So much for Arismendy Alcantara as a trendy deep sleeper.
With the optioned Alcantara struggling at the plate (2-for-32) and Tommy La Stella on the disabled list with an oblique strain, the Cubs did the right thing and called up prized youngster Addison Russell, who made his major league debut Tuesday going 0-5 with three strikeouts. Russell is more of a natural shortstop but after playing second base in the Arizona Fall League and, more recently, at triple-A, the Cubs felt he can handle the assignment, especially considering his advanced bat.
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Russell was a .300 hitter with some pop in the minors, and while he also ran a bit, I don’t think you’re going to plug him into your lineup for his speed. It will take him some time to adjust, no doubt, but as long as he plays the rest of the year, I think we could be looking at a .265 hitter with 15 homers and 8-10 steals. Remember too that Russell is currently shortstop eligible and will soon become second base eligible in most leagues.
That Cubs infield looks mighty fine, doesn’t it?
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Odubel Herrera, 2B/SS/OF (29 percent owned)
The Phillies’ offence is not very good, but Herrera has been a nice addition to the top of Ryne Sandberg’s lineup, ranking second on the team in stolen bases (3) and hits (14) and first in doubles (5) and runs (7). The Rule 5 pick is also supporting a triple slash line of .298/.353/.489. Over his five years in the minors, Herrera showed an ability to get on base and make contact, and if can reach base with regularity, I think he can surpass his projection of 15 stolen bases. He makes for a nice middle infield play in deeper leagues.
Chris Heston, RHP (26 percent owned)
Once designated for assignment to make room for Jeff Francoeur, Heston has opened the season 2-1 with three quality starts in his first three appearances, generating 16 strikeouts while allowing 5 walks. A lot has been made of his quest to add muscle in the off-season and it’s worth noting that he had the sinker up to 93 mph in his first start of the season (that’s a pitch that he’s thrown around 91 mph during his career). Heston delivers a high number of groundballs thanks to that sinker and if the velocity increase holds, he could factor into San Francisco’s rotation for a good chunk of the season — at least as long as Matt Cain and Jake Peavy continue nursing injuries.
Will Middlebrooks, 3B (11 percent owned)
If you lost David Wright to the disabled list and you scooped up Middlebrooks, he’s made for a nice fill-in. The former Bostonian is off to a torrid start with the Padres, hitting safely in nine of his last ten games, belting out three home runs and driving in 11. We know there’s power in that bat — he hit 34 home runs in 232 games with the Red Sox — but that came over a three year span, with his ability to stay on the field always hindering his fantasy value. Now healthy (for the time being), Middlebrooks has spent the last few games hitting fifth in Bud Black’s lineup, behind the hot-hitting Justin Upton and Matt Kemp. Entering Tuesday, the Padres lead MLB in hits, RBI and total bases with Middlebrooks playing a role San Diego’s impressive start.
CC Sabathia, LHP (18 percent owned)
I know he’s 0-3 and I know he has an ERA over 4.00 after his first three starts, but let’s look a little deeper at the numbers. Sabathia is striking out a batter per inning, he’s walking under two batters per nine and he’s inducing 61 percent ground balls. Sabathia knows he won’t get his velocity back, but perhaps the adjustments he’s making on the mound (more sliders and changeups, fewer fastballs) could make him fantasy relevant again. It was also nice to see him hold the hot-hitting Tigers to just two runs in eight innings on Monday. The veteran lefty gets the Mets in his next start.
Luis Valbuena, 2B/3B (19 percent owned)
Might the Astros have found their number two hitter? Valbuena cranked out two more home runs in Monday’s win over the Mariners and he’s now up to five round-trippers for the year, good enough to lead the Astros. Those five home runs have come in his last nine games where he’s hitting .314 with a nice little .771 slugging percentage. Aside from his 16 homers last year, Valbuena wasn’t a great fantasy option, but hitting in the middle of the order for a horrible Cubs team will do that to you. He is a career .229 hitter, but if you’re buying in like I am, here’s to hoping that his improvement against right-handers last season carries over to 2015. The career 10 percent walk rate is lovely and so is the dual eligibility. If Valbuena keeps this up, he won’t be on your waiver wire for much longer.
