Category: MLB

Stick With Soriano

Alfonso Soriano may have just one home run over the last month but as long as he is getting at-bats you cannot outright drop the slugger from your fantasy squad.

Analysis: Fantasy baseball certainly tries anyone’s patience but dropping Alfonso Soriano is not an intelligent move. Although Soriano is aging he still has not hit less than twenty home runs in a year since 2001. His fifteen home runs in just 85 games this year is proof he still has “it”. Soriano is available in about twenty percent of fantasy leagues and regardless of whether he is dealt at the trade deadline, Soriano still has fantasy value. Fonzie’s batting average may have taken a huge hit recently but he has been making contact more and in his last three games he is 3 for 11 with a home run.

Projection: If Soriano is traded at the deadline which is unlikely because of his contract, his value will surely go up playing for a contender with some bats in their lineup. If he stays with the Cubs you have to ride out his cold streak and expect the power to return.

 

Last Call On Desmond Jennings

With BJ Upton on the trading block, Desmond Jennings’ hot start for the Rays has the fantasy world buzzing.

Analysis: In Desmond Jennings’ first two games of his 2011 big league season he is 4-6 with two steals, a double, a triple and a walk. It has been a long time coming for Jennings and it took Carl Crawford to leave and BJ Upton on his way out to find an every day spot on the Tampa roster. Jennings is about as polished as a twenty-four year old with less than fifty big league plate appearances can be. In Triple A this year Jennings is hitting .275 with twelve homers and seventeen stolen bases in just eighty-nine games. He actually does project down the road very similar to numbers BJ Upton puts up with the expection of Upton’s poor batting average. Jennings is still available in about eighty percent of fantasy leagues and in two days it’s more than likely he will be unavailable.

Projection: Expect up to five homers, ten steals and a .270 batting average from the young speedster the rest of the season. His value is similar to Cameron Maybin.

Buying Low- Jayson Werth

Jayson Werth is being dropped from some fantasy rosters across the country but there is reason to hope.

Analysis: Over the past month or so Jayson Werth has seen his batting average dip thirty points and he has not homered. However, in Werth’s last two games he is 4-8 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored. Regardless of being overpaid by Washington in the offseason Werth is still a solid fantasy option in the outfield and you do not have to look further than his last three years with the Phils averaging nearly thirty homers and seventeen stolen bases to see why. This year Werth is only hitting .212 with ten homers but if his last two games are an indication of things to come then Jayson Werth is back. All of his stats are in line with what he was doing in Philly except for his slight power outage hitting in Washington and his unusually low BABIP. Now is the perfect time to buy the slugger low and what is not to love about that talented lineup he is hitting in? Espinosa, Morse and Zimmerman are all studs and when Werth turns it around many will regret straight up dropping him from their fantasy squad.

Victorino Off DL

The Phillies have activated center fielder Shane Victorino for their game against the Chicago Cubs Tuesday night.

Analysis: In Shane Victorino’s first game back he will be batting fifth. There is always some concern when a thumb is involved in the injury as in Victorino’s case. He will be wearing a thumb guard for protection on the base paths so obviouly his thumb is no where near fully healthy. If Victorino cannot find his power upon his return he becomes significantly less valuable but he’ll still produce especially in runs and stolen bases. The switch hitter hit eighteen bombs last year and was on pace for nearly as much this year until the injury. His speed has never been in question as he has stolen an average of thirty bags over the last four years and the time on the disabled list has kept his legs fresh. Although the Phils’ lineup has not been as potent in years past it still provides ample opportunity for Shane to contribute in all five categories.

Projection: It is still unclear how the thumb will affect his power numbers but he is still a fantasy stud and will produce. Expect a .285 batting average with 10-15 stolen bases and about seven homers in Victorino’s remaining games.

Raul Ibanez Is Going Fast

With eight hits in his last five games, Raul Ibanez’s availability on the waiver wire is decreasing rapidly.

Analysis: The thirty-nine year old was having a dreadful season until the last few weeks. Ibanez has been on fire with four home runs and fourteen RBI over the last nine games. Ibanez also has six multi hit games in that span to bring his batting average up to a somewhat respectable .246. He’s averaged twenty-five home runs a year with the Phils and despite his slow start is still on pace for 20-25 bombs. In roto leagues he provides the pop, RBI and a solid run total to go along with a batting average that should not hurt you from here on out. Ibanez is still available in about twenty percent of leagues nationwide and now is the time to pick up the veteran. Power like his isn’t widely available and as many trade deadlines approach in fantasy leagues Ibanez may be of use. At the very least Raul provides power depth in your outfield and with so many injuries around the league he won’t be available for long.

Projection: Expect around ten homers and up to forty RBI in Raul’s remaining games.