Jean Segura (SS-MIL) - The transition from Double-A to the big leagues has been predictably difficult for Segura, who despite going 3-for-3 with a walk on Sunday is still batting just .238/.278/.274 in 87 at-bats. He's yet to homer, and just two of his 20 hits have gone for extra bases. His 16:5 K:BB could be worse, and he's stolen four bases in four attempts, and I really believe there's All-Star upside with Segura. Segura hit .313/.365/.464 as a 20 year-old in High-A two years ago, so we know he has talent, but it just might take some time for him to catch on.
Justin Maxwell (OF-HOU) - Maxwell's tools have always intrigued me, but at 28, his time is running out to establish himself as even a big league fourth outfielder. Fortunately he's with the Astros, a team that is giving him another (final?) chance. The results this year? Mixed. Maxwell has 14 homers in 246 at-bats for a nice 17.6 AB/HR rate. He's also stolen six bases and has walked in a reasonable 8.8% of his PA's (11.6% for his career). That said, he's also batting just .232 and he's fanned in 31.8% of his PA's. at his age, it's difficult to see him making much progress in that area, but if he can somehow get 550 at-bats, perhaps he hits .250 with 30 homers and 20 stolen bases. Fantasy owners would take that in a heartbeat. I'm just not sure I see him getting that many at-bats over the next TWO years given his K%.
Andrew Werner (SP-SD) - A pitcher with a pulse can have short-term success in San Diego given that ballpark, but perhaps I've overlooked Werner a bit. He was solid again Sunday, holding the Diamondbacks to a run on four hits over 6.1 innings. He walked three and fanned six in lowering his ERA to 2.59 and giving him four straight starts (his only four starts for SD) of 6+ innings and two or fewer runs. The key for Werner in addition to solid command has been a 1.78 GB/FB rate. Werner had a 110:31 K:BB in 126.1 minor league innings this year, so there's every reason to think he can be a successful back-end of the rotation starter for the next several years.
Ricky Nolasco (SP-WAS) - Sometimes you just don't know which Nolasco you're going to get on a given day. Sunday it was the good one - complete-game four-hit shutout against a tough Nationals team. Nolasco struck out six while walking just one in lowering his ERA to a disappointing 4.40. Still, it was Nolasco's second shutout in three starts, both against Washington nonetheless. He's allowed just one run in his last 25 innings after allowing less than four runs just once in his previous eight starts. I'm probably not the only one to be burned by Nolasco in the past, but you obviously have to ride him right now. Next year? Who knows.
Edwin Jackson (SP-WAS) - With Stephen Strasburg shut down for the season, the Nationals are going to need Jackson to step up and be their #3 starter in the playoffs. Sunday though, he pitched like a Triple-A #3 starter, allowing six runs in just four innings in a loss to the Marlins. Jackson has now surrendered 10 runs on 16 hits in 10.1 innings over his last two starts, resulting in his ERA increasing from 3.53 to 3.85 quickly. It's possible that 27 starts into his season, that Jackson is tiring a bit, though last year he had a reasonable 3.58 ERA in September. Figure he's just had a couple bad outings and hope for a turnaround next time out. He'll still be a sought-after free agent this winter, likely landing a three-year deal.
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