Sunday Morning Fantasy Baseball Thoughts: Stephen Strasburg, Matt Moore, Ryan Braun, Carlos Santana, and Others

I am headed to the Jets game early this morning, so this will be short.

So Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun joined the 30-30 club on Friday night, and now he and Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp are the only two members this season. Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury needs 3 more home runs to join the club, but time is running out.

Rays pitching prospect Matt Moore tossed 3 innings in the Rays win over the Red Sox yesterday, giving up a run on 2 hits, 2 walks and 2 strikeouts, including Adrian Gonzalez swinging. The Rays did not waste much time throwing him in a pressure spot, and he pitched fairly well.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana very well could be my top fantasy catcher heading into the 2012 season. He hit his 25th HR yesterday and now has 75 RBI as well. His BA of .239 is a disappointment, but his low BABIP of .264 has something to do with that. I can see him approach 30 HRs in 2012. Dodger fans say ugh.

Speaking of the Dodgers, who is this guy playing first base for them of late? James Loney hit a pinch-hit 3 run HR in Friday night's game, and he hit an absolute bomb off of Pirates starter James McDonald last night. He has 7 HRs and 25 RBI since July 31st, and Dodgers fans are starting to worry that the team may not non-tender him which was the the universal consensus before July 31st.

More fantasy baseball thoughts after the jump:

The Rockies are giving catching prospect Wilin Rosario a long look in September, and it appears they could look to deal catcher Chris Iannetta this offseason. Rosario has plenty of power, but had a down season in AA, hitting .249-.284-.457 with 21 HRs, 48 RBI and a 91-19 K/BB rate. The K/BB rate was much better over the last few years.

Royals third base prospect Mike Moustakas is starting to flash the power we saw on display in AA and AAA over the past year and a half. He went 3-4 with a HR and 2 RBI last night, and is now hitting .251-.302-.339 with 4 HRs, 29 RBI and a 46-21 K/BB rate in just around 300 at bats. 

Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson hit his 40th HR of the season yesterday and I have to say I did not see this coming at all. But the question for fantasy owners heading into 2012 will be can he repeat it? I say no. Confidently. His HR/FB rate has increased from around 14% to 21% this season.

Jesus Montero is holding his own at the plate in his short stint in the big leagues, hitting .282-.349-.538 with 3 HRs and 6 RBI. He has caught only 1 game thus far since his call up, and the fact that the Yankees called up Austin Romine last week tells you all you need to know about whether the Yankees think Montero can catch at the major league level. Romine has already played 2 games at catcher since his call up.

Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg shrugged off a drop in velocity in his last start and pitched well last night. He lasted 6 innings, giving up one run on 4 hits and striking out just 3. He has been asked to pitch to more contact, and that was evident last evening as he gave up 8 ground ball outs and 7 fly ball outs.