Checking in on Matt’s MLB Watch List

Earlier this season I put out a list of ten guys to keep an eye on, due to either a polarizing start and/or the possibility of having a huge impact for their respective team. I figured I wouldn’t be doing my article justice without revisiting that list as we got deeper into the season and got a larger sample size for these players, so here it is…

1. Shohei Ohtani: I hadn’t quite bought into the hype back when I wrote my first piece, but I would say that his performance thus far has moved the needle a little bit for me. There was an Ohtani craze for a period of time earlier this season, when people were labeling him the next coming of Babe Ruth (who could pitch, by the way). While that may have gone a little far, Ohtani has proved he is a really good starting pitcher in the MLB. He’s got a 3.58 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, and some electric performances. His last start was an 11-strikeout gem versus the Twins. Ohtani is an X-factor on the Angels and could push them to a playoff berth.
2. AJ Pollock: Damn, it hurts to write this. I was super high on Pollock (partly because he was on my fantasy team) earlier this year. He was having a fantastic rebound season, hitting .293 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs – the best hitter on the Diamondbacks. Unfortunately, he will be out for about 2 months with a broken thumb. It sucks to see a great player go down, and it is even worse when you have to replace your top fantasy producer with a waiver-wire pickup. But that’s besides the point. Hopefully he comes back and picks up right where he left off.

   

3. Gerrit Cole: Potential AL Cy Young winner? Cole has been lighting it up in a year of resurgence. The change in scenery really did him well. He’s putting up ridiculous numbers: 1.75 ERA, 93 strikeouts, 0.79 WHIP, and a 4-1 record. The strikeout totals are really impressing me.
4. Yu Darvish: Darvish has been a non-factor, dare I say bad, to start the season. 0-3 with a 5.56 ERA is not what the Cubs are paying for. He spent two weeks out with the flu, came back and threw 4 innings of 1-run ball. Chicago needs him to get in his groove if they want to be the team to come out of the NL. Darvish, like Ohtani, is another X-factor.
5. Xander Bogaerts: Bogaerts got hurt shortly after my first article came out, which was rough because he was the best hitter in baseball during the first few weeks. Now back and healthy, Bogaerts is starting to pick things up again. His average is still above .300, and he’s hit home runs in back to back games. Expect him to get back to being a force in Boston’s lineup.
6. David Price: In the most David Price-way possible, he gave Sox fans a reason to bitch about him again. After copping out of a start (two, actually) against the Yankees, Price has been diagnosed with ‘mild’ carpal tunnel syndrome. Boston media members attribute this to Price’s Fortnite gaming, which may or may not be the cause… who knows with this guy. Despite that, Price still has some thrown some really quality outings lately, the most recent being a complete game against the Orioles. If he can ignore the noise and keep pitching well, the Red Sox will be primed to win the AL East and go far in the playoffs.

   

7. Lance McCullers: Cully started the season a little slow, but since then has rattled off 5 quality starts in his past 6 outings (the other was a 5 inning, 2 run performance). I expect McCullers to keep getting better – a 3.63 ERA is far from what this guy is capable of. He has shown flashes, but I want more consistent greatness from him. I’ve waited long enough.
8. Adam Eaton: RIP to another one of my fantasy outfielders. He had so much promise early in the year, but what started as a minor ankle injury has turned into a stint on the 60-day DL. Eaton is a wicked frustrating guy to own in fantasy, I can’t imagine what the Nationals feel about him.
9. Bryce Harper: Oddly enough, Harper has cooled off considerably since the start of the season. He is hitting .232 with 13 home runs – the power is there, but the average is not what you expect out of a guy that is soon going to be asking for a $400 million contract. I am flummoxed right now. I predict him to straighten things out in short order.
10. Byron Buxton: More like Byron Buston. Coming into the season (like usual) there was all this talk about Buxton breaking out and finally becoming a star. However, here we are, looking at Buxton’s .167 average and zero home runs. I’m putting the bust label on him.