STOCK UP
J.A. Happ, Toronto Blue Jays
Happ doesn’t seem to get the respect he deserves in Fantasy. He has an ERA of 3.61 or lower for four straight seasons. Happ isn’t a household name, and while the person who owns Happ likely realizes the production he provides, he’s someone you likely can still get cheaper because of reputation. His value will increase when he likely gets traded to a better team and be in a position to win more games in the final few months. Happ is 9-3 with a 3.56 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 27.9 percent strikeout rate and 6.8 percent walk rate. In 25.1 innings in June, Happ has a 2.84 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 8.17 K/9 and 2.49 BB/9.
Lance Lynn, Minnesota Twins
Lynn got off to an awful start. He didn’t sign with the Twins until March 12 and didn’t have the typical spring training routine, which likely explained an April in which he had an 8.37 ERA, an 8.75 BB/9 and a 1.90 HR/9. He was better in May with a 3.76 ERA, 3.42 BB/9 and a 0.34 HR/9. In June over 23.2 innings, he has a 1.90 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 23.5 percent strikeout rate and 13.3 percent walk rate. The walk rate is still too high, but he has improved, getting more ground balls and limiting the home runs.
Domingo German, New York Yankees
After giving up 12 runs in 8.2 innings over two starts against the Rangers and Athletics, it appeared German might not have much Fantasy values. He has improved since then, especially over the last three starts. German is 2-0 and in 19 innings, allowed 12 hits, seven earned runs, walked two and struck out 28. As a starter in 46 innings, he has a 5.09 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 28.7 percent strikeout rate and 7.5 percent walk rate with a batting average against of .199. He has a 1.57 HR/9 and an unlucky 57.8 percent strand rate. He has a 15.8 percent swinging strike rate and a good curveball. In four of his eight starts, he has struck out at least nine. With the Yankees offense behind him, he will be in a position to win a lot of games.
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STOCK DOWN
Brian Dozier, Minnesota Twins
Once again, Dozier is struggling in the first half. He has five hits in his last 45 at-bats with six runs, one home run and four RBIs and one stolen base. Dozier is batting .200 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 18 June games. In 2017, Dozier hit .242 with 39 runs, 13 home runs and 41 RBIs in 331 at-bats in the first half. In the second half. Dozier batted .304 with 21 home runs and 52 RBIs in 286 at-bats. In 2016, he hit .246 with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs in 313 at-bats in the first half compared to a .291 average with 28 home runs and 56 RBIs in 302 at-bats. It doesn’t mean Dozier will do it again, but it indicates he’s someone to buy at what could be his lowest value.
Yoan Moncada, Chicago White Sox
Moncada has been ice cold. In his last 52 at-bats, he has nine hits (.173) four runs, one home runs, four RBIs and a 23:3 K:BB ratio. After hitting .267 in April, Moncada batted .205 in May and .195 in June. Overall, Moncada is hitting .227 with 32 runs, nine home runs, 25 RBIs, seven stolen bases and a .704 OPS. Moncada strikes out 35.9 percent of the time but has a 9.5 percent walk rate. When he makes contact, he hits the ball hard with a 41.3 percent hard-hit rate. Moncada made adjustments last season after a slow start, and he will have to do it again. His stock is low, so there’s no reason to sell now. Stay patient because he can still finish with a 20-20 season despite a low average.
Jonathan Schoop, Baltimore Orioles
Outside of Manny Machado, there haven’t been many positive things for the Orioles. Schoop has been one of the disappointments as he was drafted in the first six rounds of many drafts and it has been a dud of a pick. Schoop is batting .213 with 28 runs, seven home runs, 17 RBIs and a .631 OPS. Schoop had 25 home runs and 82 RBIs in 2016 and hit .293 with 92 runs, 32 home runs, 105 RBIs and an .841 OPS. Schoop hasn’t seen a shift in his strikeout or walk rates. The BABIP of .244 is below his career average of .298. Schoop has a 40.7 percent fly ball rate and the 10.6 percent HR/FB rate is below the 17.7 percent mark of last season. Schoop’s biggest issue is the lack of hitting the ball hard. He has a 24.4 percent hard-hit rate and a 13.6 percent line drive rate. Schoop has more power than he has displayed, but the team is awful. The only way I would trade for Schoop is if I was near the bottom of the league and desperate to make a move.
