Fantasy Baseball: Mariners On the Upswing

This past week the Mariners went 4-2 and the offense lit up against the Red Sox and Indians. A total of 30 runs scored in 6 games, while the Mariners pitching staff allowed only 17.

This week has provided solid fantasy baseball numbers, but the week to come looks promising for three players in particular: Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager, and Felix Hernandez (who pitched twice this week).

One of the most reassuring aspects of this winning baseball formula is the home victories: prior to this week the Mariners were 17-20 at home. But as of today they sit at 21-22, with a road split of 23-16.

With a road trip to play Houston– who always seem to play the Mariners tough– and Chicago (who is stacked with potential trade candidates for the Mariners), it will be interesting to see if this team can maintain their swagger and winning ways.

Robinson Cano:

Last 7 games: .208 average, 5 hits, 5 runs scored, 1 double, 1 home run, 3 RBI and 0 walks.

This was a very slow week for Cano, buoyed only by the 2-run homer he hit in last night’s 3-0 victory against the Tribe.

This week against the Astros and White Sox will be Cano heaven. Over the last three seasons he has had 21 at-bats against the Astros, and 82 at-bats against the White Sox. Here are his numbers against each:

Versus the Houston Astros: .381/.381/.571, 8 hits, 3 runs, 1 home run, 2 RBI, 0 walks. This is a very small sample size, but his average is through the roof against a team with poor pitching in recent seasons.

If Cano is starting to tap into his power stroke again, he could have himself a series in Houston.

Versus the Chicago White Sox: .341/.382/.683, 28 hits, 15 runs, 8 home runs, 20 RBI, 5 walks. Absolutely nasty numbers. 8 home runs in only 82 at-bats? It seems as if Robbie Cano could be a player of the week in some fantasy formats.

WEEKLY FANTASY PROJECTION: ROBINSON CANO

.330 average, 5 runs, 2 home runs, 6 RBI.

Kyle Seager:

Seager has been going absolutely nuts offensively at Safeco Field this season. In the last 7 days Seager is batting .583 with 14 hits, 5 runs, 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 8 RBI, o walks. He has been a hitting machine, driving his average up to .277 on the season.

Unfortunately Seager has not hit well against the White Sox or Astros over the last three seasons.  In 63 at-bats versus Chicago he’s hit .222/.275/.460 with 4 home runs and 12 RBI.

Against the Astros it’s even worse, batting .164/.273/.254 in 67 at-bats with 2 home runs, 6 RBI, and 9 walks.

But since Seager has been so hot of late, it’s hard not to see him putting up respectable numbers this week, worthy of a fantasy start.

WEEKLY FANTASY PROJECTION: KYLE SEAGER:

.270 average, 5 runs, 1 home run, 5 RBI.

Felix Hernandez:

Not much else needs to be said expect that Felix has been Felix over the last month plus. 9 consecutive starts with 7+ innings pitched and 2 runs or fewer allowed. It’s tied for the second-longest streak of the course of a single season.

Unfortunately, Felix started twice last week, meaning he only gets his lone weekly start in Chicago against the White Sox. But just because it’s one start doesn’t me his isn’t worthy of the fantasy nod. We will stick clean and tidy with his typical stat line over recent weeks.

WEEKLY FANTASY PROJECTION: FELIX HERNANDEZ:

1 start, 7.1 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts, 1 win.

BONUS!

So a special somebody is joining the Mariners to make his 2014 pitching debut: Taijuan Walker. And since his first start is on a Monday against the Astros, he will get a second start this week up in Chicago.

This is a great opportunity for him to start hot out of the gate and provide the Mariners even more reasons to believe in the success of this team this season.

I don’t think he is going to go crazy this week, but he will be solid for sure.

WEEKLY FANTASY PROJECTION: TAIJUAN WALKER

2 starts, 12 innings pitched, 4 walks, 12 strikeouts, 1 win.

Who else do you think will have a stellar fantasy week for these surging Mariners?