If we have learned anything from the first 38+ games of the year, it is that we should always be flexible. Not, being able to bend over and tie your shoe without pulling an adductor muscle flexible, but somewhere around there. Isn’t it amazing that we, the fantasy community, have learned that there are 163 muscles in the abdomen alone somehow…which makes sense when they are being pulled on a daily basis. The 13-year old in me would have went with the groin muscle for a joke like that, but I have grown up quite a bit. Plus, I make that joke with my wife, who then proceeds to call that a “minor” strain, and I cry myself to sleep. Let me rub the sleep/shame out of my eye and present to you, Week 6:
Runs
Willie Calhoun, OF, TEX-19% rostered in Yahoo- The once top prospect had gone the way of Ralph Lifshitz, and had morphed in a Geoff. This Geoff has been leading off against RHP over the past week and gets a hefty dose of righties for Week 6. Granted the matchups are all amazing, Woodward has said he is playing everyday, and the Rangers play 7!
Matt Duffy, 2B/3B, CHC-4% rostered in Yahoo- Hey Nate! Yeah? How are you going to get Matt Duffy into your articles? Great question! Let’s just hope that the Cubs play a LHP heavy lineup in Week 6 (they do). Let’s hope Duffy has been hitting at the top of the lineup vs LHP (he does). Check to see if he has been productive (he has been). Ok, put him in..it might be his only mention of the season…unless he keeps giving us 8 runs and a .333 average over 14 day span.
Honorable Mention: Austin Hays, OF, BAL- Hitting at top of Bal. lineup. Facing a LHP heavy Week 6. 5 runs scored over past 7
HR/RBI
Gavin Lux, 2B, LAD-41% rostered in Yahoo- The 23 year old is starting to show signs of life after a sluggishly slow start to the season. Lux hit his 1st HR of the season on 5/11 and has multi-hit games in 4 of last 7. Signs are pointing up, and the Dodgers play 7 next week, with a projected 6/7 vs RHP.
Miguel Sano, 1B, MIN-40% rostered in Yahoo- There is a decent chance that Sano is still available in your H2H league. If that is the case, go get him now…hurry, before he pulls a Teres Major muscle (thank you WebMD). Sano gets the goods in Week 6. He gets to face a few lefties, and he most importantly has the opportunity to play in 8 games! Don’t invest in the BA, but if you need HR….
Honorable Mention: Taylor Ward, OF, LAA- With Pujols getting shat on, Ward has been seeing plenty of playing time. 2 HR’s over his past 6 games. The Angels play 8 this week as well. Give me all the AB’s in H2H leagues.
SB’s
Jonathan Villar, 2B/SS/3B, NYM-28% rostered in Yahoo- SAGNOF! IF there is just 1 recommendation I can make for Week 6, it is Villar. We all can use stolen bases, and Villar is one of the most valuable. J.D. Davis appears to need another week of recovery for his (J)ammed (D)igit….
Nick Senzel, 2B/OF, CIN- 33% rostered in Yahoo- Senzel has sneaky speed, despite only 2 SB’s on the season. He is leading off for the Reds and most importantly, gets a look to grab a stolen base or two off of one of the most generous teams. The Giants have allowed the 8th most SB, more importantly, Logan Webb has allowed the 3rd most SB among starting pitchers.
Honorable Mention: Anybody you can get in to face the Dodgers! The Dodgers have allowed the most SB’s (38). Next closest? LA Angels (28)
Wins
John Gant, SP, STL-13% rostered in Yahoo- I hate to play the “pick on the Pirates” game, but it is pretty low hanging fruit. Gant has been a little too wild for my taste, but he has gone 5 innings or more in 5 of 7 starts. The ERA is great, the WHIP is not. Take the streaming W to start your week off right!
Jon Gray, SP, COL-46% rostered in Yahoo- Another Jon in the Win column, this time with no H. The H stands for Heartburn, which he hasn’t given us this year, despite being a Rockie. Jon has been amazing on the season 4/2.93/1.17/44 and gets 2 starts in Week 6. A rematch against the Padres who he silenced, like the H in Jon, and the D’Backs.
Ratios
Ryan Yarbrough, SP/RP, TBR-34% rostered in Yahoo- After beginning the season as a regular Starter for Tampa, he has been used as the bulk reliever in 4 of the past 5 games. Being the piggy-backer sets him up for chances at Wins, and has really helped his ratios in doing so. I easily could have put him in the Wins, but I need to get the words to minimum!
Robbie Ray, SP, TOR-45% rostered in Yahoo- I don’t know how Ray is only rostered in 45%, but if that is case in your league, go grab him. Careful going down the stairs, don’t want you to fall and hurt your elbow…unless you are Robbie Ray, where that has seemed to improve his control. Who knew not knowing how to walk, has led to him knowing how not to walk (batters)
Saves
Mychal Givens, RP, COL-2% rostered in Yahoo- Bard has now blown 3 saves on the season. While many, including myself, love the comeback story, I felt we all knew that he wasn’t going to keep the 9th all to himself. Givens, who has closing experience, would appear to be the next man up.
Jordan Romano, RP, TOR-47% rostered in Yahoo- While Rafael Dolis is on the IL, the Jays don’t appear to have a “favorite” to lead the 9th. That being said, I would expect Romano to get the 1st crack, or at least the majority of opportunities. I personally still worry about the Ulnar Neuritis, but there’s nothing funny-bone about saves. That was a Ulnar Neuritis joke. I bow out gracefully!
