Astros in Fantasy: Fantasy Picks of the Week- Week 11

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A Look at Fantasy Baseball Through the Lens’ of an Astros Fan

Jun 5, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros catcher Evan Gattis (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Oakland Athletics in the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park. Astros won 5 to 2. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

Here is how I did in Week 10:

Week 10 Hitter:

Evan Gattis– 1/25 H/AB, 0 R, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, .040 BA

After a torrid start offensively to start the month of June, Gattis’ bat went completely silent in the past week. In his 25 at bats, Gattis could only muster one double and a sacrifice fly to record his only RBI in a 5-3 Astros loss to the rival Texas Rangers on June 9th.

Other than that, with the Astros giving him ample amounts of at-bats, Gattis was awful. Gattis’ average fell to .216, which is the lowest it has been since mid-May. This week, Gattis also only walked once, lowering his on-base percentage to an abysmal .283.

This shows how hot and cold Gattis is as a hitter. With a lack of patience at the plate, striking out 26.7% of the time and walking only 7.8% of the time, he is hurting the team offensively more than helping them.

All of this is to say that Gattis is not a good fantasy option for any team. Especially with a lack of ability to play him, without catcher eligibility, he has not given fantasy owners enough statistical evidence to pick him up. Yes, he will be successful in spurts. However, to be saved from another Astros hitter with a low batting average and high strikeout numbers, keep this free-swinging caveman in free agency.

Next: Week 10 Pitcher

Week 10 Pitcher:

Jun 8, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Will Harris (left) celebrates the victory against the Texas Rangers with catcher Jason Castro (15) after the game at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Will Harris– 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 SV, 4.50 ERA, 2.00 WHIP

After a 2-6 week against the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays, the Astros didn’t have much need for a closer. In those two wins, though, Will Harris came out and pitched the ninth inning.

The important part for Harris fantasy owners is that consistency, at least for the week, of him coming out and getting the save opportunities. In that part, Harris excelled, recording both of his saves in his two opportunities.

With an ERA of 0.33 going into his June 11th outing at Tampa Bay, Harris seemed to lose control of his pitches against the Rays lineup, walking two and giving up a hit to load the bases with one out. Fortunately, Harris kept them to only one earned run recording his second save of the week and third of the year.

This does give him a weakness, though. With a lack of velocity and a ridiculously high ground ball percentage rates, Harris needs to find a way to keep his 92 miles per hour cutter working with movement to get hitters out. He has increased his amount of strikeouts per nine innings to 9.42 though.

With his 0.63 ERA, Harris has earned another week at the closer position. This week may be the deciding factor to whether he keeps it or not. If he puts that rough outing (for Harris) against Tampa behind him, Harris is a great pickup if you lack saves.

Next: Now on to Week 11:

Week 11 Hitter:

Jun 7, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Houston Astros center fielder Carlos Gomez (30) falls to the ground after swinging and missing on a pitch by Texas Rangers relief pitcher Sam Dyson (not pictured) during the ninth inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Rangers defeat the Astros 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Gomez (Owned in 59.9% of ESPN Fantasy Leagues)

To say that Gomez has been dreadful at the plate is an understatement. In his 44 games this season, he has a .181 batting average with a .545 OPS. He also has hit three home runs, six RBIs, and 12 runs scored.

Gomez has always been a free-swinging hitter. Known for his theatrics at the plate with his helmet flying off and frequent bat flips on any fly ball, he generally averaging a strikeout percentage in the mid-20s and a walk percentage hovering between five and seven percent.

His walk rate has stayed the same at seven percent through 44 games. The strikeouts, however, have skyrocketed. Gomez has 62 strikeouts in 155 at-bats, adding up to a 36.3% strikeout percentage.

With all the negatives in his game, some positives have been showing up in his game lately that fantasy owners should keep their eye on. First is his power. After finishing the first two months of the season with no home runs and eight doubles, Gomez has hit three home runs in his last seven games, driving in four runners in June. Yes, his batting average for June is still at a horrible .161, but when he gets hits, they go for extra bases, shown by his .484 slugging percentage in June.

With power coming back into his game, this next week for Gomez could be the turnaround he is looking for. He could do that against some familiar faces. The next five games for the Astros are against teams from Gomez’s former division, the National League Central.

Gomez has been successful against the Cardinals for his career. In 138 at-bats, Gomez has a .283 average and .734 OPS against the Cardinals with two home runs and 12 RBIs.

Gomez also has success against the pitcher the Astros are going to face Wednesday, former Cy Young Award winner Adam Wainwright. In 26 at-bats, Gomez has a .346 average and .931 OPS against Wainwright with three extra-base hits, including a home run, and three RBIs.

Gomez does not have a lot of positives as fantasy owners look at his stat line. However, as he goes back to roam center field in two familiar ballparks in St. Louis and Houston against a last place Reds team, fantasy owners should give him one last chance this week.

Next: Week 11 Pitcher

Week 11 Pitcher:

May 24, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Doug Fister (58) reacts after Baltimore Orioles short stop Manny Machado (13) hit a home run against him in the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Doug Fister (Owned in 27.1% of ESPN Fantasy Leagues)

Fister has been one of the most successful signings this offseason by any team. However, he is not getting any attention from the fantasy owner. Here are some reasons why Fister is a low-risk high reward pitcher that you can pick up on the waiver wire.

First, he has not lost a decision since April 25th. Second, Fister has given up three earned or less in his last ten starts. Third, in his last 18 innings pitched against the Astros’ division rivals Los Angeles Angels, Oakland A’s, and Texas Rangers, Fister has given up three earned runs on 16 hits. Impressive stuff.

However, there is a reason why fantasy owners have not been aware of his phenomenal comeback season. After joining the Washington Nationals before the 2014 season, Fister’s strikeout numbers have gone back down to similar numbers that he put up in Seattle at the beginning of his career. This season, Fister is averaging 5.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

Also, his ground ball rate is back up to 48%. His BABIP against is also low .262 compared to a .245 average against. He has also only limited hitters to only 1.1 home runs per nine innings.

That particular stat is paramount for Fister in his next start against the St. Louis Cardinals. In his three appearances, Fister has been respectable, giving up eight earned runs on 16 hits while walking four and striking out seven in 14.1 innings pitched.

However, his two starts against the Cardinals have been eerily similar. In both of his starts, he went six innings, gave up seven hits, and given up four earned runs on two home runs.

Next: Astros: Draft Picks Agree to Terms

With his ground ball percentage up and facing a weaker Cardinals lineup than years past, Fister should be able to continue his string of successful starts on Tuesday.

***Statistics provided by Baseball-Reference, FanGraphs, MLB.com, and ESPN.com***

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