30 Fantasy baseball thoughts from Week 9 of MLB action

AL East

Baltimore Orioles: Renato Nunez is 30% owned and has the 8th most RBIs over the last two weeks as he continues to rake at an exceedingly high exit velocity
Boston Red Sox: Courtesy of ESPN’s John Buccigross: “Rafael Devers joins Ted Williams as only Red Sox players to record a streak of eight consecutive games with an XBH before turning 23”
New York Yankees: Cameron Maybin (yes he’s still in the league) could be a deep league flier - 1% owned 3 SBs, .265 avg over the last two weeks.
Tampa Bay Rays: Yet another example of unbelievable talent and scouting with absolutely no money given to the players or venue

Toronto Blue Jays: I’ve seen Freddy Galvis dropped in a few leagues, he has eight runs and eight RBIs as well as three homers and .250 avg over the last two weeks.

AL Central

Chicago White Sox: The White Sox last four series: Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins and Houston Astros. 75% of that is not easy.
Cleveland Indians: Carlos Santana hit a triple to the left field wall at Fenway that would have stayed in the park in just five other parks: Arizona, Houston, Colorado, Atlanta and Pittsburgh
Detroit Tigers: Christin Stewart his his first Grand Slam but he remains at just three HRs, which is far below what many expected from him at this point in the season.
Kansas City Royals: Billy Hamilton is batting .313 over the last seven days. Small sample, but I believe he is still a relevant fantasy player.
Minnesota Twins: PROSPECT UPDATE: Cancer survivor Devin Smeltzer came up to pitch in the pros after a 1.82 ERA at Triple-A through 24 IP this year.

AL West

Houston Astros: Ryan Pressly is 45% owned, he has a 0.69 ERA, 8 K/BB and 9 holds over the last two months.
Los Angeles Angels: The Angels are one of four teams with only one shutout this year (Seattle, Kansas City, and Baltimore are the others)
Oakland Athletics: See Tampa Bay description (slightly behind them).
Seattle Mariners: Seattle pitching has a .272 Batting Average Against them, 2nd worst in MLB.
Texas Rangers: Adrian Sampson (2% owned) has the most wins over the last two weeks. His team scored 20 runs over those three turns which helps, but he is pitching a 2.87 ERA with a 6 K/BB.

NL East

Atlanta Braves: Nick Markakis and Dansby Swanson are both still top-150 players despite their ownership not reflecting this (59% and 65%).
Miami Marlins: Miami has the seventh-highest pinch hitting batting average in the league. They just need to keep pinch hitting everyone!
New York Mets: PROSPECT UPDATE: 2B Shervyen Newton is hitting just .186 on the season but he has a robust .407 avg this week as he is still finding his way at Single-A.
Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies have thrown 10 wild pitches, fewest in MLB. Good control from their staff.
Washington Nationals: Washington has 29 quality pitching starts, third-most in MLB (behind Houston and LA Dodgers)

NL Central

Chicago Cubs: The Cubs do not have a pitcher inside the top-150 right now. There, I said it.
Cincinnati Reds: Derek Friggin’ Dietrich. Man is this quite the hot streak.
Milwaukee Brewers: The Brewers have the 2nd worst Interleague record in the league.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Bryan Reynolds (14% owned) continues to rake with a .348 avg, 13 runs and 12 RBIs over the last two weeks.
St. Louis Cardinals: The Cardinals have the 2nd worst record % in one run games in the league. They can’t close it out when it counts.

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks: Arizona has committed 22 errors, 3rd fewest in MLB. The Diamondbacks have a solid fielding group behind them.
Colorado Rockies: The Rockies have the 2nd fewest saves this season (9).
Los Angeles Dodgers: Courtesy of ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez “We are a third of the way through the season, and Cody Bellinger has compiled 4.3 WAR. Only 31 position players did better than that throughout all of 2018.
San Diego Padres: Eric Hosmer and Eric Lauer are looking sharp for San Diego

San Francisco Giants: San Francisco has blown just three saves, fewest in MLB. Equal parts decent closers and lack of total wins period.