First off, Happy Memorial Day to all those who have served and who are currently serving. Please know that you are appreciated every day – not just once per year! Hope everyone had a nice long weekend with family and friends. Let’s get after it:
1. Marcel Ozuna, OF, Atlanta Braves – Is he back? Over the last month, Ozuna is hitting the cover off the ball:
.347 AVG, 417 OBP, .747 SLG, and 1.164 OPS with 26 hits, 16 runs scored, 9 homeruns,
and 20 RBI
This week, he gets the Oakland Athletics for three games and then the Arizona Diamondbacks for the other three games next week. The Athletics have a team ERA of 6.81, while the DBacks have a team ERA of 4.49. Yikes. While they are on the road for both series, play your Braves. That includes Mr. Ozuna. I don’t think he’s THIS good, and who knows if he can keep this up rest of season, but he needs to be rostered at this point given his success over his career and that he has hit fifth in the Braves' lineup over the past two games.
Obviously depends on who you are dropping to acquire him but let’s surf this wave until
it crashes. Let’s also take a closer look at his statcast data:
Yup – that will play (38% rostered in Yahoo.)
2. Matt McLain, SS, Cincinnati Reds – If this guy was dropped, acquire him immediately. While I am a die-hard Orioles' fan, the Reds are going to be such a fun team to watch for years to come between Elly De La Cruz, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Noelvi Marte, Jonathan India, Nick Senzel and finally, Matt McLain.
This guy has been so good since getting the call to the majors. Since getting called up:
15 for 45 (.333 AVG) with 12 runs scored, 2 home runs, 7 RBI with a .423 OBP, .556 SLG,
and a .979 OPS.
He has yet to steal a base thus far, but I think those will come as this guy has plus speed as well (93rd percentile sprint speed.) I have zero clue where he plays once EDLC comes up (who by the way NEEDS to be rostered over anyone on this article; he’s up soon,) but my guess is McLain slides over to third base and they put Nick Senzel in the outfield.
It’s also worth noting that McLain has hit no lower than the two spot in this lineup that plays half its games in Great American Ballpark, a.k.a. a hitter’s paradise. Matt McLain is a must add in all formats at this point. Find a way to get him on your roster – he’s only going to get better (38% rostered in Yahoo.)
3. Michael Conforto, OF, San Francisco Giants – One of the hottest hitters in baseball, the Giants draw one of the friendliest hitter matchups this week (3 games vs PIT and 3 games vs BAL). If you need power and more specifically, OF power, than look no further than Conforto.
Like Ozuna, I don’t think he’s THIS good, but we have seen the power before.
Over the last two weeks: 16/46 (.348 AVG) with 10 runs scored, 5 HR, 14 RBI, 1 SB with a
.385 OBP, .696 SLG, and 1.081 OPS.
If nothing else, I’m ready to stream him this week given his matchups. Like Ozuna, I am
still on the fence if he can keep this up rest of season but worth an add if you have a
roster spot to play with to see if he can keep it up. I prefer Ozuna first over Conforto so
if you miss out on Ozuna, Conforto is a nice consolation prize (55% rostered in Yahoo.)
4. Francisco Alvarez, C, New York Mets – SIGH…. oh Buck Showalter. Have you finally realized that Francisco Alvarez needs to be in the lineup every day? You don’t want to catch him every day, fine. But he needs to DH on the days he’s not catching. His bat is that good.
At the time of writing this, he has started four games in a row, hitting 7 for 15 (.466 AVG)
with 2 HR and 5 RBI.
Over the last two weeks: 12/34 (.323 AVG) with 6 runs scored, 4 home runs, 10 RBI with a
.436 OBP, .794 SLG, and a 1.230 OPS.
If you need help at catcher, he is a must roster at this point. Just know that Buck Showalter is a frustrating manager when it comes to starting his rookies so make sure you have someone else to supplement Alvarez with. He’s a smart manager and I think he knows that his best hitters need to be in the lineup at this point. I mean, not hard to realize that Alvarez gives you the best upside over guys like Nido and Narvaez. Going into the season as a top 5 prospect in all of baseball, Alvarez’s arrow is pointing straight up, as he looks to build upon his recent success (33% rostered in Yahoo.)
5. Michael Kopech, SP, Chicago White Sox - Finally, Michael Kopech. Was on a podcast earlier this week where we discussed his recent success. His last two games (@ CLE, vs KC) he has pitched to the tune of 15.0 IP, 3 hits, 0 ER, 1 BB, and 19 Ks! Now, a lot of people would look at this and say, “MUST ADD”, but as my good friend Lee Corso likes to say, “Not so fast”. Let’s look at who he has faced over the last two games:
Cleveland Guardians team ranks (out of 30 teams):
- 30th in runs scored (last)
- 29th in hits
- 30th in home runs
- 28th in OBP
- 30th in total bases
- 29th in BABIP
- 28th in HardHit%
- 30th in Brls/PA %
Kansas City team ranks (out of 30 teams):
- 24th in runs scored
- 23rd in hits
- 22nd in home runs
- 30th in OBP
- 21st in total bases
- 24th in BABIP
- 2nd in HardHit%
- 8th in Brls/PA %
So safe to say, I am a little skeptical on Kopech’s recent success. He only has one plus pitch, which is his 4-seam fastball, which I will note has been VERY good. He draws a two-start week verus the Angels and versus the Tigers. I think he’s a decent speculative add given the slightest chance he has figured it out and the fact that he gets a two-start week. He was considered one of the White Sox top prospects not too long ago but all I am trying to convey here is to temper your expectations. Given the current landscape of starting pitching, who the heck knows, he’s a dart throw for me. Give him a shot if you’re desperate for SP (55% rostered in Yahoo.)