Based on recent performances and a full-season outlook, I will break down some players to buy or sell in the coming weeks. Some are just hot streaks, and some are worth buying into, so we are here to help make the right decisions for your fantasy teams. Let’s look at a handful of players you should buy high or sell low coming out of the All-Star break.
Buy High
Joey Meneses (1B,OF – WSH)
Meneses has been heating up at the plate of late. He entered the All-Star break hitting well, hitting safely in five of seven games for a .292 batting average with five extra-base hits including four home runs. Meneses barreled the ball 10% of the time with a 45% hard-hit rate while walking nearly 12% with just a 15% strikeout rate.
Meneses entered the break hitting .284 on the season with six home runs. Hopefully, he can keep the power surge going into the second half.
Masataka Yoshida (OF – BOS)
Yoshida had a solid first half, capping it off with a big final week. He hit safely in all five games with multiple hits in each, including a home run and two stolen bases. He only struck out 4.5% of the time but did not collect a barrel with a 23.8% hard-hit rate.
The contact quality could improve, but the overall production can’t be ignored. Yoshida entered the break hitting .316 with ten home runs, 47 runs scored, 44 RBI, and six stolen bases.
Gunnar Henderson (3B,SS – BAL)
Henderson started the season very slowly but has picked things up in a big way. Heading into the break, he hit safely in six of seven games for a .294 batting average with two home runs. He also had a 7.4% barrel rate with a 51.9% hard-hit rate.
Henderson has moved into the leadoff role for the Orioles. He is now hitting .246 on the season with 13 home runs and five stolen bases. A big second half is coming.
Blake Snell (SP – SD)
Snell finished off his monster first half with two strong starts. He threw 11 innings without allowing a run, walking seven and striking out 18.
Since May 31, Snell has made eight starts. He has 78 strikeouts over the 48 innings for a 33% K-BB. He is forcing a 17.6% SwStr over this dominant run. It may be challenging for Snell to be this dominant for the entire second half, but a solid finish to the season should be coming.
Kodai Senga (SP – NYM)
Senga finished his first half in the bigs with a strong eight innings, allowing one run and striking out 12. He wrapped up the first half with a 3.31 ERA (3.77 xFIP) and 17.2% K-BB.
Senga has been a strikeout machine this season, but walks have been an issue from time to time. If he can improve on the walks, Senga could be the top pitcher for the Mets in the second half.
Sell Low
Jarred Kelenic (OF – SEA)
Kelenic was one of the biggest fantasy standouts to start the season, but the production has recently slowed. This past week, he hit .179 with three doubles and a 34.5% strikeout rate. He did have a 50% hard-hit rate, but a near 12% SwStr has hampered his production.
Kelenic finished the first half hitting .245 with 11 home runs. He has not homered since June 9. Kelenic will have to improve at the plate quickly, or his playing time may soon deteriorate.
Gary Sanchez (C – SD)
Sanchez floated around a few teams before finding a home in San Diego. He was crushing it at the plate, but that has slowed down significantly. This past week, he collected three hits with a .130 batting average.
Sanchez did have a 47.4% hard-hit rate, which is good, and only struck out 16.7% of the time. That is solid for Sanchez. He is now hitting .198 with seven home runs as a member of the Padres.
Ian Happ (OF – CHC)
After hitting for a nice average with power and speed last season, Happ’s batting average has taken a hit. This past week was no exception, as he collected four singles for a .160 batting average. He did steal a base while walking nearly 22% of the time but also struck out 25%.
Happ is now hitting .247 with seven home runs and seven stolen bases. He continues showcasing outstanding OBP skills, but in batting-average leagues, he is not meeting the preseason expectations.
Sonny Gray (SP – MIN)
Gray’s struggles continued with his last start of the first half. He threw six innings this past week, allowing six runs, walking three, and striking out five.
Over his final 12 starts, Gray has a 4.04 ERA (3.93 xFIP) with an 11.8% K-BB. He does not go deep into games and has not been consistent. I am not sure he can get back to the front-line starter that we saw early in the season on a consistent basis.
Tony Gonsolin (SP – LAD)
Gonsolin finished the first half with another underwhelming start. He threw 6 2/3 innings while allowing four runs on two home runs and striking out five. Gonsolin has allowed 19 runs over 21 innings in his last four starts while striking out 18. He is not fooling anyone.
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