Chase Utley (2B-PHI) - It could be a smokescreen of course, but as of this week, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro has stated that he expects Utley to remain with the Phillies through the end of the season. We don't know whether that is true or whether perhaps Utley invoked his veto rights, but there are fantasy implications. Utley, who is batting .500 with six XBH over his last 26 at-bats, will probably continue playing 4-to-5 games per week while Cesar Hernandez starts at short most days and Freddie Galvis fills in while one of the pair gets a day off. The Dodgers, Giants, and Cubs were mentioned most prominently in Utley trade rumors, so this preserves the value of their starting second basemen - Enrique Hernandez (LA - while Howie Kendrick is sidelined), Joe Panik (once he returns from a back injury), and Starlin Castro. He's well worth his $2,500 FanDuel salary right now, assuming of course he's not given a day off.
John Axford (RP-COL) - Manager Walt Weiss announced Tuesday that Axford would be returning to ninth inning duties. Well, that didn't last long for Tommy Kahnle, as after back-to-back saves earlier this month, Kahnle allowed six runs (five earned) over 1.2 innings in his last two appearances as his ERA rose from 2.51 to 3.86 to pair with an ugly 1.55 WHIP. Axford though is no lock to keep the job, as he has posted a less than sterling 9.75 ERA and 13:12 K:BB with no saves and four blown saves in his last 13 appearances (12 innings). Should the Rockies need to turn to Plan C (or is it D by now?), the ageless wonder Rafael Betancourt would probably be next up given his 5.94 ERA and 1.40 WHIP may start looking pretty good to Weiss.
Danny Espinosa (2B-WAS) - With the Nationals scoring 15 runs Tuesday, we could have chosen a number of heroes, but Espinosa is as good a pick as any - 3-for-5, two runs, two doubles, two RBI. He's now batting .252/.322/.429, and his start came at the expense of Anthony Rendon, he of the .196 August BA. Yunel Escobar appears to have a starting spot nailed down given he's been red hot as well, leaving Espinosa's playing time in limbo. Either way, this helps, and Espinsoa should have plenty of NL-only value doing forward. In FanDuel formats though, he's a risky play even at a sub-$3,000 salary given the questions around his playing time.
Jayson Werth (OF-WAS) - Werth was elevated to the leadoff spot (undeservedly) Tuesday, and it paid dividends for the Nationals given his 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored effort against the Rockies. Werth's night raised his slash to an ugly .191/.264/.280 on the year and left me wondering what the Nationals would do with him once Denard Span was ready to return in the next week or so. Span has a .367 OBP on the year, so he's not going to sit too often, leaving Werth and Michael Taylor to fight for playing time alongside Span and Bryce Harper. Werth had been in a 2-for-21 slump prior to Tuesday's action, and given his $126 million contract, he's going to play. Sorry Michael Taylor owners.
Jose Reyes (SS-COL) - Who knows how long Reyes is as a Rockie, but for now, that's where he'll stay. Reyes had a huge night Tuesday, going 4-for-5 with Rockies' HR #1 against the Nationals. Overall he's hitting a modest .281/.315/.382, but in a Rockies' uniform he's been even worse - .265/.282/.368. He'll adapt and be fine the rest of the way, though with just 4 HR and 19 SB, Reyes continues to be a shell of his former self. At a $3,400 FanDuel salary, Reyes is worth an investment at that price.
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