Fansided

Fantasy Baseball: Time to sell high on these players

By Justin Buckhanan

OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 23: Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangersbats against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on April 23, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 23: Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangersbats against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on April 23, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JULY 29: Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Christian Yelich (22) and Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun (8) go back to the dugout after Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun (8) hits a home run during the regular season game between the San Francisco Giants and the Milwaukee Brewers on July 29, 2018 at AT&T Park in San Fransisco,CA (Photo by Samuel Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JULY 29: Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Christian Yelich (22) and Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun (8) go back to the dugout after Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun (8) hits a home run during the regular season game between the San Francisco Giants and the Milwaukee Brewers on July 29, 2018 at AT&T Park in San Fransisco,CA (Photo by Samuel Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Ryan Braun OF Milwaukee: I’m taking a different approach here. While I love Braun as a player. I just know that a injury is coming. I’m not going to bother giving you his season-to-date stats because I think he can keep them up if he stays healthy. I know that’s not going to happen. While it’s hard to predict a injury, he has averaged 121 games played a season over the last three years, he hasn’t played more than 140 games in any season since 2012, and he’s 35. So, it’s coming.

2. Derek Dietrich INF/OF Cincinnati: While Dietrich’s average is only .240, he has 11 HR in only 96 AB. Super prospect Nick Senzel has already come up from the minors and Scooter Gennett will be back from injury in about a month, so there’s no clear path for playing time. The power is real for Dietrich and he plays home games in a favorable park. However, Dietrich will probably be reduced to around two starts a week and pinch-hitting duties for the rest of the season.

3. Joc Pederson OF Los Angeles Dodgers: While I think that Pederson will maintain his .220 batting average for the rest of the year, I don’t think that he can keep up the pace for 50 HR. His slugging percentage of .591 is just too far above his career norm. He should continue to play every day against right handed pitchers while sitting against lefties. I just don’t see the HR rate staying the same.

4. Christian Walker 1B Arizona: I have written about Walker before as a feel-good story. His .275 average with 8 HR is a very good start for him, but he has already started his downward trend by hitting .150 with 1 HR and 2 RBI in his last 11 games. While I still think he can be productive for the rest of the season, his hot start is clearly a thing of the past.

5. Zach Davies SP Milwaukee: While Davies has always had some talent, no one has ever mistaken him for Greg Maddox. Finally healthy and perhaps entering his prime at the age of 26, Davies numbers are sure to regress from his current 16 W, 1.54 ERA, 1.18 WHIP pace. He did have 17 W in his last fully healthy season in 2017. So while he could potentially approach that in 2019, the ERA and WHIP will certainly rise.