The Cubs have recalled super catching prospect Kyle Schwarber to split catching duties while Miguel Montero is out for the next six weeks. Kyle was 3-for-4 with a run scored Friday night. We know the Cubs have a crazy amount of young talent on their roster, but Schwarber could be the final piece. I’ve seen enough baseball movies to know the hot-shot catching phenom usually comes in half way through the season to unite a bunch of ragtag misfits and lead them to victory, even though the owner wants to move them to Albuquerque. Schwarber is likely no exception. In a brief call up in June to serve as DH, Kyle slashed .364/.391/.591 with a homer and 6 RBI in 22 at bats (6 games). Extrapolate that! Let’s see…6 over 22 is equal to, carry the 1, cross-multiply, take the cosine and divide by zero…87 home runs! Whoa! Even I underestimated Schwarber’s ceiling, I guess! Or perhaps my math is off? Regardless, Schwarber is an immediate add in all leagues. In the minors, between AA and AAA he combined to hit .323/.430/.591 with 16 homers and 49 RBI. Prospector Mike ranked Kyle 7th on his Midseason Top 50 Prospects list, and Grey told you to BUY. Seventh is in the top 10 you guys. That’s right, more math. I’m just saying there is some serious upside here and Kyle Schwarber could be the biggest and smartest pick up you make all season. Now bring on the catcher questions!
Here’s what else I saw in fantasy baseball Friday night:
Jonathan Schoop – 2-for-4, RBI. So the first post-All Star game recap falls on my shoulders. Whoa. That’s a whole lot of pressure you guys. Everyone is all hyped up over the exciting All Star “weekend” festivities. I can’t compete with that. Also, the break kind of null and voids all those wonderful streaks I love telling you about. Before the break, Player A was hot fire, so, maybe he still is? See how much harder this is? Anyway, I think I told you last week to grab Schoop if you needed a middle infielder. But that was seven days ago–who can remember!
J.D. Martinez – 1-for-4, HR (26). Victor Martinez was 1-for-4, 2-run HR (6). Because that’s how the Martinez’s roll in Detroit. Me? I decided to draft Gonzalez’s over Martinez’s this year, and while Adrian, Carlos, Gio and Marwin have not been bad, I would have been better off with these two for sure.
Jose Iglesias – 2-for-3, 2 runs, 3-run HR (2). Remember how hot he was to start the season? I will jog your memory, he hit .377 in April. Maybe he’s about to do that again.
Anibal Sanchez – 6.0 IP, 8 hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K and his 9th win. I recommended you buy Aniballer Status a few weeks ago because I like the way he strikes out batters and I like the way his team scores runs. It’s not that complicated.
Jake Odorizzi – 4.1 IP, 6 hits, 6 ER, 5 BB, K. Sure, this Odorizzi stinks, but Toronto be hitting baseballs. He gets the Phillies next week and I’d start with confidence.
Josh Donaldson – 1-for-2, 2-run HR (22). I am seriously so happy I drafted Yasiel Puig over you. : | Just look at how happy I am.
Jose Fernandez – 6.0 IP, 4 hits, 2 ER, BB, 6 K. Oh hai, JoFer. I like your 21/1 K/BB rate. We are still best friends, right? I’m sorry I didn’t draft you on most teams, clearly, you are looking like a top 10 pitcher going forward, if not top 5. Next year? Fuggedaboutit. We are getting an apartment together.
Masahiro Tanaka – 7.0 IP, 5 hits, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K and his 6th win. Gave up two homers to Kyle Seager ( 2-for-4, 2 HR (14), 3 RBI) but otherwise looked strong. I’d be worried Tanaka’s homerprone-ness is going to come back to haunt him, but you drafted the guy with the spaghetti elbow, so you obviously don’t care about anything.
Mike Montgomery – 6.0 IP, 7 hits, 3 ER, 9 K. This line looks a lot better than it could have looked, and while the 2.51 ERA remains impressive I’d be afraid that Mike-Mont’s luck is starting to run out. I’d be cautious about starting him next week in Detroit. And not just because you should always be cautious in Detroit.
Alex Rodriguez – 2-for-4, HR (19). You’re the reason I wake up to write this every Saturday morning.
Chris B. Young – 2-for-4, 2 runs, HR (11). Krispie loves creaming lefties!
Alex Rios – 1-for-3, HR (2). If anyone is overdue for a hot streak it’s Alex Rios. Not saying it will happen. But he is due.
Adam Eaton – 1-for-3, HR (7), SB (4). The slam & legs! I knew there was a reason I like you, and drafted you everywhere and held onto you for four months.
Mike Fiers – 7.0 IP, 3 hits, ER, BB, 7 K and his 5th win. You can’t have Michael Fiers unless you !@#$ing pick up Michael Fiers!
