Our final division in this breakout prospect series is the NL West. These are players who “broke out” statistically in 2015 and were either ranked in the bottom half of their team’s preseason top ten list or didn’t make their team’s list at all. Some of these names will look familiar and have already been scooped up in many dynasty formats. Others may still be flying low enough that their big performances have gone undetected. I'll see most of you on the other side when the offseason posts start next Wednesday, but in case I don't - thanks for a great season and good luck to you on the final weekend! Here are the breakout prospects from the NL West...
Monthly Archives: September 2015
Learn more about our 2025 Fantasy Baseball Subscriptions!
The best daily/weekly player rankings/projections (hitters, starters, and relievers) for each of the next 7-10 days + next calendar week starting Friday. Kick-ass DFS lineup optimizer and projections for DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo!.
I don’t have enough spam, give me the Razzball email newsletter!
Weekly Razzball news delivered straight to your inbox.
I'm already looking ahead to next season's draft in many of my leagues — uhh, because I have the titles locked up, yeah, that's it! — so of course, I'm taking a gander at the best value picks heading into 2016. I'm a big proponent of the power of a platoon split player being beneficial, particularly in deep leagues, and I'm a sucker for prospects. When those worlds collide I'm apt to do proverbial back-flips, and thus enter [player]Michael Conforto[/player]. The 22-year-old had never faced Triple-A pitching, but the Mets called him up to the big leagues in late July anyway. Since being promoted from Double-A, he and big trade acquisition Yoenis Cespedes have torched opposing pitchers.
DraftKings: It’s Time To Down A Cold Brew(er) Or Two
September 30, 2015 | DraftKings | 3 Commentsby: Sky
It's not a great year to be rooting for Milwaukee and it just got worse as the year progressed. GM fired? Check. Big name star traded? Double check. Big name stars hurt? Triple check. Your mama always taught you not to kick someone while they're down, but your mama didn't play DFS. What, were you expecting a 'your mama' joke? What is this, 1989? I'm sure your mama is nice, just don't ask me why she wanted me as a job reference on her resume (subtle maternal insults are the best!). But back to beating on the bad teams...Brewers are bad. Since we started off with a beer analogy, let's keep it rolling and say this is not Milwaukee's Best. Or maybe it is? I'm a beer snob but haven't had that beer so I'll pretend it doesn't taste like runny pig bile and give you MB lovers the benefit of the doubt. Whichever side makes me insult you less is the side I'm going for, though, let's make that clear. Choose your own adventure here and let's move on to why we talk of the Brew Crew being the pew crew: Andrew Cashner. Would I love to attack the Brewers with a safer option? You betcha. Am I ok with taking this chance at a low end price of $6,100? YUP. So tip a few back as you watch the DK points rack up. Or maybe as you tip a few back it just looks like you're scoring a lot cuz you're seeing double. Whatevs, just enjoy yourself. Here's the rest of my PBR takes for this Wednesday DK slate...
New to DraftKings? Scared of feeling like a small fish in a big pond? Well try out this 25 teamer of Razzball writers and friends to wet your DK whistle. Just remember to sign up through us before you do. It’s how we know you care! If you still feel helpless and lonely, be sure to subscribe to the DFSBot for your daily baseball plays.
Lucas’s Return Of The Duda
September 30, 2015 | Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 245 Commentsby: Grey
Yesterday, Lucas Duda went 3-for-5, 3 RBIs with two homers (26, 27). He now has five homers in the last three days. Duda goes from doodie to Duda in the blink of an eye. He's like a sports car that goes 0 to 60 in five seconds flat that you only drive three times a year, because, while your penis may be small, you're also reasonable enough to realize if someone crashes into you, you're going to cry and that's embarrassing in front of your future trophy wife. It seems like no matter how many games Duda misses and no matter how deep his slumps get, he gets scorching hot at some point and will get to thirty homers. His hot streaks are shorter, but he reminds me of a poor man's Chris Davis. I will call him Piss Davis. Maybe I won't call him that to his face. Somehow, Duda is available in over 40% of ESPN leagues. (Though 85% of leagues are abandoned already so he's owned in 125% of leagues. Hmm...) So, if he's out there, grab him before he takes the car back into the shop and pays $54,000 for a new taillight. Anyway, here's what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
One Man’s Trash: A Hill in Beantown
September 29, 2015 | 2023 Fantasy Baseball | 24 Commentsby: Big Magoo
One of the most unlikely stories of the 2015 season has been the surprising renaissance of 35-year-old southpaw Rich Hill (+30.9%), who was ESPN's most added player over the past week. In three September starts, Hill is 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA, 0.52 WHIP and 30/2 K/BB ratio over 23 innings. He's logged 10 strikeouts in each of those outings, which represent his first MLB starts since 2009 due to injuries and control issues (5.95 BB/9 from 2010-14). In terms of impressive comebacks, this one has to rank somewhere between that of Super Mario (the hockey player, not the plumber) and Kim Kardashian. Hill is scheduled to pitch once more this season on Thursday in The House Next to the House That Ruth Built in what appears to be a tough matchup for the comeback kid. However, the Yankees have the 4th worst team wOBA (.303) in MLB during the month of September thanks to a pedestrian .232/.302/.394 triple slash line which places them in the bottom four in each of those individual statistical categories during that span. I think that the Bombers will have some trouble with the curve. I know that Clint Eastwood baffles me these days.
