Chicago Cubs mega prospect, and super phenom Javier Baez made his second start yesterday since being called up September 1 and went 3-for-4 with a 2-run HR and 3 RBI. After debuting 0-for-4 with a strikeout on Tuesday, this was a welcome sight for Cubs fans and more importantly, fantasy baseballers like you and me. Will he play every day? I don’t know. But if he keeps going 3-for-4 and hitting dingers…yeah, he’ll probably play! Cubs fans, you so spoiled with prospects these days. Kris Bryant is basically my role model. Rizzo be the Izzo. All Kyle Schwarber does is hit home runs. Now you’ve got Baez to fawn over. We all know about Javy Baez’s power by now, but let me remind you in case you forgot. In 2013, he hit 37 homers and slugged .578 in 130 games. More recently, he slugged .526 with 13 homers and 62 RBI in 74 games in the minors this year. Last year, in just 52 games with the MLB Cubs, he hit 9 homers with 20 RBI! That’s a 30 homer hitter, folks. Sure he also batted .169 and struck out 95 times but that was last year, he was still a raw talent and not quite ready for the big show. This is 2015, a brand new year and Javier Baez is ready to shine. I’d grab him everywhere he’s available for the potential power upside. Grey told you to BUY and adds like this can win your fantasy league. It’s Javy time and this kid’s gonna be a star! Ha-cha-cha!
Here’s what else happened in fantasy baseball Friday night:
Addison Russell – 2-for-4, 3 runs, 2 HR (12), 3 RBI. What a day for the Cubs infield! Anthony Rizzo was 2-for-3 with 2 runs and a Grand Slam (28). Addy’s playing time may actually be safer than a guy like Baez but I’d still rather own Javier for his power upside and his dry cool wit. Next year I’ll be all over Russell, but for now he’s not quite standard league ready yet.
Josh Tomlin – 8.0 IP, 4 hits, ER, BB, 6 K, his 4th straight win. When Bradley Cooper (doesn’t he look like B-Coops!?) plays Josh Tomlin in the biopic about his life 20 years from now, perhaps this start will be a huge turning point in the film. The climax, if you will. Josh has been outstanding since returning from the DL in mid-August. He’s rocking a cool 2.71 ERA and a 0.71 WHIP. But it’s that 32/3 K/BB rate that makes me really happy happy. Tomlin gets the White Sox next week and with the way he’s pitching I’d add him everywhere I could.
Jed Lowrie – 3-for-3, 2 runs. Let me tell you a little story about a man named Jed. He’s 8-for-14 in his past four games with 3 multi-hit games in that span. He was also 0-for-26 before this stretch. He also has been known to get crazy hot. That’s it. That’s the whole story. I told you it was little.
Collin McHugh – 7.2 IP, 7 hits, 0 ER, BB, 6 K and his 15th win. More like McNasty! Amiright?! In his past 6 starts, Co-Mac is rocking a sick 1.54 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 40/11 K/BB rate. Let me get some of your secret sauce, Collin!
Adam Jones – 2-for-4, 2-run HR (25). Jonesy! Are you going to get to 30? For me? Pretty please?
Chris Davis – 2-for-5, 2 HR(40), 3 RBI. THE POWER OF CHRIS COMPELS ME! THE POWER OF CHRIS COMPELS ME!
Adam Eaton – 4-for-5, run, 3 RBI. In the past week he’s batting .500 with a HR, SB and 8 RBI. Which is really pretty meh when you think about it. But still totally ownable.
Alexei Ramirez – 4-for-5, 3 runs, HR (11), 2 RBI. He’s batting .365 over the past two weeks with 12 runs. I know he’s nothing special but I don’t understand how he isn’t owned in half of ESPN leagues. I can only assume ESPN has been hacked by Mr. Robot, and Elliot is high on morphine trying to rewrite the source code for the encryptions before Eric Karabell can run away with all his dynasty leagues. You can do it, Elliot! You weirdo!
Tyler Saladino – 2-for-4, run, 2 RBI. Ohh. Nope. That’s a hard pass.
Kris Medlen – 5.2 IP, 11 hits, 7 ER, BB, 3 K. D’oh! That’s what I get for meddling with pitchers coming off serious injury.
John Danks – 9.0 IP, 7 hits, ER, BB, 5 K. Well, that was slightly unexpected. The Royals, who had scored 32 runs in their previous three games, were completely shut down by John “Thanks But No” Danks.
Mookie Betts – 2-for-3, 2 runs, RBI. MOOK! Extends his hitting streak to 10 games. Before Betts, calling someone a “mook” in New England was generally a bad thing. He’s batting close to .400 with two homers in the past week and he’s one of my favorite people in the world. I’m apologize to my real-life human girlfriend, but you will always be second to Mookie.
Jackie Bradley, Jr. – 1-for-3, 2 runs, HR (7). Sweet Sassy Molass, JBJ, where did you come from and where have you been hiding all this–what did you call it…ah, yes, talent. Over the past two weeks, J.B-Rad J is hitting close to .400 with two homers, 11 runs, 7 RBI, and 2 stolen bases. So what you’re telling me is that the Sawx would have been better off not signing Hanley? I’m not sure you knew this but Bradley makes a lot less money and plays much better defense.
Jean Machi – 0.2 IP, 4 hits, 3 ER. I’m going to strongly recommend staying away from the Red Sox bullpen for the remainder of the season. Robbie Ross, Jr. got the save, but who gets the next chance? Your guess is as good as mine. If you really need saves though, you can pick up Machi, Junichi Tazawa or Robbie Ross, Jr. if you hate yourself.
