Studs & Duds-August 14th

There are only a few weeks left in the baseball season and hopefully you have positioned yourself to make a late season push and climb up the standings.  Here is a look at a few players who are hot and can help you and others who it may be time to move on from. 

Studs


MMMM Tastes like another hit!



How can you not like a guy who licks his bat?  The Braves Jose Constanza does just that before his at bats and his recent hot streak has propelled him, at least temporarily, in to a platoon with Jason Heyward in the outfield.  Constanza is a career minor leaguer and you can't expect him to keep up at this pace forever, but he has caught fire and is a decent option to put up numbers in all roto categories. 

Rays first baseman Casey Kotchman is another player who has been hot of late and could step in and contribute on your fantasy team.  In the last two weeks, Kotchman is hitting over .400 with good power numbers.  He is in the middle of a series with the Yankees and then faces the Red Sox in the middle of the week, so he will face some formidable pitching but is a able veteran player capable of delivering even in those match ups.

If you haven't already listened to me and added Jeff Nieman you need to.  He posted another solid outing this week pitching in to the seventh while only allowing one earned run.  Nieman did give up nine hits and only struck out two.  His next start comes against the Red Sox who he pitched very well against in July. 

Duds



Bonifacio is in the midst of a cold streak



Emilio Bonifacio was a trendy add several weeks back with his ability to hit and swipe bases, but he is very cold lately and now it is time to drop him.  Bonifacio is only hitting a little above .200 in the last two weeks.  His value is tied to him getting on base and utilizing his speed and when he is not hitting he simply can not produce numbers for your team. 

Erick Aybar has been ice cold for the last month now, but for some reason is still owned in nearly every league.  Over the last two weeks Aybar is barely hitting over .100 and hasn't driven in a single run.  No complicated analysis here...you can find better options, drop Aybar. 

Anibal Sanchez was pitching well early in the season, racing out to a 6-1 record but has become very undependable lately.  Sanchez has lost his last five decisions and most recently was lifted after less than two innings.  He can be a option for strikeouts, but given his shaky performance of late, starting him is a major gamble. 

Don't get bogged down in the dog days of summer and keep an eye on your team from day to day and ride your studies and efforts to a fantasy league title. 

Studs & Duds-August 1st

It has been a wild week of MLB trades and all the craziness in the NFL.  Here is a look at a few players who you may want to add to your fantasy baseball team as we head down the home stretch. 



Bourgeois finds himself in a spot to
play everyday after the trade deadline

 With the trades of Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn the door is wide open for Jason Bourgeois to step up and play everyday.  If Bourgeois can stay healthy he has great speed and can help your team out with batting average and stolen bases.  He has been plagued by leg injuries that have kept him sidelined for much of the year, so monitor his status closely.

While OF is a very deep position you may want to consider adding Hideki Matsui and latch on the hot streak that he is on.  Matsui is hitting nearly .500 with 11 runs and 16 RBI in the last two weeks.  He has been on a tear since the All Star break and deserves consideration for an outfield spot on your team. 

If you are hurting at catcher a good addition for your team would be Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  Salty is hitting .333 while driving in ten runs and hitting three home runs.  He will occasionally give way to Jason Varitek behind the plate, but this time of year virtually every catcher is getting time off from time to time.

Jeff Nieman was rumored to be on the trading block but has not yet been moved.  All he has done in the last two weeks is rack up 25 Ks with a sub one ERA and WHIP.  If you are in need of a starter or are streaming your pitchers down the stretch, Nieman is a guy to have on your radar and likely your roster!



Jackson's latest call is to St. Louis and
the contending Cardinals

 Edwin Jackson made a solid start in his debut for the Cards against the Cubs.  Expect Jackson to be the beneficiary of a renewed focus in a playoff race and the softer hitting NL lineups.  Jackson is a solid option for strikeouts and has managed to put together a solid couple of weeks pulling his ERA and WHIP down to respectable levels.

Keep an eye on the trades that materialize and don't underestimate post deadline deals and how they will effect teams.  Contending teams may add some pieces that end up only being platoon players on their new team and you need to be open to making daring moves to climb the standings.