Carson Kelly DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly continued his torrid start to the season in Monday's 9-2 win over the Giants. Kelly went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a strikeout. The 30-year-old jumped on a sixth-inning Hayden Birdsong hanging breaking pitch, sending it into the left-field seats. Kelly has been producing at a career-best rate so far, slashing .361/.500/.820 with eight HR and 23 RBI in 80 plate appearances. Kelly has split playing time with Miguel Amaya, who has produced decent offensive numbers. He also has not seen time as a designated hitter. However, he has started to earn a larger share of playing time behind the plate due to his hot bat.

Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly hit two home runs while collecting five RBI in Chicago's 13-11 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday afternoon. The first was a two-run shot off DBacks' starter Corbin Burnes to put the Cubs up 2-0. The second was a three-run shot off Bryce Jarvis that started a six-run eighth inning for Chicago. The 30-year-old now has six HR on the season after his monster game against his former team. His 1.675 OPS may start to earn him more playing time, potentially taking away from Miguel Amaya who's having a strong start to the season as well. Kelly's next chance to do more damage will be Saturday against scheduled DBacks starter Merrill Kelly.

Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly (hand) is back behind the dish to catch left-hander Matthew Boyd in Wednesday's series finale against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Kelly will hit eighth in the batting order against Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta after missing the first two games of the series in SD due to a left-hander injury that he suffered when he was hit by a pitch on Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. With Kelly returning, Miguel Amaya will head to the bench. The 30-year-old veteran has had a phenomenal start to his first season with the Cubbies, going 10-for-24 (.417) with four home runs and 13 RBI in nine games played. Kelly isn't going to be this good all year long as he shares playing time with Amaya, but fantasy managers are riding his hot streak early on. He has two hits and an RBI in just four career at-bats against Pivetta.