Fantasy Baseball News & Updates
Fantasy Baseball News & Updates
Position:
Status:
Previous 15 - Next 15
Follow MLB.com Fantasy on Twitter
Fantasy News
Fantasy Analysis
Cantu split the year at first and third base and was a dependable source of run production, reaching the RBI century mark for the second time. Cantu may again find himself at third next season if the first-base job is won by either prospect Logan Morrison or Gaby Sanchez. The Marlins are not expected to retain Nick Johnson.
"It's a mild sprain, nothing big," Cantu said. The corner infielder ends the season with a .289 batting average, 16 home runs, 100 RBIs and 67 runs. Despite the downgrade in power from the 29 homers he racked up in 2008, Cantu has remained a very reliable option in standard formats.
Cantu has five multi-hit games over his past eight affairs, including three in a row. The five RBIs he's accumulated during those three games have given him 94, just one short of what he produced last year. He's also in great position to reach 100 RBIs, a figure he reached only in 2005, when he drove in 117 runners.
Cantu delivered his 18th RBI in September as he pushes closer to 100. After coming within five RBIs of the century mark last year, Cantu has an outside shot to jump into triple digits for the second time in his career.
Cantu has rebounded from a rough August (.231-2-12) with a robust .340 average, two jacks and 14 RBIs in 11 September games. Overall, his numbers are down from last year, but Cantu is showing he still can be a helpful contributor in mixed formats.
Cantu has been absolutely tearing it up during his ongoing six-game hitting streak, logging five multi-hit games, batting an even .500 (13-for-26) and driving in eight runs. There might not be a hotter hitter than Cantu in the National League at the moment.
Cantu has heated up again after a slow finish to August, going 8-for-18 with three doubles and four RBIs during a modest four-game hitting streak. With a strong stretch run, the 27-year-old infielder could match the 95 runs he knocked in a year ago.
While Cantu will likely come up well short of last year’s home run total of 29, he’s on pace to reach the 90-RBI plateau for the second straight season and deserves to start in the majority of formats.
Cantu has a five-game hitting streak going, although the homer marked the first extra-base hit during that span. Extended periods without extra-base hits, notably home runs, is nothing new for Cantu this year. He doesn't have a realistic shot at matching last year's 29-homer total despite the fact that his 45.3 fly ball percentage is right in line with last year's mark.
Cantu is batting just .162 in August, so perhaps this is a sign that his bat is awakening. With only 11 home runs, the Marlins infielder will be hard pressed to match last year’s total of 29. But by batting behind the likes of Hanley Ramirez and Nick Johnson, he'll have ample opportunity to pick up his straight 90-plus RBI season.
Cantu, who has hit safely in 10 of the last 11 games, has seen his power diminish since cracking seven dingers in April. He’s maintained his status as a solid option in all formats, though, batting .313 with 14 doubles since June 1.
Cantu has now driven in runs in three straight games, and has been on a very understated hot streak since the beginning of June, posting a .313 average (52-for-166) during that stretch, with 19 RBIs. He'll never be a glamorous fantasy player, but Cantu continues to produce solid numbers without producing a lot of buzz.
Cantu was unable to match the 18 homers he popped prior to the break in '08, but he proved to be a worthwhile mixed-league contributor. With the way things are going now, another 90-RBI campaign appears to be in the works.
It's starting to come together for Cantu, who has two multi-hit efforts in his last three games and a homer sandwiched in between those performances. This all comes after a 3-for-19 (.158) cold snap during which the Marlins continued to bat him in the cleanup spot. He surely receives plenty of good looks at pitches batting just behind Hanley Ramirez.
What a drought it had been for Cantu, who lasted 29 games and 114 at-bats without going yard. Four doubles in four games from June 30 - July 5 presented evidence that he was finding his stride at the plate. Still, it's looking more and more unlikely that he'll reach the 29 taters he produced for the Marlins last year.
Previous 15 - Next 15
