Fantasy Baseball Around the Majors: June 4—Wainwright, Bautista & More

Will Jose Bautista ever slow down? Just how good is Adam Wainwright? Who is the Phillies' closer? Let’s look at these questions and all the rest from yesterday’s games:

 

Hitters:

• Jose Bautista (3-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R) -  Is there any slowing him down?  He’s got his average up to .259 to go with a league-leading 18 HR and 45 RBI.  Who saw this coming?
• Angel Pagan (0-4) -  With Luis Castillo being put on the DL, Pagan was slotted into the second spot in the order.  If he’s going to continue to hit there, his value is easily going to increase.  He was already usable in five-outfielder formats with the way he’s been playing, so if you are in need of some help and he’s available, he’s worth grabbing.
• Jhonny Peralta (4-5, 4 RBI, 2 R) -  He’s been a big disappointment, hitting .251 with just 4 HR.  He’s always played better later in the year, however.  In 2009, his best month was July (.296, 5 HR, 20 RBI).  The same could be said for 2008 (.303, 5 HR, 23 RBI).  In other words, a hot streak could be coming and last night could just be the start.  With eligibility at both SS and 3B, he’s worth stashing if you have a deep enough bench.
• Kevin Kouzmanoff (1-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R) -  It’s three straight games with a home run.  Yeah, those are his only hits over that span, but are we really going to be picky?  He has the potential to pick it up but really is just an option in deeper leagues for now.  Don’t write him off, however, and keep a close eye on him if you are thin at 3B.  He has the potential to turn things up.
• Hideki Matsui (3-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R) -  He’s starting to heat up, going 10-14 with 1 HR, 4 RBI, and 2 R over his last four games.  While he’s this hot, he certainly is worth using.
• Buster Posey (2-4, 2 R) -  The Giants hit him in the fifth spot in the lineup.  Now that didn’t take too long, did it?  They need some serious help in the middle of the lineup, considering Juan Uribe (2-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R) was in the cleanup spot.
• Justin Upton (2-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R) -  He’s showing signs of getting things going, going 4-10 over his last two games.  Considering he had been 3-29 in his previous eight games, owners will take it.  Obviously, we all know he’ll turn things around in a big way, so don’t get too worried.

 

Pitchers:

• Brett Cecil (8.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 5 K, W) -  If anyone was still on the fence regarding Cecil, they likely are now believers.  Yes, he’s had some luck on his side (he entered the day with a .265 BABIP & 66.8% strand rate), but as we said in our scouting report (click here  to view) he has strikeout potential, solid control and a great groundball rate.  The skill set is certainly there for success.
• Clay Buchholz (9.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 K, W) -  That’s wins in five straight starts.  Over that streak he’s giving up just 4 ER over 36.1 innings.  That’s a heck of a streak and slots him among the hottest pitchers in the game right now.
• Mat Latos (5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 6 K) -  The control has abandoned him bit in his last two starts, with 7 BBs over his last 11 innings.  He has only 19 BBs over his 66.1 innings of work, so I wouldn’t get too upset about it.  He had solid control in the minor leagues and he should get things back on track in that department soon enough.
• Wade Davis (3.1 IP, 8 ER, 9 H, 0 BB, 3 K) -  Is the bloom off the rose?  He’s gone fewer then 4 innings twice in his last three starts (in the other he allowed 5 ER over 3.2 innings).  He’s 2-4 with a 7.20 ERA over his last six starts.  Overall his ERA is at 5.03.  Are we still so sure that we won’t see Jeremy Hellickson this season?  He’s worth stashing just in case.
• Max Scherzer (5.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 3 K) -  Disappointing for sure, but let’s not just write off his success from his previous start.  If he struggles in his next start against the White Sox, but I’ll have to give him the benefit of the doubt for now.  Still, if you have a more dependable option, you may want to use it for next week.
• Carlos Zambrano (4.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 3 K) -  It was his first start back in the rotation and he threw just 84 pitches (47 for strikes).  Things should get much better from here, so don’t get too worked up.  His next start comes in Milwaukee.
• Adam Wainwright (9.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 8 K) -  We all know how good he is.  He’s now 8-3 with a 2.05 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 85 K over 88 IP.
• Clayton Kershaw (6.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 5 BB, 8 K) -  He left with a lead, but Hong-Chih Kuo allowed two inherited runners to score.  Still, with that many walks, Kershaw is just as much to blame.  That’s always been his Achilles' heel, and with 9 BBs over his last two starts, it appears to be rearing its ugly head once again.  If he ever got that under control, he would be a Top 10 option.
• Brad Lidge (1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K, SV) -  Of course, the Phillies turned back to him as their closer, right?  It’s just a matter of time before he falters again, so don’t give up Jose Contreras quite yet.

What are your thoughts from yesterday’s games?  Which ones caught your eye? And which ones did I miss?

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