Every season, fantasy owners’ patience is put to the test, constantly.
Players get hurt, fail drug tests or do stupid things that get them suspended. Stars underperform. And through it all, you have to decide whether to stick with those guys or try dumping them for a series of players who are merely a “Flavor of the Week.”
As the saying goes: Good things come to those who wait.
You have every right to be upset or disappointed with the Indians’ Edwin Encarnacion. You drafted him as a top-25 player, and he has looked absolutely nothing like the guy who hit .272 while averaging 39 homers, 110 RBIs and a .912 OPS from 2012-16 with Toronto.
Before the season, Roto Rage raised concerns about Encarnacion being able to maintain his elite production for three main reasons, the first being his age (34). The other two were his increasing strikeout rate and the fact he no longer calls Toronto his home.
In 502 career games at the Rogers Centre, Encarnacion has hit .273 with 115 homers, 361 RBIs, 288 runs and a .895 OPS. In 41 career games at Progressive Field, the slugger has hit .223 with four homers, 16 RBIs and a .670 OPS — and that includes his .152 average there this season in 19 games before Friday night. He had just two homers and five RBIs at home, while hitting .263 with seven homers and 15 RBIs on the road.
The one thing that does remain consistent, whether he is home or away, is the fact he is striking out a ton. Though he struck out in 19.7 percent of his at-bats last season, it has been far worse this year — he is striking out a career-high 28.2 percent of the time. He is making less contact (a career-low 71 percent contact rate) and also has a career-high swinging strike percentage (11.7 percent).
These are, and will remain, issues for Encarnacion, but that doesn’t mean it is time to give up and sell him for spare parts. There is light at the end of this tunnel.
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As bad as Encarnacion has been, he still has career-high line-drive (26.2 percent) and hard-hit (42.1 percent) rates. After striking out 33 percent of the time in April, he has struck out just 22.4 percent in May. He has hit more homers in May than he did in April. His OPS and slugging percentage have gone up about 60 points each over the past month, too.
Encarnacion always has been a slow starter, hitting just .243 in March/April and May in his career. His best months have been June (.287), July (.288) and August (.278). Last year, he hit .250 with three homers, 15 RBIs and a .693 OPS in April before hitting .232 with seven homers, 25 RBIs and a .817 OPS in May. He then crushed it in June — hitting .308 with 11 homers, 30 RBIs and a 1.185 OPS. In 2015, he hit .205 with four homers and 10 RBIs in April before hitting .225 with eight homers and 22 RBIs in May, then batting .303 with four homers and 15 RBIs in June.
His upcoming matchups are favorable as well. After this weekend’s series against the Royals, he faces an Athletics rotation ranked 22nd in the league before opening June on the road at Kansas City, where he has had success in his career (.270, five HRs, 17 RBIs, .911 OPS). He also has road matchups against Colorado (.354, two HRs, seven RBIs in 13 games) and Baltimore (.286, 16 HRs, 38 RBIs, .922 OPS).
Encarnacion is on pace to hit 30 homers this season, which may be disappointing for those who expected another 42-homer season. Just remember this: It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. He may be slow out of the gate (and a step slower than he has been in the past), but you’ll be glad you were patient with him and kept him around for when it matters the most.
Big Hits
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Sonny Gray SP, Athletics
After taking a loss in his first start, the 27-year-old is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA, 24:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio and .216 opponent average in his past four starts.
Jake Lamb 3B, Diamondbacks
Despite going 0-for-4 Thursday, he was hitting .313 with six homers, 14 RBIs, a 6:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio, 10 runs and 1.593 OPS over his past nine games.
Jose Bautista OF, Blue Jays
He entered the month hitting .178 with one homer, seven RBIs and 30 strikeouts, but has raised his average almost 70 points while going 25-for-80 (.313) with seven homers, 16 RBIs and a 1.059 OPS over his past 22 games.
Welington Castillo C, Orioles
In his first seven games since retuning from the DL, the 30-year-old slugger is 11-for-30 (.367) with three homers, 10 RBIs, a .406 OBP and 1.073 OPS.
Big Whiffs
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Odubel Herrera OF, Phillies
After going 0-for-5 while collecting the platinum sombrero (he struck out five times) Thursday night, he is 18-for-93 (.194) with 28 strikeouts, one walk, four RBIs, a .211 OBP and .479 OPS in his first 22 games this month.
Manuel Margot OF, Padres
Not only is he dealing with a calf injury, the rookie is hitting .189 with no homers, no RBIs, no runs, no stolen bases, 10 strikeouts and .474 OPS over his past 10 games.
Zach Eflin SP, Phillies
After ending April with a 1.89 ERA and .149 opponent average in three starts, he is 0-2 with an 8.22 ERA and .411 opponent average over four starts this month.
Jose Ramirez 2B/3B/OF, Indians
Entered the month hitting .330, but has gone 13-for-71 (.183) with no homers, three RBIs and a .533 OPS over his first 20 games this month to lower his average to .265.
Quick Hits
- Though the Dodgers optioned Julio Urias to Triple-A after going 0-2 with a 17.05 ERA, .467 opponent average and one strikeout over his past two starts, this will not be the last time you hear his name. Over his first three starts, despite a 10:10 strikeout-to-walk ratio, he allowed just two earned runs (1.06 ERA) and a .164 opponent average. He has shown glimpses of how good he can be, and he is just 20-years-old. He’ll be back.
- Remember when the Brewers’ Eric Thames hit .345 with 11 homers and 19 RBIs in April? Well, he has slowed down quite a bit this month, hitting just two homers (none since May 9) and going 5-for-30 (.167) with 11 strikeouts in his past 11 games.
- The Mariners must be happy they won’t have to face the Nationals’ Anthony Rendon again this season. He hit .500 with four homers, nine RBIs, no strikeouts, five runs, a .500 OBP and 2.083 OPS in their three-game series this week. Did you know almost everyone who reads this will try to lick their elbow?
Team Name of the Week
Beam Me Up, Piscotty