Win with Naquin
Indian ns rookie raking g since return
THE FANTASY season iis like walking the beach with a metal detector: When you hear the pings, chances a re all you have found is some junk. But sometimes, on occasion, you find something of value — just like you can, at all times, on the waiver wire.
Tyler Naquin started the season in the majors with the Indians. He was hitting .317 with two RBIs and a .751 OPS before being demoted in May.
In 36 games since being recalled on June 2, Naquin has been a revelation. He is 37-for-113 (.327) with 12 homers, 27 RBIs, three stolen bases, 22 runs scored and a 1.172 OPS. His ownership in ESPN leagues rose 15 percent to nearly 40 percent this week, and is at 44 percent at Yahoo.
As with any rookie, there are some concerns, the first being he never was much of a power hitter in the minors, blasting off just 22 times in 339 games. Fantasy owners are not complaining with this newfound power (nor should they). But, he is striking out in 28.6 percent of his at-bats, after whiffing about 20 percent in the minors, and his sky-high .417 BABIP indicates his .324 bat- titing average willill regress.
Naquin is a hot player and someone who should be added for what he offers in multiple categories. Roto Files suggests not getting too attached just in case he starts to falter.
This is the type of player you should be looking for at this point in the season — the hot player to supplant the ice-cold player or the guy who landed on the disabled list. That is what’s going to help you win the title. Here are some others who can help you pick up the pace:
If you need assistance in just about every offensive category outside of stolen bases, Yangervis Solarte is the man. Not only is he eligible at three positions, but he has a solid contact rate (85. 3 percent) and, since returning from the DL on May 21, he is hitting .290 with 10 homers, 35 RBIs, 27 runs scored, 17 walks and a .883 OPS. He is vastly underrated and underowned.
Travis Jankowski has 16 stolen bases on the season, 12 of which have come since June 1. The .244 batting average may not look pretty, but if you need speed, the Padres’ outfielder is a cheap option.
Marcus Semien is a boom-or-bust option hitting . 236, strikingtiki out 23.8 percent of the time and hitting below .200 this month. But, he has a career-high 20 home rs and 48 RBIs, which will help your squad. Plus, it’s almost August, a month in which he has a career .299 average.
If your pitching staff is struggling (or you’re waiting to see if Clayton Kershaw is lost for the season), here are some hot pitchers worth a look: Cincinnati’s Anthony DeSclafani (5-0 with a 2. 59 ERA over his past six starts), Oakland’s Kendall Grave man (5-0 with a 3.36 ERA over his past 10 starts) and Miami’s Adam Conley, who was 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA and 18 strikeouts in his past three starts before taking the mound against the Mets on Friday.
Colorado’s Carlos Estevez pitches in a ballpark where you could hit a home run with a miniature souvenir bat, but still has collected seven saves in eight opportunities since stealing the job from Jake McGee. He is striking out 10.2 per nine innings, has not allowed an earned run in any of his seven saves and is available in 65 percent or more of all leagues.