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STOCK UP
Mookie Betts: With five homers over a recent two-game span (in seven at bats), no one needs me to tell them he’s a hot player, but the 23-year-old is exceeding those with even the highest expectations, even after producing just a .298 OBP in April. Betts has yet to be caught stealing, is walking a bit less than expected and is hitting for far more power than anyone hoped, and his counting stats have benefitted greatly from hitting first in a Boston lineup that’s leading MLB in runs scored by a wide margin. Despite the righty hitting just .152/.171/.424 against southpaws, Betts is on pace to finish with 41 homers, 24 steals, 156 runs scored and 127 RBI. He’s easily been the most valuable hitter in fantasy baseball this season.
Matt Shoemaker: He has a 31:0 K:BB ratio over his last three starts, so clearly he should be owned in all formats at this point. Shoemaker recorded a 3.04 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP just two years ago, so this dominance wasn’t too far off the map. He also sports a 13.8 SwStr% on the year, which would rank No. 6 among starters in MLB if he qualified. It’s insane he’s owned in just 24 percent of Yahoo leagues.
Byron Buxton: The top prospect is getting another chance after posting a .336/.403/.603 line in Triple-A, and he’s recorded a hit in all four games since rejoining Minnesota. Who knows how his latest try in the bigs will shake out, but with his pedigree and upside, he’s worth owning to see how it unfolds.
Michael Fulmer: Over his last three starts, he’s allowed one run over 22.1 innings with a 22:4 K:BB ratio. Fulmer was the key prospect in the Yoenis Cespedes deal, and he’s averaged 94.7 mph with his fastball this season, which would be the eighth highest in all of baseball if he qualified. Go pick him up if he’s still available in your league.
Alex Bregman: Last year’s No. 2 pick owns a 191 wRC+ in the minors right now, as he has 12 homers with 25 walks and 15 strikeouts over 151 at bats. It sure looks like he’s going to be the Astros’ everyday third baseman over the second half of the year, so he’s more than worth stashing in any but the shallowest of leagues right now.
STOCK DOWN
Carlos Rodon: I still love his potential, but Rodon is stuck with a 4.41 ERA and a 4.50 FIP with just two wins through 63.1 innings about two months into the season. Rodon’s control remains a work in progress, and his ability to secure wins isn’t just bad luck, as he’s reached seven innings just twice through 11 starts (and never past that) on a team with a winning record. Rodon owns a 4.17 BB/9 and a 1.89 K/9 rate versus RHB this season, which seems like a problem.
Trevor Rosenthal: His 3.28 BB/9 rate last year suggested he wasn’t an elite reliever, but Rosenthal’s control has become a serious concern, as he currently sports a crazy 1.82 WHIP after walking all three batters he faced Friday. Here are his SwStr% marks over the past four years, respectively: 14.8, 12.8, 11.6, 10.3. He currently owns an 8.47 BB/9 ratio in 2016. This all seems like a real issue.
Mark Teixeira: I keep wanting to recommend him in “High Fives,” as an under owned player who hit 31 homers over 392 just last year, but it appears he may be done. Teixeira’s .263 slugging percentage is the lowest among the 180 batters qualified in major league baseball.
Corey Dickerson: He’s not been a bust, but Dickerson’s move away from Coors Field has been as detrimental as expected. He currently owns a .672 OPS, and he's on pace to finish with 144 strikeouts and just 46 runs scored. During his career, Dickerson has hit .355/.410/.675 over 400 at bats in Coors Field. His line in Tropicana Field is .160/.213/.293. Put differently, he has 68 extra-base hits over 400 at bats in Coors. He has 61 over 600 otherwise.
Michael Conforto: I remain a long-term believer in Conforto, but since the start of May, he’s batting .150 over 93 at bats. He’s totaled six RBI over that span while mostly hitting in the middle of the Mets’ lineup, and he’s struck out eight times over his past 14 at bats. I still say buy low, but it’s been an ugly stretch.
Follow Dalton Del Don on Twitter.
