Studs
Adam Jones, BAL - Even though Jones had his 9-game hitting streak snapped last week, he rattled off a 3-hit game and a 4-hit game against Boston and now has an amazing 1.290 OPS while leading the AL in batting average at .442.
Nelson Cruz, SEA - It's always tough to determine what's a fluke and what's a legitimate hot streak, but hopefully you didn't question it too long with Cruz. In five games, Cruz hammered six home runs, then picked up three hits, then homered two more times just two games later. After starting the season 1-for-15, Cruz now leads the majors in home runs with eight.
Stephen Vogt, OAK - We should probably stop being surprised by little known Oakland players having massive fantasy success, but this has been ridiculous. Vogt has always been a good contact hitter, but the added power has pushed him to a new level. He's currently fourth in the bigs in OPS (1.184) after homering three times in the last week.
Jose Iglesias, DET - Aside from Vogt, he's probably been the biggest surprise stud out there. Iglesias recorded a hit in six straight games last week, and he's now hitting .400 on the season. We'll see if he can keep it up, but at a shallow position for fantasy production, he's been money in the bank.
Trevor Bauer, CLE - Anytime you're tied with Clayton Kershaw in a pitching category, you're probably doing something right. Bauer and Kershaw are tied for the ML lead in strikeouts with 26, and while it's hard to imagine Bauer will hang with him for much longer, his first three starts have been pretty special. If he can limit his walks (11 through 19 innings) and continue to make bats miss, Bauer will be well worth starting.
Duds
Milwaukee's Bats - This is where fantasy dreams have gone to die. Aramis Ramirez is hitting .149 this season with no walks in 47 at bats. Jonathan Lucroy will miss the next 4-6 weeks, essentially adding injury to insult after starting the season with a .156 average. Ryan Braun has a .582 OPS. Scooter Gennett is hitting .207. Go Bucks?
Chase Utley, PHI - Is this the end of the road? Utley has been an incredibly productive fantasy player for the last decade, but he's just 5-for-46 to start the season and his ownership rate in FOX Sports leagues has dropped to 64.5 percent.
Jon Lester, CHC - The $155 million dollar man has a 6.89 ERA in his first three starts, but the narrative is scarier than the numbers. Has he contracted a case of the yips? Is not being able to throw to first base just the beginning? This all seems way too Cubs.
Ross Detwiler, TEX - It's highly doubtful you have him on your fantasy team, but a duds list wouldn't be complete without him. In three starts, Detwiler has a 10.95 ERA and a WHIP that looks more like a GPA (2.59). He's given up as many home runs as he has strikeouts. It took him 67 pitches to get seven outs in his last start. Woof.
Team Hitting, MLB - A time traveler from the 90's is disappointed in the lack of flying cars, robot maids and the lack of scoring in baseball...probably in that order. The average for all MLB teams in 2015 is a .246 batting average with a .700 OPS. In 1999, the league average was .271 with a .778 OPS. At least we can comfort 90's man by explaining that baseball cards are still a big deal.
