Randal Grichuk, OF, TOR
Grichuk went 2 for 4 with a three-run homer on Monday but was pulled late due to "lower back tightness." The speculation is that this was just a precautionary measure and that Grichuk should be fine going forward. The 29-year-old outfielder is on a tear right now so fantasy managers who are looking to grab him (66.5% rostered in ESPN leagues), or those who have already nabbed him, should monitor his injury updates closely. Grichuk is 18 for his last 57 (.316 avg) with seven homers and 12 extra base hits. He has walked just twice and struck out 12 times during the stretch, which isn't a great look, but he has been very successful this season despite his poor K/BB numbers (6.2% BB%, 21.6% K%). For the season he is slashing .297/.340/.582 and owns an impressive .386 wOBA. Honestly though, this is probably just a hot streak, and nothing more. All of his home runs have come in the past 12 games and his season 48.5% Hard%, and 27.3% HR/FB, are not sustainable. He has shown a little better approach at the plate this season, but his best ever wOBA for a full season is .340, and there isn't enough evidence to say he has figured something out. Ride him while he is hot but don't be afraid to dump him in September as he cools off and you are fighting for your fantasy life.
Kenta Maeda, SP, MIN
Maeda got through five innings and yielded just one run against the Indians on Monday night. It wasn't quite as dazzling as his last start, in which he entered the 9th with a no-hit bid, but it was enough to get him a victory (something he didn't get in his last start). Maeda gave up a leadoff homer then buckled down and was able to shut the Indians out for the next five innings. Maeda has been a revelation in his first year in the Twin Cities. He is now 4-0 with a sparkling 1.80 ERA and an equally impressive 2.51 xFIP. The change of scenery has maybe helped the 32-year-old a bit this season but his dramatic change in pitching style is more likely the key to his success. Maeda has been using his fastball significantly less this season (-10.1% FB% from 2019), instead, he has leaned on his changeup and slider more. His 31.1% CH% is 7.3% higher than last season while his SL% is up 3.4%. The change has been paying big dividends so far; Maeda is posting a career high 38.7% O-Swing%, and 15.4% SwStr%, all while maintaining a 1.72 BB/9 rate (also a career best mark). "King Kenta" has been one of the best pitchers in baseball thus far (10th on ESPN's SP player rater), but his best ERA mark during his four year career was 3.48--when he was a rookie--so it will be interesting to see if he can keep up this level of success.
Miguel Sano, 1B, MIN
Sano blasted a two-run shot in the top of the 6th inning that proved to be the difference for the Twins in its narrow 3-2 victory over the Indians on Monday night. Sano has been an extra-base monster recently. He has eight doubles and two homers in his 34 PA over the past week; a stretch in which he is hitting .433. In his previous 65 plate appearances to start the season Sano had just two doubles and four homers...and he hit just .140. Of course the big man did strike out two more times on Monday, giving him 43 on the season, which is good for a league high 43.4% K%. During his tear this past week he posted a K% about 10% lower than his season mark which is a sign of progression; however a K% in the mid-30s would still be bottom-10 in the league right now. It is worth noting that Sano started the season slow and stuck out a lot (36.2%K%) last season but ended up getting hot and posting some gaudy numbers (34 HR, .378 wOBA). Sano is now slashing a respectable .241/.333/.563 this season and also totes a solid .370 wOBA.
Lance Lynn, SP, TEX
Lynn garnered his fourth victory of the season on Monday night against Oakland. He gave up two runs, on six hits and a walk, in six innings of work. Lynn has been tremendous in his first seven starts of 2020. His 46.2 IP are tops in the majors while his 1.59 ERA, and .84 WHIP, each rank in the top eight among qualified starters. Regression is certainly expected considering his 4.01 xFIP and 94.7% LOB% Although even with a fair bit of regression Lynn would be a great fantasy starter in most leagues. He doesn't dazzle you with strikeouts but his 9.93 K/9 rate is above average and he does a good job at limiting free passes (2.78 BB/9). Additionally he is keeping the ball on the ground a lot more this season (-7.4% GB% in 2020 compared to career avg), which has helped him keep the ball inside of the park; but is probably something that will lead to that WHIP and LOB% to go up because balls on the ground are more likely to be base hits than balls in the air.
Jordan Romano, RP, TOR
Romano picked up his second save of the season on Monday in Tampa Bay. It got interesting for the youngster after two of the first three batters got aboard (infield hit and walk); but he rebounded by striking out Brandon Lowe and getting Yandy Diaz to ground out. Veteran Anthony Bass has been the Jays' closer of choice this season, and he hasn't been ineffective (¾ saves, 2.13 ERA), but Romano has been extremely effective and has now gotten the nod for the Jays' last two save opportunities. The 27-year-old currently owns a .64 ERA and has a K-Rate of 12.86 per nine. Bass strikes out just 6.39 per nine, and as such, his xFIP is much higher than Romano's as well (4.29 v.s 2.34). Hard throwing pitchers with high strikeout rates are all the rage out of the pen these days and Romano fits both criteria (97.1 vFA). Romano probably hasn't completely usurped Bass as Toronto's official "closer" yet, but if he keeps going like this he should get the bulk of the opportunities.
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