Batter’s Box: Duda Twist Just Like This

Monday’s game made two straight games with a home run for Lucas Duda, as he went 2-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI. Duda has been a useful fantasy asset many times in the past, and he’s doing the same thing he always does this year. Duda had a brief DL stint and I think that’s why he’s so widely-available in fantasy leagues right now, but he should be owned in a lot more (he’s available in around 92% of ESPN leagues). Over the past month, Duda has been hitting .273/.377/.591, and while I think he’s more of a .250s hitter, you’ll take that streak any time. If you’re in an OBP league, I think Duda should absolutely be owned, because the guy has the ability to hit 25-30 home runs and he’s walking 13.5% of the time right now. The main thing that’s drawn people away from Duda has been the average, but if you’ve got OBP instead of average, that disadvantage goes away, as he should end the year with an OBP in the .350s, which is more than useful when coupled with his power and RBIs. If you’re in need of power, take a look at Duda, he’s probably available.

Let’s take a look at some of the other performances from Monday:

Eugenio Suarez (3B, CIN) – 1-3, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI. Suarez has been getting dropped quite a bit lately, and his .177 month might have something to do with it. The other thing that would likely have something to do with it is his lack of steals. Otherwise, Suarez is doing exactly what he did last year with his average and power. But the appeal to him was the power/speed combo and it doesn’t look like the speed part of that combo is keeping up. At a corner infield spot, I can understand why Suarez would be tough to hang on to, though in an OBP league, I think he should still be owned because he’s upped his walk rate to 12.4%, which is nice. But in a standard league, if there’s something better out there (say, Lucas Duda?), I don’t have a problem dropping Suarez.

Steve Pearce (1B/OF, TOR) – 2-3, 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI. Once again, Steve Pearce has been weirdly useful this year when he’s healthy, as he’s batting .279 on the year with eight home runs, and honestly, I don’t see any reason he can’t end the year with 16-20 home runs while batting in the high-.260s/low-.270s the rest of the way. The only issue with Pearce is that his playing time is inconsistent, which caps his fantasy value a bit, but in deeper leagues, I think he’s worth a look.

Orlando Arcia (SS, MIL) – 2-4, 1 RBI, 3 SB. After not having attempted a stolen base since June 28, Arcia stole three bases on Monday, obviously as an apology to fantasy owners. Arcia’s bat has gotten a lot better a lot faster than most people would’ve expected, and I think it’s fairly legit. The strikeouts have come down (the walks have too unfortunately) and he’s showing himself to be a good average hitter with decent pop and speed. Personally I’d like to see more consistent stolen base attempts, but Arcia looks to be turning into quite a good player and should have a really bright future.

Gregory Polanco (OF, PIT) – 4-4, 2 R, 2 RBI. Gregory Polanco has been fine this season, but it hasn’t been the awesome season everyone wanted out of him. That being said, he’s still a perfectly serviceable player and not someone you should be concerned about. I recommended him this week because the Pirates are facing a bunch of righties and I’d highly recommend keeping him in your lineups this week. I think Polanco’s rise in average is legit, he’s cut down on strikeouts a lot and I give him a ton of credit or that, though the power and steals haven’t been to last year’s rate (or higher like some hoped), but I think he’ll get close. A 20/20 year is possible, but I think it’s more likely he’ll end the year with around 16-19 home runs and a similar number of steals, all while batting in the .260s/.270s. He’s not incredible, but he’s very useful and shouldn’t be available in 35% of ESPN leagues he’s available in.

Giancarlo Stanton (OF, MIA) – 2-3, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI. I’m just mentioning Stanton because of the awesome night he had on Monday. Dude crushes home runs, no surprises there (and I still think my bold prediction on him leading the NL in home runs just may come true).

Justin Bour (1B, MIA) – 1-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI. I’m mentioning Bour because if you’re in one of those 36% of ESPN leagues that he’s available in, SHAME ON YOU. Bour absolutely should be owned in every. single. league.