Category Power Rankings: Week 2

Another week of baseball in the books, which means another fresh edition of CPR!

 

Batting Average (AVG)

 

Top 25

 

 

Off the list: Ketel Marte (injury)

I am convinced that Nelson Cruz is going to play forever. The guy didn’t even play the first three games of the season and he has already mashed four homers and nine RBI. “Boomstick” is currently hitting .458 through eight games and his average exit velo sits in the 98th percentile. Simply put: Nelson Cruz is not slowing down anytime soon.

 

Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)

 

 

Off the list: David Peralta, César Hernández, Raimel Tapia

Those in deeper leagues should consider giving Andrelton Simmons a look. The veteran shortstop is a .285 hitter across the past three seasons and he is off to a hot start in 2021 batting .435. Simmons has always had a good profile of making consistent contact without striking out so if you are in need of AVG in deep leagues, you could do a lot worse.

 

Runs (R)

 

Top 25

 

 

Off the list: George Springer (injury)

Personal opinions aside, Jose Altuve is of to a nice start at the plate this year. Currently leading the league in runs scored, there have been only two contests thus far that Altuve has not come across to score. As long as he is hitting atop that Houston order, he should produce for fantasy managers.

 

Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)

 

 

Off the list: Joc Pederson, Carlos Santana, Joey Votto

If you haven’t picked up the white hot Tyler Naquin in your league yet, it is probably too late. Naquin has shown promise in the past but staying healthy has always been an issue. This pace he is on is certainly unsustainable but you might as well ride this hot streak out while you can.

 

Home Runs (HR)

 

Top 25

 

 

Off the list: George Springer (injury), Trevor Story

Nick Castellanos is looking like the hitter we were hoping to get last year in his first year with Cincinnati. He is barreling up the ball really well so far and as long as everything continues to go right, we could be looking at a 30+ HR season from Castellanos.

 

Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)

 

 

Off the list: Bobby Dalbec, Rowdy Tellez, Carlos Santana, Austin Riley

How fun is it to see guys like Evan Longoria looking like the Longo of old? He already has three round trippers through his first seven games. The veteran third baseman has not been fantasy relevant in a few years but he is worth keeping an eye on just in case.

 

Runs Batted In (RBI)

 

Top 25

 

 

Off the list: Alex Bregman, Mike Moustakas

After a slow start to the year, Rafael Devers has four homers and nine RBI in his last three games. As long as the 24-year old is hitting around the likes of Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez, he will be given every opportunity to be an elite run producer.

 

Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)

 

 

Off the list: Bobby Dalbec, Carlos Santana, Brian Anderson

Jonathan India has carried his great spring into the regular season thus far. A former first round pick in 2018, India has driven in 11 runs so far through his first eight career games. He has shown poor plate discipline to this point at the Major League level so expectations should be tempered a bit, but India should be owned across the board right now based on his upside alone.

 

Stolen Bases (SB)

 

Top 25

 

 

Off the list: Adalberto Mondesi (injury), Francisco Lindor

Not a lot of substantial stuff here. The majority of the movement is based off of injuries. 

 

Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)

 

 

Off the list: None

Ditto for this list. Garrett Hampson appears to be getting everyday run at the leadoff position for the Rockies which should lead to many opportunities for swipes. We have all been waiting for that.

 

On-Base Percentage (OBP)

 

Top 25

 

 

Off the list: George Springer (injury)

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. showed great plate discipline during spring training and he has carried it into the regular season. This kid is still figuring it out at the dish and that really is scary to think about.

 

Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)

 

 

Off the list: Hunter Dozier, Andrew Vaughn

One of the most underrated hitters in all of baseball, Mark Canha is an absolute stud in OBP leagues. Over the past three seasons, Canha owns a .393 OBP and is already sitting at .391 in the early going this year.

 

Wins (W)

 

Top 25

 

 

Off the list: Jesús Luzardo, Marco Gonzales

One run given up across 14 IP so far through two starts, yet zero wins to show for it. Yep, you guessed it, that could only be one Jacob deGrom’s misfortune. We are witnessing one of the greats do what he does best night in and night out and he is getting no run support. There is a decent chance deGrom finishes with a Hall of Fame caliber career but yet compiles only around 100 wins. Absolute shame.

