It is simply mind-boggling to see Minnesota’s Miguel Sano available in more than 40 percent of Yahoo leagues and 35 percent of ESPN leagues.
In his first 41 big league games, the 6-foot-4, 260-pound rookie is hitting .284 with 10 homers, 32 RBIs and a .961 OPS. This after hitting .278 with 105 homers, 339 RBIs, 33 stolen bases and a .937 OPS over five seasons in the minor leagues.
Yes, he has struck out 59 times (34.7 percent of his at-bats) and his .405 BaBIP (Batting Average on Balls in Play) is unsustainable, but the good outweighs the bad. He has walked 27 times (15.9 percent), has hit homers in 5.9 percent of his at-bats and is getting an RBI every 4.4 at-bats.
Though Sano certainly will help with your playoff push this year, if you’re in a keeper or dynasty league, at 22 years old, he is a building block for the future with 30-homer potential. Roto Files believes he should be owned in all formats.
It’s hard to find one player to help in every stat category this late in the year, but it’s possible to find a several players who will do the job in one area and not hurt in others. Here are players available in more than 50 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues who can provide categorical boosts:
Homers
Khris Davis, available in more than 70 percent of leagues, may be hitting a career-low .239, but he has 14 homers (including eight since the break) in just 81 games. He also has four multiple-homer games (three this month) and a respectable .795 OPS.
Jonathon Schoop has nine homers in 47 games. He is hitting .293, which is miles above the .209 he hit last season while smacking 16 homers. He is a cheap power source available in more than 80 percent of leagues.
RBIs
Not only is Trevor Plouffe getting steady playing time, but he has driven in 68 runs (22 since the break) while hitting a respectable .251 (despite hitting just .230 since July 17). He’s available in more than 50 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
Stolen bases
Delino DeShields Jr. is not the sexiest name, but he is getting steady playing time with the Rangers, has 21 stolen bases (including five this month) and his batting average (.259) won’t kill your squad. He is available in more than 50 percent of ESPN leagues and 70 percent of Yahoo.
Jarrod Dyson, available in more than 90 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues, has 23 stolen bases, including 12 since the break, which is two more than league-leader Billy Hamilton has in that span (and Dyson has a better batting average and on base percentage by nearly 50 points).
Wins
It’s always strange to see a pitcher with a 12-2 record being sent to the minors, but carrying a 5.06 ERA, like Drew Hutchison, will do that. However, he was 3-0 with a 2.89 ERA over his three starts before being sent down, and his 3.96 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) indicates he has been unlucky. He is scheduled to return to Toronto’s rotation on Aug. 29, and with the upgraded lineup he should be able to secure more wins (and hopefully a lower ERA). He is available in more than 60 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
Rubby de la Rosa, available in more than 70 percent of leagues, is 10-5 with a 4.40 ERA this season, but 4-0 with a 2.54 ERA in six starts since the Midsummer Classic.
Strikeouts
Ian Kennedy (35 percent owned in ESPN leagues) may be 7-11 with a 4.20 ERA this season, but he is striking out 8.3 per nine innings and is 3-2 with a 2.63 ERA and 37 strikeouts over his last six starts. He always is better in the second half.
Saves
Arodys Vizacaino, who is available in more than 50 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues, has picked up three saves in three opportunities since taking over the Braves’ closer’s gig after Jim Johnson was traded.
Pick up for future
Yes, Michael A. Taylor is hitting .240 and has a discouraging .665 OPS. And, yes, he has struck out 122 times while walking just 23 times in 362 at-bats. But, going into Friday night, the 24-year-old had 11 homers, 52 RBIs and 15 stolen bases, which are numbers most fantasy owners gladly would take. He is available in more than 85 percent of leagues, and could be a great stash for dynasty owners.
Big Hits
Jackie Bradley Jr. OF, Red Sox
Has been on fire, going 18-for-53 (.340) with four homers, 18 RBIs, five doubles, three triples, 10 walks, a stolen base and a 1.211 OPS in his first 16 games this month.
David Peralta OF, D’backs
Has hit .376 with four homers, 25 RBIs and a 1.042 OPS in his first 30 games since the break, becoming a reliable fantasy source who is available in 30 percent of ESPN leagues and 40 percent of Yahoo leagues.
Carlos Beltran OF, Yankees
Has looked like the Beltran of old and not the old Beltran in his first 16 games this month, hitting .327 with five homers, 10 RBIs, nine walks and a 1.119 OPS.
Raisel Iglesias SP, Reds
The 25-year-old has been solid in his four starts this month, going 2-1 with a 2.10 ERA, 22 strikeouts, a .151 opponents average and .471 OPS.
Big whiffs
Robbie Ray, SP, D’backs
The left-hander hasn’t collected a victory since July 7, going 0-5 with a 4.97 ERA with 38 strikeouts, 15 walks and a .306 opponent batting average in his seven starts since.
Trevor Bauer SP, Indians
He is 0-2 with just two strikeouts in his last two starts. He has allowed 11 runs on 13 hits en route to a 19.80 ERA with a .464 opponents batting average in that span.
Ben Paulsen 1B, Rockies
He was listed in the column to the left on Aug. 7, but has since hit .171 with no homers, two RBIs, 15 strikeouts and a .488 OPS. Well, so much for that whole “hitters thrive in Colorado” thing.
Torii Hunter OF, Twins
Hunter is aging like a bottle of wine that has been left open for 40 years in the desert. He hit .104 with two homers, six RBIs and a .420 OPS in his first 15 games this month.
Quick hits
- A well-rested Lance McCullers will return to Houston’s rotation on Sunday. Outside of his last outing, when he allowed six runs in one-third of an inning, the rookie was 2-1 with a 2.50 ERA and 32 strikeouts in his previous six starts. Keep an eye on him … after Sunday. Why? He’s facing off against the next guy on this list.
- Clayton Kershaw has not lost since June 27, going 5-0 with a 0.87 ERA, 72 strikeouts and just seven walks in his eight starts since. He has allowed just six runs to score in his last 62 innings pitched.
- Speaking of the Dodgers, they reunited Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins this week. Either the Dodgers have discovered the fountain of youth or we’ve traveled back to 2006. Though Utley has been hot this month, the duo has combined to go 150-for-676 (.222) with 17 homers, 69 RBIs and 104 strikeouts this season. By the way, the Dodgers are providing the duo with a special Gatorade cooler for their Ensure, as well as a spot under the bench for their mid-inning naps. Get it? Because they’re old!
Team name of the week
The Plouffe is in the Pudding