Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman
Who's Hot?
Right now the hottest hitter in baseball is Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman. Over the last week, Freeman has 12 hits in 25 at-bats, with four of those hits being home runs. Freeman, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Saturday, has been a monster at the plate so far in September, registering eight multi-hit games already this month. Entering Tuesday night's action, Freeman is riding a nine-game hitting streak.
One of Freeman's teammates is having an incredible run on Wednesday's in September. Not only did Adam Duvall crush three home runs and drive in nine runs in a 29-9 win over the Miami Marlins last Wednesday, but Duvall also cranked three homers and drove in five runs against the Boston Red Sox on the first Wednesday of this month. Duvall already has nine homers and 18 runs batted in during September and we are only halfway through the month.
MLB: Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Spor
Currently the Chicago White Sox are on top of the AL Central and a big reason for their success this year has been because of Eloy Jimenez. The left fielder has four straight multi-hit games, and it's no coincidence the White Sox have won each of those games. Jimenez's biggest hit came on Friday night when his three-run homer in the sixth inning against Detroit gave Chicago the lead for good in the game. Jimenez also has six doubles so far this month and is hitting .347.
New onto the scene is Jared Walsh of the Los Angeles Angels. Prior to this season, Walsh had just 79 career MLB at-bats. If Walsh keeps hitting like he is now, he'll see plenty of playing time going forward. Walsh has hit safely in all but one of the ten games he has played in during September, including notching two hits in each of the last four games. The first baseman also had a stretch of four straight games in which he hit a homer before failing to leave the yard on Sunday. Walsh already has five homers in September.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have the worst record in the National League, but you can't blame Josh Bell for their struggles of late. Since last Sunday, Bell is riding an eight-game hitting streak with three homers in the last six games. Bell has been able to raise his batting average for the season to .242 after it sat at .194 prior to his hitting streak starting.
Cincinnati Reds v Chicago Cubs
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Shifting gears from the batters box to the mound, the biggest pitching story over the last week has been Chicago Cubs pitcher Alec Mills, who threw the second no-hitter of the season on Sunday. Mills held the Milwaukee Brewers hitless on Sunday, and in his prior start tossed six scoreless innings of four-hit baseball.
Another pitcher who has been electric over his last two starts has been Trevor Bauer of the Cincinnati Reds. Bauer has struck out 22 batters over his last 14 innings pitched and during that span has just a 0.64 ERA. Cincinnati is currently on the outside looking in on the playoffs, but a couple more strong starts from Bauer could be the difference in the quest for the playoffs for the Reds.
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron NolaJohn Bazemore - Associated Press
One team who currently has a grasp on a playoff spot is the Philadelphia Phillies. The ace of Joe Girardi's staff is Aaron Nola, who has given up just eight earned runs in his eight starts since August. Nola was credited with a complete game shutout in his last start, but it is important to note the 11-0 win over Miami was just a seven-inning game since it was part of a doubleheader. he righty from Baton Rouge has struck out at least 10 batters in each of his last two starts, and now has four double-digit strikeout games this year.
Our final sizzling pitcher is Dinelson Lamet of the San Diego Padres. Lamet was impressive on Monday night, striking out 11 Dodgers in San Diego's 7-2 victory over Los Angeles. In September, Lamet has struck out 28 batters in 21 innings of work, as the Padres inch closer to the Dodgers in the NL West standings.
Who's Not?
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian YelichGene J. Puskar - Associated Press
One of the biggest surprises of the 2020 season is how much MIlwaukee outfielder Christian Yelich has struggled. Yelich has just two hits in his last 23 at-bats and has struck out 13 times during that stretch. After hitting .329 last year, Yelich is currently below the Mendoza Line, as he is batting just .195 this season.
Nick Castellanos started the season like a house of fire, seeing his batting average rise to nearly .400 in early August. Castellanos has been dreadful lately, notching just seven hits in 50 at-bats in September. While Castellanos is still a threat to homer in any plate appearance, he is coming up short when Cincinnati needs him most.
Out west, two hitters have a front row seat on the struggle bus. Rookie Jo Adell of the Los Angeles Angels is hitless in his last 17 at-bats, while Seattle Mariners first baseman Evan White has just one hit in his last 20 at-bats. With the Angels and Mariners separated by just two games in the standings, something has to give or both teams could find themselves watching the playoffs from home.
Houston at Texas
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On the mound, three pitchers have already given up at least 10 earned runs this month, with Houston starter Framber Valdez giving up 16 earned runs in three starts. Valdez likely won't want to pitch in Los Angeles anytime soon after giving up 13 runs in starts against the Angels and Dodgers last week.
Milwaukee Brewers starter Adrian Houser actually has given up more runs this month than Valdez, but of the 17 runs Houser has allowed, only 12 were earned runs. Houser was the losing pitcher in Sunday's game against the Cubs, where Milwaukee was no-hit by Alec Mills.
After starting the season by giving up two earned runs or less in his first six starts, the wheels have started to come off for Miami Marlins pitcher Pablo Lopez. Following a loss to the Tampa Rays in his first start of the month, Lopez was crushed by Atlanta on Wednesday, giving up seven earned runs in just an inning and two-thirds of a 29-9 loss to the Braves. Lopez did rebound in his last start to beat Philadelphia on Monday night, but steer clear of Lopez for now.
Tyler Chatwood of the Chicago Cubs has pitched like a Cy Young candidate over his first 2 starts of the season
San Francisco Giants v San Diego Padres
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Donovan Solano 2B/SS SF Giants (40% owned Yahoo) - The 2020 season has seen Solano get off to a fast start by amassing 15 hits and 13 RBI in 9 games. Splitting time between second and third base thus far, it appears that Solano has established an everyday role with the Giants. He was impressive in his playing time last season hitting .330 in 215 plate appearances. It's obvious that he can hit for contact, but Solano does lack power. The good news for fantasy owners is that Solano's defensive flexibility makes him an everyday play, and hitting sixth in the lineup should provide him a lot of opportunity to continue to drive in runs with the heart of the Giants lineup table setting in front of him.
