It’s free agent time once again, and as the temperature continues to warm across the country, so do batting averages and home run totals for slow-starting fantasy players.

Two Philadelphia Phillies and two Pittsburgh Pirates are capitalizing on favorable ballparks; Willy Tavares and Julio Lugo continue to run despite being slowed by poor averages; and the season of Frank Thomas is beginning to eerily resemble his 39 homer campaign of 2006.

All are available in at least 50 percent of fantasy leagues and can provide depth for a frontrunner or a jolt for a struggling team.

The full list:
Frank Thomas, DH, Oakland Athletics
Status: Heating up with the weather
Key Stats: 4 home runs, 6 RBIs last 6 games
What to Watch For: Similar seasonal pattern as 2006 when he hit 39 home runs
Other Notes: Hitting .455 in last 6 and .322 in last 22

Pedro Feliz, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies
Status: Enjoying move to hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park
Key Stats: .484 average, 8 RBIs during 7-game hit streak
What to Watch For: More patience at plate (11 walks/18 strikeouts)
Other Notes: .333 average, 16 RBIs in May

Adam LaRoche, 1B, Pittsburgh Pirates
Status: Warming up after slow start
Key Stats: Hitting .379 with 4 RBIs last 7 games
What to Watch For: As temperature rises, so does home run total
Other Notes: Notoriously slow starter has raised average 60 points in May

Jorge Cantu, 1B, Florida Marlins
Status: Hitting third for first-place Fish
Key Stats: .308, 2 home runs, 6 RBIs in last 7 games
What to Watch For: Increased power in improved Marlins lineup
Other Notes: Hitting .333 off of lefthanded pitching, but 6 homers and 20 RBIs off of righthanders

Jack Cust, OF, Oakland Athletics
Status: Getting hot during one of many streaks
Key Stats: 4 homers, 7 RBIs last 4 games
What to Watch For: Less strikeouts to go with 39 walks
Other Notes: 7 of 8 home runs have been hit in May and off of right-handers

Yuniesky Betancourt, SS, Seattle Mariners
Status: Settling into ninth spot in lineup
Key Stats: .433 average, 1 home run, 4 RBIs during 8-game hit streak
What to Watch For: .284 average not to change much (.283 career hitter)
Other Notes: 2 Ks in last 36 at-bats

Freddy Sanchez, 2B, Pittsburgh Pirates
Status: Career .303 hitter steadily raising average after slow start
Key Stats: 8 doubles and 11 RBIs in May
What to Watch For: Little power (1 home run) but puts ball in play
Other Notes: .277, 10 RBIs, 4 walks hitting leadoff

Willy Tavares, OF, Colorado Rockies
Status: Still running despite poor average
Key Stats: .385 average, 2 stolen bases last 3 games
What to Watch For: Increase in average for .288 career hitter, and consequentially more SBs
Other Notes: 20/21 in stolen base attempts

Julio Lugo, SS, Boston Red Sox
Status: Facilitator of one of baseball’s best lineups
Key Stats: .300 average, 3 RBIs last 7 games
What to Watch For: More contact against lefthanders
Other Notes: Leads Sox in infield and bunt hits

Jason Kendall, C, Milwaukee Brewers
Status: Quietly producing for struggling Brewers
Key Stats: .318 average, .400 OBP last 6 games
What to Watch For: Not much power, but steady climb toward .296 career average
Other Notes: .339 average, 5 RBIs at Miller Park

Dave DeIuliis will be a senior at Penn State’s School of Journalism. He can be reached at dmd5042@psu.edu.