Twitter: @RobShawSports and @BloombergSports

 

Bloomberg Sports Anchor Rob Shaw breaks down the numbers of four players to explain why they are performing at the level that they are this season.

 

Sergio Romo, RP, Giants

With Santiago Casilla out due to injury, Romo finally got some glory, picking up two saves. Romo has been as good as anybody, with two two wins, two saves, and just one run allowed through 15+ innings of work. Casilla is bound to return as closer, but Romo is the rare middle reliever whose numbers are so dominant that he is worthy of a spot on your fantasy team. To gain a sense of his dominance, consider that the National League Whiff% average for relievers is 23%. Romo is by far the best in baseball with double that, a Whiff% of 46%.

 

Andrew Cashner, RP, Padres

Though there has not been much good this season for the San Diego Padres, Andrew Cashner has been exciting and there is now talk that the Padres may want to extend him into a starter. Cashner has been the hardest thrower in baseball this season with an average fastball of 98.8 MPH, which is faster than Henry Rodriguez and Aroldis Chapman. He remains a bit wild, so I would avoid Cashner as an investment as his 1.52 WHIP is one of the worst for a regular pitcher in baseball this season.

 

Chris Capuano, SP, Dodgers

After a fine bounce-back season for the Mets last year, Chris Capuano is now making the most out of his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Capuano is a former 18-game winner, so this is not exactly an unproven commodity. However, perhaps the cause for the southpaw’s success this season has been his control of the strike zone, particularly with first-pitch strikes. He currently ranks third in baseball in that statistic among starters with 67% of his pitches thrown for strikes on a 0-0 count. That ranks just behind Cliff Lee and Jordan Zimmerman, two of the better hurlers in baseball.

 

Melky Cabrera, OF, Giants

A late bloomer first with the Royals and now with the Giants, Melky Cabrera has become a legitimate star. One area in which he has shined brightest is against the off-speed pitch. After all, this is a hitter who bats .340, compared to the usual .223 average in the National League. In total, Cabrera is hitting .364 this season with a bit of pop, and don’t let the four home runs confuse you. He boasts a .538 slugging percentage with 24 extra-base hits along with nine stolen bases.