Tampa Bay Rays budding star Austin Meadows is on another rampage at the plate. The lefty went through a scorching-hot streak early on in the season, but eventually went through a drastic cold stretch. He’s back to being red-hot and now is the time to ride him.
Meadows clubbed eight homers back in August and has followed that up with four long-balls in just seven starts so far in September. He has five multi-hit games in those seven starts this month and is hitting .535 (15-for-28). The 10 runs, 9 RBI and four doubles he has logged has been impressive, too.
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Meadows has been filling out the fantasy stat book regularly and he draws a struggling pitcher in Texas Rangers Ariel Jurado. The right-handed pitcher has been massacred over his last five starts, compiling a hideous 7.99 ERA and allowing seven round-trippers. Jurado’s pathetic 12.5 percent strikeout rate against lefties is a positive sign for Meadows, who hits from the left side.
Meadows has crushed 20 homers over 318 at bats against right-handed arms this season, hitting .302 in the process with a .964 OPS. He has also accounted for nine of his 10 steals against righties. Meadows’ fierce .277 ISO and .400 wOBA against righties is terrific, too.
There’s reason to believe that Meadows could drop another big-fly in a smaller Arlington, Texas ballpark against a pitcher that has been very prone to homers this year (20 homers in 116 2/3 innings). Meadows’ 1.701 OPS this month speaks volumes. Confidently roster Meadows tonight despite the hefty price tag.