Taijuan Walker (SP-Seattle)
Taijuan Walker pitched brilliantly today giving up only 1 hit and striking out 7 over 6 shutout innings. He is starting to show some of the promise that was expected of him. With today's outing he has a 22.5% K rate and a 7.1 walk rate and his .374 xFIP against his 4.34 ERA indicates that good things are ahead in the 2nd half. Walker could use some improvement in his 12.1% HR/FB rate, which has held back his development, and he must start to pitch better on the road where batters have a .384 wOBA against him. His curve has not been effective this season and I wish he would use his slider more. Once these adjustments are made, his improving command on his 95 mph 2 seamer will take him and his owners where they want to go this season.
Miguel Sano (3B- Minnesota)
The Twins announced that they are calling up uber power prospect Miguel Sano today. Sano has been ripping the ball in Double A to the tune of a .918 OPS and 15 HR's with 48 RBI's in 66 games. Since DH Kennys Vargas was optioned to Triple A, it looks like Sano will get everyday AB's in the DH role. He has been a consensus top 20 prospect over the last few years and is someone that should be rostered in every league. Sano should not be counted on for a strong average, although he has reduced his K% this season and walks a very respectable 13% of the time. For a 22 year old ballplayer with a hit tool that is still in the development stage, and someone who has not played an AB in Triple A, it is his raw power (80 on a scale of 80) that has everyone salivating.
Billy Burns (OF-Oakland)
Billy Burns went 2-for-4 with a double, triple and two runs scored in today's game. Burns has been a revelation at the top of the order for the A's. He continues to fill up the box score and is batting .320/.361/.430 with 34 runs scored and 16 steals on the year. Since he was not a highly rated prospect, player's like Burns are always viewed as a risky play. Sure he demonstrated a lot of speed in the Minors, topping off with 54 SB's in 2013 and 51 in 2014, but he also batted .193 in Triple A. The only question for fantasy owners who took the chance on him and have been rewarded is can he keep this pace up? The indications are very positive. At 87%, he is an excellent contact hitter. His line drive rate is over 24% and with his speed his .361 BABIP is right around his career average. Could his .320 BA fall based on his low hard hit ball rate, 4.5% walk rate, and some expected regression in BABIP when adjusted for Major League pitching. Yes, but his .361 OBP augers well for continued success on the base paths and that alone will make him very valuable.
Nathan Eovaldi (SP-Yankees)
Nathan Eovaldi moved to 8-2 on the season going only 5.1 innings but not giving up any runs while walking and striking out 3. Eovaldi has definitely been the beneficiary all season of a Yankee offense that is 2nd in runs scored in the ML. He has managed a 6.47 K/9 rate and a 2.57 BB/9 mark to go along with his 4.52 ERA and normally these numbers don't equate to an 8-2 record. But as lucky as he has been with run support, he has been equally unlucky with a .352 BABIP. Armed with an elite fastball, his long range indicators do point to some better ERA results. The disconnect with Eovaldi is his very mediocre 7.9% swinging strike rate. While his two seam fastball has been exceptional, he does not have another pitch that he can throw with effectiveness. He has a better arm than he has shown and a better record than he deserves.
Shin-Soo Choo (OF-Texas)
Shin-Soo Choo hit his 11th HR of the season and 3rd in 3 games. Choo owners hope this is the start of a hot streak after he had a very poor June batting only .225. The speed that was a major part of his game had completely disappeared last season due to injury. The drought has continued this season with no SB's in his first 70 games. When you take the speed out of his profile, the power production is his only way to save his fantasy value. A return to his 20 + HR seasons does seems in reach. A low .281 BABIP could adjust upward towards his .344 career average and help him elevate his poor .233 BA. At nearly 33 years old it seems quite probable that his age and recent injury history have taken their toll on Choo. He will no longer be the elite player he was, but there is still enough there to be of use in mixed leagues.
@stevietheshu
This is just a small sample our our daily analysis, join our member area for more premium content: http://www.fantistics.com/join/join.php3
