Brent Rooker-Athletics-OF
Brent Rooker was 2-3 with 1 RBI, 2 BB, and 1 SB against the Cubs. Rooker is hitting .304 with 38 HR, 80 R, 110 RBI, and 11 SB. He's had a top-10 hitter season after many fantasy owners cast doubt on his 30 HR 2023 season. These owners looked at his 33% strikeout rate and didn't see a path to him hitting higher than the .247 he posted in 2023. Rooker did hit the ball hard (16% Barrels and 50% Hardhit) so he was always a power play on a team that wasn't expected to score many runs. He has exceeded everyone's expectations this season but most of it is coming from a .373 BABIP. This is the primary driver of his .300+ batting average because he is still striking out 28% of the time. He has been arguably the best draft day value in 2024 but this is likely the best season we will ever get from Rooker.
Dansby Swanson-Cubs-SS
Dansby Swanson was 2-4 with an RBI against the Athletics. Swanson has saved his season with a big second half (.269 AVG with 6 HR, 36 R, 31 RBI, and 12 SB in 53 GP). Before the All-Start break he was hitting .212 with 9 HR, 37 R, 31 RBI, and 5 SB in 86 GP). He's shown a better approach at the plate (11% BB and 23% K) and this has led to a more respectable .769 OPS. The season line is still not great (.237 AVG with 15 HR, 73 R, 63 RBI, and 17 SB) but he is going to finish the year with close to 15 HR and 20 SB. The concern long term is that he is on a three-year decline in home runs which coincides with a year-over-year increase in his ground ball rate. This is not a good sign for someone who already had middling power and in his age-30 season.
Ryan Pepiot-Rays-SP
Ryan Pepiot went 6 IP and gave up 1 ER on 2 H, 0 BB, and 12 K's against the Red Sox. Pepiot has a 3.64 ERA and 1.13 WHIP through 121 IP. He has demonstrated good skills (25% K and 9% BB) to match his plus stuff (117 Stuff+). The main issue for Pepiot is that he has great stuff but his command of that stuff can wain at times. His fastball location is middle up which he can get away with most nights. The problem is his slider which has two distinct locations either middle or down and off the plate. When he is on he is tunneling the fastball and slider well but on nights that he is struggling with slider command he can get hit hard. Pepiot has three multi-homer games and seven games where he has walked three or more. He is an above-average pitcher as currently constructed and has room for growth with just a small improvement in his control. Today is a perfect example of what good Pepiot can look like.
Dylan Cease-Padres-SP
Dylan Cease went 8.1 IP and gave up 0 ER on 2 H, 0 BB, and 5 K's against the Astros. Cease has been everything the Padres hoped for, and likely more so when they traded for him before the season started. He has a 3.42 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 22% K:BB. He has been able to get his elite strikeout rate back (30% K and 15% SwStr) while also showing improved control (9% BB). Cease refound the velocity he lost in 2023 and is now averaging 96.9 mph which is in line with his dominant 2021 and 2022. He has also been able to go to his slider more (47%) which is his best pitch. Cease is having a great year but it would have been even better if the Padres had provided more run support considering he has 14 W and 11 L despite a 3.42 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. Regardless, he has been a top-10 starter (#7).
Framber Valdez-Astros-SP
Framber Valdez went 7 IP and gave up 1 ER on 5 H, 2 BB, and 6 K's against the Padres. Valdez has a 2.85 ERA and 1.08 WHIP through 27 GS. He continues to be an above-average starter year in and year out. Valdez has also made nice strides this year combining his increased strikeout rate (25% K) with his elite ground balls rate (61% GB). He has also posted the highest Stuff+ of his career and has been lights out since the beginning of June. He has a 2.33 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 27% K, 8% BB, and 58% GB over that time. Valdez is carrying some teams to a fantasy championship down the stretch.
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