Addison Russell (2B-Cubs)
Addison Russell walked all three times in today's game. The highly touted prospect has had a tough introduction to MLB batting .228 and striking out an unsettling 31% of the time. He has shown good gap power with 16 doubles, but has stolen only one base and has been thrown out 3 times. Russell's .325 BABIP and 19.9% LD rate does not leave him much room for an improved BA. He is not hitting the ball very hard with a subpar 24.4% rate. With a contact rate that is below 70%, it is safe to say that he does not justify a position in mixed league play. Right now, his value is better left for keeper leagues and NL only leagues until the proverbial switch goes on. He does have the talent to have this happen, and the MI position is not exactly deep this season, but it is looking less likely that it will be this season.
Ian Desmond ($2200)
Ian Desmond had a hit in today's game and is now batting .215 on the season. With 7 HR's, 4 steals, and 24 RBI's, Desmond has been a major disappointment for fantasy owners. At the core of the problem is a 28.5% K rate, which when coupled with a 4.7% walk rate, does not engender much confidence in his plate discipline. What is particularly troubling is that this is a player who averaged 23 HR's and 22 steals each of the last 2 seasons. His LD% has fallen severely from a high of 22.5% in 2013 to its present 15.6% level. With a significant rise in his IFFB% to 12.9%, a Hard Ball Hit % at a career low 27%, and a 38.6% O-Swing rate, it's no wonder that his performance has been this bad. Desmond is only 29 and with elite bat speed and distance on his HR's, he certainly has the talent to turn this around in the 2nd half. The most likely improvement will be in his power numbers, as his 10% HR/FB rate is not too far off his 12% career mark. Whether he does recover or not is certainly in question, but at $2200 on FanDuel, I would be inclined to play him most every time if I were seeking a low cost upside play.
Lucas Duda (1B-Mets)
It has been a tale of two season for Lucas Duda. He started off extremely well batting .293 with 9 HR's, 16 Doubles, and 25 RBI's through the end of May. Despite today's three run HR, the wheels have come off the bus as Duda has batted .158 with 2 HR and 12 RBI's over his last 144 PA's. Duda has always been a streaky player, but even in bad times he has managed to hit HR's. The danger signs are in his 25% K rate and an elevated 10.4% IFFB rate. He still hits the ball hard, but a good 4% lower than his 41% rate in his last two seasons. He is becoming more impatient at the plate swinging at almost 30% of the balls outside the strike zone. All this adds up to a player who is off his game, on a bad hitting team, and you might want to consider moving in a trade in the 2nd half. With his 30 HR season fresh in peoples mind, you should wait for a bit of an uptick, otherwise you are going to have to take a significant hit to move him.
Khris Davis (OF-Milwaukee) $3100
Khris Davis returned to the Brewer's lineup this past week for the first time since May 30 when he suffered a knee injury. Davis who had five homers and 16 RBI before the injury has 1 HR in 7 AB's in the 2 games he has played. He is not in the starting lineup today. Davis does have Gerardo Parra as an obstacle to playing time in left field and he should initially be forced into the short side of a platoon. Davis had 22 homers last season, and more ability than Parra, so it wouldn't be a surprise if Parra was traded come trade deadline time. Davis would also be an appealing pickup for a pennant contender in need of a power bat. If you have Davis, you should hold on to him in most leagues, and see how this plays out this month. He has much more promise than anyone you are going to find on the waiver wire at this point in the season. Davis would make a good play in FanDuel at $3100 if he is facing a lefty tomorrow. The starting pitcher for Saturday's game against the Dodgers is not yet listed.
Jace Peterson (2B-ATL)
One of the few positive stories on the Atlanta Braves has now turned sour as Jace Peterson has been battling a terrible slump. Never thought of as a highly touted player in the Minors, Peterson played very well in the first 2.5 months of the season batting .284 with 17 XBH and a nice 10.9%/16.6% walk to K ratio. Since that time, over 70 PA's, he has hit only .159, with 3 XBH, and a 28.6% K rate. He was 1-3 in today's game. While he has not been an efficient base stealer, he did have 8 on 6/21 and he has not stolen a base since. It was even worse for the Braves since Peterson has been their leadoff hitter and he has a .232 OBP over that time. If he doesn't start to pick it up there may be no choice but for the Braves to sit him down.
@stevietheshu
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