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Astros in Fantasy: Fantasy Players of the Week- Week 7
A Look at Fantasy Baseball Through the Lens of an Astros’ Fan
Here is how I did in Week 6:
Week 6 Hitter:
Tyler White-1/10 H/AB, 1 R, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, .100 BA
The Astros have lost faith in the once promising “Great White”. In the two series against the Indians at Minute Maid and against the Red Sox at Fenway, White only received three starts and performed poorly in each of them, recording only one hit in his ten at bats. His one hit, a double, drove in a run and eventually caused him to come around and score.
After a great series against the Seattle Mariners at the beginning of May, White was the key at the end of the lineup to elongate the lineup and provide an offense to set the table for Altuve, Springer, and Correa at the top.
More from Climbing Tal's Hill
- Just how much better is the Houston Astros playoff rotation than the rest?
- Houston Astros: A Lineup Change to Spark Offense
- Astros prospect Hunter Brown throws 6 shutout innings in debut
- Always faithful Astros World Series champion Josh Reddick defends the title
- Michael Conforto declines Astros’ 2-year, $30 million offer
To say White has cooled off is a bit of an understatement. Through his 31 at bats in May, White is hitting .194 with a .306 on-base percentage and .290 slugging.
If a fantasy owner wants any hope from White at this point, it’s in him getting on base through base on balls. 4 of his five walks on the year came this week. However, he only scored two times of his 11 times on base.
With Marwin Gonzalez taking most of White’s at bats and with A.J. Reed waiting in the wings, it looks like White’s chances at offensive production are nearing the end.
Week 6 Pitcher:
Chris Devenski– 8.2 IP, 10 H, 8 ER, 4 BB, 6 K, 0 W, 8.31 ERA, 1.62 WHIP
It was a tale of two starts for Devenski this week. His first start against the Indians on May 10th was solid. In 6.2 innings of work, Devenski gave up two earned runs on five hits. He only walked two batters while striking out 5. Then on May 15th, Devenski struggled against one of the top offenses in the American League at their home ballpark. In 2 innings of work against the Red Sox, Devenski gave up six earned runs on five hits. He also walked 2 and struck out 1.
With the lack of stability in the Astros rotation right now, it is unclear when Devenski’s next start will be. And with his next potential opponent being the Texas Rangers, he may not be the best pickup if you are looking for a spot starter.
Next: Now on to Week 7
Week 7 Hitter:
Jose Altuve (Owned in 99.2% of Fantasy Leagues)
This is not the first time I have picked Altuve as the Astros Fantasy Hitter of the Week, and it won’t be the last. That’s because he has been the entire offense for the Astros in the first month and a half of the 2016 season.
Currently on an eight-game hitting streak, Altuve is hitting .397 in May with a .478 on-base percentage and a .655 slugging percentage.
More from Astros News
- Just how much better is the Houston Astros playoff rotation than the rest?
- Houston Astros: A Lineup Change to Spark Offense
- Astros prospect Hunter Brown throws 6 shutout innings in debut
- Always faithful Astros World Series champion Josh Reddick defends the title
- Michael Conforto declines Astros’ 2-year, $30 million offer
Altuve has done everything the Astros have needed him to at the top of the lineup. However, in the month of May, he has turned into more of the prototypical leadoff man. During his eight-game hit streak, he only has three extra-base hits but has raised his average from .325 to .340 in that span.
Hits aren’t the only way he’s getting on base. Altuve has ten walks in the month of May setting the table for George Springer, who was red hot offensively in his homecoming series at Fenway Park.
Altuve hasn’t only been a fantasy success hitting the ball, though. He leads the AL in stolen bases with 15 in 16 attempts.
This is not even bringing up his power numbers on the season. Altuve has done a little bit of everything, not only for the Astros but also for fantasy teams everywhere. It is key if the Astros want any success against the Chicago White Sox or the Texas Rangers, to be everything and more offensively. This should make the lucky few who own Altuve to be ecstatic.
Next: Week 6 Pitcher
Week 7 Pitcher:
Apr 20, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Doug Fister (58) pitches against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Doug Fister (Owned in 12.4% of ESPN Fantasy Leagues)
Fister has gone under the radar in a disappointing Astros starting rotation. After one tough start against Kansas City at home in his second start of the year, Fister has pitched remarkably well, giving up three earned runs or fewer in his other six starts of the year.
More from Climbing Tal's Hill
- Just how much better is the Houston Astros playoff rotation than the rest?
- Houston Astros: A Lineup Change to Spark Offense
- Astros prospect Hunter Brown throws 6 shutout innings in debut
- Always faithful Astros World Series champion Josh Reddick defends the title
- Michael Conforto declines Astros’ 2-year, $30 million offer
What has changed from the Fister who struggled to keep a rotation spot as a Washington National a year ago to the Fister that the Astros acquired for a one-year $7 million deal this offseason? It’s his increased amount of outs generated by the ground ball from 44.6% a year ago to 47.1% so far in 2016. That’s why he was so successful earlier in his career for the Seattle Mariners and the Detroit Tigers. This has caused his batting average against to drop from .286 to .244 and opponents BABIP to drop even more from .310 to a career low .250.
So why is this a positive for fantasy owners? He might not get owners strikeouts, averaging only 4.64 per nine innings this season, or keep down on the walks, averaging 2.95 per nine this season. However, he gives the Astros a great chance to win while limiting the number of base runners he gives up with a 1.24 WHIP this season. And when runners do get on base, he leaves them on base 74.6% of the time, which is second in his career totals.
Next: Astros Rumors: Is Colin Moran set to join the Astros?
Although a lot of these fancy statistics aren’t used in fantasy baseball, they give Fister a better chance to win games for the Astros. So, if Fister continues to give up 3 or less earned runs a game, he will be a nice fantasy pickup for the rest of 2016.
***Stats from Baseball-Reference***