MLB Fantasy Fixer-Uppers June 23rd 2015
MLB Fantasy Fixer-Uppers
Can you believe the fantasy season is halfway over? Hopefully your team is at or near the top of your league. Hopefully some of my advice has helped carry you there. Here's a quick look at a few more players, including one I mentioned about a month ago, who can help your squad today.
Jaime Garcia, SP, St. Louis Cardinals (65% owned standard ESPN leagues)
For the second time this year Garcia winds up on this list. He appeared a month ago on May 26th. In his four starts since being mentioned he has allowed a grand total of three runs while striking out 20 and issuing just two free passes. He has also given up four hits or less in three of those four starts. If you listened the first time around you’re welcome. If you didn’t I’m sorry. But there’s still time. Garcia for whatever reason is still available in nearly 1/3 of leagues. He plays for the best team in baseball and if he can remain healthy should provide top-line starter numbers for the rest of the season. It isn’t everyday you can scoop that up off the waiver wire but today could be one of those days if you act fast.
Maikel Franco, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies (55% owned)
Maikel Franco es en fuego. You’ll have to forgive my poor Spanish but Franco has been scorching at the plate since the calendar turned over to June. On June 2nd his batting average was a poor .212. Today it sits a full 100 points higher at .312 and part of that is due to him having 11 multi-hit games in June including his first career multi-homer game last night in Yankee Stadium. Not bad kid. Franco is playing everyday and looks to be the face of the Phillies moving forward. The fact that he is still available in nearly half of the leagues out there is laughable. Everyone was ready to anoint Joc Pederson of the Los Angeles Dodgers with the National League Rookie of the Year honors but if Franco keeps this up he will certainly be in the conversation. He is a must add in all formats and may even merit keeper status.
Logan Forsythe, 1B/2B/DH, Tampa Bay Rays (54% owned)
Do you like positional eligibility? Forsythe’s got that. Do you like someone who provides a high average and on-base percentage? Forsythe’s got that too. Do you like someone who will give you stolen bases from a typical power spot? Yep, Forsythe’s got that too. Prior to today Logan Forsythe was not on my radar and based on his ownership he may not be on most fantasy players’ radars. His numbers are starting to change that fact. A part-time player prior to this season he has already set career-highs in home runs (8) and RBI (32) and is only one more stolen base away from tying his career-best (8). Those are some very useful numbers for someone who qualifies at multiple positions. While you’d like a bit more power from a 1B/DH slot if you can plug him at 2B or MI you could certainly do worse. Also, if you are a Freddie Freeman owner he can be a more than adequate fill-in for the Atlanta slugger who was just placed on the disabled list. Logan Forsythe. Who knew?
Jesse Chavez, SP, Oakland A’s (50% owned)
It’s easy to look at Chavez’s 3-6 record and move along thinking he isn’t worth your time. That is where you’d be wrong. Dig a little deeper and you’ll see that he has posted an outstanding 2.52 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. For comparison’s sake Clayton Kershaw, the reigning National League MVP and Cy Young award winner is sporting a 3.33 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. Am I trying to say Chavez is better than Kershaw? Not by a longshot. What I am saying is that his numbers have certainly been ace-like this season. He doesn’t issue many free passes at only 2.2/9 and keeps the ball in the ballpark having allowed just four home runs in 78 innings. So far the A’s righty has been flying under the radar. It’s time to get the word out and get Chavez added to your squad.
Carson Smith, RP, Seattle Mariners (38% owned)
Fernando Rodney led the league in games finished (64) and saves (48) last season and entered 2015 as the no doubt closer in Seattle’s bullpen. The results thus far have been disastrous and it looks like manager Lloyd McClendon has finally given up on the 38-year-old bow and arrow enthusiast with an ERA just under six. Enter Carson Smith. In just his second season the youngster has been lights out with a miniscule 1.52 ERA and otherworldly 0.68 WHIP. He is striking out nearly 11 batters per nine and has walked just five (one intentional) in 29 2/3 innings. He has also locked down the save in each of his last five chances. Smith was very useful before picking up saves and is now a must own reliever. Reason number 5,843 why you should never, ever pay for saves in your draft.
Is there a player you had your eye on and I didn't cover them here? Please feel free to leave feedback in the comments and I will try and get back to you as soon as possible. If that's not quick enough you can always find me on Twitter @therichwhiteguy. Ask me questions, give me a follow, ridicule me. It's a free country.
