RADIO
Welcome to the latest edition of my Players to Watch for the Week Ahead series as we look ahead to the week of August 12 - August 18. In this article, I like to take a look around the league and pick out some players to discuss who might be under-owned in redraft leagues, potential DFS candidates, or big names that are just flat-out hot, including Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Daulton Varsho.
Before we move on, let's glance back. Jose Ramirez, Alec Bohm, and Jake Burger were some hitters we were watching from last week who continued to hit. On the pitching side of things, Bailey Ober kept right on tossing quality starts.
Looking ahead to this week's action, you'll see a couple of repeat names that are worth pointing out again, some hitters who are set to return from injury, and some new faces in closer roles. 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: Earning his pinstripes
Since coming over from the Marlins via trade, Jazz Chisholm Jr. has gone 16-for-54 (.296) with seven home runs, 11 RBI, and three stolen bases in 13 games. That kind of performance, especially with some big homers coming at home, will endear you to Yankee fans. So while some may buckle under the bright lights of New York City, Chisholm has embraced the opportunity. The Yankees should feast this week for the most part against the White Sox and Tigers, so look for the 26-year-old to be a big part of all that jazz.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. caps off the @Yankees' big day with a solo shot 💥 pic.twitter.com/Sv2aUPLKZb
— MLB (@MLB) August 10, 2024
What I'm watching: More success versus LHP this week?
Doing a search for who has the highest batting average versus left-handed pitching over the last 10 days with at least 10 at-bats yielded a couple somewhat surprising names at the top of the list: Yordan Alvarez and Daulton Varsho. Both were 6-for-10 (.600) and both are left-handed hitters. You may typically think that would not be a favorable matchup for a hitter, but they both have been significantly more successful versus LHP this season (and in their careers). I singled out Varsho because the Blue Jays will face three left-handed starters this week, meaning Varsho could have a nice week.
Daulton Varsho crushes his 14th home run of the season. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/RyszY8mcLA
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 11, 2024
Varsho is slashing .275/.351/.391 versus lefties while he's slashing just .186/.273/.393 against righties. The flip side of that coin is that the three lefties Toronto will face are Clayton Kershaw, Justin Steele, and Shota Imanaga. Those three are no pushovers, so that could also mean Varsho could have a very tough week.
Triston Casas / Michael Harris II / Tommy Edman
What I'm watching: Reinforcements are coming!
For those of you (myself included) who are waiting on these guys to come off the IL, the good news is that all three should be back at some point this week. If you need some power, Casas will help with that and he's available in 30% of Yahoo leagues. If you need steals, Edman will help with that and is available in over 70% of Yahoo leagues. If you need it all, Harris is the guy, although you won't find him floating around many waiver wires. Starling Marte could give a little bit of everything too. He should be back this week and is available in almost half of Yahoo leagues.
What I'm watching: Consecutive games with an XBH
If you hadn't noticed, Jake Burger has been knocking the cover off of the ball lately, with nine home runs in his last 13 games. The 28-year-old has also been hitting for average over that stretch, going 19-for-53 (.359). He's collected an extra-base hit in five consecutive games now, including a double and five home runs. The Marlins are off on Monday, but the former first-round draft pick will get to see Tyler Phillips on Tuesday who has been shaky in his last two starts after rattling off 15 straight scoreless innings before that.
"HE'S UNCONSCIOUS!"
🎙️: @Kyle_Sielaff
JAKE BURGER AGAIN! @MARLINS LEAD 5-0 pic.twitter.com/ELYNFxUfnB
— Marlins Radio Network (@MarlinsRadio) August 11, 2024
What I'm watching: Still streaking!
Alec Bohm was mentioned in last week's article because he had the current longest on-base streak in the majors at 22 games. Well, fast-forward a week and he was on base at least once in each game over this past week, so the streak now stands at 29 games. After Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went hitless on Sunday, Bohm now also has the longest current hit streak in the majors at 13 games. The 28-year-old will face some familiar opponents this week in the Marlins and the Nationals, so look for him to stay hot through the week at least.
Key Matchups: Hitters
These hitters caught my eye when looking over batter vs. pitcher matchups. 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: Keep rolling or play down to the competition?
As if last week's six-inning, 12-strikeout performance wasn't good enough, Spencer Arrighetti went and outdid himself this week, tossing seven innings and fanning 13 batters. Those starts came against the Rays and the Red Sox, while his next start will come versus the lowly White Sox.
PAINT 🎨
That's a baker's dozen for Spencer Arrighetti! 🔥
📺: FS1 pic.twitter.com/06hYtIIzVv
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 10, 2024
So this should be a layup, right? Not so fast, the opposite happens all the time, or at least it seems that way. I recall a stretch of dominance by Chris Sale earlier this season that set him up for a mouthwatering matchup against Oakland (who's hitting well now, but was not at the time), only for Sale to have his shortest outing of the season (four IP) and allowed a season-high eight earned runs while striking out a season-low four batters.
For what it's worth, Arrighetti has been better at home (4.11 ERA, 3.83 FIP) than he has been on the road (6.09 ERA, 4.49 FIP), and this start will be in Houston, so I'm saying this will be another strong start for the righty.
What I'm watching: Looking for another quality start this week
Luis Castillo has gone at least six innings in six straight starts now, recording a quality start in each of them while posting a 2.39 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and an 18.7% K-BB%. The veteran gets Pittsburgh in his next start on the road next weekend, a team with the seventh-worst team batting average this season and the fifth-most strikeouts.
What I'm watching: Can he make it 10 straight quality starts?
If we're going to mention quality starts then how can we not mention a mainstay in this article, Bailey Ober? The 29-year-old has a streak going of nine straight quality starts, the longest in the majors currently. Yes, he faced the A's, Tigers, and White Sox twice, along with Seattle, but he also faced the Phillies and just shut down the Guardians in his last start, two first-place teams. The righty will square off with the Royals in his next outing, which will be tough sledding based on matchup history, as several guys have had success against him in the past.
Players to Watch: Relief Pitchers
Diamondbacks and Giants Closers
What I'm watching: Who will it be?
Paul Sewald was recently removed from the close role and Ryan Thompson promptly picked up a save, but then so did Justin Martinez. A.J. Puk blew a save opportunity, but it seems it is an open competition. Martinez is currently listed as the closer on Roster Resource and would probably be the best option. The 23-year-old had a stretch of 19 scoreless innings earlier this season, albeit in lower-leverage situations. The righty is still available in over 70% of Yahoo leagues for the taking.
JUSTIN MARTINEZ🔥😤🔥 pic.twitter.com/UTXUgnZu76
— Goldschmidt Happened (@GoldyHappens) August 4, 2024
With Camilo Doval sent down this week, the closer role in San Francisco is available. While some wondered if it was going to be Jordan Hicks' time to shine, it appears Ryan Walker has been given the first opportunity, picking up a save this past Saturday. Keep an eye on this one, but for now the 28-year-old is available in over 50% of Yahoo leagues.
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