Fantasy Greats Between The All-Star Breaks
Image credit: Jeff McNeil (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
With the Futures Game and All-Star Game in the rearview mirror, we look forward to the second half of the 2019 season.
But before we embark, let’s pause to review the fantasy standouts (standard 5×5 format) in the past calendar year, i.e. the period in between the 2018 all-star break and the just-completed 2019 break.
BATTING AVERAGE
Min. 500 PA
No. | Name | G | PA | AVG |
1 | Christian Yelich | 147 | 659 | .346 |
2 | Jeff McNeil | 139 | 566 | .340 |
3 | Justin Turner | 137 | 570 | .320 |
4 | Anthony Rendon | 136 | 594 | .319 |
Michael Brantley | 143 | 625 | .319 | |
6 | J.D. Martinez | 137 | 609 | .316 |
Cody Bellinger | 155 | 621 | .316 | |
8 | Charlie Blackmon | 138 | 631 | .315 |
9 | DJ LeMahieu | 138 | 619 | .309 |
10 | Mike Trout | 130 | 571 | .306 |
Hats off to the Mets’ Jeff McNeil, who debuted last July 24 and has done nothing but hit ever since. He leads the majors with a .349 average this season.
Bringing up the rear among batters with 500 PAs are Brandon Crawford (.211), Jake Bauers (.213), Brian Dozier (.214), Jose Ramirez (.218) and Kyle Schwarber (.225), Justin Smoak (.226), Asdrubal Cabrera (.227), Rougned Odor (.228), Brett Gardner (.230) and Matt Carpenter (.231).
HOME RUNS
No. | Name | G | PA | HR |
1 | Christian Yelich | 147 | 659 | 56 |
2 | Hunter Renfroe | 141 | 536 | 46 |
3 | Khris Davis | 138 | 583 | 43 |
4 | Mike Trout | 130 | 571 | 42 |
5 | Ronald Acuña Jr. | 158 | 715 | 40 |
Rhys Hoskins | 156 | 682 | 40 | |
7 | Cody Bellinger | 155 | 621 | 38 |
Joey Gallo | 116 | 472 | 38 | |
9 | Javier Baez | 157 | 656 | 37 |
10 | Trevor Story | 139 | 600 | 36 |
Most notable here is the Padres’ Hunter Renfroe, who mashed 19 homers in the second half last year and 27 in the first half this year. He ranks third during the period—behind Christian Yelich and Mike Trout—with a .327 isolated slugging percentage.
One more fun fact: Renfroe was probably available on your league’s waiver wire one year ago.
RUNS BATTED IN
No. | Name | G | PA | RBI |
1 | Christian Yelich | 147 | 659 | 134 |
2 | Anthony Rendon | 136 | 594 | 109 |
Nolan Arenado | 154 | 660 | 109 | |
4 | Bryce Harper | 155 | 676 | 108 |
5 | Freddie Freeman | 158 | 693 | 105 |
6 | Xander Bogaerts | 143 | 620 | 104 |
7 | Cody Bellinger | 155 | 621 | 103 |
8 | Khris Davis | 138 | 583 | 102 |
9 | Javier Baez | 157 | 656 | 101 |
Marcell Ozuna | 136 | 577 | 101 |
Xander Bogaerts and Javier Baez stand out in this group for their uncommon run production as middle infielders. Every other player on the list is a corner player.
STOLEN BASES
No. | Name | G | PA | SB |
1 | Adalberto Mondesi | 131 | 557 | 55 |
2 | Mallex Smith | 128 | 562 | 47 |
3 | Whit Merrifield | 158 | 718 | 41 |
4 | Trea Turner | 116 | 539 | 38 |
Jonathan Villar | 143 | 615 | 38 | |
6 | Jose Ramirez | 148 | 643 | 32 |
7 | Christian Yelich | 147 | 659 | 29 |
8 | Amed Rosario | 151 | 641 | 28 |
Billy Hamilton | 139 | 491 | 28 | |
10 | Ronald Acuña Jr. | 158 | 715 | 27 |
Trevor Story | 139 | 600 | 27 |
The Royals’ Adalberto Mondesi and the Nationals’ Trea Turner combine killer basestealing instincts with elite speed. They rank eighth and third, respectively, on the Statcast sprint speed leaderboard.
RUNS
No. | Name | G | PA | R |
1 | Mookie Betts | 146 | 677 | 127 |
2 | Christian Yelich | 147 | 659 | 124 |
3 | Ronald Acuña Jr. | 158 | 715 | 122 |
4 | Charlie Blackmon | 138 | 631 | 113 |
5 | Matt Chapman | 153 | 674 | 111 |
6 | Anthony Rendon | 136 | 594 | 109 |
7 | Whit Merrifield | 158 | 718 | 108 |
8 | Trevor Story | 139 | 600 | 106 |
9 | Freddie Freeman | 158 | 693 | 104 |
10 | DJ LeMahieu | 138 | 619 | 103 |
Reigning American League MVP Mookie Betts may be having a “down” year by his standards—.272 average, 124 OPS+—but he still leads the majors with 77 runs scored this season. Betts also has more walks than strikeouts, and his Statcast expected stats suggest he has hit into bad luck this year.
That could be good news for Betts owners—and Red Sox fans—hoping for a big second half.
