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Fantasy Baseball analyst Dalton Del Don highlights some of the most revealing performances from Tuesday night’s MLB action.
Marcus Semien has an unforgettable fantasy day
• Markus Semien hit three homers during Tuesday’s doubleheader, becoming only the ninth player in MLB history record at least seven hits and as many home runs in one day. Semien increased his OPS-87 points and added two steals during one of the greatest fantasy days ever. After 43 games without a homering with the Rangers, Semien has had six home runs in 11 games since then. He’s also on track to more than double his career high in steals.
• Brandon Drury has hit three home runs and a steal in his last four games as he continues to be one of this year’s sneakier wire gems. Qualified for 2B, 3B and OF, Drury has hit as many as 11 home runs on the season and was quietly a top 50 fantasy player in 2022. While he may be playing a bit over his head, Drury’s impressive batting ball profile suggests it’s not a steep decline coming. It also helps that Cincinnati has upped the running score even more than Coors Field so far this season.
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• Mike Trout homered but then left with a groin strain on Tuesday during the Angels’ 13th straight loss and first game since Joe Maddon was unexpectedly released. Trout’s 183 wRC+ would be the second-highest of his career, but he hasn’t played more than 140 games since 2016. Hopefully his recent setback isn’t serious, though Yeah Adell (17 percent in Yahoo leagues) would benefit should Trout need an IL trip.
• There was speculation that a new ball was introduced in mid-May The league’s HR/FB% continues to rise slowly.
Young pitchers shine – but star veterans tussle
• Edward Cabrera had another impressive performance on Tuesday and is now sporting a 0.75 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP after two starts (including one at Coors Field). Cabrera has a bright future and flashed a 95-mph modification Tuesday night but notice that he had a 4.6 BB/9 in triple-A and a 4.31 FIP in the majors. Cabrera recorded a low 23% CSW at home against the Nationals on Tuesday and will face a much tougher test next time in Houston, so be careful.
• Kyle Wright Tuesday was fantastic once again, resulting in 20 swing-and-miss games while throwing a career-high eight innings. He’s benefited from an easy schedule lately, but Wright’s 2022 is neither haphazard nor overly lucky, as his 2.75 FIP ranks among the top 10 among starters.
Wright is a former top 5 pick who used to struggle against lefties but found it out. Despite not being drafted in almost every fantasy league (his ADP was outside of 400 in NFBC Main Events), Wright should be viewed as a top 25 fantasy starter moving forward.
• Michael Kopech rebounded from his worst start to the season by keeping a strong Dodgers lineup scoreless through six innings on Tuesday. The Dodgers came out with MLB’s third-best wRC+, and Kopech only allowed two baserunners. While he was undoubtedly fortunate to only allow two homers (3.0 HR/FB%) and a .189 BABIP (an ERA fix is forthcoming), Kopech was also unlucky enough that Tuesday’s win was only his second in the Season was as the breakout pitcher now sits on the year with a 1.94 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP.
• Carlos Rodon failed to get to the fifth inning in a home start against the Rockies on Tuesday. After batting eight batters or more in five of his first six starts, Rodón has not been able to k. seven batters in any of his last five starts. He also didn’t allow a home run in those first six starts and has since served four of them. His pace doesn’t seem to be a big problem, but Rodón has struggled to keep batsmen out of the way The Rockies had the most fouls in Tuesday’s first four innings of every game in years. He’ll try to hit back in a tough matchup with the Dodgers next time.
• Josh Hader Remarkably, he hadn’t allowed a run since then July but served two homers during a Tuesday night loss to the Phillies. His speed has been good and he still has a .96 ERA and a .64 WHIP this season, so Hader will be fine while still looking for his first save in June.
• Aroldis Chapman is almost certainly looking at a new role when he returns to New York’s pen when Clay Holmes appears to be the Yankees’ new closer.
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