The fantasy season is like walking the beach with a metal detector: When you hear the pings, chances are all you have found is some junk. But sometimes, on occasion, you find something of value — just like you can, at all times, on the waiver wire.
Tyler Naquin started the season in the majors with the Indians. He was hitting .317 with two RBIs and a .751 OPS before being demoted in May.
In 36 games since being recalled on June 2, Naquin has been a revelation. He is 37-for-113 (.327) with 12 homers, 27 RBIs, three stolen bases, 22 runs scored and a 1.172 OPS. He was the most added player in ESPN leagues this week, seeing his ownership rise from 15 percent to nearly 40 percent. He also is owned in 44 percent of Yahoo leagues.
As with any rookie, there are some concerns, the first being he never was much of a power hitter in the minors, blasting off just 22 times in 339 games. Fantasy owners are not complaining with this newfound power (nor should they). But, he is striking out in 28.6 percent of his at-bats, after whiffing about 20 percent in the minors, and his sky-high .417 BABIP indicates his .324 batting average will regress.
Naquin is a hot player and someone who should be added for what he offers in multiple categories. Roto Files suggests not getting too attached just in case he starts to falter.
This is the type of player you should be looking for at this point in the season — the hot player to supplant the ice-cold player or the guy who landed on the disabled list. That is what’s going to help you win the title. Here are some others who can help you pick up the pace:
If you need assistance in just about every offensive category outside of stolen bases, Yangervis Solarte is the man. Not only is he eligible at three positions, but he has a solid contact rate (85.3 percent) and, since returning from the DL on May 21, he is hitting .290 with 10 homers, 35 RBIs, 27 runs scored, 17 walks and a .883 OPS. He is vastly underrated and underowned.
Travis Jankowski has 16 stolen bases on the season, 12 of which have come since June 1. The .244 batting average may not look pretty, but if you need speed, the Padres’ outfielder is a cheap option available in about 95 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
Marcus Semien is a boom-or-bust option hitting .236, striking out 23.8 percent of the time and hitting below .200 this month. But, he has a career-high 20 homers and 48 RBIs, which will help your squad. Plus, it’s almost August, a month in which he has a career .299 average.
If your pitching staff is struggling (or you’re waiting to see if Clayton Kershaw is lost for the season), here are some hot pitchers worth a look: Cincannati’s Anthony DeSclafani (5-0 with a 2.59 ERA over his past six starts), Oakland’s Kendall Graveman (5-0 with a 3.36 ERA over his past 10 starts) and Miami’s Adam Conley, who was 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA and 18 strikeouts in his past three starts before taking the mound against the Mets on Friday.
Carlos Estevez pitches in a ballpark where you could hit a home run with a miniature souvenir bat, but still has collected seven saves in eight opportunities since stealing the job from Jake McGee. He is striking out 10.2 per nine innings, has not allowed an earned run in any of his seven saves and is available in 65 percent or more of all leagues.
If you’re really desperate for saves, you can pick up San Diego’s Brandon Maurer, whose save chances come about as often as Haley’s Comet.
Trea Turner is another speedy option who has stolen three stolen bases in his past four games before Friday. He may play some outfield, giving him the chance to play more often and fantasy owners the chance to exploit his speed (he had 77 stolen bases in 268 minor league games).
If you’re looking for the cheap relief-pitcher win (six), the occasional save (two) or strikeouts (10.0 per nine innings), Baltimore’s Brad Brach is solid option to have in your lineup. If your league counts holds, he has 18 this season, too.
Big hits
Hector Santiago SP, Angels
Hasn’t suffered a loss since June 10, going 5-0 with a 2.28 ERA, .190 opponent average and 38 strikeouts (in 43 1/3 innings) in his past seven starts. He has allowed one run or less in five of those starts.
Howie Kendrick 2B/3B/OF, Dodgers
Took a 13-game hitting streak into Friday, going 22-for-51 (.431) with one homer, six RBIs, eight runs scored, seven walks and a 1.108 OPS in that span.
Kyle Hendricks SP, Cubs
Has not lost since June 13, going 5-0 with a 0.72 ERA, .214 opponent average and 35 strikeouts over his past seven appearances (six starts).
Albert Pujols 1B/DH, Angels
In his first six games since the break, the veteran is hitting .368 with four homers, 12 RBIs and a 1.478 OPS. He is hitting .293 with five homers and 22 RBIs this month.
Big whiffs
Kendrys Morales DH, Royals
After hitting .286 with four homers, seven RBIs and a 1.518 OPS in his first four games this month, he has gone 7-for-39 (.179) with no homers, one RBI, 12 strikeouts and a .452 OPS in his past 11.
Patrick Corbin SP, Diamondbacks
The lefty has allowed 29 runs (22 earned), seven home runs and 33 hits en route to an 8.25 ERA, .320 opponent average and an 0-3 record over his past five starts.
Odubel Herrera OF, Phillies
Despite being an All-Star this season, the 24-year-old was 12-for-66 (.182) this month with two homers, five RBIs and a .562 OPS before Friday.
Daniel Mengden SP, Athletics
After ending June 1-3 with a solid 2.81 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings, he is 0-2 with a 9.33 ERA and .312 opponent average in four starts this month.
Quick hits
When you hear the words “season-ending surgery” and “Clayton Kershaw” in the same sentence, the Dodgers and fantasy owners alike sit with their fingers crossed. It is impossible to replace a pitcher who has gone 99-35 with a 2.08 ERA with a 0.913 WHIP and 1,394 strikeouts in 1,249 innings since 2011.
Despite the sexual assault accusations, the Pirates plan on moving forward with Jung Ho Kang bobblehead night on Aug. 11. Maybe the Pirates should try using the doll in their lineup, because Kang is 6-for-34 (.176) with just two RBIs, 13 strikeouts and a .498 OPS this month.
Mike Napoli took a nine-game hitting streak into Friday, going 12-for-33 (.364) with five homers, 10 RBIs, nine walks, a 1.348 OPS and seven strikeouts in that span. Four of those homers have come since the break.
Jedd Gyorko hit .429 with four homers and seven RBIs in his first six games after the All-Star break. Pick him up and rename your team: Return of the Jeddi, or Better off Jedd, or Jedd-Pool (good luck trying to rhyme Gyorko with, well, anything).
Team name of the week
Syndergaardians of the Galaxy