A lot of fake-baseball owners are beginning to question their investment in Matt Carpenter. The Red Birds' leadoff hitter is riding a modest six-game hitting streak and has scored 32 runs on the season, good for placement among the top 10 in the NL. If you reached for last season's fantasy MVP before the middle rounds you should question your investment, but the best is still ahead for Carpenter. His K% in May is down eight points and his slash line entering tonight was .282/.346/.346 this month, which is exactly where it should be. The entire St. Louis team has struggled offensively, but they have won nine of their last 12 games and their leadoff hitter still holds tremendous value. Carpenter is going to score and score and score from here on.
There are two things we need to remember about Carlos Quentin. First, he can't stay healthy. Second, when he is playing ... he hits bombs! His career .237 ISO attests and that beastly campaign with the White Sox in 2008 is gaudy in only 569 plate appearances. Quentin went deep for the second time this season last night. His home ball park is a pitcher-friendly venue, but Quentin's plus power has translated, although his other stats are legging. The Padres are a different-breed offensively, but Quentin could do some damage in a hurry for fantasy owners. When healthy the 31-year old touches them all a lot. Add Carlos Quentin.
It was a pretty big day for Josh Harrison. The Nationals intentionally-walked Travis Snider to face Harrison and he barreled one up to center field to drive in the game-winning run. Harrison has settled into the leadoff spot for the Pirates. This season batting No. 1 he has a slash line of .341/.400/.585, with 24 total bases and 10 runs, although it has come in a limited 11 games. Harrison's biggest-fantasy contributor is his positional eligibility. In most leagues, Harrison boasts 2B, 3B and OF status, which brings lineup flexibility to the table. Harrison's value points straight up as long as he is setting the table for the Pirates.
Jaime Garcia had his first-strong game of the season. The lefty has struggled with shoulder injuries throughout his career, but has always been a low-end fantasy arm when healthy. The Cardinals win a lot of ball games and he gets just enough strikeouts to reward. If he is available in your league, he likely shouldn't be. There is serious injury concern, but after ripping through the Reds last night, to the tune of seven strikeouts, six hits, two earned runs and no walks, Garcia is worth a flier.
In Russell Martin's second game back from the Disabled List, the veteran catcher reached base four times. Martin is hitting in the heart of the Pirate's batting order and has plus power for a backstop. Martin hit .250 in 2009 and hasn't reached that benchmark since, but he has scored over 50 runs and knocked in over 50 runs each season from 2011 through 2013. In two-catcher formats Martin is a must-own player, but he is boarding on relevancy in one-catcher leagues too. Although, the Buc has been in the league since 2006, he is only 31-years old. There is still tread on the tire and fantasy production straight ahead.
