Chris Young continues to shock the fantasy baseball world as he held the Yankees to just one run and four hits last night to grab his third win. He struck out two. After coming off a six inning shut out of Detroit last week, Young has now lowered his ratios to a 0.93 ERA and 0.63 WHIP. He has been very good in his three starts and pitching in relief for the Royals. This begs the question. What are the Royals giving their pitchers? And why isn’t Yordano Ventura getting any? The 21/7 K/BB ratio is nothing special and the .132 BABIP is impossible to sustain. In addition, his 4.70 xFIP is real bad and suggest this he can’t keep this charade going for much longer. He gets the Cardinals next week, and I’m not quite ready to recommend him outside AL-Only or deep leagues, but I’m watching him closely, and I think you should, too. Also, very few players were lede-worthy this week, which is why you get 200 words on a 35-year old journeyman. We know now that you don’t doubt the Royals, and if he continues to excel, Chris Young could pitch himself into a rotation spot even after Jason Vargas returns.
Here’s what else happened in fantasy baseball Friday night:
Gregory Polanco – 0-for-3, run, 4 BB, SB (11). Grey would call this the Jackie Bradley special. Me, personally? I’d rather own Polanco.
Andrew McCutchen – 2-for-4, 3-run HR (4). Is ‘Cutch back? He’s got two homers and a steal in the past week, that certainly feels promising enough. If you’re worried like me and concerned about the lack of speed, now is as good a time as any to sell.
Josh Harrison – 4-for-6, 3 runs, HR (4). Batting .474 with 2 homers and a steal in the past week. How is it Harrison isn’t even owned in 100% of ESPN leagues? And how is it I’m not in any of these leagues. I am struggling this year people, I could really use some dummies to beat up on.
Pedro Alvarez – 3-for-6, HR (6). So…the Pirates look like they’ve risen from the dead. My guess is someone finally broke the curse of the black pearl.
Kris Bryant – 1-for-4, 3-run HR(4), 4 RBI. THE POWER OF KRIS COMPELS ME! THE POWER OF KRIS COMPELS ME!
Dexter Fowler – 2-for-6, 2 run, SB (9). He’s got 13 runs, 3 homers and two steals in the past two weeks. He’s also owned in less than half of ESPN leagues. Do I need to drug you, strap you to a table, slice your face and save your blood to get you to pick him up? I can’t control these urges, Harry! Deb!? How did our show go downhill so quick?
Miguel Cabrera – 2-for-5, 2-run HR (9). That’s three homers and 7 RBI in 24 hours. He’s on a mission this weekend. One more to 400, then party at my place! You bring the booze! Also, bring the women. Better bring the food and the DJ as well. I’ve got an above ground pool and a bag of Chex Mix though. Nothing says, “I’m loaded!” like an above ground pool, right? On second thought, maybe we better party at your place.
J.D. Martinez – 2-for-5, HR (8). Someone is super jelly of Miggy’s 400. Regardless, J.D. is looking like the hitter you drafted lately, batting .429 with 2 homers in the past week.
Yoenis Cespedes – 3-for-5, HR (5), 2 RBI, SB (1). The slam and legs! In Detroit they call it a Coney. Because, well, I don’t know why. Tigers scored 10 runs on 17 hits as everyone was getting in on the action. No one wants to miss their invite to Miggy’s big 400 party celebration extravaganza. Did I mention there will be an above ground pool?
Jason Heyward – 2-for-3, HR (3). Still slugging just .369. No reason to move Kolten Wong out of the top two. Moving along…
Carlos Martinez – 5.0 IP, 7 hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K. Sure, not a fabulous fantasy outing but if you had the cajones to start him versus Detroit this was likely best case scenario and its encouraging. He gets the Mets next week and if someone bailed on C-Mart I might grab him.
Shane Greene – 5.0 IP, 5 hits, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K and his 4th win. Got the win but left the game with an elbow injury. We’re waiting to hear how serious it is, but Greene is not a pitcher I’m waiting around very long for. If he’s hurt I wouldn’t hesitate to look for new option immediately.
Shane Victorino – 2-for-4, run, SB (3). I mention Victo not because you should pick him up, but because he’s got 4 hits a homer and a stolen base in his past two games. He’s doing everything he can to keep Rusney Castillo in the minors. Have you tried blackmailing him, Shane? That always works for me. Have I mentioned I’m a Scientologist?
Clay Buchholz – 8.0 IP, 3 hits, ER, 0 BB, 11 K. Grey told you to BUY BuchLOLZ last week and would you believe it, BOOM! If you pick and choose his starts, Buchholz can be your ace. But if you choose wrong…BOOM! He is frustrating to own but his 54/13 K/BB ratio tells you all you need to know.
J.A. Happ – 7.0 IP, 5 hits, ER, BB, 3 K. Caaaause he’s Happ! Clap along if you must! He’s been my favorite streamer this season, but I’m not crazy about his start next week in Baltimore. And no, not just because it’s in Baltimore.
Jose Altuve – 2-for-4, 3-run HR (5). Altoooooove! He’s got two homers and two steals in the past week and he currently leads the league in “awwwww”s.
George Springer – 1-for-4, HR (6). Concussion smonsmussion!
Brian Dozier – 1-for-3, HR (5), 2 RBI. The Dozier has really woken up over the past week with three home runs. And if that’s still putting you to sleep you probs have narcolepsy and there’s an online forum I think you should check out if you’re feeling kinky.
