Tagged: fantasy baseball

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups: Nova, Constanza, Carp, Betancourt, and Encarnacion

 

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Ivan Nova, SP, Yankees

If you’re wondering how a 24-year-old hurler on the Yankees can have an 11-4 record and 3.85 ERA and still find himself on the waiver wire, I have your answer.  Just check out the 1.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio.  Nova has had some things go his way this season such as solid run support and an uncanny ability to escape jams.  Regardless, Nova has won seven straight decisions and has allowed as many as four runs just twice in his last eight starts.  As long as you can deal without the K’s and a pretty high WHIP, Nova is not a bad pickup. 

Jose Constanza, OF, Braves

If you’re curious why the Braves are suddenly sitting mega prospect and their everyday right-fielder Jason Heyward, there are two reasons.  The first is that Heyward is struggling with just a .219 average and 30 RBI.  The other reason is that the little-known and late-blooming Jose Constanza is hitting .382 with 13 runs scored.  The 27-year-old is a speedster with little to no power.  He swiped 23 bags with a .312 average before the call to the Majors this season.  Constanza is nothing more than a hot bat who is stealing at bats away from the future of the franchise.  Then again, we may have said the same thing about Jeff Francouer back in the day.

Mike Carp, 1B, Mariners

While top prospect Justin Smoak has dealt with his ups and downs and most recently a broken nose, Mike Carp has shined bright with a .320 average, four home runs, and 24 RBI in 38 games.  Carp was acquired by the Mariners for closer JJ Putz a few years back from the Mets.  He blasted 29 home runs at Triple-A last season, but hit just .257.  This year, he blasted 21 home runs in 66 games while hitting .343.  In other words, Carp has earned a serious look in the Big Leagues, and at 25-years old, he will get his chance for the remainder of the season.  Feel free to take a look in fantasy leagues, though as is the case for any hitter that plays half of his games in Safeco, the odds are against him. 

Edwin Encarnacion, 3B, Blue Jays

Try explaining this, in his first 70 games, Edwin Encarnacion reached base at a rate of 28%.  Since the All-Star break, Encarnacion has reached base 47% of the time.  What gives? Well, we always knew that the Blue Jays slugger was one of the streakiest hitters in baseball.  He also has a knack for big second halves.  The 28-year-old corner infielder is also playing for his career now that mega prospect Brett Lawrie has been called up.  The good news is that he remains young enough for the Blue Jays to provide him with regular at bats.  So Encarnacion will have his opportunity to win over a spot for next season’s club.  As far as potential, Encarnacion has plenty of it.  He blasted 26 home runs back in 2008 and 21 last season in just 332 at bats. 

Rafael Betancourt, RP, Rockies

Finally some noise from the closer report, the 36-year-old Rafael Betancourt will take over for the recently injury Huston Street.  The last time that Betancourt allowed an earned run was July 6th, just before the All-Star break.  Betancourt has nailed down one save over the last week and his 58:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio on the season ranks amongst the best in baseball.  Street will likely return at the end of the month, but if he’s out longer than that and the Rockies continue to struggle, you have to think to Rex Brothers, who at 24-years old is supposed to be the closer of the future, will get some save opportunities.

Mets Hang In There Thanks to Duda and Hope

 

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It seems like the baseball world is just waiting for the Mets to finally fly its white flag.  It is clear that at 19 games behind the Phillies in the NL East and more than 10 games behind the Braves for the Wild Card, there is no real shot at making the postseason.  Nonetheless, the Mets have played extremely well on the road, keeping them within .500 through 117 games into the season. 

 

The tide may have finally turned in recent days.  The Mets fell twice to the last-place Padres at home and will now have to take on the first place Diamondbacks on the road this weekend. 

 

It’s also the way that the Mets have fallen that hurts the most.  On Wednesday, a well-pitched game by Jon Niese was wasted thanks in large part to shoddy defensive by 21-year-old shortstop Ruben Tejada.  The only reason Tejada was even in the field was the most recent hamstring injury to star shortstop Jose Reyes. 

 

One positive that Mets fans can focus on is the continued success of rookie Lucas Duda.  The 6’4, 254 lbs. slugger drove in four RBI in the four-game series with seven hits.  Though his season statistics are solid with three home runs, three triples, 12 doubles, and a .279 average through 62 games, his teammate Justin Turner tells us that we have not seen anything yet.  “When he gets into a hot streak, the ball just sails over the fence in bunches,” said Turner, who played with Duda in the Minor Leagues. 

