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This week we will be in part discussing the sleeper side of the David Price deal, why the Phillies are now a hot high-upside team, and why Joe Maddon gets a sick kick out of tossing around save opportunities. Buckle up.
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Deeper Leagues Waiver Wire Analysis
Matt Boyd (SP, DET) - Owned in 0% of fleaflicker leagues
While Daniel Norris took the spotlight among Detroit acquisitions in the blockbuster David Price trade, Matt Boyd could just as easily have a significant impact for the Tigers and for fantasy baseball managers. In his debut for the Tigers, Boyd pitched seven innings with one run, seven hits, zero walks, and two strikeouts. Since 2013, Boyd has dominated the minors with a 2.48 ERA, 0.989 WHIP, 0.6 HR/9, 2.1 BB/9, and 9.2 K/9. He had a better minor league career than Norris in terms of ERA and WHIP. If you are looking for a high upside sleeper in a deep league, be brave enough to look past Boyd's poor performance in Toronto.
John Ryan Murphy (C, NYY) Owned in 1% of fleaflicker leagues
John Ryan Murphy might sound like a child actor on a 1980s sitcom, but he is actually one of the hottest hitting catchers in baseball. He's had an opportunity to play recently - Brian McCann was sidelined with a knee injury. Murphy currently has a .297 BA, .742 OPS, 107 OPS+, six doubles, one triple, one HR, and 13 runs in 101 AB. He hits more comfortably in Yankee stadium with a .772 home OPS and hits much better against RHP with a .808 OPS vs righties.
Murphy has been very consistent as of late. In the last 28 days, he has a 1.080 OPS. In the last 14 days, he has a 1.105 OPS. In the last seven days, he has a 1.136 OPS. Murphy had a .932 OPS in July and currently has a 1.167 OPS for the month of August. He is a good stash in two catcher leagues given that Brian McCann is historically a bit injury prone. While Brian McCann is out, fantasy baseball managers in deeper leagues should capitalize on Murphy's hot hitting.
Ryan Raburn (OF, CLE) Owned in 1% of fleaflicker leagues
After dealing David Murphy and Brandon Moss, it would have seemed like Ryan Raburn was on a much faster track to increased playing time. That turned out to not necessarily be the case due to the calling up of Lonnie Chisenhall and Tyler Holt. Based on how Raburn is playing, that should soon change.
In total this season Raburn has five HR, a .277 BA, a .855 OPS, and a 133 OPS+. Tyler Holt currently has a BA of .063 and Chisenhall has an OPS of just .608. In the last seven days in four AB Raburn has a .500 BA and a 1.750 OPS. He has produced a .900 OPS vs LHP on the season and a .921 OPS outside of Cleveland. With Cleveland's new outfield offense struggling, Raburn should be finding a path to more and more playing time.
Tommy Hunter (RP, CHC) Owned in 3% of fleaflicker leagues
The closers for the Cubs go round and round, round and round, round and round. That may be a bit of an overly spastic song cover after just one save by Tommy Hunter since his move to Chicago, but it is no overreaction for any fantasy baseball manager in deep or holds leagues. After being the subject of much trade deadline speculation, the Cubs decided to improve in a cheap and marginal manner by acquiring Marlins pitcher Dan Haren and Orioles reliever Hunter.
Since joining the Cubs, Hunter has a 0.00 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, 1.89 FIP, and one save in one and two-thirds IP. In total, Hunter has a 3.50 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 3.29 FIP, 0.6 HR/9, and 2.1 BB/9 in 46 and one-third IP. Hunter is able to effectively limit damage by producing a 1.19 GO/FO ratio and an infield fly ball percentage of 19%. The Cubbies and Joe Maddon already seem to trust Hunter in high leverage situations (trust that took Jason Motte half a season to gain and then lose again). Don't be surprised if he earns more save opportunities.
Domonic Brown (OF, PHI) Owned in 7% of fleaflicker leagues
In 2013, Domonic Brown became one of baseball's hottest breakout players as he hit 27 HR, stole eight bases, and had an .818 OPS. He has since then mirrored the Phillies disappointing play by hitting for a .634 OPS last season and starting this season just as poorly. Brown, however, has found a way to turn his play at the plate around just as the Phillies have done after the All-Star break. In the last 14 days, he has hit one double, one triple, two HR, nine RBI, stolen one base, scored five runs, while hitting for a .294 BA, and a .873 OPS. If you want to gamble on a post-hype sleeper, he's your guy.
Ken Giles (RP, PHI) Owned in 11% of fleaflicker leagues
It was looking like a bit of a squeaker, but Jonathan Papelbon has finally departed Philadelphia, leaving Ken Giles to take over the closer role. That didn't used to be a very enviable position, but since the All-Star break, the Phillies have one of the best records in baseball, going 12-5 in the second half . Being the Phillies closer is suddenly a much more valuable position for fantasy baseball managers, especially when that particular pitcher is widely available.
So far in 2015, Giles has a 1.72 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 2.34 FIP, 0.2 HR/9, 11.3 K/9, and has accumulated three saves in the last 14 days. Giles had a rougher start to the season with a May ERA of 4.50 but has stepped up in a big way with a 1.42 June ERA, a 0.77 July ERA, and has pitched one and one-third scoreless innings in August so far. Giles should be an automatic add in all leagues.
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