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Fantasy owners must always be aware of players swinging the hot bat. Maybe youre dealing with the early struggles of players like Francisco Lindor, Randy Arozarena or Aaron Judge. Maybe you just want more depth on your roster in case theres an injury. Maybe you just want to prevent your opponents from picking up a bat that could potentially hurt you. No matter what the reason is, it is your job to know whose bat can help. But wouldnt it be nice to pick someone up who can provide long-term production? Wouldnt it be nice if you didnt have to race to pick up players like Connor Joe and were able to add someone you didnt have to drop a few weeks (or even days) later? Cubs rookie Michael Busch could be that guy. In his last 13 games before Friday, Busch was 17-for-47 (.362) with six homers, 13 RBIs, nine runs and a 1.234 OPS. That stretch included going deep in five straight games. Cubs first baseman Michael Busch (29) reacts after hitting a two-run single next to Marlins shortstop Tim Anderson (7) during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Explore More Busch entered the weekend ranked 18th in the NL in RBIs, tied for second in homers, third in slugging percentage, fourth in OPS, 14th in on-base percentage and 22nd in walk rate. Thats in addition to his 93.8 mph average exit velocity ranking in the top 5 percent of the league, and his barrel rate sitting in seventh. Theres more! Buschs xSLG (.712) is in the top 1 percent of the league, and his .453 weighted on-base percentage (WOBA) and .454 xWOBA are in the top 3 percent. Hes in the 88th percentile with his sweet-spot percentage, the 85th percentile with his hard-hit rate and his xBA (.296) points to only a little regre sion. Busch has some amazing quality-of-contact numbers, all which seem to mirror what he did in the minors, where he had a .293/.385/.544 slash line over four seasons while hitting 79 homers with 267 RBIs, 292 runs and a .919 OPS. If there were any concerns, it would be Buschs 27.1 percent strikeout rate, which entered Friday as the 22nd-highest in the league, and his struggles against left-handed pitchers. Though hes crushing righties (.353, 6 HRs, 12 RBIs, 1.198 OPS), hes flailing against lefties (.111, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .311 OPS). Outside of that, there are no red flags. Not even his struggles against fastballs during his far-from-memorable 27-game appearance in the majors last year with the Dodgers (.167, two homers, seven RBIs, .539 OPS), is worrisome. According to Baseball Savant, he hit .118 with a 26.5 percent whiff rate against fastballs in 2023. This year, hes hitting .378 and a 19.5 percent whiff rate. Is Busch going to continue at his current pace (.317, 6 HR, 13 RBIs, 10 R, 1.067 OPS)? Unlikely, especially with his .361 BaBIP indicating some good luck, but Roto Rage believes this is a player who can be a solid addition to your roster well beyond his hot start. Pitchers may eventually find and exploit another weakne s in his swing, but you have the potential to add a bat that can bring a solid average and 25-plus homers to your lineup. Cubs Michael Busch cro ses the plate after hitting a solo John Roseboro Jersey home run against the Diamondbacks during the second inning of a recent game. AP It also doesnt hurt that Busch is eligible at first and third base, and has been hitting fifth or sixth mostly sixth in a solid Cubs lineup. Busch was the most-added player in ESPN leagues this week, but remains about 40 percent available. He has the opportunity (and ability) to thrive and if hes still available in your league, you should jump on the chance to have Busch planted on your roster. A look at some other bats to consider grabbing: Nathaniel Lowe started the season on the injured list with an oblique i sue but could return to the Rangers lineup as early as next week. This is a guy who hit .276 while averaging 21 homers, 77 RBIs, 79 runs and a .799 OPS over the past three seasons, and will hit in the middle of a great offense. As of Friday, he was rostered in le s than 20 percent of ESPN leagues. Grab him while you can. Baltimores Colton Cowser (59 percent rostered) had at least one RBI in six of his past nine games before Friday while hitting .382 with four homers, 14 RBIs, three stolen bases and a 1.274 OPS. Orioles Colton