Roto Roundup: Evan Longoria, Pedro Alvarez, and Others

Do you have some trade offers you are consider, but need to bounce them off of someone? Are you pondering a roster move and want a second opinion? Feel free to post your questions in the Fantasy Baseball Questions thread.

Fake Teams Podcast; Episode 10: Let's Make a Deal

Zack and Andrew hosted episode 10 of the Fake Teams podcast on Sunday night, where they discussed the Wil Myerspromotion, Rick Porcello, Corey Kluber, Carlos Beltran and also discussed how to make a trade in keeper and redraft leagues. Make sure you listen to the podcast

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Pedro Alvarez: Power hitter

More than 40% of Pedro Alvarez's hits have gone for extra bases this season, including the two he hit yesterday, where he went 3-4 with a HR, double and 5 RBI in the Pirates 5-3 win over the Reds yesterday. Alvareiz doesn't hit for a high average, or get on base a lot, but he does hit for power and drive in runs. Alvarez is now hitting .223-.290-.464 with 16 HRs, 6 doubles (which is very odd), 28 runs and 48 RBI. Over his last 10 games, he has hit 3 home runs and drove in 14 runs, but still strikes out way too much.

How many hitters have 10 more home runs than doubles at this point? Can't be many, right?

Evan Longoria slams two home runs

I don't want to jinx him, but Rays third baseman Evan Longoria is healthy and hitting well right now. Longoria went 2-3 with a walk, 2 HRs and 3 RBI in the Rays 8-3 win over the Yankees last night. Longoria raised his triple slash line to .307-.366-.562 with 16 HRs, 50 runs and 46 RBI, and is on pace for 36 home runs and 100+ runs and RBI. I can see him exceeding the RBI total, assuming he can stay healthy for the rest of the season.

Round'em Up

Mets third baseman David Wright also had a big night at the plate last night, going 3-4 with 2 HRs, 2 runs and 2 RBI in the Mets 4-3 win over Mike Minor and the Braves. Wright is now hitting .304-.390-.514 with 11 HRs, 36 runs, 38 RBI and 12 stolen bases thus far, and will challenge Longoria for the right to say they are the best fantasy third baseman in baseball this season....behind Miguel Cabrera. Wright's stolen bases may push him slightly ahead of Longoria for me.

Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo has been on a roll of late. It may be due to the fact that I bailed in one of my keeper leagues and he is now a member of my team that has added 10-11 points in the last two weeks and has jumped from 6th place to 4th place. Gallardo held the Astros to 3 unearned runs on 5 hits, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. He has not given up an earned run in his last three starts, lowering his ERA from 5.25 to 4.09.

The Twins have one of the better farm systems in the game, with Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano, Kyle Gibson and others making the future appear pretty bright. One prospect who is already in the big leagues, Oswaldo Arcia, has the bat to hit for a high average with 20-25 home run power. Last night, he went 3-4 with a HR and 2 RBI, and is now hitting .273-.340-.477 with 5 HRs, 9 doubles, 17 runs and 17 RBI in 39 games this season. I could see him showing off more power in the second half of the season, and raise his fantasy profile heading into 2014.

Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann bounced back from one of his worst starts of the season to limit the Rockies to just one unearned run in 8 innings last night in the Nationals 5-1 win. Zimmerman gave up one unearned run on 6 hits, a walk and 9 strikeouts. Zimmermann is now 10-3 with a 2.26 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and a 76-15 strikeout to walk rate in 107.2 innings. He is on pace for 20+ wins and has been the Nationals best starter this season, and that is saying something when he calls Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez teammates.

The Rockies called up Roy Oswalt in an attempt to shore up their starting rotation, but he was the same Oswalt we saw last season, as he gave up 4 runs on 9 hits, no walks and 11 strikeouts in 5 innings. The 11 strikeouts will garner the attention of fantasy owners, but I would steer readers away from the 35 year old who will make his home starts in Coors Field.

Closer Roundup

Well, Andrew Bailey had a chance to bounce back from several bad performances, but blew up trying to protect a one run lead in the ninth inning last night. He gave up a game winning home run to Jhonny Peralta without getting an out last night, ruining a solid performance from starter John Lackey. Manager John Farrell announced after the game that Bailey is no longer his closer. It appears that Junichi Tazawa and Koji Uehara will get the next few save opportunities.