Rocket Fantasy Baseball August 1, 2015

By on August 1, 2015

 

IT'S TIME TO SET YOUR LINE UP

IT’S TIME TO SET YOUR LINE UP

Rocket Sports’ Fantasy 500

  • Our weekly look at some movers, shakers and difference-makers in the world of fantasy baseball.

Note: all stats current as of close of play on July 31, 2015.

The 2015 MLB trade deadline was a tumultuous one indeed, with several big-name players changing teams and many more lesser known talents heading to new environs to ply their trade. Many bullpen hierarchies were altered by the frantic wheeling and dealing, and we’ll cover those situations in this week’s edition of Bullpen Briefs. For now, let’s have a look at a few players who weren’t directly affected by the trade deadline, but who have been putting up some eye-popping numbers over the past few weeks.

Hitters:

Jung Ho Kang, 3B/SS, Pittsburgh Pirates: Kang has been one of baseball hottest hitters in recent days, batting a torrid .440 with three home runs in 14 games since the All-Star break. He slashed .379/.443/.621/1.964 in July, while adding 41 points to his season’s batting average. Kang is owned in only about one-third of Yahoo leagues, but if he can continue to provide decent pop, he could be a huge fantasy difference-maker in the second half.

Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians: The slick-fielding Lindor isn’t known for his bat, but lately he’s been faring rather well at the plate. The 21-year-old batted .295 with four homers and 14 RBI in July, and he has logged a robust .339-3-10 line since the break. Lindor is owned in less than 20 percent of Yahoo leagues, but he could be a valuable addition to your lineup while he’s on this kind of hot streak.

Aaron Hicks, OF, Minnesota Twins: Hicks was the 14th overall pick in the 2008 draft, but he has been unable to parlay that potential into big-league success – until now. Hicks posted a .346-4-16 line with three stolen bases in July, and he has smacked out .362-2-9 with two steals after the break.  Daily game players may want to note that Hicks is batting .358 at home versus .211 on the road this season.

Adam Eaton, OF, Chicago White Sox:  Eaton looked to be poised for a huge year at the top of the Chisox order, but he was batting just .186 on May 9, and stumbled to a .245/.309/.383/.692 slash line prior to the All-Star break. He’s been on fire ever since, though, racking up a .389 average and absurd .515 OBP thus far in the second half. Eaton’s slow start caused him to be dropped in many fantasy leagues; if he’s available in your group, it looks like a good time for you to bring him aboard.

Pitchers:

Chris Tillman, SP, Baltimore Orioles: Tillman has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the past month or so, allowing only five earned runs in his last six starts – spanning 41 1/3 innings. Tillman’s pedestrian strikeout rate limits his fantasy value, but when he’s going this well he absolutely should be owned in most leagues.

Jimmy Nelson, SP, Milwaukee Brewers: Nelson has fashioned a 3-1 record, 1.64 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in five July starts, while holding opposing hitters to a .213 batting average. Nelson’s current hot streak has lowered his season’s ERA from 4.64 back on June 18 to its current 3.76 mark. The Brewers’ lethargic offense probably won’t provide much run support, but Nelson is worth a look in deeper mixed leagues while he’s on this kind of a roll.

That’ll do it for this week; good luck in your fantasy leagues and we’ll talk again soon.

 

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