Miguel Sano, 1B (MIN)
Sano had a productive game Monday, finishing 2 for 3 with a home run and three runs scored in Minnesota's 8-5 loss to Chicago. Sano's 2020 numbers are eerily similar to 2019 when he hit .247 with 34 home runs, but his .404 BABIP is 85 points higher than last season. A BABIP regression will inflict some damage on his .248 batting average, which won't get any better if he can't lift his contact rate above 60 percent. Even though he always sits among the league leaders in hard hit rate, Sano is actually hitting the ball even harder in 2020. His xWOBACON is an incredible .601. He leads baseball in exit velocity and barrel rate, which means the home runs will continue. Unfortunately, the putrid contact rate will always be a hindrance on his batting average.
Shane Bieber, SP (CLE)
Bieber is starting to run away with the AL Cy Young award. The Indians surefire ace blanked the Royals for six innings before the Cleveland bullpen blew the game in the 8th inning, taking away what would have been his seventh win. The 25 year old's three-game run of double digit strikeouts barely came to an end as Bieber only punched out nine Royals batters, but he allowed a season-low one hit. He did surrender four walks, which gives him seven free passes in his last two starts after only walking six batters over his first six appearances. That would be a concerning trend to continue. However, Bieber leads the American League with an 18.6% swinging strike rate, capitalizing off a 64.6% first pitch percentage, which is among the top ten in the majors. His secondary pitches (curveball/slider) are almost unhittable so getting ahead of batters with first pitch strikes is what separates Bieber from very good to elite. There's no reason to "sell high," no reason to look back. Just keep plugging and playing the best young pitcher in the game.
Rafael Devers, 3B (BOS)
Devers followed Sunday's two-homer, four-hit performance with another multi-hit effort on Monday. A pair of singles in four at bats lifted the young 3rd baseman's batting average to .248. He is hitting the ball hard (average exit velocity at 91.7 mph), but he is striking out way more than last year. His Batting EYE dropped from 0.40 in 2019 to 0.18 so far this season. He isn't seeing the ball as well as last year, evidenced by an uptick in chase rate and a lower percentage of swings at pitches inside the strike zone. As that statistic gets passed around opposing scouting reports, pitchers are upping their zone percentage. That should open up more opportunities for Devers to do damage, like he has the last two days. Not having Mookie Betts hurts Devers' fantasy profile. However, he is talented enough to produce like the last two games.
Chase Anderson, SP (TOR)
The Blue Jays acquired three starting pitchers over the last week so Anderson's role in the rotation is not a guarantee. That means he needs to prove his value, which he did on Monday, allowing only one run on three hits with eight strikeouts in five innings against Baltimore. The eight K's were five more than his previous season high as Anderson lowered his xFIP from 5.07 to 3.86 (his ERA is now a cool 3.20). As he battled injuries and shifted from starter to reliever and vice versa over the last several years, his velocity has wavered. However, he is using his heater so much less in 2020 than in previous years. As he mixes in his complementary pitches, Anderson is capable of more out pitches and capable of going deeper into a game, although that has not come close to happening so far this season. He has not had a bad game yet, but he has been far from excellent. Perhaps the pressure of earning his role will help continue the momentum he built with Monday's outing.
Ji-Man Choi, 1B (TB)
A whirlwind of a game ended for Ji-Man Choi when he left Monday's game against the Yankees with stomach issues. Prior to his departure, the Rays first baseman was stellar, going 3 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs in Tampa Bay's 5-3 win over Gerrit Cole. Choi's home run came off Cole and he lifted his ISO to .184, just shy of last seasons' .198 mark. The Rays are playing Choi more situationally, which means less quantity but it should lead to better quality as he theoretically would play in better matchups. Unfortunately it hasn't worked that way as he is only hitting .235 with three home runs. Last season Choi had a .364 wOBA against righties. That power has not translated in 2020 as he came into Monday's game with a .295 wOBA vs. RHP. The Rays probably thought they had a perfect platoon with Choi and Jose Martinez. That did not pan out and even with Tampa Bay trading Martinez, the Rays still have options to replace Choi so unless Monday's performance is a sign of things to come, his opportunities could dry up fast.
This is just a small sample our daily analysis, join our member area for over 80 daily player updates sent to your inbox every morning and track your team online. Click here for details: http://www.insiderbaseball.
