Rocket Fantasy Baseball 9-11-15

By on September 11, 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 September 10, 2015. Position designations are determined by Yahoo eligibility rules; check your league settings for eligibility requirements.

We’re into the second week of September, and that game with the funny-shaped ball has stolen some of the limelight from our beloved National Pastime. No matter – while your league mates are busy analyzing fumbles, bumbles and assorted stumbles, you can take advantage of their inattention by cashing in on some tasty waiver-wire fare. Let’s have a look at a few players who are flying below the radar, but who could provide some nice return on a minimal investment.

Hitters:

Sep 4, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Jedd Gyorko (9) hits a solo home run during the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Jedd Gyorko (9) hits a solo home run during the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. photo (USA TODAY Sports / Jake Roth)

Jedd Gyorko, 3B/SS, San Diego Padres: Gyorko was a popular fantasy baseball bounce back candidate this spring, but he was batting just .208 back on July 2. Fantasy owners bailed in droves, and very few have noticed that Gyorko has raked out a very serviceable .264-11-35 line in the second half. Gyorko has gained shortstop eligibility in many leagues, and he could provide some much-needed pop to a position that’s often lacking in power production.

Mark Canha, 1B/OF, Oakland Athletics: Canha was one of the 2015 season’s early waiver-wire darlings, but he fell out of favor when he batted just .169 in May. He has rebounded very nicely since then, though, and he is batting .275-6-27 in 42 games since the All-Star break. Canha’s 21 RBI in August was good for fourth among AL first basemen, and he has quietly – which is the way baseball-related things happen in Oakland these days – worked his way back into fantasy relevance.  

J.P. Arencibia, C/1B, Tampa Bay Rays:  Arencibia is batting .435 with four homers and 10 RBI in September, and while he’s bound to fall off that torrid pace, there’s no reason why you can’t hop on this bandwagon and enjoy the ride. The 29-year-old smacked 22 home runs in 99 games at Triple-A Durham this year, but his 125 strikeouts and .227 batting average at that level should tell you that a correction is almost certainly on the way. Until then, though…   

Pitchers:

J.A. Happ, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates: Happ was decidedly mediocre in his 21 appearances for the Seattle Mariners, but he has been an absolute beast since arriving in Pittsburgh. Through his first seven starts for the Buccos, Happ has compiled a brilliant 1.79 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, and he has struck out 42 batters in 40.1 innings of work.

Joe Kelly, SP, Boston Red Sox: Kelly tops all American League pitchers with eight wins in the second half, and he has allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his last seven starts. The Bosox’s hurler has notched victories in eight straight starts, and his hot streak has provided one of the few bright spots in what has been pretty much a lost season in Beantown.

Carlos Rodon, SP, Chicago White Sox: The highly-regarded young hurler has allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his last six starts, while fanning 41 batters in 41 innings and lowering his ERA from 5.00 to 3.94. Rodon’s command has improved significantly of late, and he has held opposing batters to a .238 average in the second half. He posted an ERA of 2.48 and WHIP of 1.10 in August, and he has allowed just three earned runs in 13 innings thus far in September.

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

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