RADIO
Time to recap our fifth week of major league baseball! Don’t look now folks, but we’re about 20% of the way through the season.
MLB & Fantasy Baseball Week 5 Player Recap
Michael Pineda (SP, NYY) – Pineda should now be entrenched on everyone’s radar as a top 10 talent. He had a week to remember, pitching 15 innings with 22 strikeouts and two wins for the Yankees. The lone concern is his injury history, but continue to ride the good times while you can.
Eric Hosmer (1B, KC) – Hosmer knocked two home runs along with 10 RBIs this week. We’re seeing a different Hosmer this year, who finally is flashing some power along with his .320 average, which is nicely supported by a 25.8% LD rate. I expect some regression, but it looks like a breakout year for Hosmer.
Shelby Miller (SP, STL) – I’ve never been a Shelby Miller fan, but his complete shutout this week certainly shut me up. I will nitpick though as it was against the Triple A Philadelphia Phillies. Still, Miller has played well; if you notice his BB/9 increase, it will be time to sell.
Joc Pederson (OF, LAD) – Props to Joc. He flashed some brilliance this week with his three home runs, but I’m equally impressed by his nine walks. Plate patience for a young hitter is a great barometer for long-term success. Pederson is going to put up an excellent 2015.
Joey Votto (1B, CIN) – The scorching hot Joey Votto continued to cool last week. Votto tallied five singles in eighteen at bats with zero extra base hits. Some regression was due, but hopefully this isn’t a sign to come because last week looked a lot like 2014 Votto.
Hanley Ramirez (OF, BOS) – Hanley still seems bothered by his shoulder injury. As a Hanley owner, I’m extremely concerned. He ended up 1-for-8 this week, but this is the kind of injury that has derailed entire seasons for Hanley. I’m almost hoping for a DL stint to completely heal him before this turns into a two month slump.
Jered Weaver (SP, LAA) – Houdini? David Blaine? I don’t know what to call Weaver, who used smoke and mirrors during his complete game shutout this week. Rumor has it that on the way home from the ballpark after the game, Weaver’s fastball received a ticket on the highway for going under the speed limit. Avoid Weaver in all formats.
Blake Swihart (C, BOS) – Highly touted Sox prospect Blake Swihart got off to a lackluster start, tallying only one hit in fifteen plate appearances for the week. I still like Swihart as a low-end catcher if you’re in need. The Sox lineup should heat up and Swihart appears to be the real deal.
Prince Fielder (1B, TEX) – Fielder is listed as 5’11”, 275 pounds per some websites. I have no idea if that’s accurate or not, but my point remains the same: how does a guy that big have only two home runs on the season? Owners can’t complain much as he’s batting a strong .333 for the year, but you have to expect more power from the corner infield position.
Wade Davis (RP, KC) – For those that nabbed Davis when Holland went down, the run is over as Holland came back in as the closer. Davis can be stashed if you have the roster space, but can likely be dropped in points-based leagues. I love him in daily Roto leagues as a huge asset to ERA and WHIP.
Jason Hammel (SP, CHC) – A few weeks ago, Hammel was dropped in one of my H2H leagues. He’s likely owned in every league now (check!) after three consecutive strong starts, including 7 innings, 8 strikeouts, and the win this week in Milwaukee.
Jason Heyward (OF, STL) – A Jason Heyward sighting! Heyward put together a strong week, going 11-for-26 with an impressive 10 runs scored. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come.
Clayton Kershaw (SP, LAD) & Corey Kluber (SP, CLE) – Now may be the final remaining time you have to try to buy low on these two studs. Kershaw is still throwing elite stuff, but his 66% LOB% is holding him back (career 77.8%). Once that normalizes, expect Cy Young results. The same is said for Kluber, whose LOB% is god awful at 62.3%. Buy buy buy!
Jason Kipnis (2B, CLE) – The corpse of Jason Kipnis has risen from the dead. Last seen in 2013, the Real Jason Kipnis showed up this week providing his five tool talent by hitting 10-for-27 with three RBI, four R, and three SB. If he keeps this up, he’s a top five 2B easily.
Jose Altuve (2B, HOU) – Altuve is putting together a great 2015 to prove 2014 was not a fluke. The pessimist in me points to the fact that he was caught stealing twice this week, making four CS on the year vs. nine all of last year. The optimist in me says who cares I want to blindly support any major leaguer that I’m taller than.
Jay Bruce (OF, CIN) – Bruce had a week to forget, putting together a 2-for-19 with six strikeouts. Bruce is too hit or miss for me (literally). Last year looked like the anomaly for him, but unfortunately it may be closer to the norm.
Bartolo Colon (SP, NYM) – Add another two wins for Colon. It’s tough to recommend rostering Colon because it feels like you’re playing with house money at this point, but his 15 strikeouts in 13+ innings was impressive. If you’re a gambling man, keep rolling Colon out there.
Madison Bumgarner (SP, SFG) – Bumgarner is doing his best to make me look bad after I exuded hesitancy before the year about his projected 2015. Bumgarner finished the week with 12+ innings and 16 strikeouts.
Kris Bryant (3B, CHC) – KB3 (I just made that up) finally hit his first home run of the year. Bryant put together a solid week, but I’m concerned about his strikeouts. Bryant struck out 14 times in 27 at bats, which is partly saved by his five walks, but he will have trouble finding success with that type of plate patience. Continue to monitor.
Jose Abreu (1B, CWS) – I haven’t heard Abreu’s name much this year; he’s quietly putting together a nice year (.841 OPS). Looking at his numbers, he may be due for some positive fortune soon. His BABIP is .296 is well below last year’s .356. He has the LD rate to support something in the ballpark of .320. If you can get him for a reasonable return, now is the time to target him.
Bryce Harper (OF, WSH) – Harper continues to be one of the hottest hitters on the planet. This is the year that he becomes a top 10 player.
Matt Carpenter (3B, STL) – Carpenter missed time this week due to what was described as exhaustion. Here’s to hoping this is temporary since the season is still young. Carpenter is putting together a great year. Continue monitoring his status this week.
Do you have a player you want me to cover? Shoot a message on Twitter to @Silent_Investor
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