BY: SOME GUY NAMED STEVE
Folks! Last week I gave out my player of the week for batters and pitchers in both the American and National Leagues! Today we are running it back with the best players from Week 2!
AL Batter: Mitch Haniger (Seattle Mariners OF)
Week Statistics: .429 AVG, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 7 runs, .786 SLG
If you listened to last week’s Fantasy Baseball Podcast, you would’ve heard me talking about Mitch Haniger as my favorite buy low option for the upcoming week. Unfortunately, that ship might’ve sailed after Haniger’s explosion in week 2. Haniger had a slash line of .429/.448/.786 with 12 hits, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 7 runs scored, and 8 RBI’s. He was consistent all week, had a hit in all but one game, and only struck out twice. Haniger started the week strong with 7 hits and 4 runs in four games against the Orioles, which included a two-home run day in the doubleheader. He continued his success over the weekend as Haniger went 5-for-12 with 3 runs scored and 4 RBI’s against the Astros. If you had Haniger in fantasy this week, you most likely won your match-up.
Honorable Mention: Salvador Perez (Kansas City Royals C): .393 AVG, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 runs, .786 SLG
AL Pitcher: Carlos Rodon (Chicago White Sox SP)
Week Statistics: 1 GS, 1-0, 9 IP, 0 Hits, 0 Runs, 0 BB, 7 Ks, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP
This pick shouldn’t come as a surprise as Carlos Rodon became the second pitcher all season to throw a no-hitter. Despite having just one start for the week, Rodon still gets player of the week for his masterful outing on Wednesday night, where he allowed just one base runner and no-hit the Indians. If it weren’t for a hit by a pitch in the 9th inning, Rodon would’ve thrown just the 24th perfect game in MLB history. Rodon was dominant the entire way, and his incredible outing had his ownership jump from 36.9% to 87.5% in all ESPN leagues.
Honorable Mention: Kyle Gibson (Texas Rangers SP)– 2 GS, 1-0, 15 IP, 8 Hits, 1 Run, 2 BB, 9 Ks, 0.60 ERA, 0.67 WHIP
NL Batter: Justin Turner (Los Angeles Dodgers 3B/DH)
Week Statistics: .450 AVG, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 6 Runs, .522 OBP, .950 SLG
At 36 years old, Justin Turner continues to be one of the best hitters in all of baseball. In week 2, the Dodgers only played five games, and in those five games, Justin Turner raked. Turner had a least one run scored and one RBI in every single game except one. Turner had over a .500 on-base percentage for the week and added three more home runs to his yearly total of 5. Justin Turner has been one of the more pleasant surprises this season as he was a player taken in the much later rounds because of his age. This season age has not caught up to Turner as he is still batting over .400 on the season and part of a deadly Dodgers lineup.
Honorable Mention: Joey Votto (Cincinnati Red 1B): .435 AVG, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 3 Doubles, .957 SLG
NL Pitcher: Trevor Bauer (Los Angeles Dodgers SP)
Week Statistics: 2 GS, 1-0, 13 IP, 1 Run, 4 Hits, 3 BB, 16 Ks, 0.69 ERA, 0.54 WHIP
One of the biggest off-season acquisitions was the Dodgers signing Trevor Bauer to be a part of an already great rotation. So far this season, Bauer has been lights out. Week 2 was no exception as Bauer provided his owners two phenomenal starts. Trevor Bauer made a quality start in both his outings and struck out 16 total batters on the week. Bauer only allowed 4 total hits through 13 innings on the week and gave up just one run. In his first start of the week, Bauer completely shut down the Rockies lineup allowing only one hit in seven innings and striking out 9. Bauer then gave his owners another good outing on Sunday when he held a good Padres lineup to just one run over six innings striking out 7.
Honorable Mention: Corbin Burnes (Milwaukee Brewers SP): 1 GS, 1-0, 6 IP, 2 Hits, 0 Runs, 0 BB, 10 Ks, 0.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP
In case you missed it, here is last week’s Fantasy Baseball Podcast – https://soundcloud.com/trainwrecksports/tws-fantasy-baseball-episode-two.
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