Nelson Cruz leads MLB in home runs after a strong showing last week

The second week of the fantasy baseball season is in the books. It’s still too early to crown champions, and it’s also too soon to start preparing for fantasy football. There’s a lot of season left, but you have to be diligent with roster management in order to hoist that trophy at the end of the campaign. In this weekly column, I will highlight the players that have increased and decreased the most in value over the past week and provide insight into their performances. It’s then up to you to make your team the best it can be. YO JOE!

RISERS

• Nelson Cruz (OF – Seattle Mariners) – The 34-year-old hit seven home runs, drove in 10, and scored eight runs. He’s continuing where he left off last year when he hit 40 home runs. PEDs anyone? He did serve a suspension of 50 games in 2013 for PEDs so…it’s not crazy to consider the possibility. I gotta say, he utilized his time off very well…and I don’t mean hitting the batting cages. If he’s healthy and continues playing, a repeat of last year looks to be within reach, and he will be a player on many championship rosters as he had an ADP of 60.

• Adam Jones (OF – Baltimore Orioles) – Three home runs, 12 RBI, and eight runs scored. Can you say en fuego? Jones says to all the naysayers; take your OBP and your walks and shove them…I get paid to drive in runs. I see ball then hit ball. Jones will cool off, as he is streaky, but enjoy the hotness while it’s here. At the end of the year, you can expect a .280 AVG, 30 HRs, 100 RBI, and 130 Ks.

• Josh Donaldson (OF – Toronto Blue Jays) – Take this Billy Beane! Take that Billy Beane! And for good measure, take one more Billy Beane! Donaldson broke out and slugged his first three home runs on the season. He also drove in 10 and scored seven runs. Blue Jays manager Gibbons moved Donaldson to the two-hole in front of Jose Bautista and reaped the rewards. Donaldson is set up for a huge season in Toronto.

• Steven Souza Jr. (OF – Tampa Bay Rays) – The Rays’ right fielder displayed his power and speed to show that the preseason hype was justified. Souza smashed three home runs with his first being a mammoth 450+ foot shot to dead center and stole three bases. He drove in nine runs and scored five. The potential for a 20 HR/20 SB season is there, but be wary of a low average and a high number of strikeouts, as he tallied 11. Souza is batting in the two-hole and doesn’t have any competition for playing time, so he will be given every opportunity to produce.

• Jeurys Familia (RP – New York Mets) – Familia was given the role of Mets’ closer after the suspension of Jenrry Mejia and he’s been lights out. He notched six saves, struck out six, and only walked two. He only allowed one earned run and two hits. Manager Terry Collins said that Familia would initially retain the closer role when Bobby Parnell returns from the DL. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

• Alex Rodriguez (3B – New York Yankees) – Hit three home runs, drove in nine, and scored eight. So A-Rod and Nelson Cruz both make the list. Things that make you go hmmm. He’s been patient and has been catching up to the fastball, so there’s reason for optimism. It was said that he “worked” with Barry Bonds in the offseason. Bonds was amazing at waiting for his pitch and hammering that one he would like, so maybe he instilled some wisdom into A-Rod. I’m skeptical though. My thinking is that pitchers are testing A-Rod to see where he’s at. Let’s see how he does now.

• Matt Carpenter (3B – St. Louis Cardinals) – Collected two hits in every game. I’m currently writing this during the Sunday game and Carpenter has homered with plenty of game left. For the week, two home runs, nine RBI, eight runs scored, and 13 hits in 29 at-bats for a .448 AVG. He only struck out three times. Carpenter is legit, and could challenge for the No. 1 third baseman at the end of the season.

• Joakim Soria (RP – Detroit Tigers) – Replaced the injured Joe Nathan as closer of the Detroit Tigers. He’s pitched four innings, did not allow a hit or earned run, and struck out two, accumulating three saves and one win. Manager Brad Ausmus said that the plan is for Nathan to reclaim the closer role when he’s ready, but did add that “we will see what happens.”  Nathan was terrible before the injury, and Soria has been lights out. I think Soria has a real good chance to run away with the job, and should post plenty of saves for a great Detroit team.

• Jacob deGrom (SP – New York Mets) – Had a two-start week and delivered for the real-life Mets and countless fake fantasy teams across the land. He posted two wins, pitched 13 1/3 innings, allowed 13 hits, zero earned runs, only walked one, and struck out 11. He is awesome, and will provide much happiness for all the believers that drafted him at ADP 92.

• Ender Inciarte (OF – Arizona Diamondbacks) – Manager Chip Hale said on Thursday that Inciarte will play almost every day. Hale has shown a proclivity to platoon players, so this is exciting news for Inciarte owners. In addition, he’s the lead-off hitter in front of Pollack and Goldschmidt. In the past week, Inciarte collected 10 hits, four RBI, and stole two bases. He has a very high BABIP and doesn’t walk often, so some regression may be in the cards. With that said, if he indeed does play everyday, the Diamondbacks offense is a potent one so there could be tremendous opportunity.

• Devon Travis (2B – Toronto Blue Jays) – The new lead-off hitter for the Blue Jays. Collected 11 hits, scored four runs, belted two homers, and drove in nine runs. He was injured on Sunday when he was plunked in the ribs, but X-rays revealed a contusion, and he is listed as day-to-day. As long as he’s healthy and batting in the lead-off spot, he should score a ton of runs and get great pitches to hit with the boppers behind him.

