RADIO
Low Risk, High Reward Key To Success With Jed Lowrie
Being a sleeper is all about exceeding expectations, and that’s what I foresee for Jed Lowrie in 2015. After an exceptionally underwhelming 2014, Lowrie is going to fly under the radar in a majority of drafts. I don’t even think he’s going to be drafted in many formats, and all I’m arguing here is to give him a look with one of your last couple picks.
Lowrie has left the cavernous O.co Coliseum for the friendlier confines of Minute Maid Park in Houston, which should help him regain some of the power that he lost in Oakland. In his first stint in Houston (the 2012 season) Lowrie smashed 16 bombs in just 97 games—extrapolate that and you have a shortstop with the potential to hit 24 homers in 150 games. You’ll take those numbers from any position, and factor in the fact that Lowrie hit .290 in his only season of 150+ games (2013 with Oakland), and you've got the makings of an under-the-radar-impact player.
The main concern with Lowrie is the injury history, and rightfully so. However, remember that this is a player you will NOT have to fight anyone for on draft day. You’re drafting Lowrie with one of your last picks (he’s ESPN’s 20th-ranked shortstop), so you’re looking for a lottery ticket here. Of course he could get hurt again, but you’re not going to lose anything other than a late-round pick if he does. On the other hand, if he puts it together for 150+ games you could have a top 10 shortstop chilling in your middle infield or utility slot.
The 2015 Astros, by the way, are much better than the basement-dwelling bums that usually inhabit Minute Maid Park. Lowrie figures to occupy the 7th spot in the lineup come Opening Day, behind Evan Gattis, Chris Carter, George Springer and Colby Rasmus. This means he will have RBI opportunities, and could even work his way up if he starts off hot. While the talent around him isn’t quite as good as what Lowrie has been accustomed to in Oakland, there are still plenty of opportunities for counting stats, and ultimately that’s what matters in fantasy.
In Summary
The secret to fantasy success with Lowrie is minimizing risk to maximize your reward. Don’t aim any higher than one of your last three picks, and you won’t be disappointed if he implodes. However, a healthy Jed Lowrie in Minute Maid Park can be a hell of a fantasy asset, and you don’t want to have to fight the waiver wire vultures for him.
Projected stat line: .268 average, 19 HRs, 71 RBIs, 67 runs scored
