Bo Bichette (SS-TOR)
Bichette led off and played DH, going 3 for 5 with a double and a walkoff home run, his 11th of the season. Its bee a slow month for the Rookie who has just a .616 OPS over 10 September games - although he still does have a strong .313/.353/.592 line on the season and the walkoff HR may be his biggest moment as a pro. Bichette has flashed a lot of big-time ability, ripping 28 extra base hits in only 41 games. He already has the starting SS gig locked down for next year, but I do still see a few areas of opportunity for him. He showed some serious speed swiping 32 bags at AA last year but hasn't displayed the timeliest baserunning stealing just 4 bags in 8 tries. His 23.9% rate is acceptable, but still about 5% higher then any rate he posted in the minor leagues. From a fantasy perspective one of the biggest factors in his 2020 production could be his spot in the batting order despite all the extra base hits he only has 18 RBIs to show for it, as he has primarily his out of the leadoff spot. Toronto will need to find someone to hit before the powerful of Bichette, Cavan Biggio and Vlad Guerrero Jr, otherwise his RBI total may be a bit on the low side.
Matt Olson (1B-OAK)
Olson went 1 for 4 with his 33rd home run of the season. Olson burst onto the scene as a Rookie in 2017 with a 1.003 OPS and wasn't quite able to perform to that level last year, posting a .788 figure with 29 home runs despite playing in every game for Oakland. Olson, who missed some time earlier this season has really come alive smashing 33 home runs in 114 games and has come back nicely from the down year last season as his OPS currently sits at .919. He is sporting a strong .283 ISO and his 51.6% hard-hit rate would be 3rd on all of baseball if he were a qualified hitter. With only about 2 weeks left in the season he would need to go on tear to hit 40 home runs - but that number looks within reach for 2020.
Khris Davis (DH-OAK)
Davis hit his 21st and 22nd home runs of the season, picking up 4 RBIs. Its been a disappointing season for the slugger who barring a miracle will fall short of 40 home runs for the first time since 2015. Despite maintaining a 26% K rate that is in line with his previous seasons, his swinging strike rate is at an all-time high at 17%. He is still hitting the ball hard at a 45% clip - in line with his career numbers but has seen a 20 point drop in batting average and a 140 pt drop in his ISO. Davis has been a bit banged up this season, and that may be contributing to the struggles. As many fantasy owners know, Davis has hit exactly .247 each of the past 2 seasons - and that streak in in majority jeopardy; although Davis has been known to go on tears, so it is worth watching over the next few days.
Jonathan Villar (2B/SS-BAL)
Villar went 2 for 5 with a double and his 34th stolen base of the season. Villar has been one of the more valuable fantasy players of the 2019 season, and while his .797 OPS doesn't jump off the page he has crushed 31 doubles and 21 home runs all while stealing 33 bases and scoring 97 runs - numbers that could easily swing the favor of a fantasy matchup. The free-swinging Villar is among the league leaders in strikeouts with 157 - a high tally for a leadoff hitter but he makes it work. The vet has another season with the Orioles before FA but he may be a trade target for a contender looking for someone with a great combination of speed and power.
Rookie Update:
Anthony Kay (SP-TOR)
Kay made his second start and lasted 4 and 1/3 IP, allowing 5 ER on 7 hits while striking out 2. Kay has a solid debut last weekend striking out 8 over 5+ innings and shutout the Yankees through 4 innings but fell apart in the 5th. On a positive he did generate 8 groundballs and induce 11 swinging strikes. The Rookie, who was a major piece in the Marcus Stroman deal, got off to a fast start at AA this year for the Mets pitching the tune of a 1.49 ERA (but 3.47 xfip) but largely struggled at AAA (6.61 ERA for the Mets, 2.50 ERA for the Blue Jays - but a 5.18 xfip). His struggles for the Mets AAA affiliate were largely due to his alarming flyball rate (50%) and HR/9 (2.01) while he struggled with command for the Jays top farm team (5.50 B/9). Kay may see one or 2 more starts this year as he is already past his career high in IP and will look to crack the Toronto rotation in 2020.
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