Michael Fiers - Fiers had his QS streak stopped at 9 last night in Colorado, as the 27 year old rookie allowed eight runs on nine hits in just two-plus innings. Fiers really has been brilliant since his promotion to Milwaukee, and I'm fine with throwing out a Coors Field start from any analysis, so let's just look at the other 12 starts. The K/BB ratio of 5 jumps out at you, although the swinging strike% is merely solid, leading me to believe that hitters will catch up to him a bit more as their familiarity with him increases. He's been very fortunate with his bullpen performance, his BABIP, and his HR/FB, so we're looking more at a high-3.00's type of an arm than a potential ace, particularly with his extremely low GB rate. He reminds me a bit of his rotation-mate Shaun Marcum, in that he really makes his living off of offspeed pitches, has excellent control, and allows a ton of flyballs. Pitching in the NL Central, that can make for a pretty valuable SP, so I remain comfortable slotting Fiers in as a mid-rotation starter when he isn't pitching in Colorado or the like.
Rob Brantly - Rob Brantly is heading to the majors today and will start at C for the Marlins according to Ozzie Guillen, making him an instant waiver claim in deeper leagues and NL-only formats in my opinion. Just 23 years old, Brantly is fresh off a 365/377/558 line at AAA New Orleans in 14 games since the trade from Detroit. He has shown the ability to hit for average and has moderate power...at this point he's likely only around average in both areas but there is room for growth. I'd expect that he will platoon with John Buck the rest of the way as the Marlins try to determine whether he will need more time at AAA or whether he can be their #1 backstop in 2013, so as a second catcher in formats of average depth or greater you could do worse.
Domonic Brown - Brown is going to play every day the rest of the way with the Phillies completely into "player evaluation" mode, and thus far he's hit 279/380/349 through 13 games. He's still just 24 and has loads of potential across the board, so if the Phillies will just leave him alone finally he should be a worthwhile add in most formats now. He has 20-HR power and 10-SB speed to go along with a solid approach at the plate....I'm excited to see what he can do with consistent playing time.
Michael McKenry - McKenry continues to hit when called upon, going 1-2 with a pair of walks and an RBI last night in the 5-4 loss to LA. Most of McKenry's skills seemed to dwindle as he progressed up the ladder in Colorado, making him something of an afterthought in Pittsburgh this year, but he's managed a line of 283/360/566 through 152 ABs and his playing time is steadily increasing. He doesn't make enough contact to expect the AVG to hold up, but he'll draw a walk and obviously has some power, although just how much is in question. He is definitely proving himself to be worth a spot in NL-only leagues, and he's starting to look like a play in deeper mixed leagues as a 2nd catcher as well.
Josh Vitters - Vitters is just 2-20 with 5 K's in his first 7 games with the Cubs, but this is really nothing unusual for the 22 year old. Vitters has struggled initially at every level except AAA before catching his stride in his second season at the new level, so while I wouldn't expect an awful lot from him down the stretch in 2012, he does have the potential to be a solid starter at 3B next season. His plate discipline is going to cause him some problems of course, but with clear 20+ HR power at his young age he will likely be worth a gamble come spring.
