Curtis Granderson (OF-NYM) - If you somehow started Grandeson in your DFS lineup Tuesday despite him not being in the Mets starting lineup, wow, congratulations. All Granderson did was enter the game in the sixth inning as a pinch-hitter and hit a home run. He then stayed in the game and hit a two-run homer in the following inning. We know Granderson can't hit southpaws (.220/.284/.382), but he also entered Tuesday hitting .220/.321/.430 and he was hitting well below .200 in August, so he was benched in favor of Alejando De Aza despite the opposing pitcher being a RHP. He's now up to 22 home runs and this should help get him back in the lineup more frequently.
Daniel Murphy (2B-WAS) - Not that Neil Walker is chopped liver, but the Mets have to be regretting letting Murphy walk in free agency over the winter. He was just 1-for-4 (double, run) Tuesday, but Murphy is an MVP contender right now, batting .344/.387/.605 with 25 homers, 98 RBI, and 38 doubles. He's drawn just 31 walks, but he's also fanned just 50 times all season, a number that's pretty remarkable these days for a 30-homer guy, which Murphy should be this year. Murphy fanned in just 7.1% of his PA's a year ago, so the contact isn't a surprise. Where's really improved however, is versus LHP, a group he hit just .254/.284/.349 against this year, but a robust .329/.370/.557 against entering Tuesday's action. He could win a batting title and hit over 30 homers and top 120 RBi. From the second base slot, that's MVP-worthy.
Max Scherzer (SP-WAS) - With Clayton Kershaw out of the NL Cy Young race due to his back injury, it's looking like a very competitive race for a change, with Scherzer, Noah Syndergaard, and Johnny Cueto a few of the contenders. Scherzer did his part to stick around Tuesday, holding the Phillies to a pair of runs on three hits with 11 strikeouts over eight innings to improve to 15-7 with a 2.89 ERA. Scherzer leads the NL with 238 strikeouts, innings with 190, WHIP at 0.91, is ninth in ERA, and is tied for second in wins with 15, one behind Jke Arrieta. In fantasy, those strikeouts and solid contributions across the board make him arguably the top fantasy pitcher year-to-date.
Jose Peraza (2B/OF-CIN) - I had previously written Peraza off as a bust, but that may have been a bit premature. Hopefully Peraza getting hit in the face with a pickoff throw Monday won't derail his month, as Peraza is batting a crazy .441/.441/.618 in 34 at-bats this month after entering the month batting just .250 on the year. Peraza has swiped an impressive 12 base in 14 attempts over 122 big league at-bats this year while playing at least 10 games at each of second base, shortstop, and the outfield. He hasn't locked down an everyday position just yet, but Peraza should play regularly the rest of the way as the Reds look to the future. With Brandon Phillips and Zack Cozart both controlled through 2017, Peraza doesn't have an obvious spot next year either, but one or both could be dealt this winter given they will be free agents after 2017. Peraza is batting .303/.331/.377 overall, which is fine, but we'd obviously prefer to see more than two walks in 127 PA's. Note for DFS players: Peraza is batting .377 at home.
Stephen Strasburg (SP-WAS) - I'm actually in a league in which Strasburg was dropped, as the owner had their one DL slot occupied by Clayton Kershaw and apparently didn't feel Strasburg would be back this year. I fortunately had top waiver priority, and now Strasburg could help in my playoff push. He threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and is reportedly on track to return from his latest elbow injury by this time next week. He's eligible as early as September 6. Strasburg has been an elite fantasy force this year, posting an 11.1 K/9 in addition to his 15 wins in 19 decisions. His 3.59 ERA isn't elite, but it's been severely impacted by the three start he had before hitting the disabled list (0-3, 11.2 IP, 24 hits, 19 earned runs). Prior to that, Strasburg had a 2.63 ERA, so hopefully the rest has done him some good.
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