Vladimir Guerrero - Fantasy News & Updates
Vladimir Guerrero - Fantasy News & Updates
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Guerrero picked a bad year to become a free agent. The veteran slugger sustained a torn chest muscle shortly after the season opened, then wound up back on the DL with a leg injury in July. Although he looked like his old fearsome self for stretches, Guerrero wound up below .300 for the first time since 1996 and with fewer than 25 homers for the first time since '97. He also found himself in a strict DH role, which hurts his marketability and increases the chance of him returning to the Halos.
Guerrero's game-winning slap-shot came with two outs in the ninth inning, marking his first postseason RBIs in a 2-for-4 day. Three different injuries -- a knee surgery, a torn chest muscle and a strain leg muscle -- wound up costing the Angels DH 100 games during the regular season.
With a scheduled day off on Thursday, Guerrero gets two days off his feet, which ought to restore some life in his legs. "Just a day [off]," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of his designated hitter, who is batting .299 (with 15 homers and 47 RBIs in 91 games) in his quest to reach .300 for a 13th consecutive season. "He'll be ready on Friday [against Oakland].
Guerrero dialed in his fourth multi-hit performance in the last seven games, raising his average back over the .300 threshold in the process. The elder statesman has come on strong in the second half, batting .312 with 11 dingers, 25 RBIs and 32 runs in 44 contests.
Vladdy is listed as day-to-day heading into a critical weekend series against the Rangers in Texas. No stranger to injuries, Guerrero is batting .298 with 10 homers and 24 RBIs in 40 games since returning from a lengthy stay on the DL back in early August.
That ends a home run drought that lasted all of September, a span of 11 games in which Guerrero compiled a meager .262 slugging percentage. Guerrrero showed far more pop during August with a pair of multi-homer games, and history says the pace of extra-base hits should pick up down the stretch.
Guerrero is 7-for-18 (.389) during his current five-game hitting streak, although he has just two extra-base hits -- both doubles -- during that stretch. While he continues to hit and get on base at a respectable clip, Guerrero has just five extra-base hits over his last 18 games and 66 at-bats.
Vlad sorely needed a night like this after going a combined 3-for-24 over his first six September games. The slump was all the more peculiar considering he was coming off a scorching August during which he batted .337 with nine homers, 17 RBIs and a .625 slugging percentage. Now that he appears to be back on track, owners can expect a strong stretch run from the 34-year-old superstar, who’s hitting .296 for the year.
Guerrero is feeling fine, Scioscia said. It's just a day a needed day off for the Angels' veteran slugger. "I think it's a good time for it with the day game," Scioscia said. "[He'll] bounce back tomorrow." Guerrero is just 1-for-17 in his past four games, including an 0-for-5 night on Saturday.
Vlad notched his third multi-homer game in August, which helps set him up with a realistic shot at his 12th consecutive 20-homer season. He has his second lowest career AB/HR rate in September (15.7), so Vladdy should continue the power tear that he displayed in August, when he ripped nine long balls.
Vlad had been unusually quiet at the plate entering his latest contest, having gone run- and RBI-less over his last four starts and with his last multi-hit effort coming on Aug. 22. The free-swinging slugger made up for lost time on Friday with his all-around effort at the dish in the Angels clubbing of the A's. On the year, Vladdy is hitting .302 with 11 homers and 34 RBIs in 264 at-bats.
The big man has been making up for lost time in August, ripping .356 (26-for-73) with seven big flies and 15 runs scored, sitting in the driver's seat of an explosive Halos lineup.
The first two-thirds of Vlad's season was essentially a wash due to injury, but he has been downright Vlad-ian in August, and his line for the month now stands at .338-7-11, with 14 runs scored and a .676 slugging percentage, after 17 games. It's a nice way for Vlad to repay all those owners who stayed patient with him over a rough first three months.
Thanks to a few days off here and there and improved health, Vladdy is enjoying a monster month of August, boasting a /392 average with six homers, 10 RBIs and a .784 slugging percentage.
Concerns about Vladdy's leg problems can be put to rest for the time being. The Angels DH has caught fire with a .370 average, five long balls and nine RBIs over his last 12 games. A few days off here and there is a small price to pay for a monster August. After two extended absences, Guerrero boasts a .306 average with 10 homers and 30 RBIs over 222 at-bats this season.
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