Taylor Ward DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward had a solid night at the plate in an 8-3 victory Tuesday over the Toronto Blue Jays. Ward finished 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk, and an additional run scored in Tuesday's win. He blasted a two-run shot off Blue Jays pitcher Jose Urena in the first inning, which traveled 419 feet and left the bat at 106.4 mph, kicking off the scoring for the Angels. It was his seventh long ball of the season. Ward has struggled to find consistency in a banged-up Angels lineup this season, slashing just .188/.234/.391 with a .625 OPS. He will look to find more production as the Angels try to climb in the AL West.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward is getting his first day off on Wednesday afternoon when the Angels face the Seattle Mariners. Ward has gone 0-for-13 with a 5:2 K:BB over his last four games and will get a day to reset. As a result, Gustavo Campero will get the nod in left field and bat in the seven-hole. Infielder Zach Neto will move up to the leadoff spot with Ward sitting out. However, before this slump, Ward held a modest .231/.259/.577 slash line with three doubles and five home runs over his last 13 games. Fantasy managers should expect Ward to return to the starting nine on Thursday when they begin a series against the Detroit Tigers. This afternoon, the Angels are worth targeting in DFS, facing the Mariners, who will send Emerson Hancock to the mound, who enters this game with a 7.71 ERA.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward came into Thursday's series finale against the hosting Tampa Bay Rays with a .196 average (9-for-46) with a homer and three RBI in his first 11 games this year. Ward turned things around in a big way at the plate in the 11-1 win over Tampa, though, going 3-for-5 with two home runs, two runs scored and three RBI to raise his season average to .235 and his OPS to .704. The 31-year-old led off the game with a solo, opposite-field shot before adding a two-run bomb in the fifth inning. He's clearly heating up, as he now has three home runs in his last two games in Tampa. Fantasy managers liked what they saw from Ward against the Rays and will be hoping he can keep it going as the Halos head to Houston for a weekend series against the division-rival Astros.