J.P. Arencibia (C/1B-TEX): J.P. Arencibia hit his 4th homer of the season to provide the lone spark for the punchless Rangers offense. With Geovany Soto likely out for a month, look for Arencibia to see regular playing time. Arencibia is a career .207 hitter, and his plate discipline and coverage in AAA this season did nothing to ease the batting average fears that accompany him. However, his power is undeniable, and with consistent AB's, he should hit 7-8 homers the rest of the way. If you need the power in a deeper league, don't let the AVG scare you.
Neftali Feliz (RP-TEX): After trading Joakim Soria to the Tigers, The Rangers immediately announced that Neftali Feliz will take the closer reigns. The former all-start closer has produced mixed results since returning from AAA, as he has only struck out 4 while walking 3 in 10 innings of work in posting a 4.83 xFIP. However, the velocity is approaching 93 MPH for his AVG fastball, and the chase and swinging strike rates are creeping towards his career norms. If you need saves, pony up those FAAB dollars.
Brandon Moss (1B/OF-OAK): Brandon Moss hit a grand slam to spark the A's 13 run onslaught and back Jeff Samardzija with a thing called run-support. Moss now has 23 homers on the season, 19 of which have come against righties. The lefty has quietly improved his performance against southpaws by 80 points in his wOBA, elevating his game into the conversation among the game's elite run producers. While the A's tend to shift him down when facing lefties, they rarely sit him.
Marcus Stroman (SP-TOR): Marcus Stroman allowed only 1 hit and 2 walks across 7 scoreless innings against the Red Sox. The rookie also struck out 7 and picked up his 6th win of the season. Stroman has shown much improvement as the season has progressed, moving his GB rate to 50% and his K rate to 21% while pushing his BB rate down to a solid 5%. While his 3.11 xFIP further validates what he is doing on the mound, I'm tempering expectations slightly; his swinging-strike and chase-rates are below league average, while his contact rate is hovering around the league average mark. Despite these warning signs, his upside is undeniable and he should be owned in all formats.
Adam Eaton (OF-CHW): With a 3-for-5, 1-run, 2-RBI night, Adam Eaton showed that he can play through the wrist and ankle pain that he says still persists. Eaton doesn't show any significant splits, so he should continue to see the bulk of the AB's out of the leadoff spot. The only real complaint is with Eaton's 10 steals in 16 attempts, a rate that isn't likely to improve until an off-season of rest. While he makes for a decent yet risky play for the remainder of 2014, he should make for a nice value pick in next year's drafts.
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