The Yakker

Pablo has been feasting on NL pitching.

When you spend some time delving deeper into the numbers sometimes some surprising things rise to the surface. After looking at hitters stats FOR THE LAST 30 days, here are some I felt may be interesting to fantasy owners.

• Athletics catcher Kurt Suzuki leads American League backstops in hits, RBI, and total bases and is second in runs.

• Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero is third in homers and RBI, second in runs, and leads National League catchers in total bases and hits.

• Royals first baseman Billy Butler has more hits than all AL first basemen not named Miguel Cabrera.

• Braves “utility player” Martin Prado leads NL first basemen in hits and seems poised for a big second half. Last year he hit .327 with two homers, 26 runs, 27 RBI, and two steals in 189 at bats from July through the end of the season.

• Cardinals Skip Schumaker leads NL second basemen in hits and runs.

• Is there a hotter hitter than Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki? Over the last 30 he leads NL shortstops in homers and runs, is second in RBI and total bases, is fourth in steals, and sixth in hits.

• Jays third baseman Scott Rolen may be old, but he leads guys manning the AL hot corner in hits.

• Okay, so maybe it’s Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval who can challenge Tulowitzki for the hottest hitter award. Over the last 30 days Pablo is first in homers, RBI, hits, and total bases, is fourth in runs, and sixth in steals among NL third basemen.

• Angels outfielder Juan Rivera leads all AL outfielders in long balls.

• Mariners outfielder Franklin Gutierrez is punishing pitchers, leading AL center fielders in homers, RBI, hits, runs, and total bases.