Carlos Gonzalez (OF, COL) - Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 35% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez has a hit in each game that he has started this month, hitting a home run on July 8 and two homers on July 11. He has 15 extra base hits since the beginning of June (including five home runs), knocking in 20 runs, and scoring 28 runs. Gonzalez has a .297 batting average in the same time period and has posted a .517 slugging percentage as well.

While Gonzalez is hitting well, he has hit 56.7% ground balls. Even with a strong 36.3% hard hit ball rate, fantasy owners will hope Gonzalez drives the ball more. Considering that he has hit that many ground balls, his .349 BABIP is pretty lucj and his batting average will likely drop over time. His 14.4% line drive rate since June 1 is not good, but his 28.9% fly ball rate does explain why he has hit more home runs recently.

When he is going good, Gonzalez is a streaky hitter that can go off for home runs in bunches; his 40 homer season in 2015 shows that. Another good sign is that Gonzalez has been hitting cleanup more often (seven times since June 23) and RBI in five straight starts show that he can be a good run producer. He should be owned in all deeper leagues.