Roto Riteup: August 8, 2017

To be the best, you have to eat like the best:

Birthday Gift from the boys !! #Angels pic.twitter.com/fRUlEsn07I

— Mike Trout (@MikeTrout) August 7, 2017

 

On the Agenda:

1. Fun with Small Samples! (Hitter’s Edition)

2. Various News and Notes

3. Streaming Pitcher Options

 

 

Fun with Small Samples! (Hitter’s Edition)

With it being a slow news day partly due to the fact yesterday was a short slate, it gives us time to have Fun with small samples!

Only two players hit double digit homers in the month of July: Giancarlo Stanton (12) and Rougned Odor (10). Stanton also led the league in ISO for the month with a .452 mark. It was followed by Bryce Harper (.400), Michael Conforto (.356), and Nolan Arenado (.356).

Billy Hamilton stole the most bases in the month of July with 11, followed by Dee Gordon (9) and Whit Merrifield (9).

Nobody had a higher wOBA during the month of July than Jose Altuve (.526). Nationals teammates, Bryce Harper (.504) and Anthony Rendon (.492) were second and third respectively. On the flip-side, Adeiny Hechavarria had the month’s lowest wOBA of qualified hitters with a .177 mark, followed by Chris Owings (.191), Xander Bogaerts (.205), and Scott Schebler (.207).

Chris Taylor’s BABIP reigned supreme in the month of July with a .523 mark. He was followed by Jose Altuve (.512), Chase Headley (.512), and Tommy Pham (.446). However, Scott Schebler had the lowest BABIP of the month with .155 followed by Jake Lamb (.178) and Mitch Moreland (.186).

Four players had hard hit percentages over 50% in the month of July: Corey Seager (55.6%), Trevor Story (54.6%), Nelson Cruz (51.6%), and Justin Smoak (50.7%). The highest soft contact percentages in the month of July were Jose Peraza (36.8%), Yolmer Sanchez (28.4%), and Logan Morrison (28.3%).

 

Various News and Notes

Top Phillies prospect Rhys Hoskins is attempting to make a transition to left field to expedite his path to the Major Leagues according to CSN Philadelphia. Hoskins, who has been a first baseman his entire professional career, made his first appearance in left on Monday and did not make any glaring mistakes. However, Hoskins, who is listed at 6-4, 225lbs, is considered a non athletic first baseman at the moment and will probably have trouble in the outfield. While the potential for a call up is increased, it is unlikely that he sticks in left and will need a Tommy Joseph trade to make him viable for fantasy outside of dynasty and keeper formats.

Stephen Piscotty was optioned to AAA Memphis on Monday by the Cardinals. Piscotty has struggled mightily this season hitting .232/.340/.362 with only six home runs. Piscotty, who signed a long term deal in the offseason with the Cards, has been dealing with off the field troubles as his mother has recently been diagnosed and dealing with the effects of ALS. It is fairly likely that the off the field concerns are translating to distractions on the field. He will likely be forgotten or dismissed coming into drafts next season and could be a really interesting buy low opportunity in dynasty and keeper formats. No matter what though, he is someone to root for.

 

Streaming Pitcher Options

A pitcher for today: Andrew Cashner @ NYM

Cashner has been good as of late and draws the Mets while in a NL park.

A pitcher for tomorrow: NONE

I like Adam Conley, but not going up against that Nationals lineup. Jerad Eickhoff is interesting, but not in Sun Trust.