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Yet another week has passed, and we've seen more injuries (Jesus Luzardo), more call-ups (Orelvis Martinez), and big-time disappointment (again, Orelvis Martinez). Nevertheless, we need to keep plugging away, so let's get prepared for the week ahead. There are lots of articles out there outlining waiver wire adds, two-start pitchers, players to stash, and more, but this one aims to isolate certain players that I'm watching, for one reason or another, to help you get ready for the week ahead.
Before we move on, let's glance back. For those keeping track of some of last week's topics, Austin Riley kept hitting, Carlos Correa cooled a bit, no one can stop Steven Kwan right now, and Bailey Ober had a nice eight-strikeout encore against the A's this week.
Taking a look ahead to this week's action, we'll touch on some intriguing hitters below, both for DFS and season-long leagues. There's a veteran returning to the mound this week, a hurler who is no longer struggling, and more. I've got my eye on these guys, and perhaps you should too.
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Players to Watch: Hitters
What I'm watching: Hit streak
Bryan Reynolds kept his hit streak going on Sunday, going 2-for-3 with his 12th home run of the season and extending his hit streak to 20 games. During the streak, the switch-hitter is 28-for-80 (.350) with seven doubles and five home runs, three of which have come in the last four games. The 29-year-old is a career .347 hitter in June, so he's right on cue. He'll get a chance to extend it further when he faces the Reds' Carson Spiers on Monday, who he is 2-for-3 off of in his career with two doubles.
Bryan Reynolds is SCORCHING in June.
He has a 20-game hitting streak and 3 homers in his last 4 games. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZgbYn2WYiD
— MLB (@MLB) June 23, 2024
What I'm watching: Does he keep rolling this week?
After a 1-for-4 day at the plate on Sunday, which included his seventh home run of the season, Jarred Kelenic now has a 10-game hit streak going. Ronald Acuna Jr.'s season-ending injury left a major void in the Braves lineup, but with Michael Harris II also hitting the IL, someone needed to step up, and Kelenic has. During this 10-game streak, the 24-year-old is 13-for-41 (.317) with two doubles, three home runs, four RBI, and five runs scored. And while he hasn't been good against LHP (.235 BA), he's been better than what he has been over his career (.194 BA).
Jarred Kelenic clocking in! 💣#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/Prl025FQRX
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 23, 2024
The good news? The Braves don't face a lefty starter until next Sunday, when Bailey Falter of the Pirates will take the mound against them. The bad news? The Braves will face some good young pitchers heading into that game, including Drew Thorpe (CWS), Jared Jones (PIT), and Paul Skenes (PIT).
What I'm watching: When will a 3.3% barrel rate result in fewer homers?
Josh Smith is clearly an avid reader of my stuff and must have taken offense to my Breakout Watch article when I called him an overachiever due for regression in terms of SLG. He's smacked two more home runs in the three games since that article and has three home runs in his last five. The 26-year-old has even outscored third basemen Alex Bregman and Manny Machado to this point in the season, showing just how effective he's been. The left-handed hitter is still available in over 40% of Yahoo leagues and is not only eligible at 3B but also SS and OF, adding to his roster appeal.
JOSH SMITH SOLO DOLO! 💥
@Rangers | #StraightUpTX | @BallySports 📺 pic.twitter.com/FmecUOT9YU— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) June 23, 2024
Key Matchups: Hitters
These hitters caught my eye when looking over batter vs. pitcher matchups, and I kept rolling with the table format below as it seemed easier on the eyes. Most of these guys are already rostered in a majority of leagues, so you aren't running out to snag them off the waiver wire, but they could be targets for your DFS lineups. While sometimes there isn't enough matchup history worth looking at, there is frequency with these, and with frequency comes familiarity. These pitchers likely don't have any more tricks up their sleeves versus these batters.
Players to Watch: Starting Pitchers
What I'm watching: Can he record a seventh straight quality start?
Hunter Brown had a 7.71 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, 1.93 HR/9, and an 11.2% K-BB% through his first eight starts of the season, but has been able to turn things over the past month. The 25-year-old has posted six consecutive quality starts with a 1.70 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 0.97 HR/9, and a 23.2% K-BB%, a remarkable turnaround, to say the least. He gets a chance to keep rolling against a Colorado team at home next Tuesday that strikes out fourth-most in the majors.
Hunter Brown's 8th and 9th Ks.
And is fired up. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NEvi3sRj62
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 15, 2024
What I'm watching: Return to the mound
Yu Darvish was having a solid season before he was bitten by the injury bug, posting a 3.20 ERA (3.50 FIP), 1.07 WHIP, and a 16.6% K-BB% over 11 starts. The 37-year-old even had a stretch of four starts spanning 24 innings pitched where he did not allow a single run to cross the plate. The veteran will make his return to the mound on Tuesday at home against the Nationals who are 11-4 in their last 15 games.
Players to Watch: Relief Pitchers
What I'm watching: Scoreless streaks
Sticking in the same vein of last week's article, if you're looking for some relievers that can help lower your ERA and WHIP while chipping in some Ks, then Daniel Hudson and/or Sam Moll could be your guy. Hudson has not allowed an earned run (just one unearned run) in his last 16 appearances, posting a 0.00 ERA, 0.55 WHIP, a 2:16 BB:K in 14 2/3 IP, and two saves. If you happen to compete in a league that rewards holds, Hudson has four of them as well during this stretch.
Moll's stretch has lasted 13 appearances, posting a 0.00 ERA (one unearned run allowed), 0.36 WHIP, and a 1:10 BB:K in 11 IP. Moll will contribute holds as well, collecting seven of them during this stretch.
Coming into the game, Sam Moll had a 1.30 ERA through his first 37 appearances with Cincinnati. That's the third-lowest by a Reds pitcher in that span since at least 1912, trailing only Jared Hughes (2018, 1.24era) and Rob Murphy (1985-87, 0.98era).@Reds pic.twitter.com/0HQN8zUPj7
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) June 5, 2024
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