Over the last month Jonathan Lucroy and Miguel Montero have put up top 10 numbers at the catcher position but which one is a better option?
Analysis: Jonathan Lucroy already has 13 home runs this year which is a career high. His HR/FB rate is up just a bit but nothing that indicates his power will significantly drop off in the second half. His batting average, walk rate and strikeouts are all around his career levels so we are seeing the real deal here. Lucroy has been hitting third or fourth in the Brewer’s lineup lately and as a result his 52 RBI is second in all of baseball this year among catchers. Lucroy is the sixth rated catcher thus far and expect top ten(ish) numbers going forward. He is available in 10-20% of fantasy leagues.
Miguel Montero is an interesting case. He struggled the first two months of the season and has not put up top twenty fantasy catcher numbers. Montero’s BABIP is .044 points below his career average this year which is why his batting average is just .224. Montero has averaged 16.5 home runs and 87 RBI over the last two years so he is capable of turning it around. Montero is a top fifteen catcher going forward but he’s hitting sixth or seventh in the D-Backs’ order which hurts his fantasy value.