There are many forms of disappointment. You can be disappointed by a low test score, your c꧟hild, a network canceling yo🅘ur favorite show or when you see a movie you had been looking forward to, only to be let down (i.e. “Anchorman 2,” “Batman vs. Superman,” “Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas”).
The Cardinals’ Randal Grichuk was not drafted as your No. 1 outfielder. Heck, he may not have been drafted as your No. 2. 💦But after a breakout 2015 when he hit .276 with 17 homers in 103 games, he was the 44th ranked🦋 outfielder with a 138.8 average draft position, according to Fantasypros.com, and a solid fantasy option.
No one expected Grichuk to hit .206 with just eight homers, 27 RBIs and a .66🅘8 OPS after his first 62 games. No one exp🧸ected him to be optioned to Triple-A at any point this season.
Being optioned to Triple-A, however𝕴, may be what saved his season.
In 15 games in the minors, he went 15-for-53 (.283) with five home runs, 15 RBIs, a .914 OPS and just 13 s♌trikeouts. With injuries to Brandon Moss and Matt Carpenter, Grichuk was recalled, and in his first𒀰 six games, he was 9-for-22 (.409) with two homers, four RBIs and a 1.136 OPS.
Grichuk is available in 65 percent or more of ESPN and Yahoo lea🧸gues, and should be a solid option in thꦡe second half.
Here are some other first-half disappointments who should be able to help you in ﷽your quest for fantasy glory:
— A lot was expected of Marcus Stroman after he was selected as one of the top 30 pitchers (95.8 ADP), but his high ERA (4.89), career-low strikeout numbers (6.4 per nine) and career-high HR/FB percentage (14.9) have overshadowed his 7-4 record. With a 3.91 FIP and 3.75 xFIP, Roto Files expects things to be better for the hurler — especially as the Blue Jays continue to get healthier.
— Despite his 16 homers and 58 RBIs, Matt Kemp was a disappointment in the first half. He is a boom-or-bust option — he has his lowest average (.254) since 2006, is walking a career-low 3.5 percent of the time, has a career-low .723 OPS and has no stolen bases (he has averaged 17 per season, including three seasons with 30 or more). But, in the past two seasons, Kemp has gone nuts in the second half after mediocre first halves. He hit .258 with 16 homers and 82 RBIs in 2014-15 before the break, but .298 with 32 homers and 107 RBIs after. He should be a more consistent option now.
— Yes, Dallas Keuchel is 6-9 and has allowed 15 homers after allowing 17 last year. And, yes, the 2015 Cy Young winner already has allowed the same number of earned runs (64) he allowed all of last season (and one fewer than he did in all of 2014), but he has lowered his ERA by more than a full point over nine starts since May 22 (5.92 to 4.80). He also is 3-0 with a 2.78 ERA and 23 strikeouts over his past five starts. With a 4.04 FIP and 3.58 xFIP, things should continue to get better for the lefty.
— Over his first 45 games, Jose Abreu was hitting .236 with six homers, 27 RBIs, a .696 OPS and 41 strikeouts — not the numbers you expect from a player with a 19.6 ADP. But, he showed signs of life in his past 41 games before the break, hitting .311 with five homers, 25 RBIs and a .822 OPS. Add that to the fact he has hit .314 in the second half after batting .286 in the first half, and Roto Files sees better days ahead.
— Michael Pineda is 3-8 with a career-high ERA (5.38) and WHIP (1.37), not what was expected from a pitcher with a 142.8 ADP. As inconsistent and frustrating as he has been, there are positives. He is striking out a career-high 10.7 per nine innings (sixth-best in the majors) and has a career-high swinging strike percentage (13.9). He also has a 3.79 FIP, 3.34 xFIP and a .349 BABIP, all of which indicate he has gotten unlucky. Outside of his last start before the break, the righty was 1-1 with a 2.75 ERA, .201 opponent average and 49 strikeouts in six June starts. He is a solid buy-low option with upside for the second half.
— At 5-8 with a 4.69 ERA on a Phillies team going nowhere, Aaron Nola may look like a lost cause — especially after going 0-4 with a 13.50 ERA and .427 opponent average over his past five starts. But, his 3.20 FIP and 2.98 xFIP, .331 BaBIP, indicate he is pitching much better than his numbers. He is striking out 9.9 per nine innings and walking just 2.2 per nine, so give him some time. He will come around.
Big hits
Yangervis Solarte 3B/2B/1B, Padres
Since returning from the disabled list on May 21, he was hitting .287 with eight homers, 31 RBIs, 25 runs scored and an .873 OPS. In his first 10 games this month, he i🎉s 14-for-40 (.350) with four homers, 12 RBIs and a 1.184 OPS.
Brandon McCarthy SP, Dodgers
Won his first two starts of tꦺhe season, allowing three runs on five hits over 10 innings while striking out 14 (12.6 per nine). He has a 2.88 ERA and 0.900 WHIP.
Seth Smith OF, Mariners
In 11 game🍬s before the break, the 33-year-old was 15-for-41 (🍰.366) with five homers, 14 RBIs, a 1.127 OPS and eight runs scored.
Zach Eflin SP, Phillies
After going 0-2 with aꦦ 10.80 ERA in his first two starts, he is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA and a .235 opponent average over his last four starts. Those are Eflin good numbers.
Big whiffs
Drew Smyly SP, Rays
Has not won a game since May 16, going 0-6 with a 7.46 ERA, a .324 opponent average and .953 OPS in𝄹 his last nine starts. The only good news, he has struck out 50 in his l⭕ast 50 2/3 innings.
Jake McGee RP, Rockies
In five relief appearances this month after returning from the DL, the lefty is 0-1 with a 💙blown save, a 13.50 ERA and hitters have a 1.086 OPS against him.
Matt Wieters C, Orioles
The All-Star backstop struggled in his first eight games this month, going 4-for-28 (.143) with no homers or RBIs, nine strikeouts💜, a .315 OPS and just one walk.
Matt Holliday OF, Cardinals
Has not homered since June 27, going 6-for-43 (.140) with six RBIs, eight strikeouts, a .408 OPS, .163 slugging percentage and just two runs scored in h🌱is last 12 games.
Quick hits
With Craig Kimbrel sidelined 3-6 weeks after undergoing surgery on his left knee, Koji Uehara (the most added player in ESPN leagues this week) will be the Red Sox’s closer. He is 2-for-2 in save chanceꦰs since Kimbrel 🗹hit the DL.
Fun fact: Carlos Martinez has not allowed a home run to a right-handed hitter in 17 ♒starts (199 plate appearances) this season. In fact, righties are hitting .183 against him (lefties are hitting .259).
Ian Kennedy is 6-7 w💟ith a 3.97 ERA and a league-worst 1.9 homers per nine innings, but as the Royals get healthier keep this in mind: He is 42-24 in the second half over his career, versus 39-51 with a 4.32 ERA in the first half.
David Wright hasn’t played si🍌nce May 27, yet still leads the Mets in stolen bases with a pathetic three. Did you know that there have been 50 instances of a player stealing second, third and home in the same inning, the most recent being Dee Gordon in 2011?
Team Name of the Week
Papi’s Got a Brand New Bag