Esmil Rogers - Esmil Rogers shut down the Red Sox on Saturday by allowing zero runs on six hits with six strikeouts over six innings. Rogers now owns a 3.12 ERA in 60 2/3 innings this season. While Rogers has been very good, his peripherals indicate that the right hander will be hard-pressed to maintain his current success. Rogers is enjoying an 81% strand rate and .281 BABIP despite a 23% LD%. Rogers is also struggling to miss bats with a 14% K% and 5.64 K/9. With a 4.22 xFIP, Rogers' actual performance is far ahead of his peripherals. He's worth an add if you want to ride the hot streak, but I can't imagine he ends up on many fantasy rosters by season's end.
Jason Kipnis - It seems that we've had a reason to write about Jason Kipnis nearly every day in the month of June. The torrid-hitting Kipnis cracked his 12th HR of the season on Saturday against the White Sox. He also stole another base, giving him 19 steals, 51 RBI and 44 runs so far this season. The second baseman owns a .299/.384/.533 slash line. In the preseason, we predicted Kipnis would be a top-5 fantasy second baseman and he hasn't disappointed. After a terrible start to the season (.086 ISO, .244 wOBA, .555 OPS in April), Kipnis has been on fire all June (.256 ISO, .492 wOBA, 1.175 OPS) and is currently a five-category player at a premium position. What's most exciting for Kipnis' fantasy owners is the improvement in power. Kipnis posted just a .122 ISO in 2012 but has that mark up to .225 this year. He's also improved his SLG% by 154 points. Kipnis can't maintain his June numbers forever, but even with some regression, he should still be one of the best options at second base.
Jose Bautista - Jose Bautista smashed two homers on Saturday against the Red Sox and now has 18 bombs and 48 RBI in 2013. The Blue Jays' outfielder owns a .241 ISO after recording .286, .306 and .357 marks the previous three seasons. He continues to show good patience with a 13% BB% and doesn't strike out much for a power hitter (18% K%). Bautista hasn't hit more long balls because he's hitting fewer fly balls (41% in 2013 vs. 50% in 2012) and has a lower HR/FB% (17% in 2013 vs. 20% in 2012). Based on his track record, it's reasonable to believe Bautista will hit for more power moving forward, but he also hasn't been especially unlikely in any one area to date. Overall, Bautista's still a solid fantasy outfielder, but he hasn't been the elite bat that he was from 2010-2012.
Kyle Gibson - The Twins called up Kyle Gibson to make his major league debut on Saturday against the Royals and the kid didn't disappoint, tossing six innings and allowing just 2 ER with five strikeouts, eight hits and zero walks. He earned the victory and threw 91 pitches. In 15 starts at AAA this season, Gibson owned a 3.11 ERA, 2.96 FIP and was striking out 7.67 batters per game in the International League. A year removed from Tommy John surgery, Gibson throws in the low 90s with a plus slider that causes hitters to swing and miss a lot. The knock against Gibson has been his consistency, not only in maintaining his velocity but also in locating his fastball and slider pitches. He was not dominating hitters down in the minors this year, so I'd temper expectations for what Gibson might be able to do in the majors (as in, he won't be a Matt Harvey-type pitcher). The Twins have also indicated they may place some type of innings limit on Gibson, considering he did have major surgery last season, which means he's unlikely to contribute to your fantasy team during the playoffs. From a fantasy perspective, Gibson is a worthy add in AL-only leagues as well as deeper 12-team+ mixed leagues and could provide above average strikeout totals along with a mid-3.00 ERA and 1.20 WHIP.
Yoenis Cespedes - Yoenis Cespedes continued his struggles this season on Saturday against St. Louis, taking an 0-for-4 with three strikeouts to drop his season slash line to just .222/.285/.448. He's striking out at a 25% clip while posting a BB% of just 7%. After owning a 19% LD% in his debut season, Cespedes has just a 15% rate, which has caused his BABIP to sit at just .243 (compared to .326 in 2012). The power is still evident - Cespedes owns a .226 ISO, 15% HR/FB% and has belted 15 HRs. However, he is not making consistently good contact and that's dragging down his overall line. Seems like Cespedes' .292 batting average in 2012 was a bit inflated, but I also don't think he's going to hit .222 all season.
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