Nick Castellanos (3B) DET - Castellanos was 2-4 Sunday and is 5-13 with 2 2B, 1 HR, 1 SB, and 4 BB in the past 4 games. He's had a rough start to the year on the surface, hitting just 219/304/376 right now, but he's posting a massive hard contact rate of better than 47% to go along with a more patient approach at the plate (swing% under 50 for 2nd time in his career). He's still just 25 and has been victimized by a BABIP 70 points lower than last year's despite his typically excellent LD rate, so I definitely expect continued improvement here. I'd be a buyer.
Justin Smoak (1B) TOR - Smoak homered again on Sunday, giving him 14 on the year and 9 in the past 22 games. He has pushed his always solid hard contact rate up to 41.8% so far in 2017, but more importantly his swinging strike rate is at a career-low, and his contact rate has jumped significantly from 72% to 81%. His raw power is merely above-average, but the improvement in both frequency and quality of contact give him a real chance to hit 30 homers this season, with a decent AVG to boot. I think he stands a reasonable chance of remaining in the top-12 at the position for the full season, and at the very least should be owned as a CI in all formats.
Brad Peacock (SP) HOU - Something positive is happening with Peacock, who has now struck out 25 men in 15 innings in his first 3 starts of the year. He's maintained his velocity gains since moving into the rotation, averaging over 93 with his fastball, and he's missing bats far better than he ever has before (14% swinging strike rate) with the best GB rate (43% and climbing after Sunday's outing) of his career as well. He's been fortunate too: a .245 BABIP and 0% HR/FB rate are helping the ERA remain well below the 3.14 xFIP, but he certainly looks like he should be owned in all formats regardless.
Whit Merrifield (2B) KC - Merrifield had 3 more singles Sunday to extend his hitting streak to 19 games, and he's now hitting 307/360/496 on the year. He's hitting more balls in the air with a hard contact rate above 35%, he makes contact 85% of the time, and he has very good (20-25 SB) speed. He's definitely underappreciated, coming in at under 20% ownership on most sites....he certainly looks like a potential 15/20 guy that will hit for a high AVG. I'm a buyer.
Mike Zunino (C) SEA - Zunino has heated up after returning from AAA, going 11-23 with 4 2Bs, a HR, and 11 RBIs over the past 6 games. With a hard contact rate of 40% and a LD rate of over 23%, the only real issue with Zunino is his contact rate, which remains mired in the mid-60's. He's obviously never going to hit for a high AVG with his skill set, but the power numbers should get going now, and at a weak position like catcher he still deserves a look in most formats if you can take the AVG hit.
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