Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun looks like he will head into September on a hot streak and fantasy owners are yelling "It's about time!". Braun went 4-4 with 2 RBI, 3 runs scored and a HR. He is hitting .300-.358-.485 with 19 HRs and just 79 RBIs this season, but should still be a Top 5 outfielder in 2011, but fantasy owners should take notice of the drop in HRs for the 2nd year in a row.
Tigers starter Rick Porcello threw his second solid start in a row, limiting the Blue Jays to one run on 3 hits in 7 innings of work. I wouldn't put him back on my roster till he can prove he can pitch like this a few more times.
Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez went 3-4 with 2 HRs and 4 RBIs on Sunday. He is now hitting .326 with 29 HRs, 90 RBIs, and 20 SBs. He is a lock for 30-20 this season, and could go 35-35 with a little more than a month left in the season. I was talking with an owner in my big money NL-only league and he asked if CarGo could be the #1 pick in our draft next season. I say he could, but I am not sure, I would take him at #1.
Rockies second baseman Eric Young Jr. went 1-4 with 2 runs scored on Sunday. He also stole his 12th base of the season, in just 90 at bats. If he wins the Rockies second base job in 2011, he could easily steal 40+ bases.
Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie threw 8.1 shutout innings vs the Angels on Sunday. He outdueled Angels starter Jered Weaver, giving up just 4 hits, a walk, and struck out 5. Meanwhile, Weaver did what Weaver does, he struck out 11 Orioles in 8 innings.
Yankees rookie starter Ivan Nova held the White Sox to one run in 5+ innings, giving up 5 hits, a walks and striking out 7. He is one of many solid pitching prospects in the Yankees farm system, as the Yankees have anywhere from 5-7 solid pitching prospects in their upper minors.
Reds centerfielder Drew Stubbs went 3-5 with 3 runs scored and 2 SBs on Sunday. He is now hitting .242-.306-.413 with 15 HRs, 59 RBIs and 24 SBs in 409 at bats. He has a horrific 133-37 K/BB rate, but the 24 SBs are valuable.
The Dodgers will hand over Manny Ramirez to the White Sox on Monday, ending Manny's Dodgers career. I will never forget how well he hit the last two months of the 2008 season after being dealt to the Dodgers. Hall of famer for me. Not so for many others.
Marlins outfielder Mike Stanton is a streaky hitter. Several weeks ago, he won the NL player of the week honor, but since then, he has seen his BA drop 35 points down to .238. In his last 10 games, he has gone 1-34 with 15 strikeouts. The question going into the 2011 season will be can he reduce the strikeouts and maintain a BA above .240-.250? I say he will, as he has a solid work ethic and has been very successful at all levels in the minors. Experts were asking the same questions prior to the 2010 season with Stanton starting in AA. He proved to be dominant.
Diamondbacks shortstop Stephen Drew has been one the best hitters in the majors in the last week. On Sunday, he went 4-5 with a HR, 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. In his last 6 games, he has gone 14-28, with 4 HRs, 9 RBIs and 10 runs scored.