Chris Meaney tours the league and finds 30 things you might have missed during Week 6 of the fantasy baseball season.
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Week 6 Fantasy Baseball
Arizona Diamondbacks
- Ketel Marte and Eduardo Escobar combined for five home runs in Week 6 of the fantasy baseball season. Marte hit three and scored 10 runs in Arizona’s six games. He has nine bombs on the season and is hitting .298 against left-handed pitchers. He had a .321 average, .408 wOBA and nine homers vs LHP last season, so keep that in mind if you’re playing DFS. Escobar is also destroying lefties as his .480 wOBA against southpaws ranks seventh and his .420 average ranks sixth, just behind teammate Nick Ahmed (.421).
Atlanta Braves
- Mike Soroka continues to impress…
Mike Soroka has allowed 1 or 0 runs in 6 of his first 8 MLB starts.
— Chris Meaney (@chrismeaney) April 30, 2019
- Make it one or zero runs in seven of Soroka’s first nine MLB starts as he tossed seven scoreless innings in Miami this week. He only allowed two hits while striking out six to improve his record to 3-1. He’s yet to allow more than five hits in a start this season. Soroka will get a tougher test this week in Arizona, but he needs to be rostered everywhere.
- Luke Jackson picked up his second save of the season Sunday and should be viewed as the Braves’ closer. A.J. Minter pitched two scoreless innings with five strikeouts, but it seems he’s lost his job for now.
Baltimore Orioles
- Mychal Givens grabbed two saves this past weekend if you’re in a rough spot.
- Dwight Smith Jr. is hitting .298 with 10 combined home runs and stolen bases.
Boston Red Sox
- Michael Chavis hit three more home runs in Week 6 to bring his total to six through 15 games. I’d usually suggest selling high, but he’s too good to lose his job. He can move around the diamond so playing time shouldn’t be an issue. He’s your number one fantasy baseball player for Week 6.
Chicago Cubs
- Yu Darvish stunk it up again, but I’d roll him out this week against Miami. It may be the only team you can play him against and he’ll still probably walk a few.
Chicago White Sox
- As expected, Reynaldo Lopez was lit up following his 14 strikeout showing. He has 45 punch-outs in 36.1 innings, but he’ll kill your ratios. Lopez’s 57-percent fly ball rate has led to nine home runs.
- If you can afford to roster Dylan Cease, you should.
Cincinnati Reds
- Nick Senzel was called up and he hit a home run in his second game. Make sure he’s not on the wire.
- Derek Dietrich smashed four home runs in the weekend series with the Giants. He has nine on the season and should get a few more at-bats going forward.
- Tyler Mahle’s last start was overlooked because he went up against Noah Syndergaard who scored the only run of the game via the long ball. Mahle was impressive in his last start against the Mets as he only allowed one run on four hits over five innings. He racked up seven strikeouts to bring his total to 33 over 33 innings. His 28 percent fly ball rate should help him when he pitches at home. I’m intrigued with his two matchups this week (@OAK & @SF).
- Matt Kemp was released after a .200/.210/.283 line over 62 plate appearances.
Cleveland Indians
- Corey Kluber suffered a non-displaced fracture in his arm right arm. He’ll be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks. At this point, it seems unlikely Kluber will return value this season, but you can’t drop him.
Colorado Rockies
- Ian Desmond has sat out three of the past four games as he’s only hitting .186 on the season. He’s not worth holding onto in 10 or 12 team leagues.
Detroit Tigers
- I’ve been talking about Spencer Turnbull every week since spring, so it’s not that surprising to see him pitch a gem in Boston or in Philadelphia. He was great in his two starts in Week 6 as he only allowed two runs over 13 innings, while striking out 12. Turnbull has only allowed two runs in his last four starts (23 innings). He does, however, have a 3.66 BB/9. He’s worthy of a roster spot, though.
Houston Astros
- Ryan Pressly tossed two more scoreless innings in Week 6. He has 15 strikeouts over 15 innings with two saves. He has value in deeper leagues even with Robert Osuna’s hot start to the season.
Kansas City Royals
- Hunter Dozier hit his seventh home run of the season Sunday and he had a couple of multi-hit games last week to bring his average to .343.
Los Angeles Angeles
- Shohei Ohtani should return to the lineup this week and maybe even as early as Tuesday in Detroit.
Los Angeles Dodgers
- I’m guilty of cutting Max Muncy on Friday, only to see him hit three-run shots on Saturday and Sunday. The power is definitely legit if that’s what you’re after. Not convinced everyday playing time will be there.
