Fantasy Baseball: Seattle Mariners Playoff Push

It is an exciting time in Seattle to be a Mariners fan. They are currently ten games over .500, and only a half-game behind the Detroit Tigers for the second wildcard playoff spot (game in progress).

Our fantasy baseball owners are starting to see how fun offense can be, and the pitching is still lights out tops in the league.

The last month and a half of the season is a great time for fantasy owners to take a deeper look at their rosters, and identify those players whose teams are in a playoff push.

Those are the players who are going to step up their game in these final weeks to aid their teams into the post season.

It’s time for owners to start surfing the free agent wire for Seattle Mariners. Two weeks ago we took a deep look at Dustin Ackley, and since then he has been on fire.

Chris Young is on his way to receiving comeback player of the year. And James Paxton is finally healthy and pitching at the top of his game.

All those players are owned in less than 43% of fantasy leagues, and should be picked up ASAP if still available in your leagues.

It’s amazing to see how many top tier players have fallen off the map for the remainder of the year. Troy Tulowitzki, Prince Fielder, and even Jose Fernandez owners can look to the Mariners roster for that final push.

The Mariners schedule shows some great promise on the road. We start with the Philadelphia Phillies who are struggling sitting in last place in the NL East.

And then wrap up the road trip in Boston against the last place Red Sox in the AL East. Let’s take a look at this week’s Mariners that will assist our fantasy squads in our league rankings.

The record streak of 19 games may be over for Felix, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world.

The King still has a ton left in the tank, and we expect a huge showing this Friday when he is scheduled to take on the 2013 World Series champions Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox are struggling to win games currently sitting dead last in the AL East. They were major sellers at the trade deadline, and pretty much dealt their top pitchers in their rotation. This leaves less competition for Felix to pick up another win.

Expect The King to pitch late into the game, and the offense to get him plenty of offensive support to pick up another Win for his season totals.

Below are this week’s fantasy projections for the number one player in fantasy baseball.

WEEKLY FANTASY PROJECTION: FELIX HERNANDEZ

7  IP, 1 W, 10 K, 1.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP

It’s hard to ignore the season that Robinson Cano is having at this point. He has smashed three home runs in his past nine games to show his power numbers are coming on at the right time.

His batting average is sitting at second best in baseball at .330 BA, and he is consistently driving in runs currently at 68 RBI on the year.

Flying to Philadelphia on this road trip will allow Cano to see a damaged starting rotation with Cliff Lee back on the DL.

Next he will be facing a Boston starting rotation who will be missing Jon Lester and John Lackey who were both dealt at the trade deadline.

Fantasy owners can expect Cano to destroy the make shift starters this week. His hot hitting should continue, and maybe even pass Jose Altuve as the number one batting average in MLB.

Below are this week’s projections for the Mariners top hitter.

WEEKLY FANTASY PROJECTION: ROBINSON CANO

.350 BA, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 6 RUNS, 0 SB

This upcoming road trip will be interesting to pick our sleep player of the week. Both the Phili’s and Red Sox are last place in their respected divisions and struggling to win ball games down the stretch.

It’s hard to look for a Mariners offensive player to be the standout player in any week, but this road trip is full of struggling pitchers to ignore.

Kendrys Morales is finally showing the power numbers the Mariners needed when they traded for the DH hitter from Minnesota.

Continually penciled into the cleanup spot in the lineup, Morales is beginning to provide the protection for Cano, and driving in those needed runners in scoring position.

Expect a very productive week from the Mariners four hole hitter. Cano will be hitting lights out on this road trip, and the addition of Austin Jackson will leave plenty of RBI opportunities for Morales.

Kendrys mashed two home runs this past week, and we expect those numbers to only get better.

SLEEPER PICK WEEKLY PROJECTION: KENDRYS MORALES

.330 BA, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 RUNS, 0 SB