WINS
No. | Name | GS | IP | W |
1 | Justin Verlander | 32 | 203 | 17 |
2 | Max Scherzer | 32 | 215 | 15 |
Zack Wheeler | 30 | 194 | 15 | |
Kyle Hendricks | 30 | 184 | 15 | |
Zack Greinke | 32 | 208 | 15 | |
Lucas Giolito | 30 | 170 | 15 |
Jacob deGrom can’t buy a win, but Mets rotation-mate Zack Wheeler has notched 15 over the past calendar year, despite an ERA that is roughly a run higher.
The other notable here is White Sox righty Lucas Giolito, who leads the majors with 11 wins this season. He has taken matters into his own hands with two complete games, including one shutout.
Thirteen pitchers are tied with 14 wins: German Marquez, Gerrit Cole, Shane Bieber, Blake Snell, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Noah Syndergaard, Charlie Morton, Stephen Strasburg, Mike Minor, Kyle Gibson, Jon Lester, J.A. Happ and Mike Fiers.
EARNED RUN AVERAGE
Min. 150 IP
No. | Name | GS | IP | ERA |
1 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | 26 | 162 | 1.78 |
2 | Luis Castillo | 29 | 172 | 2.35 |
3 | Max Scherzer | 32 | 215 | 2.47 |
4 | Jacob deGrom | 31 | 204 | 2.56 |
5 | Mike Minor | 28 | 175 | 2.68 |
6 | Charlie Morton | 30 | 167 | 2.69 |
7 | David Price | 27 | 151 | 2.80 |
8 | Walker Buehler | 30 | 184 | 2.84 |
9 | Clayton Kershaw | 28 | 185 | 2.92 |
10 | Zack Greinke | 32 | 208 | 2.94 |
As it turns out, the Reds’ Luis Castillo’s big second half last year truly was a harbinger of a breakout.
Three Dodgers starters—Hyun-Jin Ryu, Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw—have top 10 ERAs, adding credence to the “draft Dodgers starters” strategy. Ryu rocks the only sub-2.00 ERA in baseball over the past year.
The worst ERAs by pitchers with at least 150 innings: Dylan Bundy (5.71), Reynaldo Lopez (5.28), Rick Porcello (5.00), Ivan Nova (4.95), Jake Arrieta (4.81), Martin Perez (4.71), Marco Gonzales (4.55), Zach Eflin (4.52), Jake Junis (4.51) and Anthony DeSclafani (4.45).
SAVES
No. | Name | G | IP | SV |
1 | Kirby Yates | 64 | 64 | 40 |
Edwin Diaz | 62 | 60 | 40 | |
3 | Shane Greene | 58 | 56 | 35 |
4 | Felipe Vazquez | 62 | 67 | 34 |
Will Smith | 61 | 60 | 34 | |
Kenley Jansen | 61 | 62 | 34 | |
7 | Roberto Osuna | 60 | 60 | 31 |
Brad Hand | 67 | 65 | 31 | |
9 | Blake Treinen | 60 | 69 | 30 |
Aroldis Chapman | 51 | 46 | 30 | |
Sergio Romo | 60 | 58 | 30 |
Fantasy owners bemoan the volatility of closers in today’s game, which makes the stable saves sources all the more valuable.
WALKS PLUS HITS PER INNING
Min. 150 IP
No. | Name | GS | IP | WHIP |
1 | Justin Verlander | 32 | 203 | 0.89 |
2 | Walker Buehler | 30 | 184 | 0.94 |
3 | Max Scherzer | 32 | 215 | 0.96 |
Hyun-Jin Ryu | 26 | 162 | 0.96 | |
5 | Zack Greinke | 32 | 208 | 0.97 |
Jacob deGrom | 31 | 204 | 0.97 | |
7 | Clayton Kershaw | 28 | 185 | 1.03 |
8 | Luis Castillo | 29 | 173 | 1.04 |
9 | Gerrit Cole | 30 | 181 | 1.06 |
David Price | 27 | 151 | 1.06 | |
Mike Minor | 28 | 175 | 1.06 |
In a world where seemingly every frontline starter is getting blown up, these pitchers have found a way to get results. Note that the group leans heavy on veterans, with the exceptions being Walker Buehler and Luis Castillo.
STRIKEOUTS
No. | Name | GS | IP | SO |
1 | Max Scherzer | 32 | 215 | 299 |
2 | Justin Verlander | 32 | 203 | 271 |
3 | Gerrit Cole | 31 | 189 | 269 |
4 | Jacob deGrom | 31 | 204 | 258 |
5 | German Marquez | 34 | 220 | 249 |
6 | Robbie Ray | 33 | 180 | 229 |
7 | Patrick Corbin | 31 | 191 | 226 |
8 | Aaron Nola | 32 | 194 | 217 |
9 | Matthew Boyd | 31 | 179 | 214 |
10 | Shane Bieber | 30 | 177 | 214 |
Shane Bieber claimed All-Star Game MVP honors this season by striking out the side. That performance was consistent with his stealthy dominance over the past year. Bieber ranks among the leaders with 14 wins and 214 strikeouts in between all-star breaks.
The other pitchers with 200 or more strikeouts are Blake Snell (209), Walker Buehler (205), Zack Wheeler (203), Chris Sale (202) and Jack Flaherty (202).
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