Marco Estrada (SP - MIL) - Estrada was fantastic, shutting out the Braves for 6 2/3 innings on just four hits while he struck out six and walked one. His now 5.00 K/BB would be second in all of baseball if he had enough innings to qualify. The undersized right-hander has posted excellent strikeout rates wherever he has been and has refined his control, but has been sidetracked by a propensity for the long ball. He makes for an excellent later-round flier next year and is a strong option either Sunday against the Mets or next week in Pittsburgh, depending on how the Brewers align their rotation.
Chris Nelson (3B - COL) - Nelson had three hits to bring his line up to .278/.332/.444. After an awful first five weeks, some of which was derailed by a wrist injury, he's hit .292/.333/.500 since returning on June 1. He hits the ball on the ground way too much for someone who plays in Coors Field, but he's hit a ton of line drives and is a former first-round pick that will be moving right in his prime (27) next year. He should provide strong value in the later rounds.
David Freese (3B - STL) - Freese has proven he's not just a playoff hero this season, as he hit his 19th homer of the year. He is now hitting .299/.372/.480. He's improved his walk rate and although he's still mostly a ground ball hitter, he's sprinkled in a few more fly balls this year. However, his price will likely be too high next year. I wouldn't bet on him sustaining a 20.7 HR/FB% and he'll be 30 next April - hardly finished, but not moving into his prime either as he spent most of his 20s in the minors.
Ian Kennedy (SP - ARZ) - Kennedy delivered a fantastic outing against the Dodgers, shutting them out over 7 1/3 innings on just four hits with no walks and six strikeouts. The right-hander's strikeout and walk rates are almost exactly where they were last year, but a slightly decreased groundball rate and a regression in his HR/FB% has led to his home run rate almost doubling. That combined with a 33-point rise in BABIP has raised his ERA 1.33 runs from last year. The strikeout and walk rates are very good, but his propensity for hard contact and home runs makes him just a matchup option.
Jimmy Rollins (SS - PHI) - Rollins had an excellent night, going 2-3 with his 18th home run, 26th stolen base and a walk. He is now hitting .248/.306/.417. After walking almost as many times or more than he struck out four of the last five years, his strikeout rate is the highest it's been considerably since 2003 while his walk rate has dropped. He's also in his fourth straight year of a BABIP of .275 or under despite decent line drive rates and very good speed. The problem is he hits way too many fly balls for someone with his speed, and he has been among the league leaders in pop-up rate, leading it this year at 18.6%. There aren't many signs of hope for a turnaround, and I wouldn't be surprised if he misses time next year as he turns 34 in November and has played a physically demanding position for 12 years despite a small stature.
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