Lucas Duda, OF, New York Mets
Duda finished yesterday's contest 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. It was a rough time out for the big fella, as he fanned three times, but since getting called up, he looks more confident and it has shown, as he was slashing .444/.474/.722 prior to yesterday's 0-fer. His stock is limited in mixed leagues because he doesn't contribute much besides HR and RBI, but with Ike Davis sidelined for the remainder of the year, Duda gets to play his natural position, first base. It might not seem like much, but considering Duda was a sub-par outfielder, the fear of messing up in the field can affect the way you hit, so him looking more comfortable at the plate could partially be due to the position change. He should receive NL Only consideration, especially when he's stroking the ball like he has been in his latest major league stint. In 254 ABs this year, Duda is batting .244 with 12 HR and 27 RBI.
Scooter Gennett, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers
Gennett collected an RBI and a hit in yesterday's win over Chicago. He was only 1-for-5, but since seeing everyday playing time, he has been a notable fantasy pickup, hitting .329/.367/.529 for the year with six homers, but since returning to the team July 30th, he has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball, hitting five of those home runs with a .387 BA and a 1.050 OPS. At second base, slugging and power like that is hard to come by, and the fact that he's only 23 means that he can really build from experience in the bigs like this. He should be owned in all standard mixed leagues, but his value in 2014 could skyrocket, so he's definitely stash-worthy in dynasty leagues. Not a strong keeper candidate because it's hard to see what plans the Brewers have for him, but he has sure made a big splash and raised some eyebrows in 2013.
Zack Greinke, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Greinke threw six strong innings, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out a season high nine batters. It says something about how well he's been pitching considering this was his worst statistical start in almost two months. Since the ASB (10 starts), the 9-year veteran boasts a 1.95 ERA with six wins against only one loss. He received the no decision, today, but Greinke is easily having his best season since he won the Cy Young trophy in 2009 with Kansas City, winning 14 games with a handful of starts still to go. He is a high end keeper considering his stock before the year was lower than usual, and at 29-years old and in his prime, he makes for the perfect guy to own in keeper or dynasty leagues.
Billy Hamilton, SS/OF, Cincinnati Reds
Hamilton entered the game as a pinch runner, again, he stole second base immediately, again, and he scored the game winning run, again. For a guy who has yet to have a major league at-bat, he sure is making a fantasy impact. Hamilton has stolen a base in all four games he's played since his September call-up and he has scored runs in three of those games, two of which were game winning runs. He may not see many at-bats, but he will surely hold value in any format because the Reds will continually use him in pinch running situations, giving him plenty of chances to score runs and steal bases.
Brian Bogusevic, OF, Chicago Cubs
The Cubbies' right fielder smashed his fourth homer of the season, a solo blast in Chicago's loss yesterday to Milwaukee. Bogusevic continues to swing a solid bat since being brought back up late August. He is a platoon player, getting starts strictly against right-handers, but he has been doing his job, slashing .293/.352/.488 with all four of his homers against righties. He doesn't get enough at-bats to justify picking him up in mixed leagues, but he could definitely bolster your playoff roster in an NL Only format.