It appears as though Diaz will be taking over closer duty in ColoradoAndy Cross, The Denver Post
Jairo Diaz RP COL (22% owned Yahoo) - With Wade Davis going on the IL without a clear timeline to return, the opportunity for Diaz to take over the closer role in Colorado has opened up. He may be a new name in fantasy, but he had 63 strikeouts across 57 2/3 innings in 2019 for the Rockies and managed 6 wins and 5 saves. Manager Bud Black also saw Colorado lose reliever Scott Oberg over the weekend due to health problems (blood clots) and his return this season is highly doubtful. The hard throwing righty, Diaz, will likely enjoy a long leash as Colorado is short on options, and he has experience closing games for the team already. If he is still on the waiver wire in your league, grab him while you can.
Tyler Chatwood Strikes Out 8 Batters in Season Debut www.youtube.com
Tyler Chatwood SP CHC (58% owned Yahoo) - In two starts this season, Tyler Chatwood has been nothing short of spectacular for the Cubs. Over 12 2/3 innings he has 19 strikeouts, 0.71 era, and 0.79 whip in 2 wins. While the chance of Chatwood sustaining this level of production would be unlikely to span an entire 162 game regular season, in this shortened season Chatwood has already made about 20% of the starts he will make for the entire 2020 regular season. He projects to have about 10 more starts this year and if he can manage to continue this run of play for a few more starts, then he could be in the running for NL Cy Young consideration and your fantasy team's MVP.
MLB: MAY 05 Athletics at Pirates
Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire
Colin Moran 3B/2B PIT (51% owned Yahoo) - The Pittsburgh Pirates' Colin Moran had been leading the MLB in home runs up until Aaron Judge hit his sixth (league leading) homer over his last 5 games on Sunday. Moran won't get the attention his play has warranted due to the market he's in, but, as Josh Bell proved last season, that doesn't mean Moran cannot be a productive fantasy player for your team. It appears that the team feels confident putting Moran into the cleanup spot right behind Bell against both righties and lefties so far this season. If Moran maintains hitting for power, his second base eligibility could make him a steal as there are a shortage of second basemen that can hit for power the way Moran has shown early on this season.
Khris Davis is one of the game's premier power hitters looking to regain his swing in 2020
Khris Davis—Oak OF/DH
Khris DavisESPN
Davis' first three seasons with the A's were fantastic displays of power and about as consistent as you could want from any fantasy player. From 2016-2018, Davis managed to slightly improve upon his fantasy production maintaining an average of 44.3 home runs, 112 runs batted in, and an OPS (on base plus slugging percentage) of .857. 2019 was a down year in every offensive category (except base on balls) since joining Oakland, highlighted by his paltry .681 OPS which was .170 points lower than his career average before last season. Davis has never been a player that hits for a high average so the .221 he put up last year wasn't as concerning as the drop in OPS which is an indicator that a player is hitting for power and producing runs.
The good news for fantasy owners is that Khris Davis is one of the most likely bounce back candidates in the fantasy baseball landscape heading into the shortened 2020 season and he will be coming at a deep discount. Considering Davis' appeal is largely centered around his home run ability, and that 2019 was the first season in his career that that number didn't increase, it's very likely that we will see his counting stats improve as he rediscovers his power swing this season.
Justin Upton—LAA OF
Justin UptonESPN
Upton enters this season coming off an injury riddled 2019 campaign where a toe sprain kept him out to start the year and patellar tendinitis ended it early. Once he was back Upton struggled to return to form as he was tasked with being the sole protection for Mike Trout in the lineup as Shohei Ohtani and Tommy La Stella dealt with their own injuries throughout the year. Upton has never been exceptional but he has always been consistent. With a career .266 batting average and 30 home run potential, Upton will benefit from a healthy Ohtani and La Stella in the lineup. One of the biggest offseason transactions was the Angels' addition of third baseman Anthony Rendon from the Washington Nationals who finished 3rd in NL MVP voting last year. With Trout, Rendon, and Ohtani expected to bat ahead of Upton in the lineup, there is a lot of potential for RBI production especially if he can hit for power. You would have to think that the lower body injuries last year affected Upton's swing, so if he can enter 2020 healthy keep him on your draft radar as he could be a steal as your third outfielder.
Matt Carpenter—STL 3B/DH*
Matt CarpenterESPN
Matt Carpenter is a bit of a fantasy enigma in the sense that he has consistently been a positive contributor for fantasy owners while never excelling in any one category outside of the outlier of 36 home runs in 2018. But he manages to continue to make an impact in multiple categories by being a patient hitter that can draw walks and knock a few out of the park. Carpenter even set a career high in stolen bases last season at age 33, swiping 6 bases in 7 attempts.
There are certainly question marks entering 2020 as we saw his batting average drop 43 points below his career average and 21 less home runs in 2019. Add to that Carpenter is 34 and it almost sounds like I'm trying to talk you out of drafting him. But a wrinkle to the shortened season is that the MLB is instituting a universal DH rule this season to allow National League teams to utilize a DH for the first time in league history. Carpenter projects to be the primary DH for the Cardinals and by limiting him to only offensive duties, it may be enough to keep him healthy and focused on bringing his average back up which would help his overall fantasy production. If you can stash Carpenter as a bench player, he could get hot in a short season and help get you to your fantasy postseason.
Starlin Castro—WSH 2B
Starlin CastroESPN
