Max Kepler, OF (MIN)
Kepler had quite a day on Monday, hitting a grand slam for the Twins in the 1st inning and then scoring the game-winning run in the 9th. One moderate change in Kepler's approach has changed everything for him. He lowered his launch angle four degrees, and that has resulted in far more line drives and ground balls. He is still hitting home runs, but instead of a BABIP under .250, he has a .272 BABIP, and even that might be a bit unlucky. In fact, his .262 batting average should be better. Statcast has him with an expected batting average well over .300. A line drive swing combined with a 90-mph average exit velocity is the perfect approach for the veteran outfielder. His batting EYE is as good as ever and the power is consistent. The biggest improvement is his BABIP, which is leading to a higher average and therefore solidifying the one category that has bogged Kepler down for years. As unlikely as it is, Max Kepler is a five-category contributor. Not elite in any one category but he is a valuable asset in roto leagues.
Tyler Anderson, SP (LAD)
Anderson completed his best game of the season on Monday, throwing eight scoreless innings with eight strikeouts while allowing only five hits and no walks. He picked up his fifth win of the season as the Dodgers offense dismantled the Nationals. Anderson finished with a 32% CSW rate, riding his changeup as he has all season. It has been one of the best pitches in the major leagues, completely neutralizing right-handed hitters. The Dodgers have finally been able to unlock more strikeout potential in Anderson, pairing it with his consistent ability to generate weak contact. Now he is able to get opposing hitters out via the strikeout OR with balls in play. Meanwhile, he has cut his walk rate down a ton. He has it all working right now and is establishing himself as one of the better pitchers in the National League.
Christian Walker, 1B (ARI)
Walker hit his 11th home run of the season on Monday. It was his only hit, leaving him with a .200 batting average in spite of the strong power numbers. The Arizona first baseman has made great strides in his swing, even if it is not evident in his ratios. He has a career-high 16.2% barrel rate and has cut his swinging-strike rate down to a career-low 10.3%. He is among the league leaders in home runs, and the batting average will eventually improve (his BABIP is .183). For what it's worth, Walker ranks 8th in all of baseball in expected slugging percentage. He is sandwiched on that list between Giancarlo Stanton and Freddie Freeman. Yeah, he should be having a much better season. BUY LOW!!!
David Peterson, SP (NYM)
Peterson cruised to his second win with six strong innings at San Francisco. The 26-year-old left-hander allowed two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out six. Peterson can stick in the Mets rotation with multiple injuries among their traditional starters, and so far his production has warranted a role. He has a 2.16 ERA (3.81 xFIP). He is limiting hard contact and generating a ton of ground balls and has 22 strikeouts in 25 innings. However, he will deal with regression when his .219 BABIP is corrected. If he doesn't get his walks under control, the BABIP regression could lead to trouble, but Peterson has made adjustments to his pitch mix, catering to weaker contact, which explains some of the low BABIP. All in all, pick your spots with Peterson. There is certainly streaming value here.
David Bednar, RP (PIT)
Bednar picked up his first win of the season with 1.1 scoreless innings. Why the Pirates ever hesitated to hand Bednar the full-time closer job is anyone's guess. He is unquestionably the best arm in the bullpen. He can touch the high-90's with his fastball while mixing in a devastating curveball and split finger. What has really made Bednar one of the elite closers in the game is his control. Bednar cut his walk rate in half, only allowing four free passes so far in 22 innings. This is 2021 Liam Hendriks-type stuff. I'm not even concerned with the hard contact he's allowing because he limits base runners. There's a good chance the Pirates eventually trade him, and if he goes to a team with an established closer, his fantasy value will be affected but for now he is a top-10 closer, even on a bad team.
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