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The Detroit Tigers made a decision to remove Rajai Davis from right field and inserted J.D. Martinez into that spot. Martinez is making the most of this opportunity because playing time is not guaranteed, and is worth picking up from the waiver wire in all leagues.
Davis can hit for a decent average and steal a few bases, .279 and 20 for the season respectively. He is not known to be a power hitter however, five home runs and 22 RBI. Though, there have been days that Davis hasn’t produced, making the switch to Martinez much easier. Davis has not recorded a stolen base in his last six games. In that span, he has picked up just three hits.
Martinez isn’t a speed guy, but produces at the plate. He has seven home runs and 25 RBI with a .312 average. He has four homers and 11 RBI in his last seven games. Martinez has done is best to change his swing. He said he studied Ryan Braun and teammate Miguel Cabrera. With numbers like what Braun and Cabrera put up, Martinez should have no problem being fantasy relevant.
Fantasy owners have taken notice to Martinez’s power. He is currently owned in 33 percent of ESPN.com leagues, up from three percent just two weeks ago. Many Davis owners have dropped him, likely in favor for Martinez. Davis’ ownership percentage has dropped 2.8 percent in the last week.
Martinez can easily fall out of favor with Tigers management. Yet, if he keeps hitting like this, Manager Brad Ausmus will have no choice but to fit him into the lineup. Martinez is a nice batter to pick up while the iron (or bat) is hot.
Bill Pivetz is a fantasy sports writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @BPiv_Sports.