Yoenis Cespedes – 2-for-6, HR (11). Has now homered in three straight games, bringing his Mets total to 11. Have you ever seen a player take to his new team like Yoenis? He’s a Cesepdes for the rest of us! Gather round the Cespedes pole as we witness him demonstrate his feats of strength.
Martin Prado – 5-for-6, run, 2 RBI. Prado’s batting .375 with 2 homers and 9 RBI in the past two weeks. Prado is also a very stylish pick I’m told. How many of this season’s new fall fashions were something rappers wore in the 90s? I hope lots because I’m still wearing most of that stuff. #bringbackstarterjackets
Greg Bird – 1-for-3, HR (4). The Bird, Bird, Bird. Greg Bird is the word.
Luis Severino – 6.1 IP, 7 hits, ER, 3 BB, 5 K. Have you ever been in a fantasy league where the commissioner suddenly tries to institute keeper rules in August because they picked up some rookie who is awesome and they don’t want to let him go? That’s sort of how I feel about Severino. I especially like it when he strikes out batters. I want to own dat.
Jake Lamb – 2-for-2, 2-run HR (6). Baaaaaaah! No, he’s not that baaad, he’s just really, really meh. But maybe ewe are into that. I will see myself out.
J.A. Happ – 7.0 IP, 3 hits, 0 ER, 8 K. Cause he’s Happ! Clap along if you feel you must, Pharrell, because JA is off the chain. Happ won his fourth straight game last night, and dude just loves being a Pirate. I get it, it’s fun being the bad guy. He’s allowed just 2 ER in his past five starts (30.0 IP), with a 26/4 K/BB ratio. He gets the Reds next week and if he’s out there I would stream the shizz out of that.
Stephen Piscotty – 2-for-4, RBI. He’s batting close to .450 in the past week. He also delivered a baby and officiated two same-sex marriages on his way to the ballpark. He’s a real good guy.
Nolan Arenado – 3-for-4, HR (35). We are basically past the best friend tier at this point. We are officially brothers.
Carlos Gonzalez – 1-for-4, HR (36). You are just ridiculous, sir. 23 homers post All Star break. CarGo really redefines the meaning of a buy-low candidate.
Corey Seager – 2-for-5, RBI. You know I love da rooks! Grey said BUY. Pick him up before I do!
Jedd Gyorko – 1-for-4, HR (12). The Jerk Store called…and they are sick of all the prank calls, you guys. I know Jedd has burned us all in the past, but prank calls are a federal offense, so let’s get serious. Gyorko’s now homered in back to back games, and this was his fourth homer in the past two weeks. No, I’m not saying you should pick him up. I will never do that to you again (until next year, perhaps), I am just presenting the facts/stats and you can do with that information what you will.
Kyle Seager – 3-for-4, 3 runs, HR (22). Dude has 5 homers in the past two weeks with 9 runs and 11 RBI. He’s also got a seven game hitting streak an is batting .460 in that stretch. If my fantasy league’s scoring started in August, me and Seager would be riding high in first place right now.
Stefen Romero – 2-for-4, 2 runs, HR (1), 3 RBI. Replaced Franklin Gutierrez after his inevitable injury. It was only a matter of time, FraGu. It was fun while it lasted but we were playing with fire.
C.J. Cron – 3-for-4, 5 RBI. Cron has got it going on! CJ has found pretty regular playing time despite Mike Scioscia’s best efforts. All that raw Cron Air power really hasn’t reared isn’t head yet. Where my dingerz at, CJ? He’s got one homer and 10 RBI in the past two weeks and let’s hope the power stroke is on the same vacation as Mike Trout’s right now.
Danny Valencia – 2-for-4, Grand Slam (13). Oh Danny Boy! I thought about telling you to buy Valencia last week, but then I was all like…”Naaaw…” He doesn’t even play everyday. But still, when he does play. Oh boy. He sure is playing mediocre to slightly above average right now. Yeah, budday! He’s got a nine game hitting streak, and hitting .381 in the past week with a homer and 8 RBI. Deeper leaguers, if you need someone who won’t hurt you, Valencia is a hot little potato right now.
Brett Lawrie – 3-for-5, run, RBI. Another BUY this week. Lawrie continues to hit all the baseballs, and is now batting close to .300 over the past week with two homers and 3 RBI. Hmm. When I write the stats down like that, on my computer monitor they look much less impressive. What if I told you he’s hitting .375 with 12 runs, 4 homers and 9 RBI in the past two weeks. Ahh, yes, now that’s more more like it. What a hot schmotato. It’s all in how you frame it, folks!
Bryce Harper – 2-for-3, 2 runs, HR (32). Did B-Ryce cool off or what? It was only a few months ago we were gallavanting around town together, drinking shandys, bumping Drake and bragging about our future Fantasy Baseball & Cool Guy Championship trophies on our way to 50+ home runs. Yeah, that doesn’t look quite as likely anymore, does it? Honestly, I really don’t care that you hit this ball 440 feet. Stop telling me that ESPN. For future reference, Bryce, I would prefer you hit two 220 foot home runs than one 440-footer.
Thanks for reading! Questions? Problems? Complaints to management? Advice, small gifts or large bribes? Please leave it in the comments below. Join us next Saturday for another Friday recap as fantasy baseball continues next week, all week long!