Michael Pineda – 5.1 IP, 10 hits, 5 ER, K. OUCH. Regression fairies, why do you mock me? I just named you my ace, Michael. I got you a red ‘A’ for your chest. Hester Prynne and Emma Stone are so jealous. Well, at least he didn’t walk anybody.
Mike Moustakas – 4-for-5, 3 runs, RBI. Yep. It was one of those kinds of games. The Royals had 17 hits and scored 12 runs.
Lorenzo Cain – 3-for-4, 2 runs, 5 RBI. Who needs power when you have average and speed!? Said no one.
Michael Brantley – 3-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI, SB (6). A few weeks ago I said I wouldn’t have drafted Brantley in the third round. I take it back Michael, and I’m sorry.
Prince Fielder – 1-for-4, 2-run HR (5). He’s just like Prince Joffrey–except he hits home runs instead of women, and I don’t hate him with the passion of all the fire and steel in all the seven kingdoms of Westeros. So I guess, he’s nothing like Joffrey.
Adrian Beltre – 3-for-4, HR (5). 400th career homer! Yo Adrian, you did it! Unlike Miggy, Beltre will not be having a party. He just asks that everyone “leave him alone.”
Giancarlo Stanton – 2-for-4, 2 HR (10). Big Stanton with two shots! If me and Giancarlo are ever going to make it, I need to know he’s committed to my faith, Scientology. That’s why we’re holding an intense auditing session tonight where he’ll tell me all his darkest secrets. Fingers cross I’m in some of them!
Bartolo Colon – 5.0 IP, 7 hits, 5 ER, 2 K. Give him a pass, he was feeling bloated.
Kyle Lohse – 8.0 IP, 2 hits, 0 ER, BB, 8 K and his 3rd win. The Mets offense is really bad. Nice start, but I’d be scared to use Lohse next week in Detroit. And not just because its in Detroit.
Ryan Braun – 2-for-4, 2 HR (8). Just continue to doubt him. It only makes him stronger. That and PEDs for elevated testosterone.
Bryce Harper – 3-for-4, HR (13), 2 RBI. The 13 homers matches his total from last season. He also already has more RBI than he did last year. Me and Bryce are sharing a limo to Miggy’s 400-party. He doesn’t know it yet but I’ve been camped out in this trunk for three days now.
Jayson Werth – Left the game after getting hit on the wrist but the x-rays were negative. Michael Taylor would be a nice add in the interim and he’s fresh off his game winning grand salami on Wednesday.
Denard Span – 2-for-5, run, RBI. The Spanaconda has five straight multi-hit games with a homer and a steal in that Span. Ugh, would you idiots just pick him up already so he’s 100% owned by the end of the weekend. Don’t make me ask nicely.
Jordan Zimmermann – 6.0 IP, 6 hits, 0 ER, BB, 6 K and his 3rd win. His ratios are ugly but it was his fifth straight quality start in a row. If I’m a JZ owner, I’m thinking “Can I get a–” and selling.
Brandon Belt – 3-for-5, 3-run HR (1), 4 RBI. Last week I said Belt’s next level stats suggested power was on the way. It only took seven days. I know, sometimes its spooky how good I am.
Billy Hamilton – 2-for-5, HR (3). Enough of this nonsense! Steal bases!
Troy Tulowitzki – Left the game with quad tightness. And now we wait for bad news as my drafting Tulo nightmare continues. Maybe that will make him much easier to trade?
Carlos Rodon – 4.0 IP, 5 hits, 5 ER, 6 BB, 5 K. He was a BUY this week. When I studied at the Fantasy Baseball School of Charleston’s satellite school in Schenectady, NY, I learned you have to be patient with rookie pitchers. They also taught us how to format the perfect excel spreadsheet, and how to be a craft beer snob. Pfft! I’ve had better IPAs in prison. But I still like Rodon against Cleveland next week.
Clayton Kershaw – 6.2 IP, 4 hits, 3 ER, 3 BB, 10 K and his second win. With Corey Kluber and Michael Pineda taking strikeouts to the next level, I can’t help but let out a big “meh” for this start. Kersh, Y U no K 20?
Jimmy Rollins – 4-for-5, 2 runs, HR (4), 2 RBI and Howie Kendrick – 3-for-5, run. The Dodgers middle infield and 2-3 hitters combined for 7 hits and 67 years old last night. After they game the celebrated with a warm Sanka and nap.
Andre Ethier – 2-for-4, RBI. Me and Grey have been telling you to BUY. Still out there in a lot of leagues and yes you should pick him up. I wish I had him as the lede in my post last week versus Morrison, I would look way wicker smahter right now.
Kenley Jansen – 1.0 IP, 4 K in his return. If you strike out 4 in one inning. I think it’s safe to say you are ready to return to action.
Jered Weaver – 7.1 IP, 3 hits, ER, BB, 3 K and his 2nd win. Still under 60% owned and I’m pretty sure I told you to pick him back up last week after his complete game shut out. I’m not 100% sure, that would involve me reading last weeks post, and we all know by now nobody reads my posts.
Thanks for reading! Questions? Problems? Complaints to management? Advice, small gifts or large bribes? Please leave it in the comments below, or you can get at me on twitter @dandemanco. Join us next Saturday for another Friday recap as fantasy baseball continues next week, all week long!
