We are coming down the stretch of the 2014 season, entering the final laps of what has been a great regular season. With just under 50 games left, playoff races are in full swing as every game must be managed and played like the one that will be the difference between October baseball and a trip to the golf course.
As we enter the final weeks of the regular season, which also means fantasy baseball is in its final stages as well. We are just a few weeks away from the fantasy playoffs and in many leagues, the trade deadline has come and gone.
Now it’s all about the players on your current roster and who gets hot at the right time. So here is a look at five players who are scorching since the All Star Break and hopefully can stay hot moving forward.
Denard Span, Center Fielder, Washington Nationals
Pre-All Star Break: 353 At-Bats, .269 average, 19 RBI’s, 57 runs, 28 2B’s, 15 SB’s, .319 OBP, .704 OPS
Post-All Star Break: 74 At-Bats, .419 average, 6 RBI’s, 13 runs, 8 Stolen Bases, .494 OBP, .940 OPS
The Nationals might have the most talented team in baseball—unfortunately, that talent hasn’t translated to the level of success they were hoping for before the season. While they sit atop the NL East by four games, the lineup has struggled, ranking 19th in batting average (.249) and 13th in runs (462).
One reason for the Nationals’ struggles has been a lack of production from their leadoff hitter. Leadoff hitters are supposed to get on base early and often but leading up to the break, Span was slashing just a .319 on-base percentage. He wasn’t creating great contact and his inability to get on base and use his speed, prevented more opportunities for runs.
It should come as no surprise that as the Nationals have started to turn things around, Span has been the driving force behind their resurgence. In 70 at-bats since the break, Span has been on a streak of near mythical proportions. He has an on-base percentage near .500 over that stretch and is well on pace to surpass the 57 runs in 353 at-bats in the first half.
Span’s ability to get on the base paths more frequently has opened up more RBI opportunities for Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond—who all have 60-plus RBI’s on the season. While Span’s .494 OBP is impossible to sustain over the final 50 games of the season, he has shown he can be a great source of runs, stolen bases and average.
Jose Abreu, First Baseman, Chicago White Sox
Pre-All Star Break: 322 At-Bats, .292 average, 73 RBI’s, 49 runs, 29 HR’s, .342 OBP, .972 OPS
Post-All Star Break: 69 At-Bats, .362 average, 13 RBI’s, 9 runs, 2 HR’s, .444 OBP, 1.009 OPS
When the White Sox signed Abreu this past offseason, fans hoped the slugger from Cuba would bring a needed power bat into Chicago’s lineup. While he wasn’t expected to hit for a high average, scouts raved about Abreu’s power and the ability to hit 40-plus home runs every season.
It didn’t take long for baseball fans to witness this—Abreu hit his first two career home runs on April 8 in Coors Field and followed that up with a two-homer night just two nights later. It was just the beginning of a remarkable first half—Abreu hit 29 home runs and drove in 73 runs, while surprising some with a .292 average. Abreu’s AB/HR rate stood at 11.1 before the break and many looked forward to more power over the final stretch.
But over Abreu’s past 66 at-bats since the break, we’ve seen a very different player. He has just two home runs, resulting a 33/1 AB/HR ratio but has greatly improved his contact rate. As the numbers show—despite the drop in home runs, Abreu has been getting on base a lot more. His OPS sits at .444 since the break with an OPS over 1.000. He significantly improved his numbers thanks to a 21-game hitting streak that was finally snapped on August 2.
While the drop in power might be disappointing for fantasy owners, you can’t complain with how hot the slugger has been as of late. He is showing everyone why he has been the best offensive threat this season and can be relied on for big numbers going forward.
Brett Gardner, Left Fielder, New York Yankees
Pre-All Star Break: 344 At-Bats, .279 average, 37 RBI’s, 56 runs, 9 HR’s, .353 OBP, .777 OPS
Post-All Star Break: 66 At-Bats, .303 average, 13 RBI’s, 16 runs, 6 HR’s, .390 OBP, 1.042 OPS
The Yankees have been a mess this season—from injuries across the rotation to disappointing seasons from multiple players in the lineup, this isn’t close to what Joe Girardi was hoping for before the season. Despite it all, the Yankees remain five games above .500 and just five back of the AL East lead.