 

Despite the fun name and slugger’s role, Duda is soft-spoken and modest, though his confidence shines through, “It will come.” he says.  “The more comfortable I get the better I’ll perform.”  Duda has good reason to be confident.  He is hitting .348 since the All-Star break with three home runs and a .427 OBP. 

 

While Duda is playing first base in place of the injured Ike Davis, his future home for the Mets will likely be in the outfield.  After all, the Mets have no shortage of first basemen with both Davis and Daniel Murphy both posting big numbers before each landed on the DL with season-ending injuries.

 

As usual, it is anything but easy to be a Mets fan.  However, there is some good news as the season crawls to an end.  Both Daniel Murphy and Lucas Duda look like keepers, though finding a position for each will be a challenge.  Jose Reyes seems happy to be with the Mets and could end up extending this off-season in a long-term deal.  Jason Bay has progressed a bit from his early struggles, and even Justin Turner may be a short-term fix at second base. 

 

The Mets still have plenty of issues to sort out.  They could use another big arm in the rotation even while assuming Johan Santana returns as a front of the rotation hurler.  Bobby Parnell does not look like a closer.  Then there is the gaping hole in centerfield that Angel Pagan has not been able to fill this season. 

 

For those who prefer the glass half full, consider that the Mets have lost their first baseman and their backup first baseman to injuries.  David Wright and Jose Reyes have both spent weeks on the disabled list.  Johan Santana has not thrown a single pitch for the Mets this season.  Jason Bay and Angel Pagan are having down seasons.  The team traded away its best all-around hitter and its ace closer, and yet they sit just one game under .500.  In other words, for Mets fans there is just enough positive to still believe.

Philadelphia Phillies Report with Jimmy Rollins and Dominic Brown

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Phillies Report:

Phillies Pitching

The Phillies are running away with the best record in baseball with a comfortable 8.5 game lead, and the lone reason for their success has been pitching.  This certainly isn’t a surprising story for a team that offered four aces to open the season with Chase Utley on the disabled list. 

However, things have not sailed as smoothly for the rotation as we originally expected.  For starters, Roy Oswalt is enduring a tough season, recently spending nearly two months on the disabled list.  His record stands at just 4-7 with a 3.84 ERA and horrendous 1.41 WHIP.  The team has also had Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, and Jose Contreras spend time on the disabled list.  To put that in perspective, those were the top three expected closers coming into the season. 

Considering the Phillies lack of offense and injury issues, this is by no means the team’s full potential.  The fact that they still have put together an 8.5 game lead in the division says that the post-season could be a walk in the park for the Phillies.

Jimmy Rollins

The 32-year-old veteran Jimmy Rollins is neither as good as he was in 2007, when he earned the MVP with a career-high 30 home runs, nor as bad as he was last season when he batted .243.  Rollins is somewhere in between with a .266 average, 71 runs, 13 home runs, and 26 steals. 

Rollins has managed to stay away from the injury-bug this season, and he is significantly better at reaching base with a .340 OBP.  In the field, Rollins is making a case for the Gold Glove award with just five errors, resulting in a stellar .989 fielding percentage. 

If the Phillies are able to win the World Series and Rollins performs at a high level, considering he will likely enter next season just 100 hits shy of 2000 hits for his career, the conversation can begin about whether the Phillies shortstop will one day find himself in the Hall of Fame. 

Dominic Brown (replaced by Hunter Pence)

It was certainly a difficult season for Phillies top prospect Dominic Brown.  First sidelined with a broken hand, Brown hit just .246 with five home runs and three steals before returning to the Minor Leagues after the Phillies acquired Hunter Pence. 

The good news for Brown is that the franchise has by no means lost hope in the 23-year-old phenom.  The Phillies went to great lengths to keep him on the roster after the trade deadline, likely passing on Carlos Beltran in order to do so. 

Some good news with Brown’s statistics is that even though he is struggling when it comes to his batting average, he is not getting outmatched at the plate.  This is suggested by his healthy ratio of 25 walks to 34 strikeouts, as well as his 16 extra base hits in 183 at bats.  Brown will certainly return to the Phillies in September, and when he does he will likely steal at bats from John Mayberry and Ben Francisco.   

Top 3 in the Rotation for Playoffs

The Phillies have a problem on their hands, but it isn’t a bad one.  The playoffs are quickly approaching for the first place franchise and the big question is who will start in a seven game series. 

