Swanson Unleashes Speed: Steals Base in Friday Win
Dansby Swanson Steals a Base and Scores in Cubs Win Over Cardinals
What Happened in the Game
On Friday, the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0. Dansby Swanson, the Cubs’ shortstop, had a nice little game that fantasy baseball managers should know about.
Here’s the simple breakdown of his night:
- At-bats: 3
- Hits: 1 (a single)
- Runs scored: 1
- Stolen bases: 1
How the Run Happened: A Step-by-Step Story
- Sixth Inning: Swanson steps up to the plate.
- The Hit: He smacks a line drive (a hard, low hit) to center field for a single.
- The Steal: While standing on first base, he takes off for second base — and makes it safely! That’s a stolen base.
- The Payoff: Next up is Seiya Suzuki. He crushes a three-run home run. Since Swanson is on second base, he runs all the way home and scores a run.
Important Point: A stolen base doesn’t just look cool — it puts the runner in "scoring position." That means a single hit (like Suzuki’s homer) can bring them home easily. Swanson’s speed created the run!
August Performance So Far (Through 43 At-Bats)
Swanson has been playing quite a bit this month. Here’s his "report card" for August:
| Stat | What It Means | Swanson’s Number |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Average (.233) | How often he gets a hit per at-bat | 23.3% of the time |
| On-Base Percentage (.353) | How often he reaches base (hits + walks + hit by pitch) | 35.3% of the time |
| Slugging Percentage (.442) | Power measure (total bases ÷ at-bats) | Decent pop |
| Home Runs | Balls hit out of the park | 2 |
| Stolen Bases | Successfully stealing a base | 2 |
ELI5 Explanation: Think of the "slash line" (.233/.353/.442) like a three-part grade:
- First number: How often he gets a hit
- Second number: How often he gets on base any way (walks count!)
- Third number: How much power he shows (doubles, triples, homers)
Why This Matters for Fantasy Baseball
If you have Swanson on your fantasy team, here’s the good news:
- He’s running! 2 stolen bases in August is a nice bonus.
- He’s getting on base. That .353 on-base percentage means he’s helping your team even when he doesn’t get a hit.
- He’s scoring runs. Being on base ahead of power hitters (like Suzuki) leads to runs.
The not-as-exciting part:
- Batting average is low (.233). That drags down your team’s average a bit.
- Only 2 homers this month. He’s not a huge power source right now.
Summary
Dansby Swanson had a productive fantasy game on Friday: a hit, a steal, and a run scored in a Cubs win. While his August batting average (.233) isn’t pretty, he’s contributing speed (2 SB) and on-base skills (.353 OBP) — both valuable in fantasy leagues. Keep him in your lineup, especially in formats that reward steals and runs.
FAQ
1. What does "1-for-3" mean?
It means Swanson had 3 official at-bats and got 1 hit. Walks, sacrifice flies, and hit-by-pitches don’t count as "at-bats."
2. Why is a .353 on-base percentage good if his batting average is only .233?
Because he draws walks! On-base percentage counts hits plus walks plus getting hit by a pitch. Swanson is being patient at the plate and earning free passes to first base.
3. What is a "line drive"?
A line drive is a ball hit hard and low, traveling in a straight line. It’s the best type of hit for getting on base — it drops quickly and is hard for fielders to catch.
4. Does a stolen base count as a fantasy point?
In most standard fantasy leagues: Yes! Stolen bases are a scoring category (usually 1 point each) or count toward a "Runs + Steals" combo. Check your league settings.
5. Should I drop Swanson if his average stays low?
Probably not. He plays every day (shortstop), steals bases, scores runs, and hits some homers. In 12+ team leagues, he’s a solid starter. In shallow leagues, you might find better average options — but you’d lose the speed.