Category Archives: Baseball

Week 15 Fantasy Baseball Circle Of Trust

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Pirates OF Starling Marte

Returns July 18th from 80-game PED suspension. Marte’s power speed combo should help owners down the stretch run. I was able to snag Marte in 2 of my 5 leagues.  Available in nearly 30% of fantasy baseball leagues.

 

Cubs C/OF Kyle Schwarber

This week Schwarber will blast off. High Team ERA’s vs. Lefties for the Orioles 4.95, Braves 4.48, and Cardinals 4.64) The Cardinals have allowed the 3rd most home runs to left-handed batters with 57. I was able to pick Schwarber up in 1 of my 5 fantasy leagues and quickly rejected a trade offer.  This C/OF is available in 16% of fantasy baseball leagues.

 

Cubs SP Jose Quintana

Moving to a better club in the same city should help Quintana make the adjustment to getting traded. Quintana is available in 14% of leagues and should be a high claim in NL Only leagues.

Week 14 Fantasy Baseball Circle Of Trust

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Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez

Returns from the DL this week to gravy train matchups at home vs. the Reds and White Sox. The Reds have the worst team ERA on the road at 5.92, while the White Sox are a little better at 4.63. Gonzalez is batting just .221 so far this season, but career numbers may show an uptick is on the horizon. Car Go’s career batting average of .311 in July is his highest in any month of the season. I made the waiver claim this past weekend. Car Go is available in roughly 20% of fantasy baseball leagues.

 

Padres OF Manuel Margot

Has returned to the tune of a .435 clip since coming off the DL with a calf injury. I made the claims for Margot in 2 of my 5 leagues because I desperately need to improve my team speed. With 9 stolen bases and 6 times caught so far Margot needs to improve on the base paths. On a club that’s already 20 games out of first-place he may get the chance. Margot is available in roughly 80% of fantasy baseball leagues.

 

Mets SP Steven Matz

2 road starts this week vs. the Nationals on Monday and the Cardinals on Sunday. Matz has abandoned his Slider to save stress on his elbow. Matz may lack a bit of swing and miss stuff without the slider, but is still talented enough to get out hitters. Has gone 6 or more in each of his 4 starts this season. I was able to pick up Matz in 1 of my 5 leagues. The power lefty is available in roughly 20% of fantasy baseball leagues.

Week 13 Fantasy Baseball Circle Of Trust

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Rangers OF Carlos Gomez

Slash rate of .294/.351/.853 in last 14 days. The Rangers have depth on their roster, but with Gomez on a hot streak look for him to not have to surrender at-bats. On the road this week vs. the Indians and White Sox.  Despite low career batting averages in Cleveland (.244) and Chicago (.188) I would recommend rolling with Gomez this week. I picked Gomez off waivers in 2 leagues for this week. Gomez is available in roughly 45% of fantasy baseball leagues.

Nationals OF Michael Taylor

.351/.368/.865 slash rate the last 14 days for the Nationals Center Fielder.  Takes on the Cubs at home and the Cardinals on the road this week. Taylor is available in 90% of fantasy baseball leagues. I’m using him this week in a daily categories league.

Blue Jays SP J.A. Happ

.231 opponent’s batting average in last 14 days. Happ has a 49K/7BB so far this season. Happ has been more consistent in recent starts. Owned in nearly 45% of fantasy baseball leagues.

Week 12 Fantasy Baseball Circle Of Trust

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Cardinals OF Dexter Fowler

1.286 OPS the last 2 weeks of play. Fowler is a streaky hitter that has flourished since moving into the 2 hole in the lineup. This week’s matchups are on the road vs. the Phillies and home vs. the Pirates. Fowler’s career numbers against these clubs validates being in lineups.  Career .877 OPS vs. the Phillies and .804 against the Pirates. I’m planning to ride the hot streak in a weekly league where I’ve had injuries to my Outfield.  Available in close to 40% of fantasy baseball leagues.

Braves 1B/OF Matt Adams

.992 OPS in the last month of play. Adams has flourished with everyday playing time in Atlanta. Home vs. the Giants and Brewers this week. Brewers have a 3.65 ERA vs. Left-Handed hitters this season while the Giants pitchers have a 4.72 ERA. Feel free to deploy Adams this week.  Available in nearly 60% of fantasy baseball leagues.  I picked him up in a daily categories league.

Rays SP Jacob Faria

I picked him up in a keeper league last week and in one of my daily leagues. The Milltown Motorboaters in another one of my leagues were ahead of the curve and made the claim.  Faria was dealing at Triple A in 58 2/3 innings with a 3.07 ERA, 1.125 WHIP 84/22 K/BB. The success has translated to the Show with 3 wins in 3 starts so far. Faria has also struck out 5 or more in each start. Just one start this week against the Orioles on Friday. Available in nearly 30% of fantasy baseball leagues.

Week 11 Fantasy Baseball Circle Of Trust

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Phillies CF Odubel Herrera

.417/.421/.861 slash rate the last 14 days. Herrera is available in roughly 50 percent of fantasy baseball leagues due to the .183 batting average in May.  I was able to pick up Herrera for $1 on a keeper league team. Herrera’s hot streak hopefully will help my struggling squad and provide another potential keeper option for next year.

Rays CF Mallex Smith

.417/.462/.667 slash rate the last 28 days. Smith has 7 steals so far this season. With Kevin Kiermaier out until August with a hip injury only Peter Bourjos stands in the way of Smith getting playing time. Smith was hitting .311 in Triple A this season with 16 steals. The organization is better off seeing what Smith can do. Fantasy owners looking for speed can find Smith available in 92% of fantasy baseball leagues.

