By Dalton Del Don
Over his last nine games, Yunel Escobar is hitting .467 with four home runs, 14 RBI and eight runs scored. While he’s never going to be a big power/speed guy, he’s already eclipsed last year’s HR total in 203 fewer at-bats. Although Escobar has frustrated Braves’ management at times, leading to rumors of a trade, there’s no questioning how valuable he’s been in the batter’s box. In fact, his .857 OPS ranks third best in all of baseball among shortstops, and while his ridiculous .442/.457/.767 line with RISP is certain to regress, Escobar has established himself as a top-10 fantasy shortstop.
Garrett Jones has been a terrific surprise since joining the Pirates, leading MLB with nine homers during July. Incredibly, every single one has been a solo shot, leaving him with just 11 RBI despite an .821 slugging percentage over 67 at-bats. Jones is 28 years old and posted a modest .821 OPS in Triple-A last year (although he did lead the International League in total bases with 255) and recorded an .850 OPS in the minors before getting recalled this season, so he’s hardly a legit prospect. Still, despite being 6-4, 245 lbs, he had 14 steals over 72 games in the minors this year, so his three swipes for Pittsburgh aren’t a total fluke. Jones’ huge month looks especially impressive because he’s had so much success against lefties (four homers, 1.173 OPS), but he’s definitely been playing well over his head.
Over his past 17.2 innings, Phil Hughes has allowed zero runs with a remarkable 22:3 K:BB ratio. Clearly, he’s taken well moving to the pen. His long-term role remains to be seen, but he definitely makes since as a setup guy for this current Yankees team, and it’s going to be awful tough scoring late-inning runs against New York in the postseason.
Miguel Montero has been unconscious of late, hitting .404 over his last 13 games, including five long balls and 11 RBI over his past eight contests. He’s improved his work behind the plate quite a bit as well, so while he’s bound to lose playing time once Chris Snyder returns, he could be looking at the better side of a platoon as the left-handed hitter. Montero’s .759 career OPS suggests this breakout isn’t a total fluke, and he’s been consistently batting fifth in the lineup and calls the second best hitter’s park in baseball home, so he’s not a bad option at a shallow position, at least in deeper leagues.
During two games against the A’s (one on Monday and the other on Wednesday) this week, the Twins allowed a whopping 30 runs and 40 hits. Amazingly, the staff recorded just one strikeout over that span – coming on Oakland’s final batter of the last game. The A’s currently (even after the outburst) rank last in the American League in batting average (.250), home runs (78) and slugging percentage (.379).
Jair Jurrjens has an impressive 2.67 ERA and 1.20 WHIP this season, but with an accompanying 1.87 K:BB ratio, it seems a huge regression should be in store. However, further investigation reveals he has only been truly lucky in April (16:14 K:BB ratio with a 1.72 ERA), so while his xFIP (4.47) reveals a major sell-high candidate, it’s worth noting just how much he’s improved his pitching since the lucky first month of the year. Jurrjens’ K rate has improved to 7.2/9 over his last 80 innings, and his impressive 2.70 ERA over his previous nine starts looks even better when you consider his schedule has featured the Red Sox twice along with the Phillies and another start in Coors Field. Of course, his 6.1% HR/F rate and .264 BABIP suggest him keeping a sub-3.00 ERA very unlikely, but Jurrjens’ development has been encouraging. And to think, the Braves traded a much more expensive Edgar Renteria for him (and also got back Gorkys Hernandez).
Somewhat quietly, Jason Kubel has been one of baseball’s best hitters against right-handers this season, as he’s posted a 1.057 OPS with a remarkable 16 homers over 214 at-bats. To put that in perspective, Carlos Pena, who is currently tied for the AL lead in homers this season, has hit a HR once every 13.9 at-bats this year. Kubel has hit a HR once every 13.4 at-bats against righties. If you prorated his numbers against right-handers over a 600 AB season, you’d get this: .347, 45 homers, 126 RBI and 104 runs scored. Of course, Kubel does have to face southpaws, making this little exercise somewhat pointless, but it illustrates just how productive he’s been when facing right-handed pitching.
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