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30 Fantasy baseball thoughts from Week 8 of MLB action

Jerad Eickhoff should rebound within the next 30 days.

Miami Marlins v Philadelphia Phillies Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images

AL East

Baltimore Orioles: Courtesy of ESPN Stats and Info: Orioles have allowed 5+ HR in seven games, the most in a SEASON in the history of the American League. We are 1/3 of the way into this season, so get your bats ready, competitors.
Boston Red Sox: Michael Chavis has the 2nd highest Exit Velocity FB/LD (99.4mph) in the league
New York Yankees: Gary Sanchez has a .270 avg (87th in MLB) and a 1.018 OPS (11th most in MLB)
Tampa Bay Rays: The Tampa Bay Rays have been in the top three in ERA for both April and May. No other MLB team has been in the top seven each of those two months. Lesson, there are ebbs and flows but consistency is king.
Toronto Blue Jays: Vlad Guerrero Jr. leading the league in Exit Velocity Max speed (118.9 mph)

AL Central

Chicago White Sox: James McCann has a .421 BABIP. Much like Winter, regression is coming.
Cleveland Indians: I’ve been mulling over how legitimate Jordan Luplow is and this helps answer that a bit

Detroit Tigers: Ronny Rodriguez has pulled 58.6% of his batted balls over the last 30 days, teams will be shifting quite a bit against him (min 100 PA).
Kansas City Royals: I enjoy this stat, if you looked at who has the most innings pitched over the last 30 days, you have to go to #72 on that list before you get to a Kansas City Royal. Only LAA and TB have someone lower.
Minnesota Twins: Jorge Polanco (76% owned) currently sporting a .339 avg, 2nd highest in the league. I have to imagine his suspension last year is hurting his ownership

AL West

Houston Astros: Aledmys Diaz has the 9th most RBIs over the last two weeks (17% owned)
Los Angeles Angels: The Angels hitters have three of the four lowest strikeout rates in MLB – David Fletcher (5.4%), Tommy La Stella (6.5%) and Andrelton Simmons (7.7%). Be careful of your pitcher’s K-rate when facing LAA.
Oakland Athletics: Currently leading the league in hits (83) with runners on base and 2 outs.
Seattle Mariners: Lead the league in homers (93) and strikeouts (511)
Texas Rangers: Nomar Mazara along with owning spots high up on average exit velocity, also owns the 3rd most hits to the opposite field over the last 30 days. He’s doing it all right now. (min 100 PA)

NL East

Atlanta Braves: The Braves are sporting a 68% contact rate outside of the zone, best in MLB. They might be chasing pitches but they are connecting too.
Miami Marlins: I’ve beat up on the Marlins enough lately so here is a positive one: Isaac Galloway is 3rd in the league in Sprint Speed at 30.1 ft/sec. Granted he only has 2 SBs this season. Jon Berti (10 day IL) is 5th at 30 ft/sec.
New York Mets: The Mets are having a curveball thrown to them 8.6% of the time, lower than any other team in the league. They must bat well against it but they also have an outside the strike zone contact rate of 60%, 21st in the league.
Philadelphia Phillies: Jerad Eickhoff’s April ERA (2.12) May ERA (4.09)...his career numbers: April (3.48), May (4.73), Jun (3.38), July (4.03), August (4.50). There is a good chance he rebounds over the next two months.
Washington Nationals: Courtesy of ESPN’s Paul Hembekides: “Nationals Bullpen among the worst ERAs in the modern era ||
1. 1930 Phillies: 8.03
2. 2019 Nationals: 6.89
3. 1936 Browns: 6.88”

NL Central

Chicago Cubs: Courtesy of @ckamka “April 19 – Present: Kris Bryant 139 PA, .315/.446/.685, 10 HR, 26 RBI; Anthony Rizzo: 120 PA, .320/.425/.690, 9 HR, 24 RBI
Cincinnati Reds: Luis Castillo has the lowest sweet spot among batters faced (with over 100 Batted Ball Events) at 23.3%. SWSP% = sweet speed % (which is the percentage of time the batted ball has a solid contact meaning a launch angle between 8-32 degrees)
Milwaukee Brewers: 2nd in the league in strikeouts (492) and 4th in HR (81)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Josh Bell leads the league in Hard % (64.9) over the last 30 days (min 100 PA).
St. Louis Cardinals: Jose Martinez leads the league in avg HR distance (431 ft)

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks: Christian Walker: March .571/.571/.1.571/2.142| April .287/.368/.543/.911| May .197/.269/.338/.607


Colorado Rockies: This really surprised me – David Dahl has the third highest SWSP% in the league. Of course Dahl is also rocking a .439 BABIP so find some happy place in the middle.
Los Angeles Dodgers: (PROSPECT UPDATE) Will Smith (Catcher) is in the PCL league (AAA) right now – 36 games, 27 Runs, 27 RBI, 395 Avg. .
San Diego Padres: I am a Joey Lucchesi believer, despite his 3-3 record with a 4.28ERA, he is the 10th lowest pitcher in average hit distance at 143ft (among all pitchers with 100 Batted Ball Events)
San Francisco Giants: The Giants player with the most at bats and RBIs is 2% owned. (Steven Duggar)