It was early May when Roto Files recommended fantasy owners remain patient with struggling 2014 Cy Young winner Corey Kluber. At the time, he was 0-5 with a 5.04 ERA and 1.39 WHIP after five starts. In his 12 starts since, he is 4-5 with a 2.54 ERA and 108 strikeouts.
Those who drafted, kept or traded for Kluber may be looking at this season is a failure, but Roto Files believes his losses and early struggles don’t paint the most accurate picture.
Kluber’s 3.38 ERA is not the 2.44 it was last season, but it still is in line with his respectable career 3.35 ERA. He is striking out 10.4 per nine innings, which is slightly better than last year (10.3) and still above his career average (9.5). He is walking just 1.9 per nine innings, which is exactly what he did last year and is below his career average (2.1).
There also is this: He went 9-6 with a 3.01 ERA and 142 strikeouts before the break last year, and did even better in the second half, going 9-3 with a 1.73 ERA and 127 strikeouts. He may not go home with the hardware this season, but Roto Files believes his second half should be enough to help you claim some.
Here’s a look at other players who are ready to bounce back from their first-half malaise, and some who are primed to fall back to Earth after hot starts:
- Jeff Samardzija (6-5 with a 4.08 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) may not have started strong, but he already has started his big turnaround. Since suffering a loss on June 7, he has gone 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA over seven starts. He struck out 42 and lowered his ERA from 4.93 to 4.08. His 3.41 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) before Friday indicates he has been unlucky, so you should expect a solid second half.
- Here is Roto Files’ concern about All-Star hurler Michael Wacha (10-3, 2.93 ERA): This is a guy who has had arm trouble and already has pitched a career-high 107¹/₃ innings. Though he won seven of his first nine starts with a 1.87 ERA, he has gone 3-3 in his eight starts since with a 4.17 ERA. Just being cautious.
- Chris Carter (.185, 15 HRs, 41 RBIs) had an underwhelming first half, but, luckily, he has been better in the second half throughout his career. For example: He hit .205 with 19 homers and 40 RBIs before the break last year, but hit .252 with 18 HRs, 48 RBIs and .860 OPS after the break. He will bring the power over the final 71 games.
- Entering the start of the second half on Friday, Hector Santiago’s 2.33 ERA was the seventh-best in the majors (better than a slew of elite starters), and he was among the top 40 in strikeouts (98) and top 20 in WHIP (1.10). His career year should take a hit, as his 3.91 FIP indicates he has been getting lucky and will regress.
- Slow starts and Carlos Santana (.221, 10 HRs, 40 RBIs, .736 OPS) go together like “rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong” (this is a “Grease” reference). But if you look at his career numbers, he is better after the Midsummer Classic (.246, 57 HRs, 214 RBIs) than he is before (.245, 51 HRs, 214 RBIs). He will rebound to respectability, just like he did last year.
- Victor Martinez showed signs of life in his past 20 games before the break, hitting .348 with four homers, 15 RBIs and a .961 OPS. When he is healthy, there aren’t many in the game better than him. He is getting hot at the right time, and as long as he can avoid more time on the disabled list, the better your team will be.
- Matt Wieters has played in just 26 games since returning from Tommy John surgery, so there shouldn’t be too much concern over his .265 batting average or the fact he is striking out a career-high 24.7 percent of the time, generating a career-low 74.3 contact percentage or walking a career-low 4.5 percent of the time. He still is getting reacclimated with the game and should settle down and show why he’s worthy of being a No. 1 catcher.
Big hits
C.J. Cron 1B, Angels
In his eight games (seven starts) before the break, Cron was 16-for-30 (.533) with three HRs, 11 RBIs and a 1.47 OPS.
Kyle Gibson SP, Twins
Ended the first half on a high note, going 4-0 with a 1.30 ERA, .202 opponents batting average and 23 strikeouts over his past four starts.
Taylor Jungmann SP, Brewers
Since suffering a loss on June 14, the 25-year-old rookie has gone 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA, 24 strikeouts and a .205 opponents batting average in five starts. He has allowed just four earned runs over his past four starts.
John Jaso C, Rays
The most added catcher in ESPN leagues this week hit .409 with a homer, three RBIs and four walks in his first eight games since returning from the disabled list.
Big whiffs
Clay Buchholz SP, Red Sox
Not only did he suffer he suffer his first loss since May 26 last Friday (he was 5-0 with a 1.99 ERA in seven starts between June 2-July 4), then he also suffered an elbow injury that landed him on the disabled list.
Chase Utley 2B, Phillies
Word in Philly is Cesar Hernandez will remain the second baseman even after the 36-year-old veteran returns from the DL. Still want to own the .179 hitter?
Chi Chi Gonzalez SP, Rangers
After going 2-1 with a 0.90 ERA and 10 punchouts over his first four starts, the rookie is 0-3 with a 10.13 ERA and just five strikeouts in his three outings since.
Andrelton Simmons SS, Braves
The break came at the right time for the 25-year-old, as he was 5-for-39 (.128) with no-extra base hits, one RBI and a pathetic .319 OPS in his first 12 games this month.
Quick hits
If you’re looking for a boost in stolen bases, Kansas City’s Jarrod Dyson (11 thefts) should help as he takes over for Alex Gordon, who is out until September with a left groin strain. He is owned in less than 20 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
With Jason Grilli out for the season, Jim Johnson will pick up the bulk of the save chances in Atlanta. Grilli was a surprise, so Johnson can be one, too.
Angels lefty Andrew Heaney is available in about 40 percent of ESPN leagues and more than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues, despite going 3-0 with a 1.32 ERA, 23 strikeouts and a 0.84 WHIP over his first four starts.
Who is the loneliest power hitter in the majors? Adam Dunn-award favorite Luis Valbuena, who had 14 solo home runs in the first half (he hit 19 total). Can we set up a Match.com, JDate or OKCupid profile with the headline, “I may strike out 22.3 percent of the time, but I have powerful wood,” or “Chicks dig the long ball”?
Team Name of the Week
Veale Palmer John — Submitted by @FredKerber