As a general rule, we don’t like to repeat names in this feature each week, lest it become stale. But also, as a general rule, you folks typically scoop up all the hot-hitting multi-category players, particularly when they have essential roles in elite lineups. Which brings us to this first guy…
C’mon, people. Friedl is batting .320 and leading off for the Reds, baseball’s buzziest team. He has homered in back-to-back games, he has stolen 14 bases, and he has scored 14 runs in 15 starts this month. He has been phenomenal. And again, the Reds are a party.
Every league has a manager who should be adding Friedl today, right now. He hit 16 home runs and swiped 17 bags last season while splitting time between Louisville and Cincinnati, so his power/speed potential was already well-established. He’s finally gone over the 50 percent threshold, but that’s still too low — let’s not make it weird, guys.
Westburg arrived with hype at the beginning of the week, and he has exceeded expectations so far, going 5-for-12 with two runs and two RBI. He was hitting .295/.372/.567 with 18 bombs and seven steals at Triple-A prior to his call-up, firmly establishing himself among the game’s top prospects. If you’re looking for a power boost and/or middle infield help, Westburg should be a prime target.
Tovar has surged in recent weeks, putting together a hitting streak loaded with multihit games and raising his average nearly 50 points since the calendar flipped to June. He has been batting second for the Rockies, a spot that seems to suit him. Tovar hit .319 with a .927 OPS last year in the high minors, launching 14 homers and stealing 17 bases over 71 games, so he’s a potential fifth-category fantasy contributor down the road. He won’t turn 22 until August, so he’s very much an ascending talent. It doesn’t hurt that he does his home hitting in the friendliest possible environment.
Some of us were looking for any signs of life from Naylor, and we certainly got ’em Wednesday:
Naylor finished the game 3-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored and two RBI. The 23-year-old has hit 13 homers at Columbus this season while reaching base at a .393 clip. Last year, he split his time between Double-A and Triple-A, hitting 21 home runs, stealing 20 bases and slashing .263/.392/.496. You can’t ask for much more in a catching prospect.
Kyle Bradish, SP, Baltimore Orioles (35%)
Here’s another repeat pickup recommendation, because a) Bradish has simply been excellent in recent starts and b) he’s lined up to get the Twins on Saturday, a team hitting just .231/.308/.398. Bradish has struck out 26 batters over 24.0 innings in his past four starts, earning a pair of wins while allowing an opponent batting average of just .188. His slider is absolutely vicious:
Bradish is more than a mere streaming option; this is a pitcher with rest-of-season appeal.