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A.J. Pollock is on pace to finish with 116 runs scored, 20 homers, 72 RBI and 41 steals while batting .322 despite not always starting earlier this season. It would be easy to call his start a fluke, but he hit similarly last year (.302/.353/.498) over 75 games. Pollock is a great base runner and defender and owns a 136 wRC+, as his 2.5 WAR ranks No. 11 in baseball right now, which just so happens to be the exact same as he does in fantasy terms (No.11), including pitchers (although for some odd reason he’s still owned in just 91% of Yahoo leagues). Pollock benefits from hitting in Chase Field, which has increased runs scored by 10 percent over the past three seasons, which is the most other than Coors Field over that span. Pollock is really good at baseball and would easily be worthy of a top-three round pick if a draft were held today.
[Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football is back: Sign up for a league today!]
Jason Hammel is another player who looked good going into the year who’s only increased his stock since, just like Pollock. Hammel has a ridiculous 76:9 K:BB ratio over 75.0 innings this season, which further validates his 2.76 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. He owns a 23.0 K-BB% that ranks top-10 in MLB, while his 11.3 SwStr% ranks top-20. Over his last four starts, all of which have come on the road, Hammel has posted a 35:3 K:BB ratio, so he only continues to get better. Hammel should be treated as a top-10 fantasy starter moving forward, and that might be selling him short.
Headlines of the Week: Witnesses Push Over Portable Potty With Man Pleasuring Himself Inside...Elementary Students Tour Sex Shop For Class...Man Kicked Out Of Nude Cycle After Getting ‘Overexcited And Aroused’...Study: Economically Dependent Spouses More Likely To Cheat...Thai Parents Cryonically Freeze Toddler In Hopes She May Live Again...Man Named Bacon Gets In Trouble Over Sausage...Man Loses $714K To Fortune Teller.
Quick Hits: Mike Fiers’ 19.3 K-BB% ranks No. 16 among starters, ahead of Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and Felix Hernandez, yet he sports a 4.06 ERA and a hideous 1.49 WHIP.* I’m not sure what to make of it, since another stat I really like (SwStr%) he also ranks highly in (9.7), but as an owner of him in a high stakes NFBC league, I have to say I’m not optimistic about a huge rebound. It’s just really tough being a right-hander averaging 89.4 mph with a fastball (he’s last among all SPs with a 40.5 hard-contact%, with the next worst being 37.0)...Jose Reyes is 8-for-17 with four runs scored and six RBI over his past four games, including stealing five bags over his past two contests. He still sports .697 OPS that’s his lowest since 2005, but maybe he’s not totally done...It wasn’t that long ago Matt Kemp hit 39 homers and stole 40 bases while finishing with 115 runs, 126 RBI and a .324 BA. He’s now sporting a .643 OPS with two homers over 227 at bats despite Petco Park suddenly turning into a hitter’s park. Kemp’s 81 wRC+ ranks No. 139 among all hitters, just one spot ahead of David Ortiz...The switch-pitcher Pat Venditte is the most interesting player to enter the league in a while...During two of their starts last week, Andrew Cashner and Noah Syndergaard combined for a 22:0 K:BB ratio while allowing 12 earned runs over 8.2 innings, which is beyond insane. Cashner leads MLB with 13 unearned runs allowed, but it’s becoming increasingly hard to come up with excuses for his disappointing season.
Police Blotter: 911 Caller Hits On Dispatcher, Brags About Muscles...Customer Suspects Annoyed Waiter Spat In Soda; Police Use DNA To Prove It...Man Ran Fake DUI Checkpoint While Drunk...Maryland Woman Dies In Queens Basement After Silicone Butt Lift Goes Awry, As Phony Doctor Flees Scene...28 Busts For Sex Offender Accused Of Grinding On Subway Passenger, But Mom Says He’s Just Looking For A Wife...Woman Named ‘Wale’ Jailed For Loud Sex...Man Calls 911 After 4-Hour Standoff With ‘Aggressive’ Cat...Would-Be Burglar Baked Potato, Raked Leaves...Man Arrested For ‘Kidnapping’ His Own Son After Neighbors Didn’t Recognize Him With His New Beard.
