Nearly one-third into the 2016 MLB season, fantasy baseball players have received plenty of reminders of the game’s cruelty.

Far too often, players take extreme detours without rhyme or reason. Remember when Gio Gonzalez allowed four earned runs over his first five starts? He has coughed up 19 in his last five outings. Anyone who picked up Mat Latos on April 25, when he boasted a 0.74 ERA, has watched his ERA balloon to 4.06.

The Ringer founder Bill Simmons uncovered the truth to fantasy sports when he tweeted that they “only exist to make us feel bad about ourselves.” He’s right. Take it from someone who expected big things from Michael Pineda.

Most of the following highlighted players are riding high, and some of those successes will inevitably prove all smoke and mirrors. Some may stick, and there’s hopefully a middle ground where these hot hands normalize into serviceable fantasy options.

All available in more than half of Yahoo Sports leagues, adding these players could make fantasy gamers feel smart for a change.

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