We head into the final three days of the season with many fantasy leagues hanging in the balance. Who helped you on Sunday? Who hurt? Who should we depend on and who should we ignore? Let’s take a look:
- The Cleveland Indians pounded the Royals for 15 runs on 19 hits. Leading the way was Asdrubal Cabrera, who went 3-5 with 1 HR, 4 RBI and 3 R. In two starts since returning to the starting lineup Cabrera has 1 HR, 6 RBI and 3 R. He should be a safe play over the final few days.
- Jarrod Dyson was the DH with Eric Hosmer out of the lineup (Billy Butler played first). While he went 1-3, he did steal a base, number 30 on the year. If Dyson is going to be in the everyday lineup he is going to be worth using if you are trying to steal a SB or two.
- While the Yankees ultimately got the victory, Phil Hughes’ terrible outing is well worth noting. With the Yankees needing a big outing, he lasted just 4.2 innings allowing 5 ER on 8 H and 2 BB, striking out 4. Over his past three starts he allowed 13 ER over 16.1 innings and finishes the year with a 4.23 ERA. He brings a solid strikeout rate and above average control, so you would expect better results, but he needs to learn to keep the ball in the ballpark (entered with a 1.64 HR/9). He’ll have value as a backend option in 2013, but until he shows us something he can’t be valued as more than that.
- Is Jim Johnson the best closer in baseball? I don’t think anyone would say that, or expect him to be able to replicate this performance, but it is hard to argue with the numbers he posted. After picking up a save yesterday he now has a 2.53 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 50 saves in 53 opportunities. A lot of that speaks to the number of close games Baltimore has played. The other thing to note is, that while he does have great control, he doesn’t generate that many strikeouts. That means he has done some of this based on luck (he entered with a .259 BABIP). If that regresses, blown saves will follow. The moral of the story is that you will not want to overvalue him in 2013.
- The Reds started Todd Frazier in right field, letting him see time in left field and third base as well. That was the role I had envisioned him in entering the year, but he has earned the starting 3B job in 2013 (assuming Scott Rolen is gone). He’s going to be a low-end option, however.
- I say it every time Kris Medlen takes the mound, but does anyone really believe that he is THIS good? He just continues to get the job done, allowing 1 R (0 earned) on 3 H and 1 BB, striking out 4, over 6.0 innings. He is now 10-1 with a 1.57 ERA overall. As a starter he is 9-0 with a 0.97 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in 12 starts. Of course, he did enter the day with a .255 BABIP and 94.6% strand rate as a starting pitcher, showing us the luck that is involved. He’s a good option, but don’t overvalue him.
- Jordan Lyles was the star for the Houston Astros, both on the mound and with the bat (he hit a solo HR). Obviously, his pitching is the much bigger story as he tossed a complete game shutout allowing 4 H and 1 BB, striking out 3. Once considered one of the Astros’ better prospects, he finishes the year 5-12 with a 5.09 ERA. With the move to the AL coming, there’s nothing to get excited about here.
- Matt Dominguez went 2-5 with 1 HR, 1 RBI and 2 R, putting him at .296 with 5 HR in his abbreviated time with the Astros. Wasn’t he supposed to be better known for his glove? He’s worth using for the final few days while he is hot.
- B.J. Upton has helped carry many fantasy rosters in the second half, hasn’t he? He went 3-5 with 2 HR, 3 RBI and 3 R yesterday. Since the All-Star Break he is hitting .247 (always his weak point) to go along with 21 HR, 49 RBI, 45 R and 16 SB. Still with an outside shot at 30/30 (he has 28 HR and 31 SB), he should cash in on the free agent market this offseason.
- It was a big day for Carlos Beltran, going 3-4 with 2 HR, 5 RBI and 2 R. He now has 32 HR on the season, but keep in mind that he entered the day with a 19.4% HR/FB (his highest mark since posting a 21.1% rate back in 2006). It’s a nice story, but don’t expect a repeat performance in 2013.
- Welcome back Huston Street…we hardly missed you. Granted, his blown save yesterday was actually his first of the season, though he did it in spectacular fashion. In his 1.0 inning of work he allowed 3 ER on 3 H and 0 BB, striking out 1. The damage was done on a pair of HR, one by Xavier Nady (1-1, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R) and one from Hunter Pence (2-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R). There is nothing to worry about for Street owners, as he should see whatever save chances there are over the final three days of the year.
- The question for Everth Cabrera is always if he can get on base. He went 0-2 yesterday, but he did draw 2 walks. He turned those 2 opportunities into 2 R and 4 SB (he has 41 on the season). If he could ever learn to work a count and hit for a good average, he’d be a scary player.
- Josh Reddick went 1-4 with 1 HR, 2 RBI and 1 R. While the average isn’t quite what we’d hope for, he has woken up a bit, now with 3 HR and 4 RBI in his past 4 games. On the season he has 32 HR, showing that he can hit the ball out of the big ballpark in Oakland. A lot of the problem in the average department has been poor luck (he entered with a .271 BABIP), so there is every reason to think that he could hit .260ish with 25+ HR next year. There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?
- Interesting to see Shane Victorino moved back to the #2 spot for the Dodgers, going 3-5 with 2 R and 1 SB. He has the potential to really fuel your team over the final three days, so keep him active in all formats.
- Mike Napoli plagued his former team in the second game of the double header, going 3-3 with 2 HR, 6 RBI and 2 R. He now has 6 HR in just 41 September AB, so he is picking things up at the perfect time.
