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Prospect Buy and Hold
Marlins pitching prospect Andrew Heaney was called up last week, so who will be the next top prospect called up to the big leagues who could impact fantasy rosters this season? Could it be Oscar Taveras or Alex Meyer?
Here is Jason Hunt's list of the players who could be called up in the next few weeks, or later this season. His weekly Buy and Hold series takes a look at players you should look at grabbing off your league waiver wire before they are called up, and before your league mates grab them.
Round'em Up
After a hot start to the 2014 season, where he put up a 2.58 ERA and 2.15 FIP in April, Marlins starter Nathan Eovaldi has struggled in May and June. Eovaldi won two games with a 4.40 ERA and 4.97 FIP in May, and a 4.78 ERA in June (prior to Monday's start). He has seen his strikeout rate fall and his HR/9 increase in May and June, so hopefully Monday's start will get him back on track. Last night, he shut out the Phillies on 6 hits, a walk and 2 strikeouts in 6.1 innings in the Marlins 3-0 win over the Phillies. The win moved his record to 5-3 with a 3.52 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 76-19 strikeout to walk rate in 99.2 innings. The drop in strikeout rate over the last few months is concerning as you would like to see more strikeouts from a guy who throws in the high 90's.
Rays starter Alex Cobb was one of the starting pitchers I targeted in drafts this season, but he has disappointed his owners thus far in 2014. Last night, he was knocked around for 6 runs on 6 hits, 3 walks and 2 strikeouts in 5 innings in the Rays loss to the Pirates. The loss moved his record to 2-6 with a 4.10 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 53-20 strikeout to walk rate in 59.1 innings. Prior to Monday's start, Cobb had given up just one earned run on 7 hits, 6 walks and 17 strikeouts over 13.1 innings, but has now given up 6 runs or more in 3 of his last 6 starts. Hopefully his second half is better than his first half.
I wrote this Roundup before the Cardinals-Rockies game ended, but through 7 innings, Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams was already 3-4 with 2 home runs. 3 runs scored and 6 RBI. The young power hitting first baseman is hitting well after a solid rookie season. Adams is now hitting .329-.339-.532 with 8 home runs, 23 runs scored and 31 RBI in 63 games this season. Adams struggles against left handed pitchers, hitting just .156-.184-.200 in 45 at bats this season, after hitting .231-.231-.423 in 52 at bats last season. He is on pace for 17 home runs and 65 RBI this season, which is a little disappointing after he hit 17 home runs in just 296 at bats last season. I have to say I expected at least 25 home runs from him this season, but he still has three months to get the power back on track.
Speaking of disappointments, Orioles first baseman Chris Davis has been a huge disappointment through the first 2.5 months of the season, but last night he hit a game winning 3-run home run off of White Sox closer Ronald Belisario in the Orioles 6-4 come from behind win. Davis came on to pinch hit for DH Delmon Young, as he sat vs White Sox ace Chris Sale. He has struggled to a .219-.329-.438 triple slash line thus far, with 13 home runs, 34 runs scored and 40 RBI in 219 at bats. After hitting 54 home runs last season, Davis is on pace for "just" 28 home runs this season.
Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman stepped on the mound on Monday night looking to bounce back after needing 98 pitches to get 11 outs in his last start vs the Yankees. Stroman had his way with the Yankees lineup, limiting them to just one run on 3 hits, a walk and 7 strikeouts in 8 innings in the Blue Jays 8-3 win. The win moved his record to 4-2 with a 4.25 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a solid 30-7 strikeout to walk rate in 36 innings. More impressive is the fact that he has pitched at least six innings in four of his five big league starts, giving up one earned run in three of the five starts. He is available in 98% of leagues right now, so grab him if you need a starter.
Fantasy Sports Network is Coming Soon!
That's right, there is a new Fantasy Sports Network that is close to going live, and will be available on your cable providers real soon.
FNTSY Sports Network is the first television network to have live studio programming, call-in shows, panels, celebrity and expert drafts, reality programming and on-site commentary from sports venues, all specifically targeted towards the estimated 40 million people who play fantasy sports annually and on a daily basis.
Make sure you check out their site Fantasy Sports Network and check out all they have to offer.
Fantasy Rundown
If you are looking for more fantasy baseball, and football, content, make sure you check out Fantasy Rundown, as they provide links to some of the best fantasy content on the internet on a daily basis.