Gerardo Parra – 2-for-5, run, RBI. The Parra professional is one of the hottest little potatoes in all the land. Mil-ee-wauk-kay is Algonquin for “the good land.” Nagadan Nigamo is Algonquin for “pick up Gerardo already, you dummy!”
Kyle Hendricks – 5.2 IP, 4 hits, ER, BB, 5 K. I really wanted to stream Kyle for this start but I didn’t because I’m not greedy. His scoreless streak was snapped at 22.1 IP, but it will not be forgotten, by me at least. I’d most definitely stream Hendricks for his start next week versus Cincinnati. Dude is electric! *air guitar solo*
Jim Johnson – 1.0 IP, K, SV (6). He was a BUY this week. Also, he is a closer and you should own him. *Fantasy Pro Tip!*
Kelly Johnson – 2-for-3, run, RBI. He’s batting .400 in the past 10 games with 3 homers and 12 RBI. Who are you and what have you done to Kelly Johnson. Or more importantly perhaps, what has Kelly Johnson done with Freddie Freeman?
Todd Frazier – 0-for-5. Gasp! It’s the home run derby curse!
Marlon Byrd – 4-for-4, HR (15). Grey told you to BUY and Marlon Byrd is without a doubt the best player on my team that I want to drop.
Lance Lynn – 7.0 IP, 3 hits, ER, 9 K and and 7th win. LL is rockin’ a 2.79 ERA and a 111/33 K/BB rate. It must be nice to pitch for the Cardinals.
Noah Syndergaard – 7.0 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, BB, 6 K. I feel like I’m mentioning you every week? I hope you are you mentioning me every week as well.
Delino DeShields – 2-for-5. He didn’t do it last night, but he will steal bases. I’m gonna need you to trust me on this one.
Robbie Ray – 5.0 IP, 8 hits, 2 ER, 8 K. I think Rob Ray is my favorite MLB ace. Don’t sneeze at me! He’s pitched like it, too! He’s got a 2.29 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP and he gets the MIA Marlins next week. I have streamed worse. That’s what she said!
Hunter Pence – 3-for-6, 2 runs, 2-run HR (4). Joe Panik, Matt Duffy, Brandon Crawford all had three hits. The Giants can hit for average, people, just in case you’re still awake.
Chris Owings – 2-for-5, HR (3), SB (12). The slam & legs. In Arizona, they fry their slam and legs right there on the pavement. Nothing like the sizzle of slam on hot cement.
David Peralta – 3-for-6, run, RBI. He’s got a four game hitting streak, sort of. So much of what I do is observe player streaks, the All-Star break really does ruin everything. Have I mentioned that already?
Ervin Santana – 7.2 IP, 5 hits, 0 ER, BB, K and his first win. My excitement for Santana grows exponentially weaker the more I see him pitch this season.
Trevor Plouffe – 2-for-4, Grand Slam HR (12). Dy-no-mite! Has now homered in back to back games, but there was a break so none of that matters. Word!
Eddie Rosario – 2-for-4, SB (8). Fast Eddie has four straight multi-hit games with two stolen bases in that span. If I needed some SAGNOF action or an outfielder named Eddie, I’d consider grabbing Rosario.
Charlie Blackmon – 2-for-5, HR (12), SB (24). Blackmon has been hot fire in July. He’s slashing .392/.436/.627 with 8 runs, 2 HR, 7 RBI and 3 SB. Hey Charlie! Remember last year when you went crazy the first two months of the season? Please let me know if you’re about to do that again.
Matt Kemp – 2-for-3, HR (9). Kemp was red hot before the all star break, so naturally I figured the days off would ruin everything because this is Matt Kemp we’re talking about. Well, it’s looks like Kemp is still crushing baseballs so let’s just shut up and ride this out.
Jedd Gyorko – 1-for-3, 2-run HR (4). Sigh. I can’t even.
Dustin Pedroia – 0-for-4. I like criticizing Pedroia because he is so blindly loved by the Sawx Nation. I say trade him to Philadelphia and let Mookie play second. Despite my very unpopular opinion, he’s back to ruin all the chemistry the young’uns have built up over the past month.
Wade Miley – 7.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K. But was out dueled by C.J. Wilson (8.0 IP, 5 hits, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) in a very unexpected pitchers duel to end all pitchers duels. Miley actually had a no-hitter through six, but he caaaaan’t stop, and he wooooon’t stop, well, being Wade Miley. Wilson deserves the win in this one, but he said post game that he’s plenty happy as long as he stays dandruff free.
Mike Trout – 1-for-4, walk off HR (27). Alright. I’m just going to come out and say it. I think Mike Trout could be a player to watch.
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!
