Rocket Fantasy Baseball July 17, 2015

By on July 17, 2015

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 16, 2015.)

The All-Star break is in the rear-view mirror, and it’s time to turn our attention to the symbolic second half of the 2015 fantasy baseball campaign. Whether you’re in an annual league or ply your trade in the daily games, there are some below-the-radar players out there who can aid your fantasy cause. Interested? Read on.

Hitters:

Miguel Sano, 3B, Minnesota: Sano is one of the game’s top prospects, and he has hit safely in nine of his first 10 big league games. Sano figures to swing and miss a lot, but his prodigious power potential makes him a worthy add in just about every fantasy format. He is owned in 55 percent of Yahoo leagues, so if he is somehow still on your league’s waiver wire, it’s time to right that wrong.

Alex Rios, OF, Kansas City: Rios missed over six weeks with a fractured left hand, and he struggled mightily after returning in late May, but he is showing some signs of life lately. The veteran is batting .316 with three stolen bases in 10 games in July, and he could be on the verge of an extended hot streak. Rios is a .277 career hitter, and he has finished below that mark only one time in the past six seasons.

Matt Duffy, 3B, San Francisco: Duffy closed out his first half with a flourish, going 7-for-15 with a double, triple and four RBI in a three-game set against Philadelphia to finish at .293-8-41 in 266 at-bats. The Giants released Casey McGehee on July 9, so Duffy – who is also eligible at short and second base in Yahoo leagues – should have a clear path to a full-time starting job in the City by the Bay.

Pitchers:

Tampa Bay Rays surprise man, Erasmo Ramirez (Buck Davidson)
Tampa Bay Rays surprise man, Erasmo Ramirez (Buck Davidson)

Erasmo Ramirez, SP, Tampa Bay: Ramirez has gone from fantasy afterthought to a bona fide stud lately, allowing only six earned runs over his last eight starts. He has gone 6-1 during that stretch, with 37 strikeouts in 44 innings of work. Ramirez’s career track record (and struggles with the home run ball) suggests that a correction is in order, but you might want to hop on this bandwagon while it’s rolling at a breakneck pace.

Andrew Heaney, SP, Los Angeles Angels: Heaney was the ninth overall pick in the 2012 draft, and it looks like the 23-year-old may be ready to parlay that potential into big-league success. Since being called up June 24, Heaney has logged four straight dominant starts, including seven innings of five-hit shutout ball in his last outing on July 12. There is ace potential here, and the buy-low window figures to close rapidly if Heaney’s success continues.

Ken Giles, RP, Philadelphia: Current closer Jonathan Papelbon has made it very clear that he wants out of Philly, and the hard-throwing Giles looks like the heir apparent if Papelbon is indeed dealt. Giles can be a bit wild, but he has fanned 11.4 batters per nine innings this season and has allowed just one homer in 38.2 innings of work.

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

Categories: Baseball, Featured, Sports
Tags: , , , , , , ,

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.