Javier Baez, 2B, 3B, CHC
Baez has impressively reduced his K% from 38.5% in 2014-15 to 22.0% so far this season, but he hasn't quite been consistent. After collecting two more strikeouts on Wednesday, Baez now has a 30.2% K% in the month of June after an excellent 13.4% mark in May. Ironically, despite his success in the contact department, May was actually his worst month offensively with a .219 BA and .551 OPS compared to .297 and .910 in June coming into Wednesday's game. Regardless, Baez still has work to do in terms of cutting down his strikeouts and his 15.5% SwStr% suggests that we shouldn't expect drastic improvement too soon. Until then, he remains a pretty big batting average risk.
Carlos Estevez, RP, COL
After recording the save against the Yankees on Wednesday, Estevez has now picked up the last three saves for Colorado and appears to be closer of choice for the Rockies, at least while Jake McGee is on the DL. Estevez does have a good K% but remains in the lowest tier of closers due to a mediocre 4.03 BB/9 and more importantly because he pitches for the Rockies. That being said, if you're looking for saves off the wire, he's the guy to go to from the Colorado 'pen.
Freddie Freeman, 1B, ATL
It took him until the 11th inning, but Freeman did record the cycle against the Reds on Wednesday with his single in the 11th finishing the job. Freeman had a productive series against the Reds, going 7-16 with 5 XBH's, which is nice to see following a stretch in which he hit .184 with only 4 XBH's in the previous 21 games. The problem with Freeman this year has been strikeouts as his 25.9% K% is at least 5% higher than any of his previous four seasons, and his SwStr% is at 14.8% whereas he typically sits in the 11%-12% range. On the other hand, he's on pace to surpass his career high of 23 HR's thanks to a 43.0% FB% which is well higher than his career 35.5% mark. Maybe he's sacrificing contact to get some more lift, but who knows. The other problem is that unlike most power hitters who tend to accrue nice RBI totals with their homeruns, Freeman has only 22 RBI to go with 11 dingers thanks to the anemic offense around him, and that is an area that doesn't have any noticeable improvement on the horizon.
Andrew McCutchen, OF, PIT
Why does it seem like every day, McCutchen ends up doing absolutely nothing? Maybe because that's exactly what he has been doing. Over the past month (28 games), McCutchen has slashed a pathetic .202/.254/.272, and in June it's been even worse with a downright embarrassing .140/.204/.160 and 18 K's in 54 PA's. The problem with McCutchen has been everything; his K% is more than 5% higher than ever before, his SwStr% has soared to 12.5% (career 8.8%) and his Soft% is a disturbing 20.4% (career 13.9%). And he only has one SB this season. No, you can't cut him quite yet, but you certainly can't be blamed for benching him as there's clearly something wrong with McCutchen right now.
Tommy Joseph, 1B, PHI
It's a small sample size but Joseph has taken a liking to LHP's early in his career with a 1.155 OPS including 2 HR's against them through 22 PA's. On Thursday, he'll take on mediocre Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ, who has struggled to the tune of a 6.03 ERA and 8 homeruns allowed over his last 6 starts. Joseph is a solid play for those looking for a cheaper 1B option. Value Play Draft Kings $3,500.
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