Mookie Betts: With five homers over a recent two-game span (in seven at bats), no one needs me to tell them he’s a hot player, but the 23-year-old is exceeding those with even the highest expectations, even after producing just a .298 OBP in April. Betts has yet to be caught stealing, is walking a bit less than expected and is hitting for far more power than anyone hoped, and his counting stats have benefitted greatly from hitting first in a Boston lineup that’s leading MLB in runs scored by a wide margin. Despite the righty hitting just .152/.171/.424 against southpaws, Betts is on pace to finish with 41 homers, 24 steals, 156 runs scored and 127 RBI. He’s easily been the most valuable hitter in fantasy baseball this season.
Matt Shoemaker: He has a 31:0 K:BB ratio over his last three starts, so clearly he should be owned in all formats at this point. Shoemaker recorded a 3.04 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP just two years ago, so this dominance wasn’t too far off the map. He also sports a 13.8 SwStr% on the year, which would rank No. 6 among starters in MLB if he qualified. It’s insane he’s owned in just 24 percent of Yahoo leagues.
Byron Buxton: The top prospect is getting another chance after posting a .336/.403/.603 line in Triple-A, and he’s recorded a hit in all four games since rejoining Minnesota. Who knows how his latest try in the bigs will shake out, but with his pedigree and upside, he’s worth owning to see how it unfolds.
Michael Fulmer: Over his last three starts, he’s allowed one run over 22.1 innings with a 22:4 K:BB ratio. Fulmer was the key prospect in the Yoenis Cespedes deal, and he’s averaged 94.7 mph with his fastball this season, which would be the eighth highest in all of baseball if he qualified. Go pick him up if he’s still available in your league.
Alex Bregman: Last year’s No. 2 pick owns a 191 wRC+ in the minors right now, as he has 12 homers with 25 walks and 15 strikeouts over 151 at bats. It sure looks like he’s going to be the Astros’ everyday third baseman over the second half of the year, so he’s more than worth stashing in any but the shallowest of leagues right now.
STOCK DOWN
Carlos Rodon: I still love his potential, but Rodon is stuck with a 4.41 ERA and a 4.50 FIP with just two wins through 63.1 innings about two months into the season. Rodon’s control remains a work in progress, and his ability to secure wins isn’t just bad luck, as he’s reached seven innings just twice through 11 starts (and never past that) on a team with a winning record. Rodon owns a 4.17 BB/9 and a 1.89 K/9 rate versus RHB this season, which seems like a problem.
Trevor Rosenthal: His 3.28 BB/9 rate last year suggested he wasn’t an elite reliever, but Rosenthal’s control has become a serious concern, as he currently sports a crazy 1.82 WHIP after walking all three batters he faced Friday. Here are his SwStr% marks over the past four years, respectively: 14.8, 12.8, 11.6, 10.3. He currently owns an 8.47 BB/9 ratio in 2016. This all seems like a real issue.
Mark Teixeira: I keep wanting to recommend him in “High Fives,” as an under owned player who hit 31 homers over 392 just last year, but it appears he may be done. Teixeira’s .263 slugging percentage is the lowest among the 180 batters qualified in major league baseball.
Corey Dickerson: He’s not been a bust, but Dickerson’s move away from Coors Field has been as detrimental as expected. He currently owns a .672 OPS, and he's on pace to finish with 144 strikeouts and just 46 runs scored. During his career, Dickerson has hit .355/.410/.675 over 400 at bats in Coors Field. His line in Tropicana Field is .160/.213/.293. Put differently, he has 68 extra-base hits over 400 at bats in Coors. He has 61 over 600 otherwise.
Michael Conforto: I remain a long-term believer in Conforto, but since the start of May, he’s batting .150 over 93 at bats. He’s totaled six RBI over that span while mostly hitting in the middle of the Mets’ lineup, and he’s struck out eight times over his past 14 at bats. I still say buy low, but it’s been an ugly stretch.
Follow Dalton Del Don on Twitter.