Adam Frazier (2B/SS, Pit): Frazier was called up by the Pirates on Friday and recorded his first Major League hit off of Dodgers reliever JP Howell. He's a non-elite prospect but is someone to keep an eye on. He hit .333/.400/.426 with 17 steals in AAA this season across 295 plate appearances with a 27:28 K:BB ratio. The 17 steals were in 32 attempts, so he's not a burner, but he seems like one of those under-the-radar utility players that can be useful in deep leagues. He might not get much playing time while he's up so he's not a big add, but Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison aren't the biggest roadblocks in the long-term, so Frazier is a name to stash away for the future.
Tom Koehler (SP, Mia): Koehler lasted six innings against the dreaded Cubs offense, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts. His ERA jumped back over four to 4.07 with the start. It's all about the walks with Koehler. He had a string of three straight starts with only one walk snapped in his last start, when he walked six. Prior to the string of one-walk outings, he had four in a row where he walked five. It's no surprise then that his season BB/9 is 4.93, which is just playing with fire. Despite his fly ball tilt, he's managed to keep the ball in the park; he gave up two homers in this game, but they were only his fifth and sixth of the season, for a rate of 0.64 HR/9. That's been the key to him being usable as a streamer in mixed leagues, because with a 1.49 WHIP, when you give up home runs, they're going to hurt much worse with runners consistently on base. If he can limit the walks and homers he will provide value in mixed leagues, but this is a profile that can lead to extreme blow up starts in short order, so he's best reserved for streaming. He'll have a gentle matchup at Atlanta in his next turn on the bump.
Zach Davies (SP, Mil): Davies struck out nine Nationals on Friday, but failed to deliver a quality start as he gave up three runs on seven hits in five innings of work, walking one. The Nats are a tough matchup, and this is only the second time since April that Davies has allowed more than two earned runs in a start. He's been markedly better upon altering his pitch usage in May; he started throwing his fastball much less and his cutter and changeup more, and that's led to solid results. His K-BB% has risen every month since his woeful April; he's gone from his 4.5% K-BB% in April to 9.6% in May, and has rocketed to 21.8% in June. At only 23 years old he seems to be figuring himself out on the job this season, and he needs to be owned in deeper mixed leagues at the very least. He's a solid streaming option in all leagues, and he'll be startable at home against the Dodgers his next time out.
Tyler Anderson (SP, Col): Anderson didn't factor into the decision but was overall effective against the Diamondbacks at Coors Field on Friday night. He gave up two runs on eight hits in five and two-thirds innings, walking two and striking out eight. The 26 year old lefty has been solid through his first three starts, posting an 18:3 K:BB ratio in 17.2 IP with a 2.55 ERA. The strikeouts are nice, but given his mediocre K% in the minors and average 9.3% swinging strike rate, shouldn't be counted on to continue. The plus command, however, has always been there for him, and that combined with an elite 62% ground ball tilt will help him keep him from posting crooked numbers in any given inning. He's at the very least proven that he can be a streaming option on the road, though he may never be much more since it's hard to start any pitcher in Coors. He'll have an ugly home date with the Blue Jays with his next turn.
Yangervis Solarte (3B, SD): Solarte takes on struggling Reds southpaw Brandon Finnegan in Cincinnati on Saturday. Finnegan has been a bit lucky this season, with a 4.95 FIP that's more than a full run higher than his 3.81 ERA to go along with a treacherous 4.8% K-BB%. He's been less effective against lefties this season, allowing a .322 wOBA to them as opposed to a .309 wOBA allowed vs right-handed batters. Switch-hitting Solarte has crushed left-handed pitching this season to the tune of a .446 wOBA and an even 5:5 B:KK ratio. Hitting in the meat of the order will only help him take advantage of the matchup in the hitter-friendly confines of Great American Ballpark. He'll be available at $3,400 on Draft Kings.
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