Cowser celebrates his home run as he rounds the bases during the eighth inning of a game against the Brewers. AP San Diegos Jurickson Profar (18.8 percent) had at least one hit in 12 of his past 14 games before Friday, going 15-for-48 (.313) with two homers, 11 RBIs, eight runs and a .931 OPS. He has four games against the Rockies this week (in Colorado), a team that entered the weekend with a league-worst 6.01 ERA, .293 opponents average and the lowest strikeout total of any pitching staff. Jackson Merrill (36.3 percent), another Padre, is not only eligible in the outfield and shortstop, but hes hitting .333 with a homer, eight RBIs, four stolen bases and a .845 OPS. All four of his stolen bases have come over his past 10 games in which he hit .417 with a .947 OPS. Big hits Reid Detmers SP, Angels Striking out a career-high 11.9 per nine while walking 2.8 per nine. Hes 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and .195 opponents average. Amed Rosario 2B/SS/OF, Rays Entered Friday with an eight-game hit streak, and at least one hit in 10 of his previous 11 games. He was hitting .339 with a .882 OPS on the year. Rays outfielder Amed Rosario (10) reacts after hitting a single during the fifth inning against the Yankees. John Jones-USA TODAY Sports Ranger Suarez SP, Phillies No runs allowed over his last two starts (15 innings) while going 2-0 with a 16-3 strikeout-walk rate and .177 opponents average. Vinnie Pasquantino 1B, Royals After hitting .108 with no homers or RBIs and a .322 OPS in his first 10 games, he entered the weekend on a seven-game hit streak, during which hes hitting .500 with three homers, 10 RBIs and 1.650 OPS. Big whiffs Hunter Brown SP, Astros Hes allowed a homer in each of his last three starts and is 0-3 with a 14.90 ERA and .480 opponents average in that span. Hes allowed 24 hits and 16 earned runs over his last 9 / innings. Julio Rodriguez OF, Mariners Not only had he not homered this season, he was striking out almost 35 percent of the time. Walked four times, just twice in his last 14 games. Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez reacts after stealing second during a game against the Rockies at Coors Field. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con David Bednar RP, Pirates Owned a 2.25 ERA and 61 saves from 2021-23, but has three blown saves, with a 16.20 ERA and .320 opponents average in his last six outings. Joey Gallo 1B/OF, Nationals Though his 15.3 percent walk rate ranks ninth in the majors, his 43.1 percent strikeout rate is the worst. Hitting .136 doesnt help, either. Check swings Jordan Westburg raised his average from .194 to .317 in eight games before Friday after hitting .448 with three homers, nine RBIs, two stolen bases and a 1.377 OPS. Not only is Pittsburghs Jared Jones striking out 36.4 percent of the batters he faces, hes walking just 2.3 percent. Opponents are hitting .188 against him and he has a 19.8 percent swinging strike rate, including 26.4 percent with his slider. Underlying numbers dont point to a ton of regre sion, either. He should be more than just 50 percent rostered. Learn all you need to know about MLB Betting Read about the Learn all about Mason Miller pitched eight straight scorele s innings with a 16-3 strikeout-walk rate and four saves (in four chances) in his last six outings before Friday. Opponents hit .111 against him during that span. Marcell Ozuna entered Friday with a 16-game hit streak, going 25-for-66 (.379) with eight homers, 23 RBIs, 13 runs and a 1.219 OPS. He has at least one RBI in 10 of his past 13 games. Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (20) hits a RBI single against the Rangers in the first inning at Truist Park. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con There should be no rush to add Jack Leiter, who allowed seven runs over 3 / innings in his debut. He struck out three, walked three and exited the start with a 17.18 ERA and .421 opponents average. If you do have a roster spot available, Nick Lodolo (30.4 percent rostered) and Edward Cabrera (14.5 percent) made their season debuts this week. Both i sued one free pa s and struck out 10. Lodolo had a 17.6 percent swinging strike rate while Cabrera hit 18.7 percent. Team name of the week Horton Hears a Yu Burt Hooton Jersey
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发表于 2025-11-9 00:33:34