The obvious answers are Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay.  The problem is that Cole Hamels is another fairly obvious starter.  That means the veteran Roy Oswalt will have to pitch from the ‘pen, if at all.  The same holds true for Kyle Kendrick and Vance Worley, two of the more impressive young pitchers in the league this season.

The Phillies do also have the option of going four-deep in the rotation for the post-season, but my guess is that with the season on the line they will want Halladay and Lee with the ball in their hands as much as possible. 

Again, this problem is far off and injuries can end up answering the question, but for now the Phillies have a delightful problem on their hands.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Alert: Lawrie, Lowrie, Young, and Giaviotella

 

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Brett Lawrie, 2B, Blue Jays

Exciting times in Toronto right now as the top prospect, Brett Lawrie, a Canadian himself, has finally made his Major League debut.  In three games, Lawrie has racked up five hits including his first home run on Sunday in a 7-2 win over the Orioles.  Just 21-years old, Lawrie is the real deal.  He had 18 home runs with a .353 average at Triple-A after racking up 16 triples and 30 steals at Double-A last season.  Acquired for Shaun Marcum in the off-season, Lawrie is a definite pick up, and likely a keeper in all fantasy leagues. 

Jed Lowrie, SS, Red Sox

A personal favorite of mine early in the season, Jed Lowrie’s production slipped a great deal before missing a few months because of a shoulder injury.  Now when he returns things won’t be any easier, as the Red Sox have acquired Mike Aviles and Marco Scutaro has played very well recently.  Nonetheless, Lowrie does deliver a great deal of position eligibility and he does have some pop to his bat.  I would only pick him up if you’re looking for depth as Lowrie will be relegated to part-time duties for the remainder of the season. 

Eric Young, 2B, Rockies

We talk about him every few months because of the crazy potential he offers, and while he has yet to stick as an everyday player, the 26-year-old Eric Young is getting another shot and so far so good.  Riding a seven game hit streak, Young has raised his batting average from .212 to .245.  He has five steals over his last nine games and has been scoring runs as well.  The Rockies are committed to Dexter Fowler and Eric Young at the top of the lineup, kind of like the Marlins old championship team that had Edgar Renteria and Luis Castillo.  We’ll see if this works out for them, as there is little power in this combo with Young delivering just two extra base hits the entire season.

Johnny Giaviotella, 2B, Royals

This is the reason the Royal did away with Mike Aviles.  Giaviotella is a former second round pick out of New Orleans who is off to a fine start in the Big Leagues with five hits including a home run through his first three games of his career.  Giaviotella is the type of player who can offer a little bit of everything.  He compares well to Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick.  Giaviotella had nine home runs with nine steals at Triple-A this season, and most impressive was his .338 average and a .390 on base percentage.  The future is now for the Royals, and Giaviotella is certainly a player worth picking up if in need of some middle infield help.

Waiver Wire Trade Targets: Guerrero, Rodriguez, Soriano, Zambrano, and Lee

 

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The Major League trade deadline may have passed, but that does not mean that players can no longer be traded this season.  Instead, the waiver wire process will shortly begin and there will be more players on the move.  Typically the players on the move have bad contracts, which allows them to surpass the waiver process or a team will claim a player and a trade will be negotiated.  Here’s a look at five players who will likely be on the move:

 

Vladimir Guerrero, DH, Orioles– This potential hall of famer is riding a 6-game hit streak, batting a respectable .284 with 9 home runs.  He leads the league in chase rate (swinging at pitches out of the strike zone) and his numbers are way down across the board, but he has playoff experience and could help a team down the stretch as a hired bat. It would not surprise me to see him rejoin one of his past two teams: the Rangers or the Angels.  The Yankees also could make a move for their former nemesis by putting him in the DH slot, though this is unlikely with Andruw Jones and Eric Chavez now healthy to support Jorge Posada.  The White Sox would be the dark horse considering they are not getting anything out of Adam Dunn. 

Wandy Rodriguez, SP, Astros– An underrated strikeout artist, it’s been another fine season for Wandy Rodriguez.  A 32-year-old hurler, this southpaw is durable and could be a solid third starter for a playoff contender.  He always has an ERA under four and he was involved in some trade chatter with the Yankees just a few weeks ago.  If a playoff contender suffers an injury in the starting rotation, Rodriguez could be the first player targeted. 

