Daily Fantasy Baseball Analysis July 25: The Price is Right

The Price is Right

After missing a month and a half, Tampa Bay Rays ace David Price has returned to the Cy Young-caliber pitcher we saw in 2012. In his five July starts since returning from the DL, Price has gone 4-1 with a 1.76 ERA over 41.0 innings pitched. Three of his five starts have been complete games and he's allowed more than two earned runs only once in July. If you are a pessimist, you may point to his low strikeout total-- just 27 through those 41 IP-- but if you're as glass-half-full type, you'll note that everything else Price is doing is fabulous, including his stingy one free pass thus far in July. The strikeouts will come and the bottom line is there's not much to dislike about David Price for the remainder of 2013. The Rays are the hottest team in all of baseball and Price will have plenty of run support going forward. You may have been able to steal Price away during his sub-par first half, but that time has passed.

Tough Break for Hudson

Braves' veteran starter Tim Hudson will have season-ending surgery to repair a fracture in his right ankle. I'm sure you've seen replays by now as the media sensationalizes everything they can. Huddy's ankle was snapped when he misplaced his foot directly in the middle of first base while covering the bag to try and get a speedy Eric Young out. With Hudson's foot on the bag and Eric Young already in the air lunging to beat out the play, you could almost see it coming. Young landed directly on Hudson's ankle, and Hudson dropped immediately. It was hard to watch one of the games toughest competitors go down. The Braves will likely plug Brandon Beachy into the rotation next week and Hudson's future could be in doubt at his age.

AL Hot Shots:

• Matt Garza did not disappoint in his return to the AL as he allowed only an unearned run over 7.1 IP striking out 5 to defeat the Yankees. He's going to be a welcome addition for the Rangers and some lucky AL-Only Leaguers.
• Eric Hosmer went 2-for-4 with two homers giving him eleven on the year. Hosmer holds a .287 average and his power is starting to come around.
• Prince Fielder swatted his 17th homer and knocked-in three runs on Wednesday and now has 74 RBI on the year. That'll do big guy, that'll do.
• Dayan Viciedo hit his fourth July homer in a 3-for-4 night at the dish. "Tank" had a rough go in the power department most of the year but it seems to be clicking now. He could be an underrated buy low guyer.
• Anibal Sanchez bounced back with as he tossed six shutout innings with five K. He's back above .500 on the year as he improved to 8-7.
• Brett Gardner has been on base an awful lot since the all-star break batting .409 with four steals giving him 17 on the year.
• Wil Myers stayed scorching hot with a 2-for-4 night with two RBI. Let's see... that's 23-for-67 in July for a robust average of .343 this month. The only question is, why'd they wait so long?
• Carlos Santana hit two doubles and drove in two with a 3-for-5 effort on Wednesday. The two RBI were his first since the break.
• Garrett Richards will take Joe Blanton's spot in the rotation. Blanton was 2-13 on the season with a 5.66 ERA which leaves me wondering how Mike Scioscia (yes I Googled "Scioscia") still has a job. I mean REALLY??? Was the band-aid on a hairy patch or were ya just being stubborn, Mike? Gee, whiz.

MOST OVERLOOKED PLAYER OF THE MONTH:

Luke Scott is owned in just 22% of CBS leagues which makes zero sense to me. The lambchop-sideburn-rocking-redneck is mashing, in case you haven't noticed. If his four homers and 11 RBI in July don't get you moist, then how about his line of .352/.446/.685? No? How about his ri-donk-ulous 1.131 OPS in July? Oh, I knew I would spark your interest, OPS is equal to "Can I buy you a drink" in fantasy terms. Scott is no spring chicken, but he can help you on the "cheap-cheap." When he's been healthy he's been a great slugger in the not-so-distant past. People, listen: I know his DH-only eligibility is a tough pill to swallow, so let's compare Scott to Big Papi in July shall we?

Luke Scott vs. David Ortiz in July:  GREAT SCOTT! GO GET LUKE!

Yeah, Luke Scott needs to be owned more. I rest my case.

NL Hot Shots:

• Kevin Gregg blew his third save of the season allowing three hits and issuing three walks. Boy, when he blows a save he does it in such grand fashion doesn't he? Pedro Strop: own heeem.
• Paul Goldschmidt went 1-for-3 with FOUR walks, two runs and three RBI on wednesday. Holy OBP, Batman! Goldy is all up in them MVP talks, as he should be
• Joey Votto was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI on Wednesday. Votto is only on pace for 75 RBI which is a bit disappointing, however a hot streak could change that quickly.
• Francisco Liriano pitched a gem on Wednesday to lead the Pirates over the Nats. He struck out eight and allowed just two hits. Mark Melancon notched his first save since Jason Grilli went down with an injury. No one knows how long Grilli will be out, but Melancon is a solid add right now.
• Carlos Gomez went 4-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base as the Brewers topped the Padres. Who needs Ryan Braun?
• Yasiel Puig was 3-for-5 with a homer, double, two runs scored and two RBI. Puig posed down and bat flipped a double off the bottom of the wall but other than that he was electric in the game scoring from first to tie the game on a misplayed ball in CF. Puig has a lot of growing up to do in the game, but he also brings shear excitement to it as well.
• Pedro Alvarez homered for the second straight game and could be on another power surge. The third baseman now has 26 bombs on the year with 64 RBI.
• Evan Gattis went 3-for-4 with a homer on Wednesday. That’s one way to announce your arrival from the DL. El Oso Blanco is a powerful human and could get plenty of ABs with BJ Upton on the mend.
• Matt Kemp was placed BACK on the 15-day disabled list, he’s been one of the most painful players to own this year. Just ask the guy who traded Hunter Pence and Kyle Seager for Kemp and Justin Smoak in May…yeah… [Forehead smack]

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Follow Shawn Caswell on Twitter, or don’t: @CasKnowsRoto