Week 20 of the regular season was another exciting one. The Washington Nationals frustrations have finally boiled over as the Braves and Nats have been throwing at one another in almost every single game. The Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers are playing phenomenal baseball and the Houston Astros are still horrible. Below is the best and worst performances as far as fantasy baseball goes.
The five worst performances of the week.
5. Pedro Alvarez, Third Basemen, Pittsburgh Pirates
The big home run hitter for the Pirates had a slightly less impressive week. He is currently at 29 home runs which is tied for first in the NL. Over his past six games things have not been going very well. He is batting .185 and has struck out 11 times which is the second most in baseball. As everyone knows he can hit the homerun ball and he did manage to hit two out this week. This is a guy who will continue to hit home runs and you should keep him in your lineup.
4. Wil Myers, Outfielder, Tampa Bay Rays
The rookie phenom for the Rays has finally ran into a slump. His .174 batting average is towards the bottom of the league and his nine strikeouts is nothing to brag about either. He did hit one home run. This guy was bound to cool off at some point and you should assume that he will figure things out again soon. Don’t be too worried about this guy just yet.
3. Michael Bourn, Outfielder, Cleveland Indians
The lighting quick outfielder for the Indians had a rough week. Like Myers, Bourn had nine strikeouts as well and had only three RBIs. This type of thing happens to players every year and Bourn is no different. If you have him on your team don’t be panicking. Just hope that he can bounce back next week and hopefully help your team make the playoffs.
2. Ian Kennedy, Starting Pitcher, San Diego Padres
Kennedy does not seem to be fitting in very well in San Diego. He was traded from the Diamondbacks after having another disappointing first half and he hasn’t bounced back since. He has started two games in the past week and received a no decision in one of them and a loss in the other. He has given up more homers than any other pitcher in baseball over this time at four. His ERA is nothing great either as he checked in at a 4.97. If you haven’t dropped this guy from your team yet it is time.
1. Chase Headley, First Basemen, San Diego Padres
After having such a great 2012 in which he won a Silver Slugger things have been the complete opposite in 2013. This week has been especially brutal. Ten strikeouts and zero hits with no RBIs is what Headley did for fantasy owners this week. He has slowly been dropping in fantasy ownership and is now below the 85 percent mark. This has not been his year and it is safe to say you can drop this guy now.
Five best performances of week 20.
5. Chris Davis, First Basemen, Baltimore Orioles
What more can you say about this guy. Even if he didn’t hit another home run all year it wouldn’t matter. Davis was being drafted in about the 15th to 20th round of most drafts and has put up top five numbers. We all know that the batting average isn’t going to be .300 but when he hits so many home runs it doesn’t matter. He added three more to his total this week putting him at 44 for the season. I for one drafted this guy but had no idea this would happen. Here is to you Mr. Davis for making me and other fantasy owners look like geniuses.
4. Alex Wood, Starting Pitcher, Atlanta Braves
The rookie has been amazing this year and had a great week. He had two no decisions but kept his team in both of those games. His ERA over that time period was a 0.73 which is amazing. He also had the second most strikeouts of any pitcher at 16. This guy is owned in about 50 percent of leagues but you could see that number go up a lot come Monday. If you need pitching go and pick this guy up. The Braves have done it again with another great rookie pitcher out of the system.
3. Hunter Pence, Outfielder, San Francisco Giants
One of the most awkward players in baseball checks in at number three. Pence is doing all he can to at least get this team to a .500 record after having a very disappointing season. In the past six games though Pence drove in nine men and walked twice. He didn’t hit a homerun but any fantasy owner would be happy with a .360 batting average. Continue to start this guy even if the Giants are playing like trash this year.
2. Miguel Cabrera, Third Basemen, Detroit Tigers
Do I even have to say anything about this guy here. You already know that he hit some home runs for you, four to be exact. He also drove in seven and walked four times. This guy is the best hitter in the game today bar none and is continuing to do what he does. Cabrera is great and that is that. Keep starting this guy, obviously.
1. Alfonso Soriano, Outfielder, New York Yankees
Soriano told the Cubs that he would only go to the Yankees and his wish was granted. Something must have switched when he made the move and has been tearing the cover off the ball ever since. He has 19 RBIs in his past six games and has batted .483 over that time. He drove in 17 runs in four games which is tied with Sammy Sosa for the most ever. Soriano might just be the guy that the Yankees need to spark this club.