Author: Special from InsideInjuries.com
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on the DL earlier in the month with a pitching hand issue. Hendricks is a low injury risk according to Inside Injuries, but he may not return until after the All-Star break. Either way, if Montgomery continues to pitch the way he has in his last three starts, he should have no problem keeping a spot in the Cubs’ rotation. Over those three starts he has posted a 2.40 ERA and a 13:6 K:BB ratio over 15 innings. He’s also posted a 61 percent groundball rate, near the tops in baseball this season, which has been a big key to his success. If Montgomery is still available in your league, he should be a high priority pickup.
Seth Lugo SP, NYM
Mike Montgomery has made the most of his limited starts. Photo Credit: Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire
Lugo just recently returned from rehabbing the partially torn UCL that he suffered in during this year’s World Baseball Classic. He opted against surgery since the ligament was still intact so that he could come back much quicker. He is an elevated injury risk according to Inside Injuries, so there is some inherent risk with him. However, he has gotten through two solid starts without any hiccups. Lugo has given up four earned runs in 13.2 innings so far, impressive stats for a player who just returned from a injury. With the starting pitching crop being so weak, Lugo is very deserving of a look.
Sean Doolittle RP, OAK
Doolittle has converted the last two save opportunities for Oakland after Santiago Casilla was injured taking a foul ball off his non-throwing shoulder. Casilla isn’t expected to be out long, but the absence has given Doolittle the chance to show what he can do in the ninth inning. At this point, Doolittle has been one of the best relievers in baseball, even after coming off a shoulder injury that cost him the month of May. He has returned healthy (low IRC, peak HPF) and has posted some staggering numbers, including a .60 WHIP. He’s a superior pitcher to Casilla, so taking over the closer job full time in Oakland isn’t out of the question. Also, he’s a prime trade candidate, so if a contender in need of a closer makes a play for him, his value would shoot up overnight. He’s a great stash right now.
Matt Davidson DH, CHW
Yes, Davidson has a very high K-rate and all-or-nothing nature at the plate, but his numbers so far are too good to ignore at this point. He’s hit 16 homers in 54 games, and he is slashing .261/.303/.564 overall. While his average is likely to drop once his .351 BABIP regresses a bit, the power should stay due to his sky high 53.6 percent fly ball rate and a solid 41.2 percent hard hit rate. Guys with a 123 wRC+ aren’t usually sitting around, but Davidson is still available in most leagues. Designated hitters aren’t always the sexiest players depending on your league’s format given the lack of versatility, but Davidson’s hot bat is too much to ignore at this point.
Nick Pivetta SP, PHI
With the starting pitching position so depleted in Fantasy right now, you have to start taking note of anyone who puts together a couple of good starts in a row. Nick Pivetta has had two great starts in a row. In those starts, Pivetta has thrown 13 innings and given up three earned runs with a 19:3 K:BB ratio, which includes seven shutout innings against the Boston Red Sox. He’s starting to get comfortable at the Major League level after posting a 1.41 ERA in Triple A to start the season. He’s still only 25 and has a mid-90s fastball, so it’s not as though he doesn’t have any pedigree. He’s worth a look if you need a starter.
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