 

Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)

 

 

Off the list: Zach Davies (ownership), Brady Singer, Justus Sheffield, Carlos Martínez

Turning back the clock in his last outing, Johnny Cueto looked as good as ever. As long as good health is on his side, Cueto should be able to eat a ton of innings for the Giants and thus leading to a handful of wins.

 

Earned Run Average (ERA)

 

Top 25

 

 

Off the list: Zac Gallen (injury), Sonny Gray (injury), Sixto Sánchez

On the heels of a no hitter, Joe Musgrove is making the entire fantasy community smile from ear to ear. We have been waiting for this version of Musgrove, and by this version of Musgrove I mean the version that does not rely on his heater as much. He is looking more and more like a massive breakout in his first season in San Diego.

 

Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)

 

 

Off the list: Zach Davies (ownership), Freddy Peralta (ownership), Elieser Hernandez (injury), Brad Keller, Justus Sheffield, Nate Pearson

Through two starts with Toronto, Steven Matz is off and running with a 2-0 record and a 1.46 ERA. It will certainly get tougher in terms of matchups, but you could do a lot worse right now seeing as Matz is owned in merely 55% oh Yahoo leagues and 51% on ESPN.

 

Strikeouts (K)

 

Top 25

 

 

Off the list: Robbie Ray, Sonny Gray (injury)

While he may be unable to go deep into games and begin to wear down as the summer months come around, Corbin Burnes is still looking like an elite source of punch outs. For the time being, expect a double digit K/9 while pitching in one of the weaker hitting divisions in baseball.

 

Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)

 

 

Off the list: N/A

It has been announced that Freddy Peralta will get a shot in the rotation to start the year for the Brewers, much to the delight of fantasy players. Peralta has absolutely wipeout stuff. He finally began to lay off his fastball as he was up to almost 80% usage with it in 2019. The increased use of his slider has spiked his strikeout numbers and has fantasy owners salivating over the potential if he is able to stick in the rotation.

 

Saves (SV)

 

Top 25

 

 

Off the list: Trevor Rosenthal (injury), Jordan Romano, Archie Bradley, Jordan Hicks, Joakim Soria, Anthony Bass

While it may not last long, it certainly is fun to finally watch Alex Reyes pitch in meaningful games and in important spots for the Cardinals as closer. Jordan Hicks seems poised to take over the role as soon as Reyes slips up, but here’s to hoping we never see that day come.

 

Deep League Top 10 (>12-Team leagues/65% owned or less)

 

 

Off the list: Anthony Bass, Héctor Neris (ownership), Emilio Pagán, Jake McGee (ownership), Joakim Soria, Diego Castillo (ownership), Pete Fairbanks (injury), Greg Holland, Adam Ottavino

The bulk of these guys are super low end closing options and/or insurance policies for upper end closers.

 

WHIP (Walks+Hits/Innings Pitched)

 

Top 25

 

 

Off the list: Zac Gallen (injury), Sonny Gray (injury)

Fresh off his breakout 2020, Zach Plesac is looking like it was not a fluke 55 innings a year ago. One thing Plesac has done throughout his pro carer is limit baserunners. Through two starts he owns a shiny 0.85 WHIP.

 

Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)

 

 

Off the list: Freddy Peralta (ownership), John Means (ownership), Elieser Hernandez (injury), Madison Bumgarner, Rich Hill, Nate Pearson

Yusei Kikuchi has steadily improved each year since coming to the states. Two starts in and the lefty has limited baserunners to the tune of a 1.17 WHIP. Kikuchi may not be must-own but he needs to be considered in the right matchup for streaming purposes.

 

Quality Starts (QS)

 

Top 25

 

 

Off the list: Zac Gallen (injury), Sixto Sánchez

Tyler Glasnow had three total quality starts all of last year. Through two starts in 2021 the talented righty already has a pair of them.

 

Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)

 

 

Off the list: Carlos Martínez, John Means (ownership), Adam Wainwright, Brad Keller, Griffin Canning

The Jake Arrieta reunion in Chicago has gone pretty well so far. Jake has two quality starts in as many turns and appears to be a decent streaming option against weaker lineups. Just don’t get too greedy.

 

Featured image by Justin Paradis (@freshmeatcomm on Twitter)