An odd MLB trade paying fantasy dividends highlights this week’s Week That Was.

Tim Beckham:  Tim Beckham went 1-4 with a RBI Sunday.  Yep, that is not really special so why mention it you ask?  Well, in the 6 games he has played for the O’s he is 13 for 24 with 6 runs and 6 RBI.  That is a full season pace of 162 RBI and 162 runs.  Of course, Beckham is not that good but sometimes a change of scenery for a talented player is all that is needed for a switch to flip.  Oh, and in this case, Beckham goes from a pitcher’s park in Tampa to a hitters’ haven in Baltimore.  Forget the advanced metrics on this one and go with your gut (or at least mine).  Buy!  [author’s note – I did not know Schultz would make the same point below when I penned this part.  I guess he and I can agree sometimes!]

Blake Treinen:   Blake Treinen came on to close the door in the A’s win Sunday.  Buying opportunity!  Treinen has put up atrocious surface stats this year – 4.78 ERA; 1.47 WHIP coming into the game Sunday.  However, he has been unlucky with a .353 BABIP and strand rate under 70% (so it is no surprise that his FIP and xFIP are a full run lower than his ERA).  Indeed, his advanced metrics show a talented pitcher ready to dominate – 61% GB rate and a 12+% swinging strike rate.  Buy while you still can.

Cameron Rupp:  Cameron Rupp had a big day Sunday going 3-4 with two doubles and two RBI.  It has taken a while but the Phili backstop is finally hitting with authority.  Over his last 30 games, Rupp is hitting .314 with 5 dingers, 11 RBI and 9 runs.  Oh and over that stretch he sports an OPS north of 1,000.  This is a big time buying opportunity, especially for those in two catcher leagues.  Rupp’s yearlong average of .234 will deflate his current value.  He is hitting now and has shown a good eye all year (as the almost 11% walk rate shows).  Take advantage and buy!

Didi Gregorius:   Didi Gregorius just keeps on hitting.  Gary Sanchez and especially Aaron Judge get all the ink but Didi may well be the Yankees best player right now. Sunday, Sir Didi went 3-4 with a run scored upping his batting average to .308.  However, that is not the story.  Sir Didi is hitting .340 over his last 14 games with 5 dingers, 12 RBI and 8 runs scored.  Despite missing almost all of April, the Yankee shortstop has 17 HR and 54 RBI to go with that .308 average.  Will he continue to rake?  He hits in a strong lineup (the team’s slump pre-Sunday not withstanding) in a great hitters’ park so I would say the odds are pretty strong.  Buy if you can and feel free to pay the full freight. 

Hyun-Jin Ryu:  Ryu was great Sunday night tossing 7 innings of shutout ball while allowing just one baserunner and striking out 8.  That make 15K, 1BB, no ER over his last 14 IP.  Nice!  On the year, Ryu has a solid 3.53 ERA to go with a K/9 of about 9.  Given his injury history, the lefty is still being overlooked.  Do not make that mistake.  His 12% swinging strike rate, together with his 47% ground ball rate and 61% first pitch strike rate says the success is sustainable (though maybe not a shutout every outing).  He may not stay healthy but while he is on the bump, he should be on your roster.

And now, the moment you likely have not been waiting for -- Schultz says: “With the passing of the Major League Baseball deadline, the time period for trading in any self-respecting roto-baseball league has also elapsed. For those contending for a title, this exponentially reduces the chances of substantively improving your roster as the waiver wire will provide the only source of fresh talent. While there will surely be opportunities to grab Ozzie Albies, Ahmed Rosario and Brent Honeywell, they are more likely to help teams in keeper leagues sometime in the future than push contenders across the finish line. This doesn't mean there aren't diamonds in the rough to be rescued from the discard pile.

Once the most highly-regarded prospect in the Orioles' farm system, Kevin Gausman produced putrid numbers in the first half of the season. Anyone counting on the presumptive ace of an AL East contender putting up numbers befitting the title received a 5.85 ERA and 1.76 WHIP to help submerge their entire pitching staff to the bottom of the rankings. Frustrated owners likely cut bait. Looking at the waiver wire, Gausman's overall numbers look horrific. However, since the All-Star break, he's put up a .65 ERA. 1.01 WHIP and struck out 32 over 27 2/3 innings while going 3-0. This is the type of "lightning in a bottle" that has led Overlord Colton to greatly overuse the cliche in previous columns.

For good reasons, many roto-owners have long given up on Tim Beckham, a former #1 pick.  His lackluster .259, 12 HR, 36 RBI output not only led to him to being on the waiver wire in the multitude of roto-leagues, it led to him being sent from Tampa to Baltimore. Proving the old adage that a change of scenery does a body good, Beckham has hit .650 while slugging 3 home runs in his first week with his new club. For those trying to fill an Addison Russell sized gap in your lineup, Beckham may serve quite nicely.”

Response:  Well, I do like “lightning in a bottle” and agree that Gausman and Beckham could provide same.  As to being called the “overlord”, I still chuckle when I read that.  Nice work Schultzie.