It’s been a while since I calculated my xHR/FB rate equation and compared its results to each hitter’s actual marks. So let’s discuss eight names, plus two bonus names, with HR/FB rates that fall most short of their xHR/FB rate marks. While there are no guarantees in life, especially baseball, there’s a strong chance that each one of these hitters raises their HR/FB rates the rest of the season, assuming they can maintain the underlying skills driving the marks.

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Summer is here! If you are still getting into bikini shape, feel free to use the Roto Riteup’s workout program:

.@RealCarlosGomez had a devil of a time making this catch. ? pic.twitter.com/NSXvbsmBZF

— MLB (@MLB) June 9, 2018

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6/11/18

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is brought to you by Out of the Park Baseball 19, the best baseball strategy game ever made – available NOW on PC, Mac, and Linux platforms! Go to ootpdevelopments.com to order now and save 10% with the code SLEEPER19!

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• @sporer – Host
• @pitcherlist – Co-Host/Producer

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6/10/18

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is brought to you by Out of the Park Baseball 19, the best baseball strategy game ever made – available NOW on PC, Mac, and Linux platforms! Go to ootpdevelopments.com to order now and save 10% with the code SLEEPER19!

Follow us on Twitter

• @justinmasonfwfb – Producer/Host
• @jasoncollette – Co-Host

GET THE SLEEPER & THE BUST T-SHIRT FROM ROTOWEAR!

Notable Transactions/Rumors/Articles

• Every pitcher to the DL/hurt (Thor, Ohtani, Strasburg, Tanaka)
• Michael Soroka to start Wednesday

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After notching his 12th save of the year yesterday, Cody Allen had an outing to forget against the Tigers on Saturday. Entering a tie game in the bottom of the 12th inning, Allen was able to generate two quick outs on five pitches – striking out Leonys Martin and getting Nick Castellanos to ground out. The next hitter was Miguel Cabrera, who quickly was down 0-2 on a couple of curveballs before lacing a two-out single off the first fastball he saw. Jeimer Candelario would end the game on a 2-0 fastball up in the zone that he deposited to right field for a two-run walk-off jack.

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Did you expect any sort of spotlight on Clay Buchholz this season? I certainly didn’t think he would be worth anyone’s time, with his last healthy season producing a 4.78 ERA and 1.33 WHIP, watching his strikeout rate dive to an abysmal 16% mark and hinting at a 10% walk rate. But here we are, four starts into his 2018 season and Buchholz is getting our attention. Seriously, he’s been quite remarkable thus far (I’m ignoring 2017 stats wise as his poor health reduced his season to just two starts in 7.1 innings):

I was like many of you at first, waving this away with a slight scoff, quickly quoting small sample size and the inconsistent nature of Buchholz, and suggesting that nothing has changed. Maybe even adding a quick “this is the same old Buchholz” quip.

But it isn’t. This could be nothing, yet another byproduct of a minuscule 24 frames, but there’s a chance that it sticks across the weeks and months of the year.

That thing is Clay Buchholz’s cutter.

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With Jeurys Familia landing on the disabled list due to shoulder soreness, the Mets will need a new closer going forward. Of course, this takes into account the team has lost 12 of its last 14 contests and the bullpen owns a 7.22 ERA with nine losses within this rough stretch. Fantasy owners should look to Robert Gsellman who recorded the last save for New York last Sunday. Gsellman’s worked in high leverage this year with five holds and two saves under his belt along with winning five games. Over his last 17.2 innings, Gsellman’s held opponents to four runs for a tidy 2.04 ERA and his ability to get left handed hitters out could translate to success in the role. Add in starting pitcher eligibility in some formats as a sweetener along with reports the Mets will not rush Familia back until he’s ready and hope Gsellman can continue to be fantasy relevant as the anchorman in the Mets bullpen going forward. For those in deeper leagues, taking a flier on Anthony Swarzak also makes sense as he rounds into form back from stint on the disabled list.

Owning Shane Greene can be frustrating. He’s held on to the closer role in Detroit, although tenuously at times, for 15 saves this season. On the other hand, he’s also lost three games and blown three saves due to his propensity to give up home runs (six in 30.1 innings). Last night, Greene allowed two hits, three earned runs and a walk after entering a tied game. He has converted his last five save chances in a row but seems to be working on borrowed time as the Tigers could trade him to a contender as the deadline approaches. With this in mind, Greene should continue his role in the ninth inning but Joe Jimenez is steadily closing the gap. Jimenez notched his first save last Sunday, has the superior strikeout to walk ratio, better ratios in ERA and WHIP through an increase in his swinging strike percentage while reducing hard contact this year. Those looking to stash for saves should roster Jimenez sooner rather than later in an effort to save in FAAB bids. Read the rest of this entry »

Eventually, we all find a way to adapt.

???JOEY GALLO BUNTED AGAINST THE SHIFT??? pic.twitter.com/sWX3mDnIF8

— Cut4 (@Cut4) June 9, 2018

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Big Five Value Movers

1. Danny Valencia looks to be hitting fulltime in Baltimore.
2. Greg Bird is batting 3rd for the Yankees.
3. Cleveland’s and Houston’s outfields are in flux with players returning from the DL.
4. Heyward and Almora are playing fulltime with the Cubs.
5. Joe Panik is leading off for the Giants.

Angels

• I can’t believe the lack of talent surrounding Mike Trout. In their last game, the Angels figured Martin Maldonado was their fifth best hitter.
• For the few fantasy-relevant hitters on this team, they are set at the lineup’s top except Albert Pujols who has been dealing with an ankle injury the past few years days.

Astros

• Josh Reddick’s return has caused a ripple effect with Tony Kemp, Jake Marisnick, and Marwin Gonzalez each seeing their playing time cut. For now, I would stay away from them all.
• Evan Gattis is back to being the permanent DH. After struggling out of the gate, he has hit .286/.350/.714 over the past month with nine home runs.

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