Alfonso Soriano, OF, Cubs– At 35 years old, Soriano’s best days are in the past, but he does have four home runs over his last four games and now 19 dingers on the season.  His OBP is disgraceful at .283, and he leads the league in chase rate.  With his awful contract, he will clear waivers, and at that point could end up getting traded if the Cubs are willing to eat some of his contract in a swap of bad contracts.  It would be interesting to see him reunite with the Yankees, or join a team desperate for outfield production such as the Tigers or Braves.

Carlos Zambrano, SP, Cubs– Another bad contract on the Cubs, Zambrano does have 8 wins and is riding three quality starts.  He does have ace ability, which we saw that as recently as the end of last season.  So a team desperate for a third starter may want to consider the Cubs volatile hurler, though they would have to be willing to take on a few years of potential mayhem.   The Yankees, White Sox, and Tigers are potential landing grounds.

Carlos Lee, OF, Astros– The veteran slugger is 0 for his last 19, dropping his average to .267, but he does have 60 RBI and 41 extra base hits on the season.  The same teams that will go after Soriano will also consider this 25-year-old.  The only question is whether he will veto a move considering his 10/5 rights.  Known as El Caballo, Lee is a rancher who wants to stay close to his home in Texas.

 

Trade Deadline Fantasy Analysis: Pitchers

 

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Koji Uehara to the Rangers

Statistically he is one of the best pitchers in baseball with a stellar 1.69 ERA and even better 0.69 WHIP.  In other words it’s rare that someone reaches base and even rarer that someone scores against Uehara.  The bad news for his fantasy managers is that he will remain in the setup role while playing in a much more hitter-friendly stadium.  Not a major impact, but not one for the better either. 

 

Mike Adams to the Rangers

A lot of fantasy managers picked Adams up in a speculative move with hopes that he would close should Heath Bell get traded.  As it turns out, it’s Adams who got traded while Bell stays in San Diego.  Adams has been dominant this season with a 1.12 ERA, but again this is a pitcher moving from one of the most pitcher-friendly ballparks to a dangerous ballpark.  I would drop him since he will remain in middle relief. 

 

Ubaldo Jimenez to the Indians

This is a monster move by the Rockies and they scooped up a lot of young talents.  What it comes down to is two things.  First of all, Is Ubaldo more like the pitcher from last year when he almost won the Cy Young, or this season when his record is 6-9.  The second part is whether Ubaldo will thrive now that he is out of Coors.  At 27 years old, the Indians believe the gamble was worth taking since they are in need of an ace.  I like the chances of this one working out for them as Jimenez boasts a 3.38 ERA and 1.08 WHIP on the road this season. 

 

Erik Bedard to the Red Sox

The Red Sox were not able to come to terms for Rich Harden, so they settled for the next best injury-prone Canadian.  Bedard, like Harden, has all of the talent in the world.  However, the big question is whether he will be healthy enough for a playoff run.  Just 31 years old, Bedard has pitched better on the road this season to the tune of a 2.16 ERA.  On the other hand, for his career Bedard boasts a 6.99 ERA at Fenway.

 

 

Trade Deadline Fantasy Analysis: The Hitters

 

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Ryan Ludwick to the Pirates

I love this trade for the Pirates.  He may be batting just .238 with a .301 on base percentage, but Ludwick is also responsible for 11 home runs and 64 RBI.  Plus, on the road Ludwick has 39 RBI in 49 games.  That puts him on pace for 130 RBI should he play 162 road games.  That is key since Pittsburgh is closer to neutral than the pitcher’s friendly Petco Park. 

 

Derrek Lee to the Pirates

The .246 average may not impress anyone, but Lee is batting .298 with 13 RBI since the All-Star break.  A long-time National Leaguer, Lee boasts a .297 career average at PNC Park.  He is a solid replacement over the struggling Lyle Overbay at first base. 

 

Michael Bourn to the Braves

The Houston native was thrilled to be an Astro, but at least he will now get a chance to play for a contender.  Bourn is best known for his defense in centerfield and his speed on the basepaths.  He is a bit of a free-swinger for a leadoff man, but thanks to a .303 average, Bourn is getting on base often this season.  He should now rack up more runs with some big bats behind him in the Braves lineup. 

 

Hunter Pence to the Phillies

While Carlos Beltran may be the better player now, Hunter Pence likely has the better future.  It should be fun to see how he develops now that he enters a favorable ballpark in a solid lineup.  A model of consistency, Pence has blasted 25 home runs in three straight seasons and hit .282 the last two.  His value soars now that he will add greater run production due to the likes of Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in the Phillies lineup. 

