USA TODAY International Edition
Fantasy: Pineda cruises; Porcello woeful
Entering the third full week of the baseball season, fantasy owners can start taking heart seeing slow starters Miguel Cabrera, Mookie Betts and Jose Altuve picking up the pace. Who else is hot? Or, not? Let’s take a look ( statistics through Sunday).
Sizzlers
SP Michael Pineda, Yankees: The up- and- down righthander took a perfect game into the seventh inning against the Rays, then followed it up with seven strong innings to beat the Cardinals last week. Right now, he’s more ecstasy than agony with 23 strikeouts and one walk.
OF Mitch Haniger, Mariners: The 2012 first- round pick has flourished in the No. 2 spot in the lineup with a .410 on- base percentage, four home runs, 11 RBI and league- leading 12 runs.
OF Avisail Garcia, White Sox: Fantasy owners have been waiting for him to break out since he arrived in 2012. The 25year- old had a career- high four hits Sunday, including a gamewinning two- run homer, to raise his average to .465. SP Brett Anderson, Cubs: No one has ever doubted Anderson’s skill, but believing in him staying healthy is another story. In two starts, the pitch- to- contact lefty is 1- 0 with a 0.84 ERA. DH Trey Mancini, Orioles: After hitting .357 with three homers and five RBI in five September games, he seems to have picked right up where he left off. He has two two- homer games, nine RBI and a 1.372 on- baseplus- slugging percentage ( OPS).
Fizzlers
2B Raul Mondesi, Royals: Hitting .125 with a homer, two RBI and a - 0.2 Wins Above Replacement ( it was - 0.5 over 135 at- bats last season) just isn’t getting it done. The Royals have plenty of options waiting. OF Tyler Naquin, Indians: He did a great job of filling the Michael Brantley void in 2016 (. 296, 14 homers, 43 RBI). But after starting the season at .235 with no homers, RBI or steals, he became a victim of the numbers game and was sent to the minors when Lonnie Chisenhall returned from the disabled list.
OF Christian Yelich, Marlins: After his solid .298 with 21 homers and 98 RBI last season and turning in a strong performance in the World Baseball Classic, a slow start (. 281 onbase percentage, .627 OPS) has disappointed fantasy owners hoping he’d take his game to the next level in his age- 25 season. SP Rick Porcello, Red Sox: Regression was likely after his Cy Young Award- winning 2016 season, but a 7.56 ERA and a 1.74 walks plus hits allowed per inning pitched ( WHIP) after three starts is a bit extreme. For now, we’ll blame a .385 average on balls in play, third highest among qualified starters.
SP Jeff Samardzija, Giants: The Giants and AT& T Park seemed like such a good fit, but Samardzija’s career ERA with San Francisco is 4.01 in 35 starts. This season he is 0- 3 with a 6.16 ERA and 1.42 WHIP.