Another Tuesday another edition of Category Impact! If you’re coming off a loss like I am, you’re eagerly trying to see where you can improve your team. Losing in daily fantasy sports is one thing, but at least to me, losing in my seasonal league is in a whole different ballpark. This week we feature speedsters in Atlanta and Milwaukee, a veteran infielder in St. Louis and a prospect in Tampa Bay getting a second go-around at the big league level.
You know where to find me on Twitter, so if you have any questions, head there. It’s @colbyrconway in case you forgot. Here we go!
Keon Broxton, OF MIL— I wrote about Broxton in the first edition of this article. Well, he didn’t turn out well the first time, but a promotion to the minors could actually pay large dividends for the speedy outfielder. Adding Broxton to your team is for one reason and one reason only: speed. The old adage, “speed kills,” is 100 percent true. Since being recalled on June 10, he is 2-for-5 with three stolen bases. He might not play every single day, but perhaps that isn’t the worst thing for your fantasy team. He isn’t going to hit for a high average this season in the bigs, so even when he doesn’t play, he can help your fantasy team. It’s hard to imagine that Broxton isn’t the first pinch-running option for the Brewers, and when you need steals, you’ll take that. He’s a one-trick pony, but his three or four steals in a week could be the difference in one whole category for you. Sometimes all it takes is one category.
Mallex Smith, OF ATL— After a rather slow start at the big league level, things finally seem to be turning around for the young Atlanta outfielder. In the month of June, he is hitting .320 (8-for-25) with three runs scored, one RBI and five stolen bases. Smith is primarily a one-trick pony, like Broxton, but if he stays atop the order like he has been of late, he can be a solid source of runs, as well. Freddie Freeman can’t be held down for much longer and Ender Inciarte is [usually] a decent average guy. Therefore, if Smith can continue to get on base, he should be able to start racking up some runs, as well as the stolen bases. Keep in mind with Smith that he will likely be benched against lefties, because he is absolutely abysmal against southpaws. Smith is owned in under 5 percent of ESPN leagues, which is way too low for what he can bring to the table. As long as he is getting on base, he can steal bases, which is good for your fantasy team.
Blake Snell, SP TB— Snell made his major league debut on April 23 against the Yankees, in which he pitched very well. He went back down to the minors, but the team will bring the southpaw back up to the show to replace Matt Andriese. If Snell can put together a quality start, the Rays have to think about leaving him up in the majors to stay. He may have only been 3-5 in 12 Triple-A starts this season, but those aren’t the numbers you need to focus on. For starters, his 3.29 ERA is solid, and his 1.33 WHIP isn’t too terribly bad. What’s enticing about Snell is his incredible strikeout ability. He’s punched out 90 batters in just 63 innings this season, which is good for a 12.86 K/9. In his lone big league start this season, he lived off his fastball, but he might want to mix in a bit more off-speed. The Yankees were hitless against his curveball, changeup and slider. He makes for an intriguing daily play on Thursday against the Seattle Mariners, but he makes for a quality add in your seasonal league as well.
Jhonny Peralta, SS STL— Well, well, well. Welcome back, Jhonny! Since being activated from the disabled list, Peralta is hitting .333 (8-for-24) with one home run, seven RBI and four runs scored. Coming back from thumb injuries can be tough for hitters, typically sapping some power and hitting ability. Well, Peralta isn’t showing any effects from that. He’s been pretty consistent over the years, but even though his numbers this season will be down from previous, healthy campaigns, Peralta is still extremely valuable. The veteran infielder has shortstop eligibility, so being able to plug him in at shortstop is extremely valuable. In about a week or so, he will also have eligibility at third base, seeing as he’s already accrued five starts at the position. What can you expect from Peralta moving forward? Well, while the .333 batting average and .350 BABIP aren’t sustainable, he’s going to be good for close to 10 home runs and a .270 batting average. If he’s available in your league, go get him immediately.
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