Carlos Correa(SS-HOU): Carlos Correa (thumb) went 1-for-3 with one RBI, one run, one stolen base and one walk vs. the Mets in his return from the DL. Correa was back in his customary spot in the middle of the Astros lineup and looked like he didn't miss a beat. The 22-year-old has hit 20 homers over 85 games, and his improvements in his plate discipline (two-percentage point drop in his swinging strike rate from 2016) and his batted ball profile (five-percentage point increase in his fly ball rate, two-percentage point increase in his hard hit rate) suggest that the power surge is real. He's already a worthy top-20 pick, but unless he can recapture the speed game, he may not crack the first round in standard drafts. I'm still bullish on his five-category potential and think he could be undervalued heading into 2018.
Mitch Haniger(OF-SEA): Mitch Haniger went 4-for-5 with a homer, a double and two RBIs vs. the Athletics. The 26-year-old was struggling since a return from an oblique injury, but he has picked things up over the past four games, collecting 10 hits, two homers, and six RBIs in that span. I buy the skillset he flashed before the injury, and sense that he is turning a corner physically. He was dropped in many leagues, so if he's out there, pick him up and ride the hot hand down the stretch. And etch him into your notebooks for OFs to swipe in the middle rounds come draft day.
Lucas Giolito(SP-CHW): Lucas Giolito won after allowing one run on three hits (one homer) and one walk with 10 strikeouts over seven innings vs. the Rays. Yes, he has stranded every runner he has allowed on base through three starts, but I'm encouraged by his 18:4 K:BB ratio and 29 percent hard contact allowed. He was erratic in the minors, but he's attacking the strike zone with the White Sox as indicated by an impressive 67 percent first-pitch-strike rate. There is risk here in the short term, but his upside makes him a must-start down the stretch and an excellent keeper option in all formats. With the White Sox allowing him to be himself once again, the sky is the limit.
Tim Anderson(SS-CHW): Tim Anderson went 3-for-4 with a homer, a double, three RBIs and two runs vs. the Rays. Despite reaching the 15-homer mark, the 24-year-old hasn't developed as many had hoped during the preseason. He is chasing 40 percent of the time while still maintaining a swinging-strike rate just south of 15 percent. And despite his blazing speed, Anderson has only attempted seven stolen bases this season, and unless he learns more patience at the plate, he likely won't be able to fully tap into that resource. I'm not giving up on him in keeper leagues, but I sense that this could be a slow, gradual development path.
Parker Bridwell(SP-LAA): Hitters have only mustered a .258 wOBA against Bridwell on the road. The Athletics are 16th in overall offense vs. right-handers and 14th at home. I like the potential win factor with Chris Smith toeing the rubber opposite Bridwell. I also like the fact that Bridwell will likely be under-owned coming off a seven-run performance. At $6600 on FanDuel, he looks like a great tournament play that can allow you plenty of cash for the plethora of upside bats on the slate today.
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