A driving force that’s kept the Yankees afloat is the play of two of their outfielders. Jacoby Ellsbury was on this list a few weeks ago for his hot streak and now Gardner finds his way into the top-five. Gardner has always had a respectable average—a career .270 hitter, his numbers before the break fell in line with his career splits. He gave you a respectable average, double-digit home runs and a nice combo of RBI’s and runs.
We’ve seen a different player over the past 66 at-bats—while there have been nice improvements in his on-base percentage and average, his OPS has jumped nearly 300 points. One big change we’ve seen is a change in power and ability to drive in runs. Gardner has gone from a 38/1 AB/HR ratio before the All Star break to an 11 AB/HR ratio and a jump in RBI’s. Gardner’s average with runners in scoring position is approaching .300 and he already has a .316 average with runners on.
When you combine the double-digit home runs and stolen bases with a .280-plus average and killer instinct for getting big hits, there is plenty to love about Gardner’s fantasy value as the season winds down.
Carlos Santana, First Baseman, Cleveland Indians
Pre-All Star Break: 299 At-Bats, .207 average, 37 RBI’s, 39 runs, 14 HR’s, .349 OBP, .737 OPS
Post-All Star Break: 70 At-Bats, .329 average, 16 RBI’s, 12 runs, 6 HR’s, .461 OBP, 1.104 OPS
One of the most underrated assets to have in fantasy baseball is a player with eligibility in multiple positions. The ability to move a player around and give you added depth at second base and third base or catcher and first baseman is key. It’s even more rare when you have a player like Santana, who brings it with the bat and you can start at catcher, third base and first.
Cleveland has moved Santana around all season, always finding different ways to get his bat in the lineup. Santana’s always had some pop in his bat, with 20-plus home runs in three of the past four seasons. Unfortunately, power and RBI’s was usually all he brought to the table. Just look at his numbers in the first half of the season—14 home runs, 37 RBI’s and a nice .349 on-base percentage, but a .737 OPS and lousy .207 batting average.
Given his flexibility in fantasy they are certainly acceptable numbers out of a starter, but you’d like to see more out of a talented player. Now we are seeing that over his past 66 at-bats, Santana’s not only hitting for power but also significantly increasing his average, OBP and OPS. We are seeing a player who was home run or out in the first half of the season, turn into a constant threat in the box that can beat you in multiple ways.
This is exactly what fantasy owners have always been hoping for with Santana—we always knew the ability to drive in runs was there, now we are seeing an improved hitter with a great eye at the plate. Santana can be trusted as a great option at three spots, just making him an even greater fantasy asset.
Matt Kemp, Right Fielder, Los Angeles Dodgers
Pre-All Star Break: 305 At-Bats, .269 average, 35 RBI’s, 38 runs, 8 HR’s, .330 OBP, .760 OPS
Post-All Star Break: 64 At-Bats, .344 average, 15 RBI’s, 9 runs, 6 HR’s, .425 OBP, 1.097 OPS
It was only four seasons ago when Kemp was an MVP candidate thanks to a phenomenal season when he hit 39 home runs, stole 40 bases and drove in 126. Many thought it would be the beginning of stardom; instead, it was more a flash in the pan followed by two injury-plagued seasons.
After playing in 155-plus games each from 2008-’11, Kemp managed to play in just 179 total games between 2012 and 2013. He combined for just 29 home runs and 18 stolen bases over that span. Dodgers’ fans and Kemp owners have desperately been waiting for the resurgence of their once promising slugger, but once again things looked grim early in the season.
Kemp entered the break with 305 at-bats and regular playing time, but his .269 average and single-digit home runs left many disappointed. He was driving in runs but part of that was having guys like Dee Gordon and Yasiel Puig always getting extra base hits, allowing Kemp to pick up RBI’s with sac flies. He just wasn’t producing at level of talent everyone knows he has.
The All-Star break clearly helped the 29-year-old right fielder—he finally settled down in right field after being moved around center and left field in the second half. We’ve seen a different player through 64 at-bats, as Kemp has slashed a .344/.425/.672 line along with six home runs. While Kemp isn’t the speed threat he used to be, with just seven swipes on the season, he has shown the ability to generate power that always existed within.
Increases in power along with a near 100 point jump in average and OBP are what fantasy owners love to see. Even if you don’t get the stolen bases, fantasy is driven by RBI’s, home runs and hits. Kemp gives you all three of those things and fantasy owners should enjoy the bat while it’s hot.