Pirates RP Felipe Rivero

2-1,  2 Saves, 37K 0.56 ERA 0.76 WHIP. Rivero is a stronger bet for Saves than Nicasio going forward. Rivero is available in over 75 Percent of fantasy baseball leagues. Fortunately, I was able to grab Rivero off waivers.

Week 10 Fantasy Baseball Circle Of Trust

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Mariners C Mike Zunino

Is it possible the slash rate of .293/.356/.707 down of the farm can be translated to more success in Zunino’s return to the show? Possibly as evidenced by the .286/.316/.571 slash rate the last 14 days since returning from AAA. The 3rd overall pick in the 2012 Draft is a prime example of not bringing up prospects before they are ready. Zunino is still young enough at 26 to have an impactful career. Available in 99% of fantasy baseball leagues, Zunino may be worth a pickup in deeper or AL only leagues. I put in a claim this week in one of my leagues.

Royals 2B Whit Merrifield

.293/.349/.489 slash rate this season. Has been on fire to start the season. Merrifield transformed his body this offseason and is reaping the benefits. Still available in over 85% of fantasy baseball leagues. Added bonus is Merrifield has OF eligibility in some leagues.  I’m a little late to the party, but put in a claim in a league Merrifield is still available.

Athletics SP Sean Manaea

3-1 record and 10.9 SO/9 since returning from the DL. 2 starts this week on Monday at home vs. the Blue Jays and a Saturday road tilt with the Rays.  Available in roughly 50% of fantasy baseball leagues. I drafted Manaea late in a daily categories league.

 

Week 8 Fantasy Baseball Circle Of Trust

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Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez

Available in over 50% of fantasy baseball leagues. I picked A-Gone up after the injury to Freddie Freeman. Gonzalez has 12 consecutive seasons of 82 or more RBI. Gonzalez is in a slight decline, but still capable of driving in runs. Pick him up before everyone else realizes Gonzalez isn’t finished just yet.

Giants 2B/SS/OF Eduardo Nunez

Batting .400 in the last 7 days with 6 RBI and 2 steals. The Cubs and Braves each have allowed 13 steals this season. Nunez has 11 swipes on the year and should be off to the races on the base paths this week. Nunez is surprisingly available in 20% of fantasy baseball leagues.

Nationals SP Tanner Roark

A pair of home starts this matchup Tuesday against the Mariners and Sunday vs. the Padres. 0-1 with a 10.24 ERA in his last 14 days. I believe Roark rebounds this week.  Opponents batting avg. of .239 at home vs. Roark this season.  San Diego has the lowest team batting avg. in all of baseball at just .219.  Roark is available in nearly 15% of fantasy baseball leagues.

Week 7 Fantasy Baseball Circle Of Trust

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Mets 2B Neil Walker

Over his last 6 games has caught fire with a .462 avg. 6 Runs, 2 Dongs, and 10 RBI.  Has a terrific career track record hitting in Arizona to the tune of a .350 clip. Limited career data hitting in Anaheim. Walker is available in over 60% of leagues.  I picked him up in daily cats league.

Giants OF Denard Span

Career numbers vs. this week’s opponents Dodgers and Cardinals aren’t great, but worth riding current hot streak. 9/21 since returning from the DL with 4 Runs, 2 Dongs and 3 RBI. Owned in just 4.9% of leagues. I picked him up in a weekly league. Needed help in my Outfield.

Brewers RP Corey Knebel

30 K, 0.95 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 11 Holds. Available in 60 % of leagues on average. Knebel should be able to hold off Neftali Feliz and Jacob Barnes for the closer’s job. On a rebuilding club, there’s no reason to go back to the failing veteran in Feliz. The Brewers have been playing good ball and should look to keep momentum going with Knebel at the helm. I believe Knebel is a top 15 closer the rest of the season. Own him in 3 of 5 leagues. Still available in one league and I forgot to make that weekly Sunday 7pm waiver claim. Was spending time with my Mom on Mother’s Day.

Week 6 Fantasy Baseball Circle Of Trust

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Braves OF Ender Inciarte

.400/.478/.700 slash rate last 7 days. Inciarte is a sneaky source of steals with 7 already this season. Limited data vs. Astros, but a .323/.380/.446 career slash rate at Marlins Park. Available in nearly 25% of fantasy leagues.

Athletics 1B Yonder Alonso

4 Dongs 8 RBI in last 7 days. Owned in only 15% of fantasy leagues despite a .392 OBP this season. Alonso has success vs. the Angels .360 OBP and Rangers .421 OBP.

Pirates SP Ivan Nova

2-start pitcher this week on the road vs. the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. Nova is available in 15% of fantasy leagues despite a 27:1 K:BB ratio. Pitchers with 0.88 WHIP should be in your lineups.

Week 5 Fantasy Baseball Circle Of Trust

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Phillies 2B Cesar Hernandez

.326/.374/.522 slash rate this season. Last 7 days .357 OBP.  Owns a .294 career avg. against the Cubs and a .304 vs. the Nationals. Owned in 25% of leagues. I picked him up due to Logan Forsythe going on the DL.

Astros 1B/3B Yulieski Gurriel

439/.465/.707 slash rate in last 14 days. Faces 5 Right-Handed Pitchers this week. Gurriel has a 1.115 OPS vs. righties this season. Gurriel is available in roughly 65% of fantasy baseball leagues. I picked him up late last week after Adam Eaton was declared out.

Rays SP Jake Odorizzi

2 start pitcher off the DL this week. Takes on the Marlins in Miami on Monday followed by a Saturday home matchup with the Blue Jays. Odorizzi is 2-1 in 4 career starts against the Fighting Fish. More of a track record is available against Toronto, 4-2 record with a 3.24 ERA in 12 starts. Odorizzi is available in nearly 40% of leagues. I own him 3 of 5 leagues.