Fantasy Baseball Today: Rangers

It was a wild night in baseball and certainly for your Fantasy Baseball teams if you rostered any Astros or Rangers batters. The two teams engaged in an intense battle, providing fans with a rollercoaster of emotions. The Rangers took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Astros answered back with four runs in the bottom of the inning. The see-saw nature of the game continued, with the Rangers regaining a 5-4 lead in the second. However, the Astros fought back and tied the game 6-6 in the fifth. The drama escalated as the Rangers surged ahead 9-6 in the top of the seventh, only for the Astros to hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the inning. The game came down to the wire, and the Astros secured a thrilling 10-9 victory on a walk-off single in the ninth.

We'll dive into some notable performances from that game in the Fantasy box score column, what to make of Yu Darvish's struggles, a pair of Tigers to get on your radar and more.

A topic of debate among Fantasy managers that Frank brought up on FBT is whether to choose Kenta Maeda or Tarik Skubal for the rest of the season. Skubal showcased a strong performance in his recent outing against the Giants, completing five innings without allowing a run and he racked up nine strikeouts. His past four starts have been promising, with a 3.71 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and an impressive 12.2 K/9. Skubal's 83% rostered status indicates a growing interest in his potential.

On the other hand, Maeda has been consistent in striking out batters. In his latest start against the Mariners, he pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing only one earned run while striking out eighth. Maeda has demonstrated his ability to rack up strikeouts, averaging 16% SwStr rate over his last six starts. He's currently rostered in 80% of leagues.

Rest of season, I prefer Maeda due to the track record. Both are probably sell-high candidates.

Jon Gray has been experiencing a rough patch since developing a blister in June. His struggles continued in his recent game against the Astros, where he allowed six earned runs over five innings. Gray's increased usage of his slider was a tactical move, but it didn't yield the desired results, with opponents managing a .204 batting average against the pitch and a 37% whiff rate.

His recent numbers show a 6.49 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, and a concerning 9% SwStr rate. Despite these challenges, Gray remains rostered in 90% of leagues, so managers are torn about dropping him. Considering you won't find any trade partners at this juncture, Gray is worth moving on from if you need the roster space.

Yu Darvish showed promise after the All-Star break, but his recent game against the Pirates on Monday night raised some concerns. He gave up seven earned runs and four home runs, tying a career-high in a single game. Darvish's fastball, sinker, and splitter have seen a decline in velocity, which could be contributing to his struggles.

While his underlying metrics like FIP and xFIP suggest improvement, his 3.2 BB/9 and 71% strand rate are worrisome. With a .311 BABIP, it appears that Darvish has been facing some tough luck. Fantasy managers are contemplating whether to buy low on him before their league's trade deadline.

The Tigers are having a notable month, and some of their young talents are making waves.

Riley Greene has been impressive, going 3 for 4 with a double and two runs. Over 13 games since his return, Greene is batting .370 with two homers. He's currently rostered in 78% of leagues.

Spencer Torkelson is another Tigers prospect who has been catching Fantasy managers' attention. In July, he has posted a .270 batting average with four homers and 14 RBI, boasting an .843 OPS. Torkelson's rostered percentage has climbed to 75%.

Kerry Carpenter is yet another Tiger to keep an eye on. In July, he holds a .281 batting average with four home runs and 16 RBI, showcasing an .885 OPS. Carpenter is currently rostered in 25% of leagues.