Kyle Schwarber (+46.9%) was the most added player in fantasy baseball this past week. What hasn’t been said about this elite prospect over the past few weeks? Here’s an interesting stat that might surprise you. He’s sneaky fast! Ok, maybe not, but it is a fun piece of trivia that could impress your friends and co-workers at the next social gathering. You’ll be the life of the party! Schwarber is back with the Cubs after a brief cup of coffee in June to serve as the club’s DH during interleague play. Due to Miguel Montero’s recent thumb injury that’s likely to keep him on the DL for another month or more, Schwarber has a chance to log some serious playing time in the near future. In 34 plate appearances at the MLB level this season, he’s produced a .375/.412/.563 triple slash line with a homer, 8 runs scored, and 6 RBI. His minor league numbers aren’t too bad either, as he combined to hit .323/.430/.591 with 16 homers, 46 runs, and 49 RBI in 310 PA across the AA and AAA levels this season. Power, pedigree, and catcher-eligibility – oh my! Could be a difference maker this year. Grab him if he’s somehow still available in your league.
Here are a couple of other significant adds and drops in fantasy baseball over the past week:
Randal Grichuk – 33.7% owned (+10.5%)
When considering all of the impressive young position players who have made their MLB debuts over the past two seasons (George Springer, Mookie Betts, Kris Bryant, Carlos Correa, etc.), it’s not surprising that a player like Grichuk has flown under the radar. It might be time for that to change. In 220 PA this season, the 23-year-old Grichuk boasts a .281/.332/.557 line with 9 homers, 30 runs, 32 RBI, and 3 steals. His .276 ISO is tied with JD Martinez for the 7th highest mark in MLB (min. 200 PA), and his .557 SLG is currently 9th. His average fly ball distance of 296.28 feet ranks 36th in MLB among qualified hitters, ahead of the aforementioned Springer and Bryant as well as established sluggers such as Nolan Arenado, Todd Frazier, and Nelson Cruz. The 30.9% K% is a concern, and will likely keep his batting average in the .260 range in the 2nd half, but the power is for real. The recent return of Matt Holliday is unlikely to affect Grichuk’s playing time significantly going forward, as the Cardinals have moved him to center field in order to keep him in the everyday lineup. TREASURE.
Chris Carter – 38.0% owned (-5.7%)
In 2014, Carter launched 37 home runs, which was tied with Giancarlo Stanton for the 2nd highest total in MLB. What a difference a year makes. Carter’s struggles this season are eerily reminiscent of another prominent slugger who suffered through a poor 2014 campaign. Let’s take a look:
| Season | Name | G | PA | HR | R | RBI | SB | BB% | K% | ISO | BABIP | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Chris Davis | 127 | 525 | 26 | 65 | 72 | 2 | 11.40% | 33.00% | 0.209 | 0.242 | 0.196 | 0.3 | 0.404 |
| 2015 | Chris Carter | 86 | 340 | 15 | 34 | 41 | 1 | 12.90% | 33.80% | 0.195 | 0.236 | 0.185 | 0.3 | 0.38 |
Things haven’t gotten better for Carter in recent weeks either. In his last 20 games played since June 19th, Carter has managed just a .103/.195/.265 triple slash line in 77 PA. A sprained ankle has kept him out of action over the past few days, though a trip to the DL isn’t expected at this time. Regardless, it’s best to steer clear of this average drain in what looks like a lost season for him. TRASH.
