who was attacked last week at a Dodgers game in Los Angeles, befo

Carroll is replacing the injured Rafael Furcal, and doing all right in terms of batting average. He isn't scoring many runs, or producing any home runs, though.

Keep him on your bench and use him for spot starts. Listed as a utility player in fantasy baseball, he can play third, short, second, or outfield.