Casey McGehee delivered a breakout performance for the Milwaukee Brewers last season, batting .301 with 16 homers and 66 RBI in just 355 at-bats.
McGehee then silenced his doubters by batting .300 with nine home runs and 41 RBI through the first two months of 2010.
His bat has since cooled, however, forcing fantasy managers to question McGehee’s true worth.
To completely understand McGehee’s value, let’s examine his relatively unknown past…
Ubaldo Jimenez has been absolutely filthy through 16 starts this season, going 14-1 with a Bob Gibson-like 1.83 ERA. The 26-year-old flame thrower even tossed a no-hitter back on April 17.
Likewise, Marlins‘ starter Josh Johnson boasts a 1.83 ERA and 0.96 WHIP through 16 starts, but hasn’t gotten the luck or the run support that Jimenez has.
While Colorado’s ace has struggled in his last two starts, Johnson has continued to dominate.
After a closer look, it’s become obvious that Johnson has out-dueled the N.L. Cy Young favorite through the first three months in nearly every major pitching category…
The Phillies placed Chase Utley on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained ligament in his right thumb on Tuesday, making him the fourth player in recent weeks (Aramis Ramirez, Victor Martinez and Jason Heyward being the others) to be shelved due to a thumb injury.
It’s unclear how long the Phillies (and more importantly, your fantasy squad) will be without Utley’s services. Through 72 games this season, the 31-year-old was batting .277 with 49 runs, 11 homers, 37 RBI and five steals.
In his absence, Utley’s owners will be forced to ponder these waiver wire fliers as short-term replacements at second base…
After batting just .181 with one homer over 94 June at-bats, rookie sensation Jason Heyward’s batting average fell from .292 (on May 31) to .251 following last Saturday’s 0-for-4 game.
Heyward’s recent ineffectiveness can be blamed on a lingering thumb injury that’s been bothering him since late May. Instead of continuing to let him play through the pain, the Braves decided to place the 20-year-old on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 27.
Heyward’s injury won’t require surgery, and he’s expected to be back in the lineup after the All-Star Break.
While his long-term value is through the roof, his short-term value can easily be replaced with one of the following waiver wire fliers:
After an 0-for-5 effort against the Phillies on May 14, Brewers outfielder Corey Hart owned an uninspiring stat line of three homers, 12 RBI, and a .247/.340/.416 triple slash through 27 games.
In 41 games since, Hart has punished opposing pitchers to the tune of 15 homers, 38 RBI and a .296 batting average. Through games played on Monday, June 28, Hart is tied for the N.L. lead in home runs with 18, while only Miguel Cabrera and David Wright have more RBI than Hart’s total of 60.
Hart is currently on pace to smash 41 homers and drive in 137 runs, which would top his career season highs of 24 dingers and 91 RBI.
The question Hart’s fantasy managers face is simple: Can he continue to hit at this incredible clip?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
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