Giancarlo Stanton (OF, MIA) - Stanton hit his third home run in his last two games in the Marlins 5-2 loss to the Phillies Tuesday night. The solo shot was his only hit on the night, and brought his total to 29 for the season. At his current pace, Stanton is slated for a total of 51 home runs on the season. We all know the power is there, but what has allowed him to be on such a pace is his health. It also helps that his K% has dropped nearly 4% from his career mark of 28%. The power numbers are no surprise as the .305 ISO, extremely high, however, he is making less hard contact, at 36.4%. As long as he is healthy, he will post the power numbers you expect. Even with his name being floated in trade rumors Stanton will hit bombs anywhere he plays, as long as he is on the field.
Travis Shaw (3B, MIL) - Shaw continued his career year on Tuesday with a 3 for 4 night that included his 21st home run, and 3 RBI, bringing that total to 69 on the season. His slash line reads. 299/.365/.575 to this point in 2017, as his home run total is already a career high, and he is just two away from tying his career high in RBI as well. His .271 ISO is well above league average, and his decreased K% of 21.8% is helping keep the OBP so high. Shaw has been a pleasant surprise in fantasy, as few can say they saw this kind of production coming down the line. He has played his way into the discussion of the top players at the position, and will cost a considerable amount in drafts heading into 2018.
Josh Harrison (2B, PIT) - Harrison recorded his 11th homer of 2017 in the Pirates 4-3 win over the Brewers on Tuesday. Harrison finished with just one hit, but he made it count. On the year, he is slashing .272/.352/.429 with the 11 homers, 31 RBI and ten stolen bases. While Harrison is not flashy he is eligible in multiple spots, and contributes in many categories, especially in deeper leagues, and has a legitimate shot at a 20-20 season. His 16.2% K% helps his OBP, yet his BABIP is down 17 points so far from his 2016 mark of .323. His hard contact is up a bit at 32.5%, but he will never be mistaken for a power hitter. Harrison is also being mentioned in trade rumors as we get closer to the deadline. A change of scenery to a more potent offense, or hitter friendly park could improve his numbers for 2017.
Zack Cozart (SS, CIN) - While the Reds got rocked by the Diamondbacks 11-2 Tuesday, Cozart did his part in the loss. The veteran finished 3 for 4 on the day, with a homer, an RBI and two runs scored. On the year, Cozart is posting a .313/.395/.548 line with ten home runs, and 36 RBI. While he has cooled a bit as the season has gone on, the overall body of work puts him just outside the top ten at the position. In deeper leagues especially, Cozart has been a nice find as a middle infielder or DH. His greatest value has been in OBP leagues, and his elevated BB% of 12.2% is helping that. His .388 wOBA and .347 BABIP is helping it as well. He is yet another possible trade chip for the Reds, as they figure to sell anything they can at the deadline. Hitting in a talented lineup can only enhance Cozart's fantasy value.
Michael Wacha (SP, STL) - Wacha singlehandedly held the Mets in check on Tuesday in the Cardinals 5-0 win Tuesday. He went the distance, allowing just three hits over the nine innings, allowing zero runs, and striking out eight while walking just one. On the season, Wacha owns a 3.71 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, a 94/32 K/BB and a 7-3 record. While he is not known as a big strikeout arm, his K/9 is up over a strikeout a game to 9.04. His .347 BABIP remains a bit high, but his xFIP indicates he will be able to still get swings and misses when he is on the mound. His play has him ranked as the 65th ranked starter on the season, so at this point he is best suited for deep leagues until he can become more consistent.
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