Quick Hits Part Deux: Fun with splits: Josh Donaldson is batting .429/.447/.810 against lefties, while David Ortiz is batting .118/.114/.162 with a 13:0 K:BB ratio over 68 ABs against them. That’s right, he has a lower OBP than BA. Steven Souza has a 1.012 OPS against LHP compared to .677 vs. RHP, while Marcell Ozuna has similar LHP/RHP splits (1.080 OPS vs. .657). That’s not too abnormal, but left-hander Brandon Crawford is batting .439/.500/.707 against southpaws. And that’s after he posted an .879 against LHP last season, all while playing in AT&T Park, which has suppressed HR for LHB by 34 percent over the past three years, which is easily the most in MLB...Pablo Sandoval had his first multi-hit game Sunday since May 10. In the first year of a big contract, it’s disconcerting to say the least he has just a .665 OPS despite seeing a major upgrade in home hitting parks. He’s also been a huge defensive liability and has suddenly given up switch hitting... Here’s Joey Votto drawing a three-pitch walk...Maybe Alex Wood has been unlucky with a .347 BABIP, but that’s more than countered by an extremely fortunate 3.2 HR/FB%. His 5.9 SwStr% ranks No. 100 among starters (the 10[SUP]th[/SUP] worst among all qualified SPs). Wood’s ugly 1.43 WHIP is much more reflective of how he’s pitched than his 3.36 ERA...Mark Teixeira has the second-highest ISO (.335) in MLB, while Melky Cabrera has the lowest (.032)...Hanley Ramirez has been graded as by far the worst defender in baseball this season, which is especially crazy considering left field is generally considered the easiest job to play if in Fenway Park.*
Longread of the Week: “The Agency.”**
Quick Hits Part Tres: Yes, go pick up Carlos Correa in any league in which he’s somehow still available. He’s going to be a star, and shortstop is such a thin position...Here’s Giancarlo Stanton hitting yet another very long home run (an estimated 484 feet that’s the longest of the 2015 season) . Stanton leads MLB with eight “no doubt” homers and is on pace to finish with 51 homers and 134 RBI despite batting .230...After a nice start to the year, Billy Butler’s OPS has dropped for the third straight season, as he’s currently sporting a .276 OBP while slugging .335 against righties...With Brad Boxberger dealing with a triceps injury, it’s been Kevin Jepsen called in to close for Tampa Bay, not Jake McGee. All three really need to be owned at this point, but especially Jepsen apparently...Luke Gregerson was lit up for four runs (three earned) while recording one out Sunday, raising his ERA to 4.50. It was just his second blown save of the year, so his job security should be safe for now. However, those speculating for saves should target Pat Neshek, who’s emerged as Houston’s setup man and sports a 19:0 K:BB ratio over 20.2 innings. His WHIP over the last two seasons is 0.74, which is easily the best in all of baseball...It’s crazy the three starters who’ve averaged the highest fastball velocities this season (Yordano Ventura, Nathan Eovaldi and Joe Kelly) have combined for a 4.72 ERA.
Follow Dalton Del Don on Twitter.*
[Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football is back: Sign up for a league today!]
Jason Hammel is another player who looked good going into the year who’s only increased his stock since, just like Pollock. Hammel has a ridiculous 76:9 K:BB ratio over 75.0 innings this season, which further validates his 2.76 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. He owns a 23.0 K-BB% that ranks top-10 in MLB, while his 11.3 SwStr% ranks top-20. Over his last four starts, all of which have come on the road, Hammel has posted a 35:3 K:BB ratio, so he only continues to get better. Hammel should be treated as a top-10 fantasy starter moving forward, and that might be selling him short.
Headlines of the Week: Witnesses Push Over Portable Potty With Man Pleasuring Himself Inside...Elementary Students Tour Sex Shop For Class...Man Kicked Out Of Nude Cycle After Getting ‘Overexcited And Aroused’...Study: Economically Dependent Spouses More Likely To Cheat...Thai Parents Cryonically Freeze Toddler In Hopes She May Live Again...Man Named Bacon Gets In Trouble Over Sausage...Man Loses $714K To Fortune Teller.
Quick Hits: Mike Fiers’ 19.3 K-BB% ranks No. 16 among starters, ahead of Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and Felix Hernandez, yet he sports a 4.06 ERA and a hideous 1.49 WHIP.* I’m not sure what to make of it, since another stat I really like (SwStr%) he also ranks highly in (9.7), but as an owner of him in a high stakes NFBC league, I have to say I’m not optimistic about a huge rebound. It’s just really tough being a right-hander averaging 89.4 mph with a fastball (he’s last among all SPs with a 40.5 hard-contact%, with the next worst being 37.0)...Jose Reyes is 8-for-17 with four runs scored and six RBI over his past four games, including stealing five bags over his past two contests. He still sports .697 OPS that’s his lowest since 2005, but maybe he’s not totally done...It wasn’t that long ago Matt Kemp hit 39 homers and stole 40 bases while finishing with 115 runs, 126 RBI and a .324 BA. He’s now sporting a .643 OPS with two homers over 227 at bats despite Petco Park suddenly turning into a hitter’s park. Kemp’s 81 wRC+ ranks No. 139 among all hitters, just one spot ahead of David Ortiz...The switch-pitcher Pat Venditte is the most interesting player to enter the league in a while...During two of their starts last week, Andrew Cashner and Noah Syndergaard combined for a 22:0 K:BB ratio while allowing 12 earned runs over 8.2 innings, which is beyond insane. Cashner leads MLB with 13 unearned runs allowed, but it’s becoming increasingly hard to come up with excuses for his disappointing season.
