Pitching stays a focus of the fantasy baseball pickups entrance, accounting for 19 of the 25 most-added gamers in ESPN leagues through the previous week.
Unsurprisingly, a lot of my most-advised targets stay simply that: pitchers. Brady Singer, one among final week’s suggestions, stays an advisable pickup with a two-start Week 19 forward of him. Moreover, a trio of pitchers mentioned in larger element this previous Wednesday (Dane Dunning, Michael Lorenzen and Gavin Williams) type a gaggle that ought to be universally added coming into the week.
In an effort to keep away from redundancy, at the moment’s column focuses on the hitters you have to be including:
Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates: What number of occasions should we ask if Hayes is starting to determine issues out earlier than we surrender on the opportunity of him truly figuring issues out? It is a truthful criticism, particularly after he has posted mere .250/.308/.373 hitting charges whereas making 5 mixed journeys to the IL totaling 111 days of absence within the three seasons since his gorgeous September 2020 opening large league month.
However, Hayes remains to be simply 26 years previous, giving himself a while to advance his improvement and, since his most up-to-date return from a again harm, he has proven the form of energy that has been lacking in his recreation up till that time. It is an extremely small pattern measurement, sure, however in 10 video games this month he has slugged .595, averaged a 94.7 mph exit velocity and delivered a Statcast 63% hard-hit price.
To place these numbers into perspective, Hayes had by no means come near any of these charges in any earlier month (minimal 10 video games) because the starting of 2021. He does seem to have made a change to his swing path this season, together with his 12.8 diploma launch angle simply being his highest in any of his 4 seasons so far, so his sizzling streak ought to catch our consideration.
Finest but for Hayes, his Pirates face a fantasy-friendly schedule for hitters the rest of the way in which, and his group seems to have settled on him as its leadoff man in opposition to left-handed starters and its No. 3 hitter in opposition to right-handers.
Trevor Story, SS, Boston Pink Sox: He had an inside bracing process of the UCL in his proper elbow again in January and his first week of recreation motion following his restoration from that surgical procedure went each bit in addition to, and in some methods higher than, anticipated.
Story performed the whole lot of three of the Pink Sox’s six video games at shortstop, performed two further because the designated hitter, delivered 4 batted balls (all hits) clocked at 100-plus mph by Statcast, and stole three bases (on 4 makes an attempt). That final stat is especially encouraging, because it alerts that the group will not put restrictions on him when on the basepaths, which is an effective factor contemplating Story has stolen a minimum of 13 bases in every of the earlier 5 seasons and derives quantity of his fantasy worth from his legs.
He ought to play the vast majority of Boston’s video games at shortstop the remainder of the way in which, contemplating the group’s playoff aspirations and lack of respectable defensive alternate options on the place, and will fairly ship 6-8 homers and 10-12 steals the remainder of the way in which. That is significant, particularly in rotisserie leagues.
TJ Friedl, OF, Cincinnati Reds: Elly De La Cruz’s stoop (.195, 41% Ok-rate because the All-Star break) has confirmed to be Friedl’s acquire, because the now 28-year-old outfielder (Pleased Birthday!) moved into the leadoff spot for every of the three video games of the weekend collection on the Pirates, with De La Cruz transferring again down to 3rd. It is a spot from which Friedl batted earlier this yr — earlier than De La Cruz’s breakthrough — and Friedl’s eager batting eye and penchant for contact makes him match for the function.
There is not a number of upside in Friedl’s bat, as his .162 ISO and 26.5% hard-hit price depart loads to be desired, however amongst gamers with a minimum of as many as his 389 plate appearances, his 18% miss price on swings ranks within the eighty fifth percentile and his 25% chase price ranks within the 67th percentile.
He additionally has a pro-career greatest 22 stolen bases, signaling his potential contribution in that division. And eventually, he is loads serviceable in opposition to left-handed pitchers, with .302/.362/.465 profession charges in opposition to them, which is why the Reds have been prepared to start out him in seven of their final 11 video games in opposition to a lefty (albeit typically within the backside third of the lineup).