Miami Marlins
- Caleb Smith did it again as he only allowed one run on four hits over seven innings. He struck out eight and enters Week 7 with a 45:9 K:BB ratio. He hasn’t allowed more than five hits in a start and he’s allowed three runs over his last four outings (25 IP).
Milwaukee Brewers
- Jesus Aguilar hit three home runs in his first two games of Week 6, but that’s about all he did. Aguilar is still losing at-bats, but it was nice to see some production. He shouldn’t be on the waiver wire.
- Christian Yelich returned to the lineup Sunday and of course, went deep.
Minnesota Twins
- It may be High-A, but Miguel Sano is playing baseball games. He has two home runs between A and AA.
New York Mets
- Jacob deGrom tossed seven scoreless innings against the Reds and he struck out six. He looked a lot like his old self.
- Steven Matz is reportedly dealing with a nerve issue in his left forearm. Another frustrating result for Matz and the Mets as he’s been one of their better pitchers this season.
New York Yankees
- James Paxton (knee) is the latest Yankee to hit the IL. Jonathan Loaisiga will take hit spot in the rotation.
- Luis Severino is not expected back before the All-Star break
- Miguel Andujar returned and Aaron Hicks could be back this weekend.
Oakland Athletics
- Matt Olson could return from the injured list on Tuesday to face the visiting Reds.
- Blake Treinen is dealing with an elbow injury so Lou Trivino should be scooped up.
Philadelphia Phillies
- Jerad Eickhoff had another impressive outing this past week, this time against the Nationals. Eickhoff racked up seven strikeouts over five innings and he only allowed one run. He enters Week 7 with a 2.05 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts over 22 innings. I’m not fully buying in, though, as I’d sit him this week in St. Louis. He does have streaming appeal, though.
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Two more home runs for Josh Ball who has eight on the season to go along with 25 RBI.
- Cole Tucker is the second rookie on this list many emptied their wallets on, only to be left disappointed.
San Diego Padres
- Fernando Tatis Jr. landed on the IL due to a hamstring injury, but he was able to take some swings over the weekend.
- Franmil Reyes has nine home runs with three of them coming in the last week.
San Francisco Giants
- Too bad the Giants don’t play in Cincinnati because they scored 20 runs in three games.
Seattle Mariners
- Yusei Kikuchi tossed seven innings against the Indians and he only allowed one run while striking out 10. He hadn’t had more than five punch-outs in any of his previous seven outings. Now is a great time to sell high.
St. Louis Cardinals
- Carlos Martinez pitched a perfect inning in his first rehab outing with High-A on Sunday. Martinez only needed six pitches as he continues to work his way back to the Cardinals.
Tampa Bay Rays
- The Rays called up Nate Lowe and he picked up a hit in five of his six games. Lowe is the hot pickup this week and it’s warranted.
Texas Rangers
- Rougned Odor hit his second home run of the season Sunday, which could be the beginning of a streak. He’s available on too many wires.
Toronto Blue Jays
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has walked four times, but he only has five hits in 34 PA’s (.167). I’ve seen every at-bat and he’s pressing a bit. Swinging at everything like his daddy. You can see the skills, though, and he’s been just fine at the hot corner. His stock was sky high before he stepped foot on a major league field and I’d imagine there’s a small buy low window now. It’s amazing how quickly things can change. I was preaching to sell high in a redraft last week now I’m suggesting buying.
- I grabbed Eric Sogard in a deeper league last week and I’m going to hang on. Obviously, I’m a bit desperate, but I like his spot atop the Jays order and he’s making things happen. I’m not buying the four home runs, but he’s been getting on base and he’s scoring runs. Sogard is slashing .333/.500/1.333 with 13 runs, 13 RBI and two stolen bases in 15 games. The line is unsustainable, but he won’t kill you in deep OBP leagues.
Washington Nationals
- Anthony Rendon (elbow) took batting practice this weekend and could return Tuesday.
- Juan Soto (back) landed on the IL and he won’t swing a bat until later this week.
- Carter Kieboom has struck out in 18 of his 39 plate appearances and he’s hitting .143. He’s also been pretty sloppy in the field. We told you he’d be a short term add. The potential is there in keeper and dynasty leagues.
- The Nationals’ 26 percent strikeout rate ranks fifth.
Chris Meaney is a contributor for FantraxHQ, covering fantasy football, baseball, and hockey. Chris covered NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB as a producer, writer, and host at FNTSY Sports Network. He was the lead host of the daily live shows, “Home Ice Advantage” and “Fantasy Sports Today.” Meaney has several years of radio and television experience both in the sports world and music industry. He’s written for The Athletic, Associated Press, New York Daily News, Fantasy Footballers, NBA Fantasy, Play Picks, NewCap Radio and more. You can follow him @chrismeaney.
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