Stock Watch Risers

Eduardo Nunez 3B, Red Sox

The Red Sox were in dire need of help that the third base position and while they called up their 20-year old top prospect in Rafael Devers the club also went and acquired Nunez from the Giants for a few minor league prospects.  Nunez will now call Fenway Park his home, a ball park which is one of baseball’s better hitter parks given the “Green Monster” out in left field.  He leaves AT&T Park which is historically one of the best pitcher parks in baseball.

Jonathan Lucroy C, Rockies

Lucroy has been an absolute disaster this season but the year is not over yet and for his fantasy value he couldn’t have ended up in a better place as he found himself traded to the Rockies.  We have seen the type of boost Coors field has given their players in the past and with Lucroy expected to the be team’s everyday starting catcher going forward there is at least some hope that he can use his new home park to his advantage and breakout of his career worst offensive slump.

Brad Peacock SP, Astros

Peacock has been moved in and out of the rotation this season depending on the team’s injury situation.  He had been starting with Dallas Keuchel on the disabled list but with Keuchel returning he was moved back to the pen.  Now Lance McCullers is on the DL and the team will once again move Peacock into the starting rotation.  Peacock has been very successful this season but I am very much weary of his ability to maintain that level of success give his ginormous 4.9 BB/9 as a starter this season.

Kevin Gausman SP, Orioles

Gausman has been absolutely dreadful for the majority of this season but over his last three starts he has allowed just one earned run while striking out 24 over 20.2 innings.  This type of pitching is what fantasy owner expected from Gausman entering the season and while he has pitched poorly from the get go he can now redeem himself if he finishes the fantasy season on a high note and helps an owner to a fantasy championship.

 

Stock Watch Fallers

Addison Reed RP, Red Sox

Reed was traded at the deadline to the Red Sox where he will go from being a closer to a set-up man.  Of course this crushes his fantasy value in traditional leagues where he will likely only see save chances if current Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel is injured or needs an off day.

Lance McCullers RP, Astros

McCullers landed on the 10-day disabled list due to back discomfort and this comes after a string of starts which has seen McCullers allow 20 earned runs over his last 18.2 innings.  The team has no set a timetable for his return and Brad Peacock will take his spot in the rotation until he is healthy enough to return.

Aaron Sanchez SP, Blue Jays

Sanchez lands on the disabled list for the fourth time this season due to blister issues.  Following a year which he led the American League in ERA, Sanchez has been an utter disappointment for fantasy owners this season.  There is currently no timetable for Sanchez to return to the Blue Jays rotation but even then he would be very hard to trust.

Chris Owings SS, Diamondbacks

Owings hit the 60-day disabled list earlier this week due to a fractured middle finger which will effectively end his fantasy season.  Owings was enjoying a career year, hitting .268 with 41 runs, 12 home runs, 51 RBI and 12 stolen bases but he had really began struggling over the past month.