Fantasy Baseball Insiders

Brandon Phillips: Why You Should Sell High on The Cincinnati Reds Second Baseman

In four and a half seasons with the Reds, Phillips has never finished with a batting average higher than .288, and his career mark is an uninspiring .269. Yet somehow, the recently-turned 29-year-old is batting .309 this season…

Will the Real Casey McGehee Please Stand Up?

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…

Why You Should Sell High on Brewers’ Outfielder Corey Hart

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?

Buy or Sell: Don’t Let Scott Kazmir’s Sparkling June Fool You

While Angels’ southpaw Scott Kazmir struggled with a 7.20 and 5.97 ERA in April and May respectively, the 26-year-old has seemingly salvaged his season with a deceiving June.

In 23 innings (four starts) this month, Kazmir is 4-0 with a 2.35 ERA. What most fail to see is his 1.35 WHIP and 13/15 K/BB ratio, both of which raise red flags.

Fantasy managers have been gushing over Kazmir’s stuff since he was seemingly stolen from the Mets in the 2004 Victor Zambrano trade. The then Tampa Bay pitcher made his major-league debut later that season, and has disappointed ever since…

What’s Wrong With Aramis Ramirez?

While waiver wire gems such as Jose Bautista (18 HRs, 45 RBI) and Carlos Silva (8 wins, 2.93 ERA) are unexpectedly dominating fantasy leagues, perennial All-Stars such as Mark Teixeira (.211 BA) and Dan Haren (4.83 ERA) are struggling mightily.

The most perplexing case, however, is that of Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez. In 178 at-bats this season, the soon-to-be 32-year-old sports an embarrassing .168/.232/.285 triple-slash that even Mario Mendoza wouldn’t claim.

Normally one of the top sluggers at his position, (32 HRs, 105 RBI, .302 BA per season from ‘04 to ‘08) Ramirez has just 11 extra-base hits and 22 RBI through nine weeks of play this season. Some of this can be attributed to a BABIP (.189) that ranks second to last among batters with at least 180 plate appearances…