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7 Burning Questions (Fantasy Baseball)

7 Burning Questions (Fantasy Baseball)

It is often said that there is no such thing as a stupid question. I disagree. Plenty of questions are stupid. That doesn’t mean they are worthless, though. In this weekly piece, I will ask questions, many of which will be stupid, in the hope that they can help us navigate through the fantasy baseball maze.

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Who is the Nationals’ closer?

Shawn Kelley closed out the games on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday of last week. Koda Glover got the saves on Saturday and Sunday. So, who’s it going to be? Kelley is awesome, as he continually has a K/9 around 12. With that said, the Nationals are always concerned about his health, as he’s had Tommy John surgery twice. There’s a reason they were linked to Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen in the off-season. Glover is the young buck with big upside, but he’s logged a total of 27 big league innings. While he seems to be the long-term answer at closer, he may be a little too green for a team with championship aspirations. To muddle the picture more, Jim Bowden of ESPN.com wrote on Monday that the Nationals have “touched base” with some teams about their closers. David Robertson and Alex Colome were named but the teams “aren’t even in the same ballpark.” Other names mentioned were Brandon Maurer, Brandon Kintzler, and the triumvirate of Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson, and Santiago Casilla. If I had to choose, I’d go with Glover, as he has the most upside. If he is lights out and the team does not trade for a closer, the sky truly is the limit. As for Kelley, the team just seems reluctant to give him the everyday role.

Is Eric Thames a God?

Well, his nickname was “God” in Korea and he’s clubbed 10 home runs this season, so yeah, it’s a legitimate question. I’ve heard some compare this start to the one Trevor Story had last season. The difference is that Thames is only striking out 24% while walking 14% of the time. In addition, the swinging strike rate is 9% and, the most promising statistic, is that he’s only swinging at 21% of pitches outside the strike zone. I love to see that kind of discipline from hitters, especially one with as much power as Thames has. Now, regression is going to come. The ISO of .469, BABIP of .359, and .359 average are all unsustainable. In addition, pitchers are going to start attacking him in different ways. With all that said, I like what I see. If he can maintain that patient approach, good things are in store for the future.

What to Make of Ryan Zimmerman’s Hot Start?

Ryan Zimmerman is batting .385/.437/.800 with seven home runs in 65 at-bats. He says it’s all about health. “When you play a month or two and then go on the disabled list and have five weeks off, you try to get back–but you don’t have that consistency.” I think it’s fair to cite injuries as the culprit for poor production, as Zimmerman had to deal with plantar fasciitis, rib, wrist, and shoulder issues. In his prime, Zimmerman was a 25-30 home run player while batting .290. He’s still only 32 years old, so a renaissance is not out of the question. With that said, the current heater that he’s on is unsustainable: .387 ISO, .450 BABIP, and .387 average. He is hitting the ball hard (39% hard contact) and spraying the ball to all parts of the field. He is swinging at 34% of pitches outside the strike zone, though, which is a career high. I’d sell high if I could, but I don’t think many would be interested in buying high. Just sit back and enjoy the production for as long as it lasts.

How’s the 10-Day DL Working?

You get a DL. You get a DL. And you get a DL. Oprah-style. The 10-day disabled list has given major league teams a tool for roster flexibility. They can churn and burn transactions to fill in needs, which will be a headache for fantasy owners. Leagues will probably need more DL spots in the future and owners will need to be on top of all the comings and goings. Have fun.

Should You Drop Kevin Gausman?

I own him in my NFBC league, which has no transactions, and I’m dying. I’d replace him if I could. It’s never a good thing when a pitcher’s K/9 (6.38) is matched by the BB/9 (5.63). He’s still throwing mid-90s but, for some reason, he’s throwing his best pitch (splitter) a career-low 11%. The slider usage has increased over 10% from last year. There’s hope that he can turn it around, as the BABIP is .361 and LOB is 67%. With that said, the AL East can be an unforgiving place to pitch.

Is Steven Souza for Real?

Steven Souza is currently batting .347. If any of you have lived the Souza-experience, you’d think someone accidentally hit the “3” button instead of pressing “2.” He’s obviously made some adjustments, as the 25.6% strikeout rate is a career-low. That number used to be 10% higher. He’s always been a decent walker, so the 11.6% walk rate is not surprising. The 10% increase in the line drive rate is very encouraging. With that said, the swinging strike rate is still 13% and contact rates are in the 70% range. Do I need to tell you that the .449 BABIP is unsustainable? If this is your first ride on the Souza train, brace yourselves for some lean times ahead.

Which Teams are the Best/Worst?

Against LHP

Best in OPS:

  1. Washington
  2. Milwaukee
  3. Chicago Cubs
  4. Colorado
  5. Cincinnati

Worst:

  1. Kansas City
  2. Seattle
  3. Texas
  4. St. Louis
  5. San Diego

Most strikeouts:

  1. LA Dodgers
  2. Baltimore
  3. Colorado
  4. Tampa Bay
  5. San Francisco

Least:

  1. Washington
  2. Atlanta
  3. Seattle
  4. NY Yankees
  5. Chicago White Sox

Against RHP

Best in OPS:

  1. LA Dodgers
  2. Arizona
  3. NY Yankees
  4. Cleveland
  5. Houston

Worst:

  1. Chicago White Sox
  2. NY Mets
  3. Toronto
  4. Kansas City
  5. San Francisco

Most strikeouts:

  1. Milwaukee
  2. Tampa Bay
  3. Chicago Cubs
  4. Arizona
  5. Philadelphi

Least:

  1. Pittsburgh
  2. Baltimore
  3. San Francisco
  4. LA Dodgers
  5. Houston


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

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