With a k-rate as high as Edwin Diaz owns, he might end up the best closer in baseball

There’s a ton going on these days. The fantasy football articles are coming at us fast & furious. The Olympics just began. I love the Olympics, so I’m going to keep this short and sweet. Don’t let the talking snake persuade you to eat the apple. Stay focused so that fantasy immortality can be yours.

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In this weekly column, I highlight some of the lower-owned players that performed the best/worst over the past week. Hopefully, some of the information can assist you in your quest.

RISERS

• Travis Jankowski (OF – SD)
  12 hits, 11 runs, and seven stolen bases. A hit in every game last week. He can’t get one RBI? Bum. Jankowski has taken over both the leadoff role and center field duties for the Padres. Playing time and opportunity are half the battle. As for the talent, he has 24 stolen bases this season. Back in 2013, he stole 71 bases in High-A, so the speed is real. The walk rate of 14.5% is a good sign, but he’s striking out 26.6% of the time. No bueno. With that said, he’s hitting the ball to all fields and his contact rate is very good. If you need cheap speed, Jankowski is your man.

• Max Kepler (OF – MIN)
  Eight hits, eight runs, four home runs, 10 RBI, and one stolen base. His ownership percentage has increased 30% over the past week, but Kepler is still only owned in 60.6% of ESPN leagues. I guess if you factor in the number of people that have given up, that would make him 100% owned. Biggie said it best. The 23-year old lefty has been batting third in the lineup, although he’s only batting .213 against LHP. The thing I love about Kepler is the way he controls the strike zone. He’s walking 11.5% of the time and only striking out 20.9%. The BABIP is only .266, so he may be getting unlucky. The main question is the power for real? He’s slugged 15 home runs so far this season, yet he only reached 10 in a season back in rookie ball (2012). He’s also pulling the ball almost 50% of the time. I’m thinking pitchers will start adjusting and force Kepler to prove he can start going the other way.

• Brad Miller (SS/OF – TB)
  Eight hits, seven runs, four home runs, seven RBI, and two stolen bases. Miller has 20 home runs on the season?! I knew he was having a good season, but… Cue up the Biggie again. I remember there was chatter after he got traded from Seattle to Tampa Bay, that returning back to Florida would make him more comfortable. I guess that narrative was correct. So, Miller had never clubbed more than 11 home runs in any prior season. The 20.2% HR/FB is waaaay above his career average. The .242 ISO waaaay high as well. To make matters worse, the Rays traded for Matt Duffy and said that he would replace Miller at shortstop. Hmmmm. You think the Rays are expecting regression?

• Brandon Phillips (2B – CIN)
  10 hits, six runs, two home runs, six RBI, and two stolen bases. The old man still has it. He’s not going to steal 20 bases like he did last year, but he can still drive in runs and hit double-digit home runs. The peripherals are in-line with what he’s been doing his career. The only thing I noticed is that he’s swinging at more pitches, both inside and outside the strike zone. Other than that, you pretty much know what you’re getting from Phillips.

• Edwin Diaz (SP/RP – SEA)
  Four saves with one hold. Four hits allowed, one earned run, one walk, and 10 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing your new closer for the Seattle Mariners. Diaz is 22 years old and 6’3″ 165 lbs. He throws a high-90s fastball and complements it with a slider. All you have to know is 17.38 K/9.

FALLERS

• Trevor Bauer (SP/RP – CLE)
  2 2/3 innings, eight hits, seven earned runs, five walks, and one strikeout in a loss to the Twins. Oh, Trevor. You always tease us. You are so cerebral and throw 10 different pitches. We are always enamored and think you are on the cusp of stardom, then….you go and crap the bed. Bauer is still only 25 years old, but I’m beginning to think that this is who he is. A high-3s ERA pitcher that will have a K/9 around 8 and continue to have control issues.

• Colby Rasmus (OF – HOU)
  Bagel. Did not play the last two days. Has two hits since the All-Star break. Earlier in the season, it seemed a certainty that Rasmus would eclipse 20 home runs on the year. Now, he might not play every day. All you need to know about Rasmus is that he strikes out 30% of the time.

• Fernando Rodney (RP – MIA)
  Two blown saves. Eight hits, five earned runs, three walks, and two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. Now that’s the Rodney we all know and hate. Great sell-high by the Padres front office.

• Tim Lincecum (SP – LAA)
  3 1/3 innings, nine hits, six earned runs, two walks, and one strikeout in a loss to the Mariners. The Angels finally designated Lincecum for assignment. What took them so long? It sucks for DFS players because it takes a pitcher from the “stack against” pool.

• Josh Reddick (OF – LAD)
  One hit and one run scored. Reddick is basically Andre Ethier. Decent against righties but horrible against lefties. Just shows how terrible Yasiel Puig has been. Geez. Reddick is a professional hitter and controls the strike zone well (BB% is 10% and K% is 12.8%). Coming to a new team and switching leagues will probably take some time to adjust. With that said, don’t expect too much from Reddick.

Thank you for reading and good luck this week.

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