Franmil Reyes puts on a power display and other fantasy nuggets
Franmil Reyes had another two-homer game Tuesday, although likely on many fantasy owners’ benches (if not the waiver wire) after entering with a lowly .205 batting average. Reyes remains such an enticing player, as despite the low BA he ranks in the top 2% of the league in exit velocity (94.7 mph), top 3% in expected slugging (.650) and top 5% in Barrel% (18.3). He’s even striking out less. The 6-5, 275lbs Reyes always projected to have big-time power, but he’s made a noticeable change in his approach this season, increasing his launch angle from 6.8 degrees last season to 15.5 this year.
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Reyes is a batting average risk, and you’ll need to be patient through some cold streaks, but there’s legit 40-homer potential here and he’s still available in more than 65% of Yahoo leagues. Recently moved to the No. 2 spot in San Diego’s lineup, Reyes should benefit from Manny Machado’s inevitable improvement at the plate moving forward, as well as from some regression (.196 BABIP). His opposite-field homer Tuesday night shows just how special of a power hitter he can be. Reyes shouldn’t be unowned in any fantasy leagues out there.
QUICK HITS
Alex Verdugo, Los Angeles Dodgers
With A.J. Pollock set to undergo exploratory surgery on his infected right elbow, Verdugo should start in Los Angeles’ outfield for the foreseeable future. The rookie is off to a terrific start (.333/.361/.623 with an 11.3 K%) after hitting .329 in Triple-A last season, and he’ll contribute some speed and pop. Verdugo is still available in nearly 80% of leagues, but that number should start shrinking fast.
Hansel Robles, Los Angeles Angels
He recorded his second save of the season Tuesday, protecting an Angels’ 4-3 lead. With Cody Allen on the IL (and out of the closer’s role), Ty Buttrey recorded the win Tuesday with a scoreless eighth inning, and Robles looks like the preferred fantasy option (who’s available in 95% of leagues). He sports a 3.21 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP with a 17:5 K:BB ratio on the season when he’s also allowed a 23.5 Hard Hit% that ranks in the top 6% of the league. Run, don’t walk to grab Robles if he’s still out there on your waiver wire.
Michael Pineda, Minnesota Twins
He struggled again during Tuesday’s start, and while he’s had to face a tough Astros lineup in back-to-back outings, Pineda has been a disappointment all season, reaching six innings just once and sitting with a 6.21 ERA. I had high hopes of a bounce back, but Pineda’s velocity has been down, and his SwStr% is a career low. His next outing is in Yankee Stadium, so Pineda is fine to cut bait on at this point.
Jesus Aguilar, Milwaukee Brewers
He ended the weekend batting .123/.217/.151 but has raised his OPS nearly 200 points since, clubbing two homers with seven RBI over two games. Aguilar was late to break out in his career and slowed down after the All-Star break last season (.760 OPS) after pitchers saw more of him, and he was losing at-bats and his starting spot to Eric Thames before the recent outburst. Tuesday’s start came against a right-hander (German Marquez entered having allowed just one run on the road all season before Aguilar took him deep) at the expense of a slumping Ryan Braun, and Aguilar’s bat will likely stay in Milwaukee’s lineup as long as he’s hitting. Aguilar is worth scooping up in any fantasy leagues in which impatient owners dropped him after such a dreadful start.
Rick Porcello, Boston Red Sox
He was dominant Tuesday night during the longest outing by a Red Sox pitcher this season, recording eight shutout innings while allowing just four baserunners. Porcello, who was dropped in some leagues after a brutal start to the year, has a 2.29 ERA with an 18:5 K:BB ratio over his last three starts, and it’s safe to expect better run support moving forward. Porcello appears to be past whatever control issues he was struggling with to open the season and needs to be owned in all leagues.
Jose Leclerc, Texas Rangers
He blew a 3-0 lead in the ninth and now sits with an ugly 8.44 ERA and 2.16 WHIP on the year. At least he didn’t walk anyone for the first time in five appearances. Leclerc’s troublesome control (nine walks, three hit batters, two wild pitches over 10.2 innings) is making it awfully difficult to keep him in the closer’s role in Texas. Chris Martin isn’t anything special, but he and Shawn Kelley appear to be next in line for saves in the Rangers’ pen.
Spencer Turnbull, Detroit Tigers
After winning in Fenway during his last start, Turnbull picked up the victory in Philadelphia on Tuesday, so it’s time to start taking his impressive beginning to the season (2.53 ERA, 1.22 WHIP) seriously. He’s up to 31 strikeouts over 32.0 innings, the Tigers are fielding a solid defense this year, and Turnbull is limiting hard contact (31.9 Hard Hit%), but he’s still available in nearly 95% of leagues. He’ll be worth using at home against the Royals during his next start.
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