Ian Desmond (SS-Nationals)
Ian Desmond is not in the Nationals' lineup Friday as he is getting a scheduled day off. Danny Espinosa is filling in for Desmond at shortstop. Desmond is having a very bad year with only 5 HR's, 1 SB, and a .224 BA. One of the problems is that he is striking out at a 28% clip which is a repeat of last season's numbers. But last year he still smacked 24 HR's. The other unfortunate trend from last season has been a very high ground ball rate. His current 54.6% number is the highest of his career and he is making hard contact at only a 27.8% clip. Desmond's 9.1% HR/FB rate will probably elevate to something more resembling his 12.5% career mark, but unless he goes on an absolute tear, it is unlikely that he will exceed the mid-upper teens in HR production. In addition, his 1 SB is unexpected from a player who averaged over 22 steals in the last 5 seasons. Desmond is a talented player at a thin position, so his owners will have to hold tight and hope for a strong rebound in the 2nd half.
Marlon Byrd (OF-Cinn)
The Reds activated OF Marlon Byrd from the 15 day disabled list after Byrd homered in his first rehab game with Double-A Pensacola. He has missed the last couple weeks with a small fracture in his right wrist. His return is good news for fantasy owners that held onto him because he remains a strong source of HR production. And he clubbed a HR in his first game back. In 48 games this season, Byrd has clubbed 11 HR's and sported a career best .230 ISO. There is even some upside in his .212 BA since he has been unlucky with a .225 BABIP. Once a fairly good contact hitter, Byrd has now committed to the power game. He correctly realized that as he approached his mid-thirties, (he is almost 38 now) that approach was his best chance to keep playing. His bat speed has diminished the last two seasons, but he has still kept his power stroke going and probably will do so again the remainder of this season. If DraftKings adds him to their games on Saturday, he would make a good value play.
Kolten Wong (2B-St Louis) $3400
Kolten Wong blasted his 8th HR and drove in 2 runs for 29 on the season to go along with a .286 BA and 38 runs scored. These kind of numbers are what fantasy owners were hoping for when they drafted him as a high upside middle infielder. In his 2nd season he has increased his walk rate from 4.8% to 7.1% and reduced his K rate from 16.4% to 14.2% all while exhibiting more power. He smacked 12 in 433 PA's last season and has 8 HR in 200 PA's less so far in 2015. The BA looks to be easily supported by a much improved 26.3% LD rate and he is making more contact and hitting the ball harder overall. Blessed with very good bat speed, that has only increased this season, Wong is a budding star at 2B. At $3400, he makes a very good value play on DraftKings on Saturday.
Travis d'Arnaud (C-NY Mets)
Travis d'Arnaud is not in the Mets' lineup Friday. He is receiving a routine day off. Kevin Kevin Plawecki will catch while d'Arnaud is on the bench. Since returning from the DL on 6/10, d'Arnaud has batted only .222 with 1 HR and 4 RBI's in 29 PA's. This is in stark contrast to his fast start where he was batting .311 with 2 HR and 10 RBI in 49 PA's. Looking at his overall numbers this season there are some signs of development. His contact rate is up almost 4% and he is hitting more fly balls without any spike in his K rate. D'Arnaud is pulling the ball much more this season which should result in an upswing in HR rate considering the unfriendly dimensions of CitiField. As long as he recovers his early season stroke, d'Arnaud should be a solid catcher with good BA and mid to high teens power with the chance for more as he enters his prime hitting years.
Danny Espinosa (2B, SS- Nationals) $2900
Danny Espinosa had a triple and an RBI to go along with a SB in what has been a resurgent season. The difference this campaign has been much greater plate discipline that has seen his walk rate double to 9.9% and a 12% decline in K rate to a much more palatable 21%. His .272 average is supported by an 11% increase in contact rate punctuated by an 18% increase in his O-Contact %. The biggest risk for Espinosa is playing time. Right now with Zimmerman and Werth out there are plenty of AB's to be had. He has earned the extra playing time and his manager seems to want to find a place for his bat with the OF possibly on the radar. I'd enjoy the ride now since he is only owned in 27% of CBS Sports Leagues. He also comes with the added benefit of position eligibility at 2B, SS, and 3B based upon the league in which you play. At $2900 on DraftKings he makes for a very good value play.
@stevietheshu
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