The Major League Baseball season has passed the halfway point and Independence Day is Thursday. I tend to use the major summer holidays as reference points for my fantasy season. It’s time to take a hard look at the standings and discover what you need to compete this season. Do you need a certain position/s and/or certain categories to hit? Where can you move up in the standings? Where are you in danger of losing ground and where are you stagnant? Trades that might not make sense in April may now make sense. Trading a Joey Gallo for a Mallex Smith would seem moronic, but if you have the power to spare but are desperate for stolen bases then it could make sense. The other owners in your league may not like it, but then again, they are just being jealous that they couldn’t swing the deal. Your only worry should be how to make your team better, not the thoughts of others.
Risers
Jorge Soler, Kansas City Royals: Does anyone realize that Soler is on pace to hit more than 40 HRs this season and drive in more than 100 runs? Sure, it will come with an AVG that is going to be a problem, but still, no one saw this power coming in March. It’s even more impressive when you consider that Soler is doing this while playing his home games in Kansas City. Yes, the ball is juiced this season or just made better, whatever you want to believe, but that also means it’s that way for everyone.
Fernando Tatis, San Diego Padres: Tatis is not the next superstar, he’s almost there now. The power is legit and so his feel for the game. Last night marked the second time in the past 10 days that he has tagged up and scored on an infield fly. Sure, he’s lucky there and shouldn’t keep tempting fate, but it also shows his cockiness, feel for the game, and that he’s not afraid to make a mistake. Those are pretty nice attributes to have, assuming they can be reeled in a bit and he doesn’t become reckless on the bases.
Keston Hiura, Milwaukee Brewers: Hiura didn’t deserve to be sent down earlier this season. He was caught in a numbers game when Travis Shaw returned from injury and the Brewers just weren’t ready to throw in the towel on the veteran, not without giving him one last chance to fail. Well, Shaw did just that and was banished to Triple-A and Hiura was recalled. Hiura shouldn’t have to worry about being demoted anymore. As a matter of fact, he shouldn’t have to worry about anything other than preparing to play each day. If he hasn’t already been claimed in your league, you should do so immediately.
Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles: Cashner is the only bright spot on this Baltimore pitching staff. Over his last four games, Cashner has only allowed four runs. Cashner has eight wins this season. The Orioles as a team only have 24, that means he has 1/3 of them. I’m not saying you should start him game in and game out, but he’s at least worthy of starting when the matchup dictates it. His ERA on the season is only a tick over four and this is with him pitching in a hitter’s park and with his team playing in the AL East along with the heavy-hitting Yankees and Red Sox.
Kevin Newman, Pittsburgh Pirates: What was Newman’s reward for having his 19-game hit streak ended Sunday? A day off Monday, of course, fantasy owners weren’t happy about that as the Pirates scored 18 runs in that game and Newman didn’t account for any one of them. Let’s face it, as fantasy owners, we always look at the negative. Newman should return to the lineup Tuesday for the Pirates and your fantasy team. I doubt another double-digit hit streak is in his future, but he should still reward your fantasy team with the number you’re looking for.
Fallers
Clint Frazier, New York Yankees: The fact that Frazier wasn’t recalled by the Yankees when Giancarlo Stanton went down to injury spoke volumes of where he stands in the organization right now. The Yankees chose to call-up Mike Tauchman instead. The reason they did this was because Frazier took the entire 72-hours allowed to him under the CBA to report to Triple-A when last sent down. Yes, general manager Brian Cashman stated the reason was because the Yankees wanted a defensive replacement available in the outfield. Okay, Tauchman is a much better defender than Frazier, very true. The problem is that the only other OFs on the Yankee roster are Brett Gardner, Aaron Judge, and Aaron Hicks. These are all plus defenders, so who exactly was Tauchman going to replace? Frazier did have a right to be upset, he was also caught in a numbers game, but he handled it like a two-year-old. Still, the Yankees want to make him the featured piece in a trade that will bring them a starting pitcher for the stretch run so this punishment is sort of like cutting off their nose to spite their face as it’s not like I’m the only one who put these pieces together.
Khris Davis, Oakland Athletics: Davis has missed the past three games after taking a fastball to the wrist Thursday. Apparently, there is nothing broken, and Davis is not expected to be placed on the IL, but I’d bench him this week anyway. I always worry when a hitter suffers a finger, wrist, or hand injury. They make their living whipping that bat around like it’s a toothpick and any injury to that part of the body can prove to be immensely detrimental to their performance. I want to see him hit before activating him.
Chris Archer, Pittsburgh Pirates: Archer suffered a hip injury on Thursday and may have his start Wednesday skipped. This really could be addition by subtraction. His ERA is north of five and his WHIP is approaching 1.47. Why exactly is he even in your starting lineup anyway? His absence from the lineup whether for your fantasy team or the Pirates is actually a blessing. It forces you to do something that should’ve been done months ago.
Wil Myers, San Diego Padres: Myers is 2-23 and is all of a sudden, not an everyday player or is it all of a sudden? Should anyone really be surprised that someone batting .219 is finding himself on the bench? Remember, the Padres tried to trade him all offseason. Perhaps they could see this coming. The Padres also have a glut of OFs, so someone has to sit whether they deserve it or not. I’d move on if I were a Myers owner.
Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros: Alvarez has been great since being called up Houston and should be a mainstay in your fantasy lineup for the rest of the season, but not this week. Alvarez suffered a knee bruise late last week and although he returned to action Sunday, the Astros have announced that he won’t play until Friday of this week as they don’t want him playing the field in Colorado (no DH). As good as Alvarez has been, he’s not worth activating for just three games. What a shame though as he will miss starting in Coor’s Field.
