Opening Time: Jake Marisnick would like your attention
One week until your victory parade. Let's try to find you some waiver-wire help.
-- I'm surprised there isn't more talk, or fantasy buzz, tied to Houston outfielder Jake Marisnick. He was a well-regarded prospect over the past three winters, and he's starting to do some nifty things with the Astros.
Marisnick was in Miami's minor-league system for the first half of the summer, posting 89 solid games (.277 average, 10 homers, 24 steals) at Triple-A. He didn't hit a lick in a brief trial with the Marlins, but he's starting to come around since the deadline move to Houston.
Marisnick homered for the second consecutive day Sunday, and he's swiped three bags over the last week. He's off to a .276 start with the Astros, covering 152 at-bats. He should be a regular the rest of the season, and he should be owned in more than three percent of Yahoo leagues.
Category juice, for the win.
-- I'm going to keep playing the Juan Uribe card until he proves me wrong. He's on a 24-for-62 binge since returning from the disabled list, with 11 runs scored and 11 RBIs. He's knocked three over the wall over that span, and the Dodgers lineup looks a lot deeper these days. He's still unclaimed in 79 percent of Yahoo leagues.
If you're part of the Stream Police, you're probably looking ahead for Tuesday. Some pitching names to consider:
-- Brandon McCarthy remains somewhat ignored in Yahoo leagues (39 percent owned) despite the dynamite line he's giving us with the Yankees (2.54 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 74 strikeouts over 85 innings). You might be leery to use him against the Orioles, but McCarthy is at home and up against Ubaldo Jimenez. Add it all together, it's a plus matchup. I'm starting him where I can.
-- Kyle Hendricks is a pitch-to-contact story, but 12 starts into the dance, cut him a break. He's posted a 2.28 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over those 75 innings, and while those are fortunate ratios, he does have three strikeouts for every walk. Nothing about the Cardinals lineup worries me. Hendricks is unowned in 69 percent of Yahoo leagues.
-- Robbie Erlin's overall numbers don't look like much, but keep in mind he has a 2.64 ERA and 0.98 WHIP at Petco Park (where he strikes out over three batters for every walk). And everyone knows the Colorado offense is nothing to fear at sea level. The Padres might have trouble scoring against Jorge De La Rosa, but I still see mixed-league value for Erlin. You can add him in 99 percent of Yahoo leagues - basically anywhere you want. Point and click.