Here are a few other significant adds and drops in fantasy baseball over the past week:
RCL Update, Week 26: Are You High On Windex?
September 29, 2015 | Our Leagues | 67 Commentsby: J-FOH
I usually talk about the top-10 below, but I had to make it the lede today. This week it's about Winning, and the High Index leagues smoking everyone in the standings. That includes our FML Grey... who will be in here to gloat in 3... 2... go. You are the champ of the perts and to be honest, it's been one of the hardest stretch run battle I've played in a long time. I tip my cap to you tough. Enough about Grey, this is about you. Six of the top-ten come from leagues with an index of 109 or higher, including three from the FCL, two from the ECFBL, and one from the Champions League. Way to go guys. Hey, has anyone caught Narcos on Netflix? I watch that show with the anticipation of a kid for Christmas. *feels tap on shoulder* Hey, what's up Octavio? Sorry guys, Octavio is my new intern I got from the local adult night school. I don't care if it looks weird to just change topics like that. I've written enough about these guys all year and I want to squeeze in my love of Narcos before my last post. If you do anything this off-season, besides read Razzball everyday, you should watch Narcos on Netflix. [Jay's Note: It stars Oberyn Martell for Godsakes!] If a well done in depth dramatization about the rise of Pablo Escobar strikes your fancy then I suggest you check it out. Until then, let us get to the update...
I said it last week and I’ll say it again, if you’re still reading our DFS content at this point in the game, then you most likely had yourself a profitable season. Congrats and come on into the comments and brag about your successes. Let’s see if we can finish off the season on a high note and maybe win a little extra spending money before the holidays. Also, if you’ve done well this season (Over $600 in winnings) you’ll need to set a little aside for taxes, you know, if you’re into paying those.
Now, come sail away with me to Arizona. Don’t worry, it’s a “dry” heat. Once we’re there, we’re going to check out Robbie Ray. Ray checks in with a very affordable $6,900. Let’s face it, he’s affordable because he isn’t really that great, but, and it’s a big but, he’s got a couple things going for him. Well, he’s got one thing going for him and that’s his opponent. The Rockies are such a beautiful disaster away from Coors field, that they can make even make the most mediocre pitcher look amazing. Away from home, the Rockies have the lowest team OPS in the majors, about 50 points below league average as a matter of fact. Even more in Ray’s favor is his handedness. The Rocks are bottom five in team OPS vs. Lefties. Add this up and you can see a lefty on the road is death on the Coors crew. It makes sense really, their only scary RHB is Arenado. Does DJ LeMahieu strike fear in your heart? Wilin Rosario maybe? I thought not. Ray’s been fairly respectable in his own right. His 3.53 ERA is right in line with his 3.55 FIP and his 8.3 K/9 is nothing to sneeze at. Ray’s biggest issue is being a little WHIP-y at times and that can get him into trouble. I think this match-up really sets up well for him though and he can be a low-priced star for tonight’s slate. Let’s look at a few more potential stars tonight:
New to DraftKings? Scared of feeling like a small fish in a big pond? Well try out this 7 teamer of Razzball writers and friends to wet your DK whistle. Just remember to sign up through us before you do. It’s how we know you care! If you still feel helpless and lonely, be sure to subscribe to the DFSBot for your daily baseball plays.
N-n-n-n-n-n-Nats All, Chokes!
September 29, 2015 | Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 186 Commentsby: Grey
"Hello, and welcome to the Izod Center in downtown East Rutherford, New Jersey! We're only 35 minutes from New York! On tonight's fight card, we have everyone vs. George Zimmerman and, our main event, Bryce Harper vs. Jonathan Papelbon! Harper has him on height by a good six inches, if you count his mohawk. They're both tipping the scales like heavyweights, if you count their egos, but Papelbon has the reach by three and a quarter inches since Harper will be fighting off his heels, as he's been known to do his whole career. The Loafer vs. The Soft Shoe! The Cock vs. The Guy With A Haircut That Makes Him Look Like A Cock! The Veteran Who Plays The Game The Right Way vs. The Upstart Who Just Plays The Game Better Than Anyone Else. Hosting this event is Donald Trump. Making this country great again like he did in Atlantic City!" Yesterday, I said, these two mix like vinegar and douche, and then the Nationals made sure they wouldn't have to mix at all. Papelbon was suspended for the rest of the regular season, which opens the door for Blake Treinen, Matt Thornton and/or Casey Janssen. That's the order I'd grab them for saves, but like a carrot in minestrone, it's real dicey. Anyway, here's what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
The Pitcher Profile Does Some Deep League, Late-September Scouting
September 28, 2015 | Pitcher Profiles | 10 Commentsby: JB Gilpin
Sure there's roto leagues wrapping up, some final H2H matchups, but the Pitcher Profile isn't going to help too many owners scout for the remaining 6 days of this season. We are doing a little more looking ahead! Progressive scouting is my term for this edition - makes me feel all front-office-y!