 

Rafael Furcal to the Cardinals

The lone home run and .197 average says he’s done, but Busch Stadium has been known to have the Ponce De Leon fountain of youth (just check out Lance Berkman).  In the Cardinals lineup, Furcal is bound to improve.  Plus, the trade breathes new life into the 33-year-old shortstop who now gets a crack at meaningful baseball.

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Trade Deadline Report: Beltran, Duda, Jackson, Rasmus, and Rzepczynski

 

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Carlos Beltran, OF, Giants

The numbers don’t do Carlos Beltran justice this season.  Sure, he only has 15 home runs, but he also has 30 doubles.  That tells me in a more favorable ballpark he’d have closer to 20 home runs.  He may only have 3 steals, but he has scored 61 runs, that tells me he is not lagging on the basepaths.  His on base percentage is .391, which is 30 points better than his career mark.  His average, slugging, and OPS are all better than his season average as well.  Now he is moving to San Francisco, which should have a minor impact on his production.  The ballpark remains tough, but worse than that, he does not have Jose Reyes hitting in front of him.  This might not be a bad time for fantasy managers to sell high on the veteran All-Star.

 

Lucas Duda, OF, Mets

In his first game as the Mets regular right-fielder, Lucas Duda sent one over the fence.  There should be many more coming.  The 6’4, 254 lbs. California native is a slugger.  He may only boast two home runs this season, but he has 10 doubles and three triples despite just 123 at bats so far this season.  His average is at a healthy .276 and the OBP of .350 is stellar.  Duda will have every chance of earning the Mets starting right-field job next season, though honestly, what they should consider is moving him to left and Jason Bay off the roster.

 

Colby Rasmus, OF, Blue Jays

A former first round pick who simply did not get along with Tony LaRussa, Rasmus is a five-tool talent who still has plenty of room for improvement.  After blasting 23 home runs last season with 12 stolen bases, Rasmus has just 11 dingers this season.  On that note, his numbers should progress quite well once he leaves St. Louis.  He’ll have Jose Bautista instead of Albert Pujols providing protection, and also the Rogers Centre is a very favorable hitting environment.  Rasmus is a popular buy-low option. 

 

Edwin Jackson, SP, Cardinals

A winner of three of the last four starts, Edwin Jackson is having a fine season despite the 7-7 record, his ERA is 3.92 and he has surrendered just eight home runs in 121.2 innings of work.  The big concern with him is the high WHIP.  This season it’s because he’s getting hit a bit too often to the tune of a .283 average.  The good news for him is that he will now be under the tutelage of Dave Duncan.  One of the best pitching coaches in the game, this can have a great impact on Jackson’s career.

 

Marc Rzepczynski, RP, Cardinals

Another winner in the big deal between the Blue Jays, White Sox, and Cardinals is RzepczynskiJust 26 years old, this southpaw boasts a 2.97 ERA and 1.05 WHIP this season.  I would also love to see how he handles starting.  He was very promising a few years back and he can really miss some bats.  It wouldn’t surprise me to see Rzepczynski in the Cardinals starting rotation next season.  He has star potential.    

 

The Fantasy Doctor: Finding Cures to Your Fantasy Ailments

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Ailment: Grady Sizemore, OF, Indians

The former Indians MVP candidate has been slowed by injuries and will now miss the next month because of another knee injury coupled with a sports hernia.  Even when he was on the field, this is not the Sizemore who was routinely a first round pick in fantasy leagues.  Nope, the All-Star who once swiped 38 bases has not stolen a single bag this season through 61 games.

 

Cure: Cameron Maybin, OF, Padres

It seems like he has been a top prospect for more than a decade.  The truth is that at just 24-years-old, Maybin is still plenty young, and he is currently enjoying his best season to date.  He seems to fit well in Petco Park playing small ball with 44 runs and 17 steals through 80 games.

 

Ailment: Jhoulys Chacin, SP, Rockies

After a stellar rookie campaign we expected more of the same from Chacin this season.  However, the Rockies hurler has inexplicably lost his demand, most recently walking seven Braves on Thursday.  His ERA spiked to 3.60, which isn’t bad at all for the ballpark he pitches in, but still Chacin has surrendered four or more runs in four of his last five starts.

