English Premier League Fantasy coverage
Brian is back at it with this week's fantasy English Premier League advice, and you can check out his thoughts in the articles linked below:
Fantasy Football Week 3 Rankings and Start/Sit
If you are looking for some fantasy football start/sit advice or rankings, make sure you check out the SB Nation fantasy football articles in the link below. Also, make sure you check out the SB Nation Fantasy Football War Room Monday-Friday from 4:00 - 8:30 and Sundays from 8:00 - 1:00.
Week 3 Rankings and Start/Sit Advice
I am back at it with the Roundup this morning after a three day hiatus. I will offer some thoughts on some guys who have been in the news while the Roundup was on the DL, and also some of Friday's top performers as well.
Billy Hamilton: Speed Freak
I am on record on Twitter and on these pages that Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton is the second coming of Dee Gordon. But, don't hold me to that. What he did the other night was pretty amazing. Four stolen bases in four opportunities. For the season, he has made just nine plate appearances, but has NINE stolen bases, as he has been used as a pinch runner five times, and has stolen a base each time.
Looking ahead to 2014, his fantasy value is pretty obvious. It's his speed. But there are question marks about his ability to hit and get on base at the major league level. Just yesterday, Reds GM Walt Jocketty stated the Reds would do everything they can to sign outfielder Shin-Soo Choo this offseason to keep him in Cincinnati. What would that mean for Hamilton is anyone's guess, but I imagine the Reds will be outbid for Choo's services due to the presence of Hamilton.
I won't attempt to take a guess at how many stolen bases Hamilton would have if he plays everyday, but I imagine the number would start with a 6.
For more on Hamilton and the Reds, make sure you check out Red Reporter, SB Nation's Reds fan site.
Gerrit Cole: Is he an ace starter right now?
I wrote an article on Pirates starter Gerrit Cole on Thursday morning, opining that he is a future ace. After his Thursday afternoon start, he might be an ace right now. Cole dominated the Padres on Thursday, giving up just one run on 4 hits, 3 walks and 12 strikeouts over 6 innings of work in the Pirates 10-1 win. Yes, I know, one can say he dominated a Padres team, so no big deal. But, Cole has been pitching great in the Pirates September playoff run.
In his four September starts, Cole is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a 33-9 strikeout to walk rate in 26 innings. Since the end of June, Cole owns a 83-23 strikeout to walk rate in 87 innings of work, so after having trouble whiffing batters in June, he is striking out nearly a batter per inning since, while limiting his walks as well.
With every start, he is moving up my 2014 starting pitcher rankings.
For more on Cole and the Buccos, check out Bucs Dugout, SB Nation's Pirates fan site.
Round'em Up
Nationals starter Jordan Zimmerman might be in the running for the National League Cy Young award if the Nationals were a playoff team this season. Last night, Zimmermann tossed a complete game, two hit shutout of the Marlins in the Nationals 8-0 win. He gave up just two hits, walked one and struck out 9 to move his record to 19-8 with a 3.18 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 159-40 strikeout to walk rate in 206.1 innings. He currently leads the NL in wins with 19 and is second in complete game with 4.
I was looking over FanGraphs stats like I usually do on a daily basis and wanted to check out where Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez ranked. He wasn't in the list since he doesn't qualify based on his number of at bats, so I adjusted the view to include all hitters with at least 300 at bats, and saw that he ranked 17th amongst all hitters in baseball with a 5.3 fWAR. Quite impressive and one has to wonder if Hanley will continue to hit this well in 2014. Granted, his batting average is likely to fall, but he seems a lot more happier in LA than in Miami, and has even said so to the media. This season, Hanley is hitting .351-.403-.656 with 20 HRs, 62 runs, 57 RBI and 10 stolen bases in just 291 at bats. Think about that. He has just 291 at bats this season and has put up some incredible stats. I am leaning toward making him my #1 overall fantasy shortstop in 2014.
Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez has had a down year, mainly due to injury, but he had a big night at the plate on Friday night, going 3-4 with a HR and 5 RBI in the Brewers 7-6 loss to the Cardinals. For the season, ARam is hitting .277-.369-.453 with 11 HRs, 42 runs and 47 RBI in just under 300 at bats. He has been productive while on the field, but has spent time on the DL due to knee injuries this season and isn't getting any younger. He will probably fall in my 2014 third base rankings, but, when healthy, he is a top 5-7 fantasy third baseman.
Padres hurler Robbie Erlin pitched very well on Friday night, shutting out the Dodgers AAA lineup (most of their regular did not play after clinching on Thursday) on 4 hits, a walk and 7 strikeouts in 7.2 innings in the Padres 2-0 win. If you take away his one blow up start back on July 7th where he gave up 9 runs on 6 hits and 4 walks in 4 innings, he has pitched very well. He has given up three runs or less in seven of his eight starts this season and will be a sleeper heading into 2014 drafts.
A's third baseman Josh Donaldson will be ranked pretty high amongst fantasy third baseman heading into 2014 drafts, as he has made his second half breakout in 2012 look real. Last night, Donaldson went 2-3 with a HR, 2 runs and 2 RBI in the A's 11-0 win over the Twins. For the season, Donaldson is hitting .306-.388-.510 with 24 HRs, 85 runs and 91 RBI. He leads all third baseman with his 7.9 fWAR this season. Yes, he has a higher fWAR than eventual MVP Miguel Cabrera. Amongst his fantasy brethren at the hot corner, he ranks 4th in BA, 6th in HRs, and 3rd in runs and RBI.
Is Donaldson a top 5 fantasy third baseman in 2014?
When reviewing the Padres lineup for hitting targets, one would usually think to start with Chase Headley, but he been hugely disappointing this season. Looking across the diamond to second baseman Jedd Gyorko is where one should start. Gyorko is quietly having a very good first full season in the big leagues this season. Last night, he went 1-3 with a HR and is now hitting .251-.301-.440 with 20 HRs, 58 runs and 53 RBI in 450 at bats this season. He could stand to walk a bit more and strike out a bit less, but provides valuable power at the keystone for his fantasy owners. His 20 HRs rank third among all fantasy second baseman this season, behind Dan Uggla and Robinson Cano, and he ranks in the top 12 in RBI as well.
More from Fake Teams:
- Streamer Report: Saturday's Streamers
- Fake Teams Podcast Episode 32: It's My Process
- Andrew Cashner: Future Padres Ace?
- EPL Week 5: Midfielders and Forwards
- EPL Week 5: Goalkeepers and Defenders
- MLB Prospect Rankings Review: A Look Back At Our Preseason Consensus Outfield Rankings
- MLB Trade Rumors: Should the Yankees sign Robinson Cano this offseason?