Fansided

JB’s Fantasy Advice: Slumping Stars to cut or ride out

By Justin Buckhanan

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 24: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians hits a two-run double during the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Progressive Field on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Sargent/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 24: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians hits a two-run double during the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Progressive Field on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Sargent/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – MAY 21: Travis Shaw #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a home run in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Miller Park on May 21, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – MAY 21: Travis Shaw #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a home run in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Miller Park on May 21, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Travis Shaw, Milwaukee — After coming over from Boston in 2017, Shaw had seasons of 31 and 32 HR, respectively. His slow start in 2019 (.172, 4 HR, 8 RBI) and the fact young stud Keston Hiura is tearing the cover off the ball in Triple A should make you think at some point soon Hiura will be called up. My advice: Wait Shaw out and when Milwaukee does the inevitable and calls up Hiura, then drop Shaw.

Ender Inciarte, Atlanta — Inciarte has had a nice couple years hitting towards the top of the Atlanta order. Now, with Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna both hitting in the top half, it pushes Inciarte down toward the bottom. His .238, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 3 SB statline isn’t terrible, but it shows he doesn’t offer much value, especially when he hasn’t been running as much. My advice: Don’t bother rostering him. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Atlanta traded for another bat to replace Inciarte. Also, Christian Pache is waiting in the wings. Pache is already one of the best defensive outfielders in the minors and his bat is coming around. Expect to see him in September.

Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets — Thor possesses some of the best stuff in baseball. He started his career in 2016 with a bang (14-9, 2.60 ERA, 1.15 WHIP). He was hurt for almost all of 2017 and came back with another strong year in 2018. This season’s 5.02 ERA and 1.28 WHIP are clearly not what we have come to expect from Syndergaard. My advice: Keep Syndergaard rostered and feel confident better days are ahead. While his ERA and WHIP are outside the norm, his nearly 5-1 strikeout-to-walk rate is better than ever. Some soft contact has doomed him early in the year and once the weather starts to warm up, so will Thor’s fastball.

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