In this week’s edition, we take a look at guys who can affect not one, but two categories! It’s a double dose this week. You’re welcome. These rare fantasy gems are available in a decent amount of fantasy leagues, and quite simply, the ownership percentages aren’t indicative of their performance. The fantasy season continues to chug on and when the opportunity presents itself to add players that can do more than one thing, you must capitalize. You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. Shout out to you, Em.
Power & Speed
Keon Broxton, OF MIL – I put Broxton in here and then took him out, because I figured he was too chalky. His ownership is up to just under 43 percent on ESPN, but that’s due to a 15 percent jump in recent days. A guy who is hitting .251 with 13 home runs and 14 stolen bases does not belong on waivers. That’s for damn sure. A .191 batting average through 23 games did him in, but for those who were patient, were greatly rewarded. He’s hit .250 or higher in May and June to go along with at least four home runs and four stolen bases. The strikeouts remain a big problem, but his BABIP is nearly identical to last year’s mark, so a batting average right around .250 is a real possibility for the speedy outfielder. He may not be available in your league, but if he is, you know what to do.
Michael Taylor, OF WAS – His ownership is trending up and his power-speed combination has teased fantasy owners for what feels like years. He’s hit 11 home runs and swiped nine bags through 64 games in 2017, but the big standout, for me at least, is that .284 batting average. His career mark is .240. Sure, his BABIP is quite inflated at the moment, but we can’t ignore the fact that he’s making more hard contact and less soft contact than ever before in his major league career. Additionally, in 76 games last year he pulled the ball 50.3 percent of the time, while hitting the ball the other way just 16.6 percent of the time. However, in 2017, those marks reside at 41.7 and 27.8 percent respectively. Will the average stay? Maybe not to this extent, but hitting the ball harder and using the whole field surely signifies some maturity for the speedy outfielder. Even if the batting average falls by the wayside, he’s still going to hit home runs and steal bags, especially the latter when Jake Arrieta is pitching. Too soon, Miguel Montero?
Tim Tebow, SLM (St. Lucie Mets)—Kidding. Kind of. In time. Maybe. Potential keeper? He’s one of my favorite athletes, but he’s not worth adding, just in case you needed to hear it from someone.
Bradley Zimmer, OF CLE – Despite consistently hitting near the bottom of the Cleveland batting order, Zimmer continues to produce for the Tribe. He struck out 29.3 percent of the time in May, but that number has dipped to 24.4 percent in the month of June. Most of his other numbers declined, too, but they still aren’t too far off the marks he posted at Triple-A. He’s only been caught stealing one time thus far, and his four home runs are nothing too scoff about either. The first-round draft pick back in 2014 has the potential to develop into a perennial 20/20 player at the big league level, and even though I don’t think we’ll see it in 2017, 15/20 is very doable for Zimmer. While strikeouts are going to be a problem for him, he hasn’t lost his comfort when falling behind in the count. Over the last month, he’s slugging .488 with two strikes against him, which is good for 14th during that span. He can hit for power, he can run and he’s a guy can impact multiple categories. He’s available in just 13.5 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues.
Tommy Pham, OF STL – Believe it or not, Pham has nine home runs and eight stolen bases on the season, all while being owned in just over 10 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues. His average is up 53 points from his 2016 stint with the team, but his BABIP is actually nine points lower. His nine home runs in under 50 games this year ties the nine he hit in 78 games last year. He’s also running more. Pham is developing into a useful fantasy asset. Pham is one of 19 players in the MLB with at least nine home runs and eight stolen bases. Some other players on that list include Andrew Benintendi, Wil Myers, Brian Dozier, Mike Trout, Paul Goldschmidt, Keon Broxton and Mookie Betts. Quite a list to be on, I must say. Additionally, his OBP of .427 on the road this season is third-best in all of baseball. The Cardinals will continue to let him run and he’s definitely a candidate for a 15/15 season.
Franklin Barreto, 2B OAK – Barreto has played in just a handful of games, but he’s owned in more leagues than Tommy Pham, who almost has double-digit homers and steals. Of course, I understand the potential of Barreto is much higher, but it’s something worth noting. He’ll continue to play while Jed Lowrie and Chad Pinder are injured, but with a healthy start to his major league career, he could force Oakland’s hand into keeping him up with the big club. He’s yet to steal a base and has just one home run, and in 68 games at Triple-A this season, he only had four steals to go with his eight home runs. In Low-A and Double-A, he swiped 29 and 30 bases respectively. He’s dealt with strikeout problems in the minors, but so did Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge and so forth. In terms of power, Barreto is neither of the two aforementioned Rookie of the Year candidates, but players have been known to peak at the highest level. If the Athletics give him a regular role till the end of the season, don’t be surprised when he hits double-digit home runs and swipes double-digit bags.
Player News
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that Zach Eflin (lat) is likely to return and start Sunday against the Angels
It was assumed that Eflin would be back this weekend, but now we have a concrete date. The 31-year-old may not be at full strength after throwing fewer than 60 pitches in his rehab start, but the Orioles feel confident enough to have the right-hander back on the bump for the series finale against the Angels.
Riley Greene is not in the lineup for the first game of a doubleheader against the Rockies on Thursday.
Greene will get a break and likely return to the lineup for the second game of the twin-billing. Zach McKinstry will get the start in left field while Greene rests.
Yu Darvish (elbow) is facing live hitters on Thursday.
Darvish has been throwing bullpen sessions and traveled to the team’s complex in Arizona to face live hitters on Thursday. It will be his first time facing live batters since a spring training appearance on March 13th. He will likely need a few sessions like this before the Padres can map out a rehab appearance timeline for him.
Adael Amador is starting at second base and batting ninth for the Rockies on Thursday.
Amador has now started three of the last four games at second base for the Rockies. He’s gone just 7-for-43 this season with 15 strikeouts in 16 games. He’s just 22 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to adjust to the MLB level, but he doesn’t need to be on redraft radars right now.
Jackson Holliday is playing second base and batting second for the Orioles on Thursday against the Twins.
With Cedric Mullins sitting out on Thursday, Gunnar Henderson will bat lead off, and Holliday will jump up from sixth in the order to second. Holliday is riding a hot streak right now, and the Orioles are taking advantage. This is likely just a one-game sample with no Mullins or Adley Rutschman in the lineup, but Rutschman has been struggling, so perhaps it could become a more permanent spot in the lineup for Holliday moving forward.
Endy Rodriguez (finger) had his splint removed this week.
Rodriguez suffered a lacerated right index finger on April 14th. Now that he is out of his splint, he “is playing catch and doing a slightly modified swing.” Once he can progress to taking full swings, we’ll have a better sense of the timeline for his return.