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So without further ado, here is Week 20’s Head to Head heroes of fantasy baseball with no chicanery!
Runs/SB
Tyler Wade, 2B/3B/SS, NYY-17% rostered in Yahoo- With Gleybar on the shelf for another week and the Yankees beat up, it appears that Wade is likely to see enough playing time. His last 14 days have been absolutely dominant, with 5 SB’s to pace the major leagues. Add in the fact that he is blistering hot at the plate (.478) and it’s hard to believe he is still rostered in less than 20%. It would be great if he was hitting at the top of the lineup, but beggars can’t be choosers.
Victor Robles, OF, WSH-24% rostered in Yahoo- Talk about getting the wool pulled over your eyes! Robles has been as big of a disappointment as there is, but I’m going out on a limb here! The season as a whole has been one big pile of hot garbage, but he has strung together some meaningful ABs and could surprise with a few SB and Runs this week. For starters, he has reached base 7 games straight (as of 8/17), but none have been via the BB. If I need SBs, Robles has the speed, I just don’t know where it has been as of yet?
Miguel Rojas, SS, MIA– 19% rostered in Yahoo- It appears the Marlins have found their new leadoff hitter, and Rojas has really thrived in that role. Rojas may mean “Red” in Spanish, but he is not getting the red light while on base. Since taking over lead-off duties on July 15th, he has stolen 5 bags on 5 attempts. The Marlins will host the Nationals and the Reds, who are both near the top of the league in SB’s allowed.
HR/RBI
Frank Schwindel, 1B/OF, CHC– 19% rostered in Yahoo- Cubs’ fans were definitely hornswoggled when they decided to sell fan favorites Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, etc. I think we all knew this was coming, but we didn’t see Frank Schwindel emerging from the ashes. The 29-year old journeyman has demonstrated the power to be rostered while he is hot. In two weeks with the Cubs, he is hitting .373/.407/.725 with 4 HR and 13 RBI in just 54 PA.
Lewis Brinson, OF, MIA– 45% rostered in Yahoo- I was tempted to include him in last weeks’ article, but I wasn’t sure he was completely passing the eye test, and then he went out the next day and hit 2 HRs’s a combined 800+ feet. The pedigree has been there, and now the production is following suit. Now he is hitting in the middle of the order and showing no signs of slowing down since his call-up last month (.348 with 5 HRs)
Brandon Belt, 1B, SFG– 35% rostered in Yahoo- Definitely a Tue-Fri play, if you can make a weekend change. Belt gets all righties during the week and has absolutely crushed them this season (13 of 16 HR v RHP). After missing all of July with a knee injury, he has come back in August with a vengeance. 5HR/8RBI The Batting Average won’t be on your side, but he is one of the pure power threats available.
Wins
Madison Bumgarner, SP, ARI– 51% rostered in Yahoo- MadBum has been mighty impressive over the last 6 starts, dating back to July 15th. He has compiled a 2.08 ERA to go along with his 3.64 FIP, which includes 2 games against the Padres. The 1st start is against Pitt, losers of 9/10. The 2nd will be in the City of Brotherly Love for a tougher matchup with the Phillies. It’s weird that I clump MadBum and Waino into the same age group, yet Bum is only 32 and Waino is 40.
Josiah Gray, SP, WSH– 36% rostered in Yahoo- Since being traded to the Nats and joining their rotation, he has yet to go less than 5 innings and has yet to allow more than 3 runs. Over the past 11 innings, he has struck out 16 batters to only 2 BBs. The longball hasn’t been his best friend (3.38 HR/9). Lucky for him, the Marlins rank 27th in HRs and the Mets (29th) when at Citi Field.
Dylan Bundy, SP, LAA– 40% rostered in Yahoo- Hasn’t exactly been dominant since rejoining the rotation on 7/29, but hasn’t allowed more than 3ER in any of those starts. The problem with Bundy is that he hasn’t gone more than 4 2/3 in 4 of those 5 starts. I think this start against the Orioles is the matchup to get the win. Prior team narrative working in his favor. Can’t forget the fact that the Orioles have lost a bakers’ dozen in a row doesn’t hurt our odds.
Speculation and Saves
Joe Barlow, RP, TEX– 25% rostered in Yahoo- Appears to have gained control of the 9th inning and has looked great in doing so. In his 14 2/3 innings, he has a sub 1.00 ERA with 18 K’s!
Mychal Givens, RP, CIN– 35% rostered in Yahoo- Givens has gone 3 for 3 since being acquired by the Reds. The Reds Closer Carousel has been a wild ride, but SAGNOF.
Michael Fulmer, RP, DET– 12% rostered in Yahoo- Gregory Soto has struggled as of late, and Fulmer would be the next man up. It’s Soto’s job to lose.
Rowan Wick, RP, CHC– 1% rostered in Yahoo- Finally activated from the IL after a bout with a severe intercostal strain. I can see Wick getting save chances soon.