Police Blotter: 911 Caller Hits On Dispatcher, Brags About Muscles...Customer Suspects Annoyed Waiter Spat In Soda; Police Use DNA To Prove It...Man Ran Fake DUI Checkpoint While Drunk...Maryland Woman Dies In Queens Basement After Silicone Butt Lift Goes Awry, As Phony Doctor Flees Scene...28 Busts For Sex Offender Accused Of Grinding On Subway Passenger, But Mom Says He’s Just Looking For A Wife...Woman Named ‘Wale’ Jailed For Loud Sex...Man Calls 911 After 4-Hour Standoff With ‘Aggressive’ Cat...Would-Be Burglar Baked Potato, Raked Leaves...Man Arrested For ‘Kidnapping’ His Own Son After Neighbors Didn’t Recognize Him With His New Beard.
Quick Hits Part Deux: Fun with splits: Josh Donaldson is batting .429/.447/.810 against lefties, while David Ortiz is batting .118/.114/.162 with a 13:0 K:BB ratio over 68 ABs against them. That’s right, he has a lower OBP than BA. Steven Souza has a 1.012 OPS against LHP compared to .677 vs. RHP, while Marcell Ozuna has similar LHP/RHP splits (1.080 OPS vs. .657). That’s not too abnormal, but left-hander Brandon Crawford is batting .439/.500/.707 against southpaws. And that’s after he posted an .879 against LHP last season, all while playing in AT&T Park, which has suppressed HR for LHB by 34 percent over the past three years, which is easily the most in MLB...Pablo Sandoval had his first multi-hit game Sunday since May 10. In the first year of a big contract, it’s disconcerting to say the least he has just a .665 OPS despite seeing a major upgrade in home hitting parks. He’s also been a huge defensive liability and has suddenly given up switch hitting... Here’s Joey Votto drawing a three-pitch walk...Maybe Alex Wood has been unlucky with a .347 BABIP, but that’s more than countered by an extremely fortunate 3.2 HR/FB%. His 5.9 SwStr% ranks No. 100 among starters (the 10[SUP]th[/SUP] worst among all qualified SPs). Wood’s ugly 1.43 WHIP is much more reflective of how he’s pitched than his 3.36 ERA...Mark Teixeira has the second-highest ISO (.335) in MLB, while Melky Cabrera has the lowest (.032)...Hanley Ramirez has been graded as by far the worst defender in baseball this season, which is especially crazy considering left field is generally considered the easiest job to play if in Fenway Park.*
Longread of the Week: “The Agency.”**
Quick Hits Part Tres: Yes, go pick up Carlos Correa in any league in which he’s somehow still available. He’s going to be a star, and shortstop is such a thin position...Here’s Giancarlo Stanton hitting yet another very long home run (an estimated 484 feet that’s the longest of the 2015 season) . Stanton leads MLB with eight “no doubt” homers and is on pace to finish with 51 homers and 134 RBI despite batting .230...After a nice start to the year, Billy Butler’s OPS has dropped for the third straight season, as he’s currently sporting a .276 OBP while slugging .335 against righties...With Brad Boxberger dealing with a triceps injury, it’s been Kevin Jepsen called in to close for Tampa Bay, not Jake McGee. All three really need to be owned at this point, but especially Jepsen apparently...Luke Gregerson was lit up for four runs (three earned) while recording one out Sunday, raising his ERA to 4.50. It was just his second blown save of the year, so his job security should be safe for now. However, those speculating for saves should target Pat Neshek, who’s emerged as Houston’s setup man and sports a 19:0 K:BB ratio over 20.2 innings. His WHIP over the last two seasons is 0.74, which is easily the best in all of baseball...It’s crazy the three starters who’ve averaged the highest fastball velocities this season (Yordano Ventura, Nathan Eovaldi and Joe Kelly) have combined for a 4.72 ERA.
Follow Dalton Del Don on Twitter.*