Gavin Lux DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Cincinnati Reds outfielders Gavin Lux and Jake Fraley are both out of the starting lineup with a left-hander on the mound for Friday's series opener against the visiting Washington Nationals. Santiago Espinal is in left field and is batting fifth, while Blake Dunn gets the nod in right field and is in the nine-hole against Nationals southpaw Mitchell Parker. The Reds will rest Lux after he went hitless in his last 10 at-bats. He's gone just 2-for-19 with an RBI and nine strikeouts against lefties this year. Lux has slashed a strong .317/.410/.426 with an .836 OPS in his first 101 at-bats with Cincy this year, but his counting stats have left plenty to be desired with only one homer, one steal, 15 RBI and 14 runs. Fraley is out of the lineup for the third straight game with the Reds facing a string of lefties. Neither Espinal nor Dunn have faced Parker in their careers.

Cincinnati Reds second baseman/outfielder Gavin Lux went 3-for-4 on Monday night against the Cardinals with a pair of doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. Lux raised his batting average for the season to an impressive .352, and his hot start is backed up by a 44.6% hard-hit rate that would set a new career high. Lux has hit safely in 12 straight games, going 22-for-43 (.512) over that span with five doubles, a home run, and a .553 wOBA. Lux has always had the potential to be outstanding if he's healthy, and he looks fully healthy and ready to be a key part of the Reds' offense the rest of the season. He only has one homer on the year, but his batting average and counting stats have been exceptional.

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Gavin Lux and outfielder Jake Fraley are both sitting out on Thursday in Milwaukee against the division-rival Brewers with a left-hander on the mound. Matt McLain is starting at second base and batting second, and Blake Dunn gets the start in right field and is hitting sixth versus Brewers lefty Nestor Cortes. Santiago Espinal is starting in left field and is batting eighth. Lux, who has hit righties much better in his career, is off to a slow start in his first year in Cincy by going 4-for-19 with a double, RBI, two walks and four strikeouts in his first six games. Fraley has been even worse, going 2-for-18 with an RBI, no walks and three strikeouts in five games played in the early going. Espinal is the only one who has faced Cortes in his career and is hitless in just five at-bats.