Max benefit
Don’t bail on Muncy during hot streak
MAX MUNCY is not a character from “The Andy Griffith Show ,” a character from a 1950s spy novel or a suspenders-wearing bartender with a handlebar mustache serving spirits at an underground speakeasy in the bowels of Manhattan.
The Dodger is, however, one of the hottest hitters in the majors and the player added to the most rosters in ESPN leagues this week.
Muncy, who is eligible at first and third, had just 96 ga mes experience in the majors before this season, and hit .195 with f ive homers, 17 RBIs and a .611 OPS. Not exactly numbers that would put him on your radar.
In his first 46 games this year, he was hitting .277 with 13 homers (including four straight games with around-trip per this week), 30 RBIs, 22 runs scored and a 1.030 OPS.
Muncy had a .354 Isolated Power (ISO), which, entering Friday, was higher than J.D. Martinez, Khris Davis and, well, everyone in the league not named Mookie Betts or Mike Trout. Impressive? Yes. Sustainable? No.
Muncy will not continue to hit a homer once every 10 at-bats. Heading into Friday, he had a ridiculously high 29.5 percent homer-to-fly ball rate — eighth highest in the majors for hitters with at least 100 at-bats, one slot behind Bryce Harper (29.7).
Though the power may not last, his .291 BABIP doesn’t indicate a major regression. His on-base percentage (.399) and walk rate (16.5 percent) are consistent with what he has done throughout his career, and both rank in the top 10 for players with at least 100 at-bats.
Before this stretch, there was a good chance the only Muncy you had ever heard of was Muncie, Ind. There is also a good chance other owners are skeptical he will continue to produce, so t ra di ng him m ay prove difficult. Roto Rage believes fantasy owners should hold on to him and see what he can do. It didn’t cost you anything to add him to your roster, so why not wring everything out of him and return him to where he came from when, and if, he dries up. If he doesn’t dry up? Well, you’re welcome.
Here is the plan of attack some other hot hitter’s this month:
Entering Friday night, San Francisco’s Brandon Craw
ford was hitting .429 with five homers, 20 RBIs, 18 runs, two stolen bases and a 1.187 OPS in 29 games since May 13. His .385 BABIP is a huge indicator that regression is coming. There is no better time than now to sell.
Marcell Ozuna appears to have found his footing in St. Louis — he hit .400 with five homers and 14 RBIs with just three strikeouts and a 1.227 OPS over his first 12 games this month. He has a career-low strikeout percentage (17. 2 percent) and a career-high in hard-hit percentage (46.7 percent), including a 54.8 hard-contact rate this month with a 26.3 HR/FB rate. This is why Roto Rage always preaches patience.
Over his previous nine games before Friday, the Dodgers’ Joc Pederson was 13-for-29 (.448) with seven homers, 10 RBIs, 11 runs and a 1.793 OPS. But he is still a part-time player who can’t hit lefties (.136, zero HRs, two RBIs, .348 OPS). If you’re in a league with a fiveoutfielder format, he should be on your team and in your lineup versus righties (.304, 8 HRs, 26 RBIs, .994 OPS).