When you think of Andrew McCutchen, you think of the superstar player who was drafted in the first or second round of your fantasy draft. You think of the player who has averaged 24 homers, 86 RBIs and 23 stolen bases over his eight-year career.
You don’t think of the guy hitting .238 with 77 strikeouts and just two stolen bases over his first 69 games of the season.
After opening the season with a disappointing April (.226, five homers, 10 RBIs, one stolen base), McCutchen had a solid May (.284, four homers, 13 RBIs, .807 OPS) only to fall backward this month (.187, one homer, five RBI, .500 OPS, 25 strikeouts). He is striking out a career-high 25 percent of the time while walking a career-low 9.4 percent.
Some of his struggles can be attributed to a lingering thumb issue that popped up early in the month, but that will heal. And, when it does, you will want to have the career .294 hitter on your side.
That is why now is the perfect time to buy low and grab him from a frustrated owner who drafted McCutchen believing he would be the fourth-best outfielder, but has gotten someone who would have hit the waivers a while ago if his name wasn’t Andrew McCutchen.
Here are some underachievers you should target in trades, as well as overachievers you should consider selling while you have the chance:
CC Sabathia has been a great story, but this story likely won’t have the happy ending you want. He has a 2.71 ERA (his lowest mark since 2008), but he’s walking 9.9 percent of the batters he faces (his highest percentage since 2002), has the lowest swinging strike percentage (8.9) of his career, and his FIP (3.45) and xFIP (.458) indicate regression is coming. Just remember, from 2013-15, Sabathia went 23-27 with a 4.81 ERA and 1.402 WHIP. It is time to sell while his numbers still are attractive.
Carlos Gomez entered June hitting .185 with no homers, five RBIs, five stolen bases and 48 strikeouts. Since returning from the disabled list on May 31, he has hit .281 with three homers, nine RBIs, three stolen bases, 18 runs scored and a .805 OPS. He may not be the fantasy superstar he once was, but there won’t be any complaints if you buy him cheap and he continues to produce at his current pace.
Fernando Rodney has allowed one earned run all season en route to a career-best 0.33 ERA, 0.904 WHIP, 31 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings and 16 saves in 16 opportunities (including six this month). Unfortunately, he is the closer for a team going nowhere, which makes him trade bait for a contending team that likely already has an established closer. It is time to sell high on Rodney.
After going 39-for-166 (.235) with three homers, 16 RBIs and a .678 OPS in April and May, Justin Turner hit .263 with seven homers, 16 RBIs and a .884 OPS over his first 20 games in this month. His overall numbers don’t look so hot (.244, 10 homers, 32 RBIs, .743 OPS), making it the perfect time to pounce on a guy who is heating up.
Doug Fister has not lost since April 25, going 7-0 with a 2.38 ERA over his past 10 starts. Though his ERA (3.21) likely will remain in check (he has a career 3.41 ERA), the chances of him keeping this incredible run going is unlikely — not when he is striking out just 5.7 per nine innings, has a FIP and xFIP of 4.57, and a .250 BABIP. Sell, sell, sell!
On May 11, Marcus Stroman was 4-0 with a 3.54 ERA and .220 opponent average. In his seven starts since, he has gone 2-3 with a 7.59 ERA, .353 opponent average. He also has a ridiculously high .393 BABIP over that span. Though he strikes out just 6.3 per nine innings and has a 5.23 ERA, the right-hander walks just 2.5 per nine innings, induces a solid ground-ball rate and has a 3.89 FIP. He has some upside and should come pretty cheap.
Big hits
Willson Contreras C, Cubs
The most added player in ESPN leagues this week was 5-for-13 (.385) with two homers, five RBIs, three runs scored and a 1.275 OPS over his first six big league games. He still is available in 49 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues and should be added.
Trevor Bauer SP, Indians
The 25-year-old is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA, 38 strikeouts over his past 38 2/3 innings, a .182 opponent average and a .494 opponent OPS over five starts this month.
Jonathan Schoop 2B, Orioles
He was 20-for-51 (.392) with four homers, 10 RBIs, 12 runs scored, a 1.144 OPS and just nine strikeouts over his previous 13 games before Friday.
Rajai Davis OF, Indians
Not only did he steal 10 bases in his first 17 games of the month, he also hit .313 with 11 runs scored, two homers, five RBIs and a .819 OPS.
Big whiffs
Michael Conforto OF, Mets
After hitting .365 with four homers, 18 RBIs, 15 runs scored and a 1.118 OPS in April, the 23-year-old was 21-for-140 (.150) with six homers, 12 RBIs, 46 strikeouts, a .521 OPS and a .241 on-base percentage in his previous 43 games before Friday.
Aaron Nola SP, Phillies
Over his past three starts, the 23-year-old is 0-3 with a 15.83 ERA, .449 opponent average, 10 strikeouts, seven walks and a 1.191 opponent OPS.
Nathan Eovaldi SP, Yankees
The 26-year-old is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA, .356 opponent average, just 13 strikeouts (in 20 innings) and has allowed six homers in four starts this month.
Matt Adams 1B, Cardinals
Before Friday, he was hitting .091 over his past eight games (just two hits) with one homer, one RBI, a .358 OPS, .130 on-base percentage and eight strikeouts.
Quick hits
How good is Clayton Kershaw? Well, he is 9-0 with a 1.15 ERA, .161 opponent average and 101 strikeouts over his past 10 starts (78 innings). Oh, and he has walked just four batters in that span.
In his first 16 games this month, Justin Bour hit .326 with three homers and 10 RBIs. For the season, he is hitting .275 with 12 homers and 35 RBIs against right-handed pitching, but just .200 with no homers and one RBI against lefties. Stating the obvious: Play him against righties.
A lot of negative things have been written the past three weeks about James Shields, the most dropped non-injured starting pitcher this week in ESPN leagues. So, let’s continue the trend: He is now 0-2 with a 21.81 ERA, nine walks and five strikeouts over his first three starts (8 2/3 innings) with the White Sox. Did you know Mel Blanc, the voice of Bug Bunny, was allergic to carrots? How is that fantasy relevant? It’s not, like Shields.
Team Name of the Week
Finding Nimmo
Submitted by Joseph Carrolla of Plainview