Gio Urshela Fantasy

New York Yankees third baseman Giovanny Urshela hit his first home run of spring training with a solo shot against the Red Sox on Tuesday. Urshela earned the starting third base job for the Yankees after playing stellar defense and posting a .314/.355/.534 slash line last season and will look to build on his career year in 2020. Urshelas .353 xwOBA suggests that much of his offensive performance was deserved, but it remains to be seen how much of his improvements will stick in 2020. Urshela will likely see his 18.3% strikeout rate rise over 20% based on his 11.5% swinging-strike rate, but he should post a .750 OPS in an imposing lineup at worst, giving him legitimate fantasy value.

4 months ago

New York Yankees third baseman Giovanny Urshela put forth a surprise season on offense but is slumping heading into the playoffs. Urshela hit 21 home runs with 34 doubles this season but posted only a .397 slugging percentage in the month of September. Urshela will have a favorable matchup against the Twins Game 1 starter, right-hander Jose Berrios. Urshela slashed .320/.365/.530 against right-handed pitching this season and also hit .328 at Yankee Stadium spanning 60 games.

over 6 months ago

New York Yankees designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (oblique) has swung at full force the last two days, according to manager Aaron Boone, and the first base/DH situation will hinge on how Encarnacion gets through workouts on Wednesday. Infielder Giovanny Urshela (ankle) went through a full workout on Tuesday and is good to go for the American League Division Series against the Twins on Friday. Encarnacion hit 34 homers and drove in 86 this year in 418 at-bats, but he has been out since Sept. 12, making him a much more risky DFS pick if he's available for the ALDS. Urshela had a breakout season, hitting .314/.355/.534 with 21 homers, 73 runs and 74 RBI in 442 at-bats. He could split time with DJ LeMahieu at the hot corner in the postseason, but he's worth a flier in DFS when he's in the lineup.

over 6 months ago