Elvis Andrus, Rangers

Head-to-Head playoffs start in many leagues this week.  Roto is coming down to the wire. 

 

The keys to your success are within.

 

 

Elvis Andrus – SS – Texas Rangers (40% Y! Plus, 17% Y!, 58% ESPN)

One of the front-runners in the AL Rookie of the Year race, it can be easy to forget that the defensive wunderkind made the jump from Double-A to the Majors this season.  As such, he has had his ups and downs.  For the 20-year-old rookie, rock bottom was probably July 20^th, at which point he was hitting .249/.313/.341/.654.  Since then he has raised his split to .274/.339/.396/.735, which aren’t exactly must-own numbers but do point towards a bright future. 

 

Obviously, right now most owners are not looking to the future for their short-term needs.  Of course, Andrus has hit .323/.389/.500/.889 since July 21^st, while putting up 24 R, 3 HR, 13 RBI, and 7 SB.  For the early portion of the season, much (if not all) of Andrus’ value was tied to his speed.  On the year, he does have 20 steals.  His line over the past 40 games has given fantasy owners much more than just speed. 

 

With the injury to Michael Young, Andrus has moved to batting second in the order, and in the five games that followed he has scored five runs and collected three XBH, including one home run.  Young is expected back in the next couple of weeks, so the spot near the top of the order is probably going to be short-lived, but owners should try to cash in while they can.

 

 

Julio Borbón – Util – Texas Rangers (25% Y! Plus, 7%Y!, 6.9% ESPN)

With Hank Blalock’s inability to hit right-handed pitching becoming too much for Ron Washington and the Rangers to bear, a door has opened for the 23-year-old former Volunteer.  The supplemental first-round pick from 2007 ascended through the Rangers’ system in what amounted to a little less than two full seasons.  Over 231 minor league games, Borbón collected 81 stolen bases on his way to hitting .310/.360/.401/.761.  In his 1091 plate appearances, he also managed to maintain a 65:106 BB:K, but he only totaled 63 XBH on his way to driving in 94 and scoring 159 runs. 

 

Clearly when glancing at those numbers, he fits the prototype of relatively light-hitting speedster.  His 12 steals in 13 attempts since his call-up on August 9^th certainly support that notion.  Now obviously, he is platoon-splitting at DH with Blalock the Disappointment.  Luckily since he is drawing the righties in that split, he should be getting enough playing time to warrant fantasy ownership. 

 

Of slight concern is the fact that Borbón is currently reaping the rewards inherent in enjoying a BABIP of .435.  Even with his speed and insane power, that .435 is preposterously lucky.  With the .081 ISO he was carrying heading into action on Sunday, even a BABIP in the .335 area that he often sported in the minors is probably something he cannot expect to enjoy at the Major League level.  One should expect some drastic regression any time now.  Fortunately there could be a coincidental drop in his K-rate, which was never higher than 12.5% at any stop in the minors yet sits at 24.2% over his 70 plate appearances thus far for Texas.  Regardless, his value is in his legs, and in rotisserie leagues in which there isn’t too much ground to make up in the stolen base arena, he could be the difference maker for you. 

 

 

Jonny Gomes – LF, RF – Cincinnati Reds (10% Y! Plus, 3% Y!, 1.4% ESPN)

With Jay Bruce’s injury a few days before the Break, the Reds found themselves turning to Jonny Gomes to plug their hole in right.  Since the All-Star Break, Gomes has clubbed 12 jacks, scored 19 runs, and plated 27 runners.  His split over that time has been .267/.326/.573/.899. 

 

Since August 13^th, he has been even better, hitting to the tune of .356/.400/.729/1.129.  In those 20 games, he has collected six homers and two steals while scoring 11 runs and 15 RBI.  Obviously, Gomes has not become Albert Pujols in the past month.  Moreover, his .429 BABIP over that time is absurd.  His performance will not continue to be bolstered by such advantageous bounces of the ball, but he is swinging a scorching hot bat right now.  Such a torrid pace at the plate cannot be ignored and a short rental is advised if you have an expendable piece sitting on your bench. 

 

 

Ross Ohlendorf – SP, RP – Pittsburgh Pirates (30% Y! Plus, 13% Y!, 3.8% ESPN)

One of the key returns (we all know the Jose Tabata was the key get) from their deal with the Yankees that sent Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to New York last season, Ross Ohlendorf has been something of a stud in his past nine starts.  Since the All-Star Break, Ohlendorf has maintained a 2.70 ERA over the course of 56.2 IP.  If my calculations are correct, he has done so without the benefit of an unsustainably low BABIP (.308).  In that time, he has struck out 41 and walked 21.  His WHIP since July 20^th has been a tasty 1.22.

 

Even more importantly, in those nine starts, the Princeton alum has allowed more than two earned runs in only two starts—once with 3 ER and another with 4 ER.  He has consistently given his team a chance to win the game, and in doing so, he has also done nothing to screw fantasy owners over.  Coming off an 11 strikeout performance on Saturday, the time to pick up Ohlendorf is now.

 

Happy motoring.

 

 

Josh Duggan welcomes your comments at mister.josh.duggan@gmail.com.  If you are going to heave insults in his direction, at least be funny and creative.  He is also the author of a Kansas City Royals blog, Royalscentricity (which is also syndicated at Bleacher Report, where he is a featured Royals columnist), and a pop culture blog, Inconsiderate Prick, and is a dues paying member of the FSWA.