We’ve covered several rookie-eligible starting pitchers and hitters throughout the past few months. Now, we’re examining five more rookies with small samples and tools. When we say tools, we’re usually talking about power and speed. As usual, we’ll provide recommendations for keeper or dynasty leagues based on the current data.
Any fantasy prognosticators out there pencil in Curtis Mead for 14 homers before the All-Star break?
On the Agenda:
It looks like there’s no one at this game, though I think I saw a Meckler Heckler.
On the Agenda:
Having now identified the three hitters who may have suffered the most bad luck so far this season, while still holding real fantasy value and possibly being available in your leagues, it’s time to dig into why.
Through the process of elimination in the In Search of Some Luck piece, we were able to land on three names, which we will break down in this piece. Trent Grisham, JJ Bleday, and Max Muncy.
These three names provide a wide scope of ways a hitter can underperform their expected output, giving not only three potential additions to your fantasy roster, but a wider methodology to consider when looking at why some hitters don’t perform to their expected offensive output.
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Angels
• Denzer Guzman (.588 OPS) started eight straight games at third base while batting 5th to 7th in the lineup.
• There has not been a lineup without Mike Trout (IL), but I suspect Nolan Schanuel and Vaughn Grissom will handle 1B/DH duties, and Jose Siri (.881 OPS) will be in center field. One wrinkle is that Wade Meckler usually sits against lefties, so he might get full-time at-bats. I could be wrong, so monitor any pending moves.[Editor’s note: Friday’s lineup posted after Jeff wrote this. Siri was in CF, Schanuel at 1B, with Christian Moore at DH with Grissom getting the day off. Meckler did, in fact get the start against a LHP.] Read the rest of this entry »
Fret not, dear reader. This is not that kind of article.
Papa Clemens would never have been able to do this!
On the Agenda:
Moving on from looking at players who potentially might run out of luck in the previous piece, we now look to the other end of the chart, and some hitters who may be due some good fortune.
While identifying the hitters I thought had potential regression was easy, with plenty of highly-rostered bats in the top region of the chart with interesting data as to why they were outperforming their xwOBA in terms of BABIP, finding who to highlight at the other end was more challenging.
Rookie catcher Joe Mack is getting hot!
On the Agenda:
Welcome back once again to Position Player Playing Time Changes. As a refresher, the table now includes new columns to better detail the percent changes. League-wide, the 30 teams average 90 remaining games, so the remaining plate appearances are right-sized to that number.
| Name | Team | Positions | Old PT | New PT | PT Change | Old PA | New PA | PA Change | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braden Montgomery | CHW | RF | 13% | 76% | 63% | 51 | 296 | 245 | Making a big impact since his call up and looking like he’ll stick around |
| Cooper Pratt | MIL | SS | 7% | 70% | 63% | 27 | 272 | 245 | Getting the call to the majors a couple months after big extension |
| Blaze Jordan | STL | 3B, 1B | 1% | 47% | 46% | 4 | 183 | 179 | Starting 3B with Gorman demoted in first taste of the majors |
| Gabriel Rincones Jr. | PHI | RF | 5% | 51% | 46% | 19 | 198 | 179 | Will get plenty of run against RHP unless and until the Phillies trade for someone |
| Cole Carrigg | COL | CF, SS | 6% | 46% | 40% | 23 | 179 | 156 | Three homers already, versatility could keep him around even when injured OFs come back |
| Kameron Misner | KCR | CF | 2% | 33% | 31% | 8 | 128 | 121 | Starting CF against RHP with Isbel out |
| Samad Taylor | SDP | LF, CF, RF, 2B | 26% | 54% | 28% | 101 | 210 | 109 | One of the very, very few Padres actually producing |
| Will Wagner | SDP | 2B, 3B, DH, LF | 5% | 32% | 27% | 19 | 124 | 105 | Ditto the Taylor note |
| Tyler Callihan | PIT | RF, LF, 3B, 2B | 23% | 47% | 24% | 89 | 183 | 93 | Filling in for Cruz in OF and hitting like he belongs |
| Jordan Lawlar | ARI | CF, LF, DH | 48% | 72% | 24% | 187 | 280 | 93 | Back from the IL |
| James Outman | DET | CF, RF | 5% | 26% | 21% | 19 | 101 | 82 | From waiver wire to semi-starting CF in Detroit, for now |
| Miguel Andujar | SDP | DH, 3B, LF | 71% | 51% | -20% | 276 | 198 | -78 | Strained hamstring |
| Vinnie Pasquantino | KCR | 1B, DH | 92% | 68% | -24% | 358 | 264 | -93 | Fractured hamate |
| José Ramírez | CLE | 3B, DH | 97% | 71% | -26% | 377 | 276 | -101 | Fractured hamate |
| Oneil Cruz | PIT | CF, DH | 85% | 59% | -26% | 331 | 229 | -101 | Multiple finger fractures |
| Joey Ortiz | MIL | SS, 3B | 76% | 45% | -31% | 296 | 175 | -121 | Playing time is uncertain with Pratt coming up |
| Bryce Johnson | SDP | LF, RF, CF | 33% | 1% | -32% | 128 | 4 | -124 | DFA’d + outrighted |
| Nolan Gorman | STL | 3B, DH, 1B | 75% | 43% | -32% | 292 | 167 | -124 | Demoted to minors |
| Ryan Waldschmidt | ARI | CF, LF | 64% | 29% | -35% | 249 | 113 | -136 | Demoted to minors |
| Kyle Isbel | KCR | CF | 74% | 38% | -36% | 288 | 148 | -140 | Grade 3 plantar fascia tear, out a while |
| Adolis García | PHI | RF | 86% | 21% | -65% | 334 | 82 | -253 | Torn lat, return this season uncertain |