Zach Duke: Considering the team he is on, Duke is having a very good season, 9-10 with a 3.45 ERA. However, be aware that he is doing it with a soft skill set, 4.5 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, and a 45% GB%. He is clearly benefitting from a 76% Strand rate and a .235 BHIP%. Judging by his work over the last month, 4.66 ERA, it looks like his luck is beginning to run out. Today, pitching at home against the Cardinals, he is a risky play.
Alex Gonzalez: It has been a rough season for Gonzalez, 3/25/.201 in 224 AB. A .173 BHIP% isn’t helping, but considering that he is not hitting for power or providing speed, 0 steals, it really doesn’t make much of a difference.
Adam Rosales: Playing in a utility role, Rosales is not providing much help in any area, 3/17/.211 with 0 steals in 161 AB. Even though he has a depressed .200 BHIP%, his lack of power and speed, combined with a poor approach at the plate, 8% and 78% Ct%, means there is not any upside to rostering Rosales.
Eugenio Velez: Since his recall from Triple-A on July 27th, Velez has been seeing regular playing time and he has been on a tear, 3/11/.423 in 52 AB. The power is surprising; as he only managed just 1 home run in his previous 278 career AB and he had just 3 home runs in 182 Triple-A AB this year, so don’t expect that to last. Given his speed, it is also surprising that he has attempted just 2 steals, getting caught once, in this same period. His hot bat will keep him in the lineup and he should be running more. He is a good play in NL-only leagues.
Fred Lewis: Lewis has good speed, 29 steals in 40 attempts over the last two seasons, and decent pop, 4 home runs, 3 triples, and 15 doubles in 247 AB this year. However, his inability to hit lefthanders, just 9 for 49 this year with 17 K’s, and his poor contact skills overall, 71% Ct%, is limiting him to a platoon role. Last year he was a good mixed-league player, 9/40/.282 with 21 steals in 468 AB, but this year his value in limited to NL-only leagues, 4/14/.263 with 8 steals.
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