Austin Meadows-Rays-OF
Austin Meadows was 1-4 with an HR (31), 1 R, and 3 RBI against the Angels. Meadows is having a great fantasy season in which he is hitting .289 with 31 HR, 75 R, 87 RBI, and 11 SB. He is a true five-category performer with health being the only true hole in his game. He makes contact (23% K) and knows how to take a walk (8% BB) while also making hard contact (44%). The increase in power is due to the change in ball but more importantly a shift in his batted ball profile to more fly balls (44% FB) and hard contact (44% Hard). These numbers are backed up in his Statcast numbers with increased launch angle and average exit velocity. Meadows should be drafted as a second-rounder but his health is going to keep him from going there.
Marcus Semien-Athletics-SS
Marcus Semien was 1-4 with his 30th HR and 2 RBI against the Rangers. On the year, he is hitting .281 with 30 HR, 115 R, 85 RBI, and 10 SB. This is by far his best season and one of the most valuable fantasy seasons this year due to where he was drafted. Semien has been able to cut his strikeout rate from 18% to 14% and increase his walk rate from 9% to 11%. He was able to make these gains in plate discipline while also increasing his hard contact from 33% to 42%. He has become one of the most complete players in the game and a true five-category performer in fantasy.
Patrick Sandoval-Angels-SP
Patrick Sandoval went 4 IP and gave up 1 ER on 2 H, 1 BB, and 4 K's against the Rays. Sandoval has now made seven starts at the major league level and he has a 4.91 ERA and 1.45 WHIP through 33 IP. The strikeouts have been there (26% K) but he has struggled with control (10% BB). The strikeouts are legit given his 14% swinging strike rate which makes him an intriguing arm heading into 2020. His 4.18 SIERA also offers that intrigue as a 4.18 ERA with 26% K is a profile that plays in today's environment. The walk issue is something he has struggled with in the high minors so this is a problem that is not going to go away without a major change. That could simply be getting ahead of hitters considering he is getting just 53% first-pitch strikes. Keep an eye on his walk numbers to end the year and in Spring Training as he could be a breakout candidate.
Miguel Sano-Twins-3B
Miguel Sano was 2-5 with his 29th HR against the Indians. Despite only playing in 94 games Sano is hitting .239 with 29 HR, 65 R, and 65 RBI. The batting average is not going to be great given his 37% K but the power is legit. He hits the ball hard 53% of the time which makes his 45-50 HR over a full season more believable. His average exit velocity and barrel% are in the top 1% of the league. Sano is likely going to go under drafted next season due to his low batting average and lack of a full season. His power is a real asset you just have to plan accordingly when drafting Sano because he is a three-category performer (HR, R, and RBI) and a liability in the other two (AVG and SB).
Shane Bieber-Indians-SP
Shane Bieber went 5.2 IP and gave up 4 ER on 11 H, 1 BB, and 4 K's against the Twins. Bieber has been excellent this year he has a 3.26 ERA and 1.03 WHIP through 201.1 IP. He has transformed himself into a strikeout pitcher by jumping his strikeout rate from 24% to 31% which has been backed up by a corresponding bump in his swinging strike rate from 11% to 14%. This has come primarily due to fewer fastballs and more off-speed pitches. Bieber has been able to do all of this while keeping his plus control (5% BB). Based on his skill improvement he should be drafted right up there with Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Gerrit Cole which was unheard of coming into the 2019 season.
DraftKings Value Plays: OF Jorge Soler (KCR) $4,100 and OF Khris Davis (OAK) $3,700
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