It hardly takes much insight to bestow San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. with the half-season award for fantasy MVP. Yes, half the 2020 season is over. Can you believe it? Tatis leads the league in home runs, RBIs and runs scored, and boasts a .314 batting average and six stolen bases. Nobody is more fun to watch and, for those who worried about his durability, nobody has more plate appearances. Tatis leads ESPN's fantasy Player Rater -- and comfortably so, while also edging out Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts in points formats.
That's certainly not bad for a guy who was being selected in the late second round of 2020 drafts, according to ESPN ADP. However, it demands pointing out that Tatis was hardly a sleeper and his performance is hardly a surprise. The way I judge fantasy MVP performance, it's tough for someone to be the most valuable when expectations were sky-high (as they are for top-20 picks) from the onset. You almost have to be someone who went much later on in drafts -- or did not go at all. So, with all due credit to the amazing Tatis, Betts and Shane Bieber, I present to you my half-season list of surprise MVP candidates for fantasy.
Kyle Lewis, OF, Mariners: The No. 9 option on the Rater and a Round 22 choice in ESPN ADP, this rookie entered the season with big power and myriad plate-discipline questions. Now, the sole concern is merely an inflated BABIP. OK, so he will not hit .368 all season, but the power is real and we hope the nice walk rate is as well. Invest.
Mike Yastrzemski, OF, Giants: We saw what Carl's grandson achieved in 2019 and, put simply, few believed he would hit for average and power again -- especially in a pitcher's park. Instead, Yastrzemski, a 16th-round selection in ESPN ADP, is even better, ranking among the leaders in so many categories, including OPS, runs scored, RBIs and walks. He is 29 and yes, was never a great prospect, but that appears to not matter in this case.
Teoscar Hernandez, OF, Blue Jays: Generally unchosen in ESPN ADP, Hernandez ranks just ahead of Yastrzemski on the Rater thanks to a few more home runs and four stolen bases. Unlike Yaz, Hernandez's chances of keeping his near-.300 batting average look slim, as he swings and misses quite a bit. Still, this is also a 35-homer option for 2021, so when you think of his teammate Randal Grichuk, consider Hernandez to have similar value.
Anthony Santander, OF, Orioles: Santander has made major strides in contact rate from last season, when he emerged with 20 home runs in a mere 405 PA. Today, he is among the leaders in RBIs, and it all looks legit. Yes, go roster a few hitters from the Orioles now. It's OK.
David Fletcher, 2B/SS/3B/OF, Angels: The No. 38 option on the Rater and 15th among hitters in points formats, the versatile Fletcher is an extreme contact hitter with limited power and speed but a potential batting champion who scores runs. These fellows matter in fantasy, too.
Kenta Maeda, SP, Twins: No longer unsure of his role (as when he was with the Dodgers), Maeda ranks No. 5 among pitchers on the Rater, having won four of six starts. He also took a no-hitter into the ninth inning of a recent outing, which he did not win. His strikeout rate is in line with prior seasons. Yes, a fortunate BABIP and HR rate play a role, but perhaps those won't even out because of the shortened season.
Dylan Bundy, SP, Angels: Another offseason mover, this former Oriole relies less on his average fastball and more on his effective curveball -- and with splendid results. Bundy is the No. 10 starter on the Rater and in points formats, with a big K rate and a far better walk rate than ever. He can sustain this.
Framber Valdez, SP/RP, Astros: No sure thing for the depleted Houston rotation, Valdez got there because of injuries to others, and he will not be leaving anytime soon. The diminutive lefty fanned 11 Angels in Monday's win and has gone seven-plus innings in three of his past four starts. We shall see if he can continue to avoid home runs and induce weak contact.
Other random MLB thoughts
It was good to see Cubs infielder Javier Baez break such a long stretch of nothing, as he homered twice and raised his OPS back over .600 on Monday. Fantasy managers keep panicking with their star hitters struggling, but there is a reason your leaguemates want to deal for talents such as Baez, Christian Yelich and Rafael Devers.
Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt whacked a homer among three hits Monday and raised his batting average to .368, albeit in fewer PA than most others. He has 16 walks versus 11 strikeouts, too. Frankly, he looks great. So, why am I only looking at the big goose egg in the attempted stolen-base column? I need to get over the fact that his running days have ended.
It's funny how Astros rookie outfielder Kyle Tucker, now the team's cleanup hitter, continues to show that a platoon is not necessary, as he keeps looking great versus left-handed pitching. In fact, Tucker has four of his five home runs against lefties, though we cannot worry one bit about a tepid .731 OPS versus right-handers. Wow, is he going to be a fantastic fantasy option soon.
I watched a good bit of Rays left-hander Blake Snell on Monday, and he looks like he is back to his 2018 Cy Young form, though a bit more efficiency with his pitches would not hurt. Snell has great command these days and a monster K rate, but it's tough to win games when you never pitch six innings.
My favorite catcher, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, hit his first home run. It was an opposite-field blast off Oakland southpaw Jesus Luzardo, and I cannot get enough shares. Remember, although he is eligible at shortstop and third base, you should use him at catcher, where the modest pop and excellent speed matter.
Bullpen banter
I think we can presume that the Rockies are going with rehabilitated right-hander Daniel Bard as their closer. We shall see what happens with more Coors Field games, but Bard, while not overpowering everyone with his fastball, has better control than ever.
Brewers left-hander Josh Hader has faced 31 batters this season, and permitted nary a base hit. His modest save total of six is certainly not his fault. The Brewers just need to give him more leads to save.
Most of us keep ignoring Marlins closer Brandon Kintzler because, well, he is a Marlin. We do not expect many wins or the right-hander to miss many bats, but it should be noted that he has just as many saves as Hader.
Jordan Romano's second save came with a few base runners and still no guarantees that Anthony Bass cannot re-enter the situation or that Ken Giles cannot get healthy. Nevertheless, I would roster Romano first.
Recent work: Abreu, White Sox | Reliever report | Finding stolen bases | Dominating Seagers