So I decided to find another off-the-map "prospect" to break down - Rays maybe long-term long-relief/maybe full-time starter next year, [player]Matt Andriese[/player]. I know what you're thinking... Blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! But what really intrigued me was his AAA numbers this year. In 12 starts (13 app.), 3-3 with a 2.35 ERA and 69 K in 65 innings. He did have a 1.15 WHIP, but then in the deeper numbers it's even more intriguing - 9.55:1.38 K:BB and all with a .344 BABIP, giving him - wait for it - a 1.94 FIP. Whoa! Given it's a pretty small sample, but he's been decent in 62.2 innings in the Majors as well. I don't really remember seeing any of those innings this year in the Majors (and I don't think I saw him the few Durham Bulls games I've been to this year), so I decided to break down his spot start yesterday to see if there's some deep league sleeper appeal for 2016:
SAGNOF Special, Week 26: Sprechen Sie SAGNOF? aka Razzball and Me
September 28, 2015 | Closers, Steals | 3 Commentsby: RotoLance
I don't have a long history with Razzball. I either found the site for the first time or became truly interested in them for the first time (I don't remember which, the latter I think) when I found this old Rudy post on rating different baseball projection systems via Google search heading into the 2013 baseball season. I quickly decided to make Steamer projections my goto, which led me to targeting Anthony Rizzo and Paul Goldschmidt in my 2013 home league (a H2H OBP league) auction. (Goldy had a great year, Rizzo not so much, I only ended up with one of them.. guess which one).
Here's how I came to write for Razzball...
Draftkings: Cards Get Clipped By The Happ Slapp…
September 28, 2015 | DraftKings | 3 Commentsby: Teddy Heater
I’m not sure if DK has been monitoring what J.A. Happ has done since being traded to Pittsburgh, but he's at the bargain price of $7,600 for tonight. How about we keep it a secret between us Razzballers? Since being traded in early August, Happ is 6-2 with a 2.43 ERA while striking out 58 batters in 48.1ings. His first start as a Pirate he let up 4er and Tuesday night, in Coors, he gave up 3er, but he still K’d 8 over 5.1ings. Throw out those two games and dude looks like Greinke with a sparkling 1.39 ERA and 44K’s over 38.9ings. Happ gets the Cards tonight which may seem like a bad matchup, but they’re only batting .232 and they're the NL's numero uno in strikeouts versus LHP. Happ’s resurgence after making the move isn’t a surprise as the Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage is a friggin genius whisperer on a whole different level. This guy is so great that instead of buying him a few beers, a brewery named a beer after him; for realsies, check out the Bucco Blonde. At a relatively low sticker price of $7,600 you can match up Happ with Mad Max at $12,000 or the aforementioned Greinke at $13,100. Let’s keep the good times rolling and raise our pints to Ray Searage and The Happ Slapp!
New to DraftKings? Scared of feeling like a small fish in a big pond? Well try out this 10 teamer of Razzball writers and friends to wet your DK whistle. Just remember to sign up through us before you do. It’s how we know you care! If you still feel helpless and lonely, be sure to subscribe to the DFSBot for your daily baseball plays.
The other day I made the best purchase of my life (okay, of the last week). I bought a thermometer that has a laser beam on it. You shoot the laser on the object and it tells you its exact temperature. It's meant--Actually, I don't know what it's meant for. I bought it because our oven seems to be about 100 degrees off. Though, I got it five days ago and I haven't used it for the oven once, but have measured the temperature of about twelve hundred other things. The coldest drinking water I've had was 49 degrees at this pizzeria around the corner from my house. Oh, yeah, I've been taking this out with me. I'll go up to people on the street, shoot their temperature and be like, "You have a fever, you might want to take an aspirin." I like to put on my flip flops when they're between 68 to 71 degrees. Any colder and it stiffens my toes, any warmer and it raises my body temperature a full .4 degrees. I know this because I have a thermometer with a frickin laser on it! So, how does this relate to fantasy baseball? I was watching Justin Bour slug his 23rd homer yesterday, his 2nd of two homers in the game, and I shot his temperature. A blistering 109 degrees! Doode's fahrenhot! Doode is straight butter that a professional hibachi chef puts on a sizzling lobster tail! Doode's Kurt Russell in Backdraft! Yes, you should own him. In fact (Grey's gonna say more!), you should've owned him for the last few months. Anyway, here's what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:
