We look at who's hot, and who's not, in this week's edition of the NL Stock Watch. It is this point in the season where some of the more unheralded names in baseball can make the biggest impact, and we start in Florida as we try and uncover some hidden gems.
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Chris Coghlan, 2B/OF, Marlins: He's got eight straight multihit games and has his average up to .285 for the season. He only has five steals so far, but stole 34 last year in the Double-A, so his final total could easily reach double digits. He's a strong buy while he and the Marlins are hot.
Cristian Guzman, SS, Nationals: With the possibility of a waiver claim by the Red Sox, his value may be on the rise. He has a .317 season average, and has posted a line of .365/2/17 during the past month, more proof that he's on an upward trend. He hit .338 last August and .373 last September , showing he greatly enjoys the late summer months.
Derrek Lee, 1B, Cubs: Lee found himself on a few waiver wires earlier in the season, but has turned it around, posting a line of .319/6/18 during the past month. At the rate he is going, he could finish at .290/30/100, excellent production out of a corner infielder.
J.A. Happ, P, Phillies: His sparkling 2.74 ERA and 8-2 record speak volumes for the growth he's made in '09, as he is providing top of the rotation production for a mere waiver wire claim. While he's been a bit lucky (.251 BABIP, 4.01 FIP), he's still good no matter which stats you look at. There's no way he moves to the pen as was recently rumored, so if he is somehow still available on your waiver wire, snap him up immediately.
Jose Valverde, P, Astros: After missing a good chunk of the first half with an injury, he's posted his typical solid numbers (2.70 ERA, 15 saves). He's picked up eight of those saves during the past month. With the Astros still in the playoff hunt, he should continue to get a good amount of save chances going forward.
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Cody Ross, OF, Marlins: He is what he is, a power hitting outfielder (20 homers) who hits for a mediocre average (.263). That average dropped to .215 during the past month, but he is traditionally a streaky player, so this is what you should expect from him. He could approach 30 homers this year, making him a quality third outfielder in deeper mixed formats.
Jair Jurrjens, P, Braves: This guy just keeps outperforming his peripherals: He owns a 3.01 ERA, and a FIP of 3.70. His average K/9 rate (6.47) has dropped slightly, but not enough to raise any red flags. His ERA should be due for a correction as the season comes to a close, but he is still a solid play for those in mixed formats.
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Ryan Doumit, C, Pirates: Coming into the season, he was arguably a top-five player at his position, but has tumbled hard in '09. An early season injury derailed him initially, but his .234/6/22 line thus far has left his owners feeling empty and uninspired. At this point, he should be left for incredibly deep mixed leagues, and NL-Only formats.
Max Scherzer, P, Diamondbacks: I still feel he could be Lincecum Lite, but he needs to learn to pitch deeper into games before he reaches that level. He's only gone seven innings or more in four of his 21 starts, leaving a lot to be desired. I would expect his innings to be limited down the stretch to protect his young arm, making him a strong sell in non-keeper formats as the season winds to a close.