• J.D. Martinez (OF – Detroit Tigers) – Hit three home runs, drove in six, scored four, and stole one base. He won’t hit for a high average, but the power is legit as most of his home runs have been to the opposite field. He even took Chris Sale oppo. The Tigers are a juggernaut, so there are going to be plenty of base runners to drive in. It looks like he was a steal at ADP 145.

• Starling Marte (OF – Pittsburgh Pirates) – Marte finally produced after a dreadful start to the season. He hit two home runs, drove in seven runs (five in one game), scored three, and stole two bases. R-E-L-A-X. It’s a long season. Marte will get his.

• Bartolo Colon (SP – New York Mets) – Pitched two brilliant games for two wins. Seven innings in each start, five strikeouts in each start, and allowed six hits in each start. Glitch in the Matrix. He did allow one earned run and three earned runs in the other game. Whew. There seems to be a common theme on this list; Cruz, A-Rod, and Colon. All suspended in 2013 for PEDs. I’m not saying. I’m just saying.

FALLERS

• Adrian Beltre (3B – Texas Rangers) – He’s 3-for-28 with zero RBI and three runs scored. The 36-year-old third baseman is really scuffling to start the season. He will heat up at some point, but the numbers have been trending down the last couple of years. He could get traded before the deadline so that could give an uptick to his numbers depending on where he ends up. Don’t expect the Beltre of old, and I don’t believe he gives back the value of where he was drafted (ADP 22).

• Shin-Soo Choo (OF – Texas Rangers) – Any wonder why the Rangers are…are they really 5-8? How did they win so many games? Choo has two hits on the week, with one run scored, and two RBI. He was even replaced by Jake Smolinski to get another right-handed bat in the lineup. Jake Smolinski people! I think that’s all you need to know. At ADP 194, most people viewed Choo as a cheap comeback possibility, so he’s easily replaceable. I have no problem with dropping him as he’s striking out, not walking, and getting platooned.

• Jordan Zimmermann (SP – Washington Nationals) – Zimmermann is making Mike Pieper, Zimmermann’s agent, earn his money. He’s due to become a free agent after this season, and he’s not exactly helping his cause. In a two-start week, Zimmermann had one decent game and got shelled in the other. He couldn’t make it out of the second inning against the Red Sox, allowing seven earned runs, one walk, and no strikeouts. In his second start against the Phillies he went 6 1/3 innings, allowed two earned runs, four hits, struck out three, but walked four. Mind you, that was against the Phillies. Zimmermann will be fine, but he won’t be worth the cost some paid for him at ADP 44.

• Clay Buchholz (SP – Boston Red Sox) – Got shelled on national television Sunday night. The Yankees tagged him for nine earned runs in 3 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three. Buchholz did come back from that game and pitched decently against the Orioles; 6 IP, 11 hits, 2 ER, 1 BB, and 7 Ks. Buchholz cannot be trusted. He’s just so inconsistent.

• Brandon Belt (1B – San Francisco Giants) – Putrid. Horrible. Disgusting. Yuck. Those are the things that came out of my mouth when I watched a Belt at-bat. He had one single and one RBI before he heated up and went 1-for-3 on Saturday and 2-for-4 on Sunday. All three hits were singles. He does not have an extra-base hit on the season. Maybe next year. Well, Mike Moustakas looks to have figured it out, so there’s still hope.

• Anibal Sanchez (SP – Detroit Tigers) – Pitched 6 1/3 innings against the Pirates and allowed eight hits, five earned runs, and struck out nine for the loss. Then on Saturday the White Sox obliterated him for nine earned runs in 3 1/3 innings. There’s reason for concern here. He’s coming off an injury-plagued 2014 and has already given up five home runs. It wouldn’t shock me if there is an injury here.

• Victor Martinez (1B/DH – Detroit Tigers) – Missed two games and only pinch-hit in two others. He did play on Sunday and went 3-for-3 with one RBI and three runs scored. Martinez is still a very good hitter, but consistent playing time may be an issue going forward and the injury concern will always be there. I don’t think he brings back value where he was drafted at ADP 49.

• Edwin Encarnacion (1B/DH – Toronto Blue Jays) – Did not hit a home run, only drove in one, scored twice, and collected four hits for a .133 AVG. Encarnacion will be fine. He only struck out three times and is still taking his walks. He went through a similar stretch last year to begin the season and ended with 34 HRs and 98 RBI. If someone is scared, pillage the village and secure his services.

• Taijuan Walker (SP – Seattle Mariners) – Got lit up again, this time by the Dodgers, but that may not be a bad thing as LA is knocking the cover off the ball right now. He went four innings, allowed six hits, five earned runs, walked four, and struck out three. Welcome to The Show kid! Even the great ones struggle early on. Clayton Kershaw had his difficulties and Mike Trout was pretty terrible. I’m not saying Walker will be great, but we need to give young players time to prove themselves. Walker is someone to keep an eye on, as he may develop as the season goes on and you could probably acquire him very cheaply.

Good luck in Week 3.

Stan Son is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Stan, check out his archive and follow him @Stan_Son.