 

Cure: Vance Worley, SP, Phillies

The 24-year-old hurler came out of nowhere, but it looks like he is here to stay.  Injuries to Joe Blanton and Roy Oswalt have thrust Vance Worley into the Phillies rotation and he has responded with a 6-1 record and a 2.02 ERA.  He can still get plagued by wildness at times, but he does rack up a decent amount of whiffs, and he has won his last four decisions.

 

Ailment: Ty Wigginton, 3B/1B/2B/OF, Rockies

This is what happens to streaky hitters.  Ty Wigginton was on top of the world in June with 8 home runs and 18 RBI.  However, he has yet to go deep once this month and his average this month is down to .204.  It’s not a bad idea to look for other options.

 

Cure: Edwin Encarnacion, 3B, Blue Jays

Just 28 years old, Encarnacion has 107 home runs under his belt, but they do come in bunches.  He has been red-hot since the All-Star break with a home run and a .400 average.  With the veteran seeing the ball so well in a fine lineup, it’s not a bad idea to invest in his fantasy services for the short-term.

 

Ailment: Francisco Rodriguez, RP, Brewers

He was once the best closer in the business and he holds the record for most saves in a season, however, a less than dominant tenure in New York landed him in Milwaukee where he now offers middle relief.  Despite pitching in middle relief, K-Rod was credited with a blown save on Thursday.  He does not get enough strikeouts or offer a low enough ERA and WHIP to remain on a fantasy roster.

 

Cure: Edward Mujica, RP, Marlins

Marlins manager Jack McKeon showed his cards this week, stating that if Leo Nunoz gets moved, Mujica becomes his closer.  This is well-deserved to Mujica, who boasts a 35:5 strikeout to walk ratio.  His 2.85 ERA and 0.87 WHIP makes him a solid pick up for fantasy managers hoping to snare a closer  for later in the season.

 

 

With Stephen Drew Out, Who to Pick Up?

 

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Yuniesky Betancourt, SS, Brewers

There’s been talk of the Brewers looking to upgrade at shortstop, but those plans may be on hold now that Betancourt is starting to show some life at the plate. The 29-year-old had a fine 2010 campaign with the Royals, blasting 16 home runs with 78 RBI, despite a .288 on base percentage.  That on base percentage is just .265 this season, but with two home runs and four RBI over the last three games, he may be on the rebound.

 

Josh Reddick, OF, Red Sox

There have been bigger prospects to play in the Red Sox outfield in recent years, but few have had the impact of Josh Reddick.  The 17th round pick out of Middle Georgia Junior College has been en fuego all season.  He has 3 home runs over the last 10 games and now boasts a .378 average.  He has also been patient at the plate and has been hitting the ball with power.  Look for the Red Sox to continue to give Reddick at bats as long as he sustains the production.

 

Javier Vazquez, SP, Marlins

On June 11, there were some questions as to whether the Marlins would simply cut Javier Vazquez loose considering his ERA had ballooned up to 7.09 through 13 starts this season after enduring a 5.32 ERA in the Bronx last season.  The Marlins stuck with the soon to be 35-year-old, and it has paid off handsomely.  Vazquez has surrendered seven earned runs over the last six starts.  In his last start he handled the Cubs with 10 K’s in 7 innings.  Considering his high strikeout potential and past dominance, it’s not a bad idea to take a flyer on the veteran hurler.

 

Emilio Bonifacio, SS/3B/OF/2B, Marlins

One of the bigger success stories on the Marlins this season has been 26-year-old speedster Emilio Bonifacio.  The story here is of a player who has all the speed in the world, but has historically struggled to reach base.  That’s not the credit this season.  His on base percentage has soared from 30% to 32% and finally 37% over the last three seasons.  Bonifacio currently boasts 18 steals with 42 runs scored.  He’s something of a one-dimensional weapon, but Bonifacio will get you steals.

 

Michael Martinez, OF/2B/SS/3B, Phillies

The 28-year-old rookie has already manned five of the nine positions this season.  I know Mets fans would love to know who Michael Martinez is after he belted a key home run again them last series.  It’s a little bit of a tough question to answer because of his limited playing time.  We can say that last season he blasted 11 home runs with 56 RBI and 23 steals while splitting time between AA and AAA.  So, there is a nice blend of pop and speed there, but in the Phillies lineup and in the favorable ballpark some damage can be done.  Fantasy managers should pay attention considering the position eligibility.