AJ POLLOCK LOVE

It appears that A.J. Pollock could return from his elbow issue by the end of the week. “He just looks free and easy,” said manager Chip Hale, who has watched Pollock play on video. “I saw him steal a base, run a ball down in the gap. Swinging, he’s been fine the whole time.” Pollock has appeared in 10 games in the minors and he’s been really effective hitting .433 with two homers, three doubles and just one strikeout while drawing seven walks. It sounds like he is good to go, or inching ever closer to it, and might be ready Friday.

Some data points.

1 – Hitting in the minor leagues is different than hitting in the big leagues.

2 – Pollock missed four months of game action.

3 – Realize that this isn’t the first elbow issue Pollock has had. “Earlier in spring training, we had found out that the screw placed in my elbow during a surgery in 2010 had split in half, and I had missed a lot of spring training games. There wasn't anything we could do about that without an operation, but as the start of the season got closer, I felt ready to go -- until I started to get up after that slide [that force me to the DL],” writes Pollock. I assume his elbow is fixed now and fine, but note the use of the word assume. That worry will linger in my mind, though I was worried about Albert Pujols’ elbow for about five years and it never hampered him on the field.

4 – Who is Pollock? A good player for two seasons, Pollock went nuclear last year with 20 homers, 39 steals, a .315 average and 111 runs scored leading him to be a top-35 selection this season even with all the concern about his elbow in March (if his elbow had been right, he would have easily been a top-15 add if not top-10). Whether or not he’s the guy we saw last year or not, I have to present you some pause. The guy missed nearly five big league months. He’s coming off surgery. He’s played 10 professional games.

Add Pollock if he is out there, absolutely. He could be an All-Star level performer in September. At the same time don’t drop guys like Keon Broxton or Max Kepler for him, but there is likely a player on your squad you can move on from in order to add the potentially dynamic talent that is Pollock. I would be cautious. Maybe I’ll be wrong and he will star.

MCCUTCHEN IMPROVING

Andrew McCutchen has been a terrible performer this season given expectations. Period. But, a glimmer of hope.

In the month of August McCutchen is walking again with 14 walks versus 13 strikeouts in 17 games. He’s hitting a mere .267 but his OBP in August is .405.

McCutchen is also starting to hit the ball with more authority. In August his line drive rate is 27.7 percent while his hard hit percentage is 44.7 percent. Those numbers are markedly better than the rates he’s posted this season (23.0 percent and 34.7 percent). With all the concern all year about his exit velocity etc., it’s great to see McC squaring the ball up more effectively of late.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a start. Not saying he goes nuclear in September, but for those of you that have kept the faith, it might be rewarded.

THIS AND THAT

Tyler Glasnow’s shoulder is apparently alright and his rehab will move to Triple-A for his next start. Glasnow, who has been on the DL since July 24th with shoulder discomfort, tossed three scoreless innings in his last outing with six strikeouts, but yet again the walks dogged him as he threw only 30 of 57 pitches for strikes leading to three walks. “As the outing went on, I think his command improved,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “There was a little spray command in the first inning. He did throw all three pitches, his fastball — velocities were 93 to 95 (miles per hour) — he threw his curve ball, he threw his changeup. He threw his changeup more than anticipated, and they were pleased. As I said, as the outing got longer, he got better. That was a plus.” I’m not expecting much of anything in September.

Yulieski Gurriel is out of the Astros lineup yet again because of a wonky hamstring. That’s just one start in the big leagues for Gurriel since he’s been called up. Alex Bregman continues to play third for the ‘Stros and though he has performed better of late, we’re still talking about a rookie with a .230/.285/.407 slash line. Bregman does have four homers, 14 RBI and 16 runs scored in a decent big league start through 27 games, though it’s way off the expectations of folks who added him believing he would hit .300 right out of the gate.

Marcus Semien has been placed on the paternity leave list. The belief is that he will return to the Athletics lineup Friday. Semien has hit only .240 with a poor .302 OBP, but it’s hard not to like his game given his draft day cost as he’s gone deep 23 times with 55 RBI, 58 runs scored and nine steals. He’s been one of the better values at the shortstop position.

DFS DIAMONDS

*The following list of players are guys that Ray recommends as daily plays.

CATCHER: Russell Martin takes on Matt Shoemaker with the following success of late; he has two hits in 6-of-7 games. Over his last eight games he’s batting .469 with six homers, 13 RBI and nine runs scored.  

FIRST BASE: Ryan Zimmerman has a hit in all four games he’s played since he returned from the DL (six hits). He’s also scored four runs while hitting one homer. He’s gone 5-for-8 with four RBI against Wade Miley who has been blasted for 13 runs his last six innings.    

SECOND BASE: Dee Gordon is a solid start. He takes on the moderately successful Dillon Gee who has simply been unable to get lefties out this season allowing them to hit .316 with a .377 OBP and .435 SLG.    

THIRD BASE: Jake Lamb has a .284/.357/.637 slash line at home this year that includes 17 homers in 59 games. He crushed righties with a .287/.356/.584 slash line. He’s been cold of late, but he also faces Julio Teheran with three hits in five at-bats against the righty.

SHORTSTOP: Francisco Lindor has gone .337/.351/.435 in August with 15 runs scored in 22 games. He’s also hit .307 with a .819 OPS against righties as he takes on Kendall Graveman whom he has gone 4-for-8 against.   
  
OUTFIELD: Peter Bourjos has a hit in each of his last six games. He’s cheap. He takes on batting practice arm James Shields with five hits, including a homer, in 10 career at-bats.   

OUTFIELD:  Tyler Duffy cannot get righties out. Just can’t. Check out the slash line which is out of control: .315/.367/.529. Gotta have J.D. Martinez in the lineup today as he’s had two hits in 4-straight games and has powered four balls into the seats with four doubles his last nine games.

OUTFIELD: Adam Eaton has a hit in 6-straight games and over his last 10 outings he has 15 hits. Jerad Eickhoff has made seven starts since the All-Star Game in which he has allowed seven homers with a 4.20 ERA. It’s been worse in August as he has a 5.60 ERA and 1.47 WHIP with a .306 BAA. Lefties have a .278/.327/.446 line against Eickhoff.

 

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday, 8 PM EDT, Wednesday 7 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 11 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).