Week 19 of the fantasy baseball season is complete and there were many great individual performances this week that helped propel head-to-head league owners to wins. From the best in the game to some surprise fantasy contributors, here's a review of the top 10 fantasy baseball players from August 13 to August 19*.
10*. 1B Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels
Week 19 statistics*: 8/25 H/AB, 6 R, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 0 SB, .320 AVG
In 17 August games, Pujols only has a .250 batting average but has had a very productive run-producing month with eight home runs and 18 RBIs.
9. SP Chad Billingsley, Los Angeles Dodgers
Week 19 statistics: 15.0 IP, 2 W, 0 SV, 9 K, 0.00 ERA, 0.73 WHIP
In two tough matchups against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves on the road, Billingsley dominated his opposition and extended his scoreless streak to 15 consecutive innings. He has been a very reliable pitcher since returning from the disabled list in July.
8. SP Jeremy Guthrie, Kansas City Royals
Week 19 statistics: 14.2 IP, 1 W, 0 SV, 13 K, 0.00 ERA, 0.61 WHIP
A very unlikely pitcher on this list, Guthrie had some of his best pitching performances this month. In his last three starts, he has gone 22.2 innings without allowing an earned run, which is unheard of in past seasons.
7. SP Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Week 19 statistics: 9.0 IP, 1 W, 0 SV, 12 K, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP
Owner of the 23rd perfect game in MLB history, Hernandez solidified himself as one of the greatest pitchers in history with this amazing feat.
6. 1B/3B/OF Todd Frazier, Cincinnati Reds
Week 19 statistics: 10/27 H/AB, 8 R, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 2 SB, .370 AVG
Still filling in wonderfully for Joey Votto and Scott Rolen, Frazier has been one of the hottest hitters of the month. With a .329 batting average, five home runs, and 17 RBIs this month, he's currently a top free agent add.
5. SP Hiroki Kuroda, New York Yankees
Week 19 statistics: 17.0 IP, 2 W, 0 SV, 9 K, 0.53 ERA, 0.47 WHIP
Kuroda had an excellent Week 19 with two great starts against two solid offenses in the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox. Only a few hits away from a no-hitter against the Rangers, he has been a top fantasy starter for the Yankees.
4. OF Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds
Week 19 statistics: 12/28 H/AB, 9 R, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, .429 AVG
With his current hitting streak at eight games, Bruce was absolutely on fire for the Reds by hitting 13-for-32 with four home runs and nine RBIs. With a more consistent bat for Cincinnati as of late, he could be a very impressive fantasy force if he can maintain his improving batting average.
3. OF Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
Week 19 statistics: 10/27 H/AB, 8 R, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 3 SB, .370 AVG
Despite getting swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in Week 19, the Angels are certainly not losing because of Trout. With five more hits and two more home runs against the AL East club, he continues to be unstoppable for the Angels.
2. SP/RP Kyle Kendrick, Philadelphia Phillies
Week 19 statistics: 15.0 IP, 2 W, 0 SV, 13 K, 0.00 ERA, 0.60 WHIP
With the Phillies looking for even more production from their rotation, Kendrick pushed out back-to-back solid starts on the road against the Miami Marlins and Milwaukee Brewers. From matching his season-high in strikeouts with seven to pitching 15 innings without an allowed run, he has been an improving member of the Phillies rotation.
1. 1B/OF Nick Swisher, New York Yankees
Week 19 statistics: 10/27 H/AB, 6 R, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 1 SB, .370 AVG
From his home run power to his dominance against the Rangers, Swisher has been a huge asset for the Yankees. Prior to going hitless in the last game of Week 19, he had a seven-game hitting streak, a six-game hitting streak with at least one run scored, and 12 RBIs in his last seven games.
Honorable mentions (ranked 11-15 in order): Los Angeles Dodgers 3B/SS Hanley Ramirez, Washington Nationals 2B/SS Danny Espinosa, Pittsburgh Pirates 1B/OF Garrett Jones, Arizona Diamondbacks 2B Aaron Hill, Detroit Tigers 1B/3B Miguel Cabrera
*Rankings according to Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball rankings in default scoring leagues (head-to-head, 5x5 scoring). Statistics gathered from games on Monday, August 13 to Sunday, August 19. H/AB: Hits/At Bats, R: Runs Scored, HR: Home Runs, RBI: Runs Batted In, SB: Stolen Bases, AVG: Batting Average, IP: Innings Pitched, W: Wins, SV: Saves, K: Strikeouts, ERA: Earned Run Average, WHIP: Walks + Hits / Innings Pitched.
Sources:
Albert Pujols 2012 Split Stats, Yahoo! Sports
Jeremy Guthrie Game Log, Yahoo! Sports
Todd Frazier 2012 Split Stats, Yahoo! Sports
Jay Bruce Game Log, Yahoo! Sports
Mike Trout Game Log, Yahoo! Sports
Kyle Kendrick Game Log, Yahoo! Sports
Nick Swisher Game Log, Yahoo! Sports
Who's Hot, Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball
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Austin Chang is a lifelong baseball fan, San Francisco Giants supporter, and fantasy baseball player since 2005 who has been a Top 3 finisher in 70% of the leagues he has played in. Follow this contributor on Twitter @_austinchang.
