Grant Balfour (RP-TB): Grant Balfour rebounded to post 2 saves in the doubleheader against Boston. Despite the 2-save special, I'm concerned. He allowed 3 more baserunners in the outings, and now has allowed 18 in 12 and 1/3 innings. He now holds a 10:10 K:BB ratio and a 5.11 ERA/5.54 xFIP. By most measures his VELO is down by nearly 2 MPH on his fastball. And, his slider isn't biting as much as in years past, enabling hitters to hit 100 points higher so far off the pitch.
Koji Uehara (RP-BOS): Koji Uehara took the loss after allowing a homer to Yunel Escobar in game 2 last night. On the surface, Uehara looks fine: a 17:1 K:BB ratio, 0 blown saves, and a 1.69 ERA/2.03 xFIP. However, Uehara's velocity is down nearly 1.5 MPH on his fastball from last season. And with the injury history and current concerns with his shoulder, I'd be sure to handcuff with Mujica. Roll with him, but keep a close watch.
Edwin Encarnacion (1B-TOR): Edwin Encarnacion went 1 for 3 with 1 run, 1 RBI, and 1 walk. Encarnacion has hit only 2 homers in his first 107 AB's in 2014, and many owners are wondering what to do with the man they likely drafted in the first 2-3 rounds. My advice is to stand pat unless you receive 90+ cents on the dollar. Many injury experts suggest that hitters tend to take time to recover power after such procedures on their wrists (see Jose Bautista). He's hitting linedrives and flyballs at nearly the same rate as 2013, and all of his underlying numbers appear to be in line as well. All things considered, if an owner is frustrated with him, see if he/she will sell low.
Eric Hosmer (1B-KC): Eric Hosmer (1 for 4) hit his 10th double of the year, but is now homerless through his first 107 AB's of the season. You have to love the improvements with his swinging-strike and contact rates, but Hosmer's ISO sits at .093. Oddly, Hosmer showed elite numbers with his AVG. distance on homers and Speed off Bat in 2013, and he is hitting more fly balls this season. He started slowly last season and heated up with the weather, so if you're a Hosmer owner, I wouldn't sell. Patience.
Roenis Elias (SP-SEA): Save for a Jacoby Ellbury solo homer, Roenis Elias dominated the Yankees. The lefty allowed 1 earned run on 6 hits and 2 walks in 7 innings and added an impressive 10 strikeouts in picking up his 2nd win of the season. He now has a still pedestrian 31:16 K:BB ratio through 35 innings with a 3.09 ERA/3.81 xFIP. His curveball has been the difference, as hitters have managed a .088 AVG and .088 slugging-percentage in the 34 AB's against it. According to Brooks, Elias has also been working in more sinkers to keep hitters off balance, so while he doesn't have the prospect pedigree, evidence suggests Elias is developing. He's likely to be a volatile option, as his control comes and goes, but I don't see this as being a total fluke. If you have the bench room in mixed leagues, take a flier.
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