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Astros in Fantasy: Fantasy Picks of the Week- Week 13
A Look at Fantasy Baseball Through the Lens’ of an Astros Fan
Here is how I did in Week 12:
Week 12 Hitter:
Marwin Gonzalez– 6/25 H/AB, 6 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, .240 BA
Gonzalez has been that table-setter that the Astros need at the top of this lineup. This week proved no exception.
Although he only hit .240, Gonzalez had a small five-game hitting streak. Gonzalez also showed a little pop against all of the right-handed hitters he faced, hitting a double, a triple, and a homerun in that mini-streak. With that power came RBIs as Gonzalez drove in four runners.
The most impressive part about Gonzalez’s week was that his hit total matched his amount of runs scored. In the nine times Gonzalez got on base this week, he scored himself six times.
He proved to be a key contributor in the offensive explosions against the Royals, with three hits in 12 at-bats, driving in one and scoring himself three times.
Yes, Gonzalez’s hit total left a little to be desired this week. However, his teammates took advantage of the times he was on base which proved to be key in their sweep of the Angels and a series win in Kansas City.
Gonzalez’s fantasy value in the future is up in the air at this point because of the call-up of top first base prospect A.J. Reed. However, if Gonzalez keeps providing opportunities for his teammates to drive him in, he will not be taken out of the lineup anytime soon.
Next: Week 12 Pitcher
Week 12 Pitcher:
Jun 4, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Collin McHugh (31) walks off the mound after a pitching change during the sixth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Collin McHugh– 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 W, 2.57 ERA, 0.86 WHIP
McHugh continued his success against the Los Angeles Angles Tuesday night as he went seven strong innings that eventually led to a 3-2 Astros win.
In his seven innings of work, McHugh gave up two earned runs on five hits, walking one and striking out six. McHugh also gave up his first home run since June 9th, a solo shot to C.J. Cron.
Although McHugh is pitching as well as he did in the month of May, he still has only a 4.37 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP in his four starts this month. His ERA continues to drop after a horrendous month of April to a respectable 4.70.
Although his ERA and WHIP are still a little high for the fantasy owner’s liking, if McHugh continues to pitch well, he would be a viable option as a spot starter. Also, his next start is against those same Los Angeles Angles tonight. If you need a spot starter, McHugh is your guy.
Next: Now on to Week 13
Week 13 Hitter:
Jun 20, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros center fielder Carlos Gomez (30) celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run during the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Collin McHugh– 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 W, 2.57 ERA, 0.86 WHIP
Gomez’s 2016 turnaround seems to be legit. With power coming back into his bat and his average climbing back up, he is turning into the Gomez that we paid so much for at the trade deadline last season.
In the month of June, Gomez is hitting .278 with a .808 OPS. He has hit seven extra-base hits, including three home runs, and has driven in 11 runners and scoring himself 11 times.
Part of Gomez’s newly found success at the plate has to do with his more patient approach. After only walking two times in 80 at-bats in the month of April, Gomez has come back, after an injury-plagued month of May, to raise his on-base percentage from .241 to .285.
This past seven games for Gomez had shown his patience. He has a .290 average with a .370 on-base percentage. He has also scored three times and has driven in four.
One of most shocking stats for Gomez this season has been his ability to hit with runners in scoring position. In 46 at-bats, Gomez has a .304 batting average with a .853 OPS. He also has five extra base hits and has driven in 14 runners. Gomez has become a clutch hitter in those run-scoring spots. This will prove to be important this week in two series against the Los Angles Angels and the Chicago White Sox respectively.
Gomez’s outings against the Angels have been very consistent. In last week’s series, he had three hits in nine at-bats, driving in one and scoring once. Overall this season, Gomez has a .364 batting average with a .417 on-base percentage in 11 at bats.
However, one thing to look at this series against the Angels is if his power is a factor. All four of his hits this season have been singles and out of the five times he has been on base against this team, he has only scored once.
Gomez has proved to be a valuable bat near the bottom half of the lineup for the Astros. If he can get on base consistently in the next six games, Gomez will continue to be a fantasy option in an outfielder or FLEX position.
Next: Week 13 Pitcher
Week 13 Pitcher:
Jun 22, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Will Harris (36) is congratulated by catcher Jason Castro (15) after defeating the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. Astros won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Will Harris (Owned in 51.2% of all ESPN Fantasy leagues)
This Astros in Fantasy pick does not really have to do with the player. This has to do more with the teams that the Astros will play in the next week.
In the nine games that the Astros have played against the Angels and the White Sox in 2016, all but one of the contests have ended with a margin of victory of three runs or larger. For the Astros to find success against these two teams, their bullpen, and especially their closer, has toe be ready to close out these close games.
That is where Harris comes in. Harris is six for six in save opportunities this season. In those games, Harris has given up two earned runs on six hits and struck out three.
Compared to his appearances as the set-up man, Harris has struggled. Overall this season, he has an ERA of 0.83 with a WHIP of 0.83 and an average against at a mere .181.
For the Astros to be successful this week, Harris needs to be on his A-game. His last outing against the Angels was not his best, giving up three hits and an earned run. He eventually secured his sixth save of the season.
Next: Astros: The Summer of George
Even though the Angels and White Sox closers may have more of a resume than Harris does, Harris has been successful this season. Based on his last couple of outings, it does not look like he will be stopping anytime soon.
***Statistics provided by ESPN.com and MLB.com***