Steve Mitchell – USA Today Sports
Another slow April start from Miami Marlins OF Giancarlo Stanton has been put clearly in the rearview mirror after a monster performance Sunday.
After hitting his first home run of the season Saturday, fantasy baseball owners were thrilled to watch Stanton mash two more Sunday; going 3-for-3 with three runs and four RBI. The slugger began the season 4-for-30 with no home runs or RBI before missing six games with a sore shoulder. Since returning, however, he’s been rejuvenated.
Stanton entered Saturday’s game hitting .203 with a .320 OBP and .250 slugging percentage. After Sunday’s game, Stanton now has a line of .243/.361/.414; showing just how early in the season we still are. The slugger struggled last April before getting red hot in May with 12 home runs and 30 RBI in the month. Owners should expect similar production now that Stanton has turned the corner.
Drafted in the second round of most fantasy drafts, owners had to be discouraged by the slow start; but good things come to those who wait. He still doesn’t have much protection in the lineup and won’t have a ton of runs to drive in, but he’ll put up his usual big power numbers with a solid average and very good OBP.
The window for buying low on Stanton is slamming shut. While there may still be some owners skeptical of his output for the season, he won’t come as cheap as he may have just one week ago. Stanton owners should just continue to plug him into their lineups, sit back and enjoy the production they expected when drafting him at the start of the season.
Rich Arleo is a fantasy sports expert with Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @Rarleo, ‘Like’ him on Facebook and add him to your networks on Google.
