Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Pirates have been making moves to become more competitive in the NL Central. The pitching staff is earning the tough wins and the hitters are driving in the necessary runs to stay withing striking distance of first place. One batter who is heating up at the right time is outfielder Josh Harrison.
Harrison has been a valuable fantasy option for every owner who picked him up. For the season, he is hitting .299 with 41 runs, eight home runs, 35 RBI and 13 stolen bases. A player like Harrison who is filling up all the categories is irreplaceable.
Over the last four games, Harrison has been on fire. He has hit a home run in four straight, going 8-for-17 with six RBI and two bag swipes, including a 4-for-6 outing on Sunday. While the power surge may not last, it’s best to strike while the iron, or bat, is hot. Harrison has a 10.64 rating on ESPN’s Player Rater over the last 15 days.
Another reason to pick up Harrison is his eligibility. He is playable at outfield, second base and third base. With this versatility, he is fantasy value skyrockets. You can slot him in whenever your second or third baseman has an off day or misses time from injury.
Fantasy owners are taking not of Harrison’s skill. He has been outplaying teammate Pedro Alvarez throughout the season, so a loss of playing time is unlikely. He is currently owned in 89.1 percent of ESPN.com leagues. There has been an increase of 22.3 percent. Owners are wide-eyed by looking at his recent stats. Fantasy owners shouldn’t expect a home run every day, but he has a lot of potential.
He is worth holding onto next year in keeper and dynasty leagues.
Bill Pivetz is a fantasy sports writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @BPiv_Sports.
