Josh Bell (1B) PIT - It's not unheard of for a player to go a week without striking out, but it's somewhat uncommon. For a just-turned-25 year old having the best power year of his life to do it twice in a three-week span? Different story, without question. Bell is, in my mind, one of the most underrated players in the game. His batting average at high-A, AA, and AAA was above .300, he's just developing power (he hit his 21st HR Sunday), and he's making contact at a far better rate than most young power hitters. Bell was hitting 340/433/528 during August coming into Sunday's contest, and I think this kid has a real chance at posting a 300/400/500 slash line one of the next few seasons.
Chase Anderson (SP) MIL - An interesting tidbit: the 6 highest avg FB velocities, by game, in Chase Anderson's career were the 6 straight excellent starts that he had before he injured his oblique on June 28th. Ergo, it's definitely good news that Anderson was showing similar velocity to his pre-injury outings upon his return Sunday in Colorado. Anderson was able to hold the Rockies to 2 hits and a run over 5 innings, walking 3 and striking out 4 while moving to 7-2 on the year. The BABIP and HR/FB are indeed both very fortunate to this point for him, but the velo improvement trumps both for me right now....I'd grab him if you can, as I'm sure he was dropped in many formats, and I expect him to be a very solid arm down the stretch.
Rhys Hoskins (1B) PHI - Hoskins homered again Sunday, giving him 5 through his first 38 ABs. Setting aside the hot start at the big league level, I'm extremely impressed with the improved strike zone discipline Hoskins showed this season at AAA...a K rate of under 16% for a slugger at AAA is nearly unheard of, and this isn't the PCL either. There will be an adjustment period, but a big issue here is that nobody seems to like 1B prospects, so they can fly under the radar because things like 38 HR and a .281 AVG at AA are written off due to park factors or pooh-poohed because he is "1B only". Hoskins looks legit to me, and I'd be grabbing him in any format I could.
Luis Castillo (SP) CIN - Castillo's string of QS was broken at 3 Sunday, but he did fan 8 Braves while battling through 4 marginally effective innings. The more I look at Castillo, all of the attributes for potential greatness are there. Elite velocity, an offspeed pitch (change) that is also plus, a third offering that's decent (slider), and an improving GB rate, due in part to a sinker that is underutilized but absolutely filthy. The results have been decent but inconsistent thus far...he's only been starting games for a little over two years now, but I think there is a solid chance that the Reds may have found their next ace. I'm actually (sadly) rooting for him to be less than great down the stretch in hopes that he may be a bit undervalued next spring.
Dinelson Lamet (SP) SD - Lamet had some massive control issues on Sunday, failing to make it out of the 5th while walking 6 National hitters in the 94-pitch outing. He also fanned 8, and that fastball/slider combo is nasty indeed when he can keep it somewhere near the zone. Lamet has been rather solid over the past month, keeping the ball down a bit better while continuing to rack up the K's. The best thing he has going for him right now is his upcoming schedule, although it would obviously only take one minor decision by the club to torpedo this thought process. His remaining schedule as it stands right now: @MIA, LA, STL, @MIN, ARI, COL, @SF. One hitters' park in his last 7 starts, and Lamet has posted a 3.75 ERA at home this year. I think he's a worthwhile add in all formats for the stretch run based on the K potential and the schedule.
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