Byron Buxton-Twins-OF
Byron Buxton was 0-4 with 2 K against the Marlins. Buxton is coming off an excellent June (.310 AVG with 9 HR, 17 R, 21 RBI, and 6 SB). On the year, he is hitting .272 with 19 HR, 54 R, 51 RBI, and 15 SB. Buxton is currently the 16th-ranked roto player in terms of roto auction dollars earned. It has helped that he has stayed healthy, but he has also produced value across the board. He has cut his strike outs down (27% K) and continued to hit the ball hard (15% Barrels and 54% Hardhit). He is on pace for a 30 HR/20 SB season with a .260+ AVG, which would be his best season to date.
Cam Smith-Astros-3B
Cam Smith was 3-5 with 3 RBI against the Rockies. Smith started out his rookie season slow (.213 AVG with 3 HR/1 SB) in April but has turned it around since then. Smith has hit .316 with 4 HR, 25 R, 25 RBI, and 3 SB since May 1st. His skills over that time have looked good (8% BB, 26% K, 7% Barrels, and 47% Hardhit). His ceiling is limited based on his 25% FB, but that is something that he can improve over time. All the other skills are there. He is a 15 HR/10 SB guy this year with a .260-.270 AVG, but long term, he could get up to 20-25 HR power as he matures.
Luis Garcia Jr.-Nationals-2B
Luis Garcia Jr. was 1-1 with 1 R, 1 RBI, and 1 SB against the Tigers. Garcia Jr. is hitting .272 with 7 HR, 40 R, 40 RBI, and 8 SB. He isn't on pace to replicate last year (.282 AVG with 18 HR/22 SB) but is still a valuable fantasy option, especially at 2B. Garcia combines good plate skills (5% BB and 14% K) with improving quality of contact (10% Barrels and 48% Hardhit). A 15 HR/15 SB season with a .260+ AVG will make him a top 10 2B. At this point in the season, Garcia Jr. is the 9th-ranked 2B in terms of auction dollars earned. This is with room for growth in power and batting average.
Michael Harris II-Braves-OF
Michael Harris II was 0-3 with a strikeout against the Angels. Harris II was recently benched to clear his head with the message that he needs to improve his plate approach. He rarely walks (3% BB) and chases out of the zone often (46% O-swing). This approach is easily exploitable by major league pitchers because they know they do not have to come in the zone to get Harris II out. He is hitting .215 with 6 HR, 19 R, 43 RBI, and 12 SB. He continues to provide some fantasy value, but it is a four-year decline in batting average and barrel rate. This would normally be the kiss of death, but he is still young enough (24 years old) and has shown enough skills that he can figure this out. Keeping an eye on his walk rate and chase rate will give us a better idea of when Harris II will turn it around.
Javier Baez-Tigers-SS
Javier Baez was 0-4 with an RBI against the Nationals. Baez is hitting .279 with 9 HR, 39 R, 37 RBI, and 1 SB in 262 PA. He has improved his strikeout rate dramatically (22% K). He has done so without improving his plate discipline (4% BB and 43% O-swing), which makes it hard to buy into. Baez has hit the ball hard enough (7% Barrels and 41% Hardhit), but will continue to struggle with his home park, which is not helpful to hitters. If he stays on this pace, he will end up with less than 20 HR and fewer than 10 SB, which means he is the definition of a replaceable player. He will be a starter in the All-Star game, though, so at least he has that.
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