Chase Utley (2B-LAD): While Kershaw was doing his thing, Chase Utley backed him with a 3-for-4 performance that included his 2nd homer of the season. Utley has been drinking from the Fountain of Youth in 2016, posting a 14:19 BB:K ratio, 18 runs and 10 RBI in 31 games and earning his way to the top of the lineup. Most impressive are Utley's 40% hard-hit rate and miniscule 15% chase-rate. While he may fatigue as the season progresses, if he's available, pick him up and ride the hot hand.
Kolten Wong (2B-STL): Alert the media: we had a Kolten Wong sighting! The beleaguered secondbaseman went 1 for 4 with 1 run and 1 walk hitting out of the 8-hole. With the emergence of Aledmys Diaz and solid start by Jed Gyorko, Wong has often seen himself as the odd-man out, earning only 88 plate appearances so far. Most troublesome are his 15% overall hard-hit rate and his 36% K-rate against lefties. With Jhonny Peralta on track to return in early June, Wong will lose even more playing time.
Joe Panik (2B-SF): Joe Panik hit a 2-run homer off Zack Greinke and looks fully recovered from a groin injury that hampered him last week. While his surface numbers don't suggest it, Panik should be owned in all leagues. His season .255 BABIP will positively regress to his career norm of .335, as his batted ball profile looks intact. Add in his impressive plate discipline (13:17 BB:K ratio), his #2 spot in the order, and his sneaky power (.150 ISO over his last 131 games), and you have a worthy MI in all leagues.
Jonathan Villar (SS-MIL): Jonathan Villar went 2 for 3 to continue what has been a underappreciated 2016 campaign. He is now the 7th ranked shortstop in ROTO leagues according to the ESPN Player Rater, largely fueled by his 11 stolen bases. Yes his .390 BABIP will regress, and yes his 23% hard-hit rate won't help mitigate that fall, but his 62% groundball-rate combined with his plus speed should help him maintain his career .330 mark. Add his 11% BB-rate and every-day status and he makes a very valuable asset in all leagues.
Yasiel Puig (OF-LAD): Set to face Michael Wacha in Los Angeles, Yasiel Puig ($2500) screams value play along with other Dodger righties. Puig has hit 35 of his 49 career homers against righties. Wacha has allowed 23 homers to righties vs. 11 to lefties. Yes, Puig has been terrible on the surface in 2016, but he's maintaining a 31% hard-hit rate while Michael Wacha is inducing swings and missing less than 8% of the time. I love the value.
Tournament Plays:
Brett Wallace ($2700)
Jon Gray ($6600)
Maikel Franco ($2700)
