Fantasy 5 Up 5 Down: All Star break or all change needed?

by UK American Sports Fans

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<p dir=”ltr”>With the All Star break getting closer, baseball teams are beginning to take a look at the standings to decide how competitive they’re going to be this season. Fantasy owners can safely begin to look at the standings themselves, and now is the perfect time to decide which areas need improvement. If your team is crushing in pitching categories, don’t be afraid to deal an ace pitcher to get some hitting help. Of course, keeping an eye on the waiver wire is important too, not just for up and coming prospects, but also for players returning from injury – Brandon Beachy and Brian Roberts may both be making returns in the coming weeks. So, with the season now in full flow, which players are excelling, and which are dropping off?</p>

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<span style=”color: #ff0000;”><strong>1. Jacoby Ellsbury</strong></span>

Ellsbury’s hitting has been disappointing, with a .273 average below the .300 clip some were expecting, whilst his one homer is a far cry from the 30-dinger 2011 campaign. So why is he on 5 up? Well, he’s stealing bases. Not only that, but he’s stealing a ridiculous number of bases, with 30 already on the young season despite missing some time with injury. Like Everth Cabrera, he is a threat every time he gets on base and is a huge fantasy asset for that reason. I like the chances of the average continuing to increase, and on this current 70-steal pace, he could single handedly win you the category.

<span style=”color: #ff0000;”><strong>2. Hunter Pence</strong></span>

Pence is a red-hot 11-for-26 over his past six games, and has been quietly stuffing the stat-sheet with 11 home runs and 13 steals. Hitting at the heart of the Giants line-up will provide him with plenty of runs and RBI, making him a genuine five-category contributor.  In fact, this is just the kind of line we’d be expecting the likes of Ryan Braun to put up, and whilst some regression may be due in average and steals, Pence is still underappreciated in many fantasy leagues as he continues to crush.

<span style=”color: #ff0000;”><strong>3. Hisashi Iwakuma</strong></span>

Iwakuma has been ridiculous so far this season, with a 1.79 ERA and 0.82 WHIP as he has ripped through line-ups at a frightening pace. Whilst you’d be tempted to say this is a prime candidate for regression (and he certainly won’t finish the season with a 1.79 ERA), he has been the best pitcher in baseball since last season’s all-star break, making it nearly a year of dominance for him now. The strikeouts are there, the walks are very much under control, and Iwakuma has to be viewed as a top 20, and maybe even top 10 starting pitcher at this stage. If his owner isn’t convinced with this hot start, don’t be afraid to make a move.

<span style=”color: #ff0000;”><strong>4. Zack Wheeler</strong></span>

Wheeler will finally get his chance in the Mets rotation this week, as he is called up to start one of the double-header games on Tuesday against Atlanta. As with all prospects, there is reason to be cautious, especially against a potent Atlanta offense, and the threat of demotion will always hang over him. Quietly, I like Zach Wheeler as a speculative pick-up. His numbers at AAA aren’t outstanding on the face of it (3.93 ERA in 68 innings), but when you consider he has been pitching in Las Vegas, one of the most hitter friendly parks in professional baseball, the numbers look a whole lot more promising. I think he will strike out plenty and be a fantasy-relevant starter whilst in the big leagues – go pick him up.

<span style=”color: #ff0000;”><strong>5. Greg Holland</strong></span>

There was some concern over Greg Holland earlier in the season, when a few shaky outings put his job security in jeopardy. Since then, he has been lights out, allowing one run over his past 22 innings. His 13 saves aren’t an elite number, but the K rate is impressive and the ERA and WHIP are entering microscopic territory. You don’t like to put all your trust into closers, but I think Holland is a top 9th inning option from this point forward, especially considering Kelvin Herrera’s struggles.

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<span style=”color: #0000ff;”><strong>1. Nick Swisher</strong></span>

Swisher got off to a hot start this season, but he is 4 for his last 42 at the plate, and looks lost. He may begin to lose playing time to Yan Gomes or Drew Stubbs if these woes continue, and whilst Swisher should be a good bet to bust out of the slump, this is a worrying cold streak. In shallow leagues I’d have no problem with dropping him, but in deeper leagues you may need to bench him and hope he can turn this funk around.

<span style=”color: #0000ff;”><strong>2. Anthony Rizzo</strong></span>

Rizzo had three hits on Friday night, which came as a welcome respite after an ugly .135 average for the rest of June. He hasn’t hit a home run yet this month, but I like his chances to bounce back. If his owner has dropped him, or is trying to sell, don’t be afraid to buy-low, because he can still be an effective source of power and RBI.

<p dir=”ltr”><strong style=”color: #0000ff;”>3. Matt Moore</strong></p>

Moore has been awful in his past few starts, allowing 19 runs over 12.1 innings as he has been hit from pillar to post. The control issues have finally come back to bite him, and the ERA has jumped up to an ugly 4.12 mark whilst the 1.40 WHIP is a sure reason why. Moore is still a pitcher with a lot of upside, but the strikeouts aren’t at the same k/inning rate they were last season and he has looked very hittable in his past few outings. If you’re a Matt Moore owner, you have to be concerned.

<span style=”color: #0000ff;”><strong>4. Jon Lester</strong></span>

Like Moore, Lester got off to a hot start this season, but has cooled off considerably recently. He’s allowed three+ runs in each of his past five outings, and his poor run reached a new low with a seven run outing against Tampa Bay. Walks have become an issue for Lester all of a sudden, and whilst he should turn this poor streak around, there is still cause for concern for Lester owners.

<span style=”color: #0000ff;”><strong>5. Brandon League</strong></span>

League finally lost control of the job on Tuesday, as Mattingly officially named Jansen the new 9th inning man in Los Angeles. League has struggled all season, and this news confirms the fact that he shouldn’t be owned in any leagues. If you drafted him early and feel foolish now, console yourself with the fact that the Dodgers have got him signed for three years…

Read more from Ben over on <a href=”http://mlbuk.blogspot.co.uk/” target=”_blank”>The UK Baseball Blog</a> and follow the blog on twitter <a href=”https://twitter.com/UKBaseballBlog” target=”_blank”>@UKBaseballBlog.</a>