Roto Chronicles: National League–July 21

Some of these names may not be household names, but they could give you some extra boost to your team.

The second half of the season promises to be an exciting one with many close races around the league. As typical with any baseball season, the second half of the season seems to bring out success they didn’t see in the first half. Last season Matt Holliday dominated the second half hitting .375 with 39 XBH. Here are some candidates to take a look at that have the potential to break out in the second half of the season.

C:

Jesus Flores: I’ve been singing his praises all season long, but now he will have an extended amount of time to show us what he’s made of. At this point in the season, talent is reevaluated and moves are made to see who has a chance at playing next season or who’s gonna be used as trade bait. With the Nationals virtually out of the race for the season, Flores is one of the players that will get a good look at for a permanent roster spot. Look for him to show he’s worth it in his new role.

2nd Base:

Mike Fontenot: Fontenot has been playing lights out as of late batting a .335 in his last 7 games. With the Cubs experimenting with DeRosa at different positions, Fontentot is getting extended playing time. He is overshadowed by how well DeRosa is playing, but that’s okay. Fontenot was primarily a cycle player, but has played well enough, defensively and offensively, to play more. Fontenot is consistent enough to pick up off the waivers if he’s still available. He’s only a second base option and isn’t as versatile as DeRosa, but if there are other players that don’t fit the bill well at second base, Fontenot would be your guy.

SS:

Ryan Theriot: Theriot is a quiet hitter with resilience at the plate. He also has a ten game hitting streak with a .329 batting average. While it’s unlikely he’ll catch Chipper Jones for the league lead in batting average, he’ll be in the top-10 barring he stays healthy. Granted he only has one homerun on the season, but does it really matter if he has a stacked line-up behind him to drive him in. His quiet leadership this season has helped the Cubs to where they are now. Clearly, Theriot is a candidate for Most Improved Player this season.

3rd Base:

Edwin Encarnacion: His average has risen steadily in the past month-and-a-half. Though he doesn’t have impressive numbers now (.265 average, 17 homeruns, and 38 RBIs), he could have stellar numbers before the end of the season. Some players cool off after coming off the all-star break, but Encarnacion hasn’t done that. He’s batting .400 since the break and his average has risen .31 points in the month of July. One thing to be particularly aware of is his defense. He has 8 errors which isn’t bad for the hot corner. Shortstop and Third Base are where most of the errors on the team are made.

Ian Stewart: With the Rockies knocking on the door in the very poor NL West, the Rockies are mixing and matching with players to see who fits best in their system. Stewart, his third stint in the majors, was called up due to the poor performance of Jayson Nix. An offensive powerhouse in AAA, he will be called upon to find his groove at the plate, something he did on and off at the major level. In his 63 at-bats with the Rockies he has 3 homeruns and 9 RBI. He’s no Evan Longoria, but he could be if he finds his niche. He wanted a third chance to see what he’s worth, and now he’s got it. This time, I don’t see him struggling.
P: Paul Maholm: He’s starting to taste a little bit of success and he has what it takes to be an elite pitcher in the league. He just hasn’t put it all together yet. With a 6-6 record, Maholm doesn’t have anything to be ashamed about. Part of the reason 20-game winners get 20 wins is because their team has an offense to back them up. When Maholm starts, he gets 2.5 runs of support. That’s not gonna win him many games. He’s consistently in the high 3 ERA range so you know he’s pitching well enough to get batters out. He is changing his fortunes on the mound so look for that to help you out in the second half of the season.

Seth McClung: A converted relief pitcher, McClung has adjusted to the role of starter very well. He’s only given up more than 3 runs in one start once this season. His WHIP is a little high with a 1.35, but now that he is starting to change the way his pitching approach, it’s gone down. Watch for him to switch things up a little bit and rack up a few more wins.

Oufield:

Skip Schumaker: Schumaker is rotating with Ryan Ludwick. It’s a double-edged sword no matter who you start. They are both even as far as offensive production is concerned. He’s a very quiet and agile leadoff hitter. Like Theriot, he’s been a quiet leader and hitter all season. His average has gone down very slightly in the past two weeks; however, don’t let that fool you. He never stays down too long and that is a very good attribute of Schumaker. His 6 homeruns isn’t that impressive, but as a leadoff hitter, the goal isn’t hitting for power.

Gregor Blanco: Blanco could be the single most underrated player in the league. He is batting .260, but he has 9 stolen bases, and a .357 OBP. He also has a good glove in center field. He’s poised to take over the spot permanently as Jeff Franceour isn’t working out. The upside to Blanco is his ability to stay healthy. The Braves will need that if they are to make a run for the NL East title.

Willie Harris: Harris is coming along with his bat. Now hitting leadoff, he has found his niche and is doing very well in that spot. He also has the ability to steal bases. His .248 average isn’t impressive, but his average has flourished of late. In fact, the average has risen .31 points in July. It will go up so you don’t have to fret about that. In his last 5 games, he’s hitting .350 and 7 RBIs. The chances of him being on the waivers is pretty good. Get him while you can; he’s a steal.

Most of the names on the list aren’t household names, but they carry plenty of weight for their teams and, in the long run, your fantasy team. Remember, fantasy baseball isn’t won with all-star names, but rather a mix of talent. Some of these names might not be in the Hall of Fame when their career is over, but they should warrant some praise for their work on field.