Over the last few seasons of head-to-head fantasy baseball, I’ve increasingly looked for the long play. The long play is the player not yet producing who could make the difference late in the season when it counts. The long play is the rookie callup, the once and future closer, the rehabbing warhorse.

I’ve tabbed a few long plays already this season. I drafted John Smoltz and slotted him to the DL. Actually, that hardly qualifies. The DL-stash of a 22nd round pick is no hardship. I drafted Pablo Sandoval on the hopes that he gains catcher eligibility at some point. That has cost a little more, as Sandoval has started slow and will be no better than an average corner infielder even when he gets better.

Now here’s two more to think about.

First, Ben Sheets. Milwaukee’s former ace could be back in August, but he’s not currently signed by any major league team, which means he’s not DL-eligible. If you sign him, you use up a roster spot for nothing. Once Sheets gets a contract, the run will be on. You need to sign him just before that happens. For now, I’m laying off.

Second, Matt Wieters. The number one prospect in all of baseball is ranked by ESPN as the 10th best catcher and the 179th pick overall. But his eventual callup to the majors still looks a month or two away, especially with the minor but worrisome hamstring strain he suffered this week. In the Mynci, Wieters just landed on the waiver wire. For me, this is a long play worth the intervening zeros. Wieters is in. Sandoval is out.