David Fletcher 2B/SS FA Mon 8/3/20 12:56 PM
David Fletcher
2B/SS FA
Fletcher went 1-for-5 with a walk, stolen base and run scored in Sunday's 11-inning loss to Houston.
EDGE Analysis
Fletcher finished the three-game series against Houston with four hits and four walks in 15 plate appearances. That kind of production has been par for the course for Fletcher so far in 2020 -- he has hit safely in all but two contests and carries a .368/.458/.447 slash line through 10 games. He also has two stolen bases after swiping eight bags in 154 contests last season.
David Fletcher 2B/SS FA Sat 8/1/20 2:17 AM
David Fletcher
2B/SS FA
Fletcher went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, an RBI double and two walks in Friday's 9-6 loss to the Astros.
EDGE Analysis
Fletcher's ability to get on base continued in full force Friday. He would score on Anthony Rendon's third-inning single as well as a homer and a triple from Brian Goodwin in the fourth and eighth innings, respectively. Through eight games, Fletcher is slashing .400/.486/.500 with five runs scored and four RBI.
David Fletcher 2B/SS FA Wed 7/29/20 12:32 PM
David Fletcher
2B/SS FA
Fletcher went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks in Tuesday's win over Seattle.
EDGE Analysis
Though Fletcher doesn't produce much in the power department, he has quickly established a reputation as one of the game's best contact hitters. That skill has led to plenty of base hits at the start of the campaign; through five games, Fletcher is hitting a robust .556 (10-for-18). Over his last three contests, the 26-year-old has collected eight hits and three walks in 14 plate appearances.
David Fletcher 2B/SS FA Sun 7/26/20 9:38 PM
David Fletcher
2B/SS FA
Fletcher went 4-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Athletics.
EDGE Analysis
All four of Fletcher's hits were singles. His run came on a Mike Trout homer in the third inning. Fletcher also picked up his first steal of the year in the fifth. The 26-year-old has gone 6-for-11 with a walk in three games so far. He's not likely to produce in power or speed -- Fletcher had just six homers and eight stolen bases across 154 games in 2019 -- but hitting in front of Trout on a consistent basis will elevate his run total.
David Fletcher 2B/SS FA Sun 7/26/20 12:31 AM
David Fletcher
2B/SS FA
Fletcher went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a walk during Saturday's 4-1 win over the Athletics.
EDGE Analysis
Fletcher made the most of the only hit he notched Saturday, delivering a two-run RBI double that scored Max Stassi and Andrelton Simmons. Fletcher has reached base safely in his first two games as the Angels' leadoff hitter in 2020.
David Fletcher 2B/SS FA Thu 3/19/20 12:08 AM
David Fletcher
2B/SS FA
Fletcher is expected to play "just about any position except first base and catcher" this season, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Fletcher played all or part of at least 20 games at four different positions last season, often making in-game defensive position switches. He logged the most time at third base and second base, though his playing time at those spots is likely to be cut down dramatically this season with the signing of Anthony Rendon and the return to health of Tommy La Stella. While Fletcher did not see time in center field in 2019, he played the position for the first time in spring training and could make some appearances there in 2020 if needed. Per Bollinger, Angels manager Joe Maddon views Fletcher as "a Ben Zobrist-type player who can play in both the infield and outfield without any issues." That should enable Maddon to get Fletcher's bat -- and elite contact skills --into the lineup on a near-everyday basis.
David Fletcher 2B/SS FA Tue 3/10/20 1:13 AM
David Fletcher
2B/SS FA
Fletcher played center field "for the first time in his life" Monday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Fletcher has been getting reps in the outfield with the hope that expanding his defensive versatility will better allow the Angels to get his bat into the lineup. Fletcher ranked among the baseball's best contact hitters last season, but the acquisition of Anthony Rendon and return of Tommy La Stella figure to significantly cut down the playing time he sees as an infielder in 2020.
David Fletcher 2B/SS FA Sun 2/16/20 7:21 PM
David Fletcher
2B/SS FA
Fletcher could experience increased playing time in right field this season according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register.
EDGE Analysis
With the Angels' offseason addition of Anthony Rendon and the return of Tommy La Stella, it is likely that Fletcher will be required to play the outfield more often. "The challenge is that I like Fletcher on the field as much as possible. The fact that David is versatile to play different positions is going to matter," said manager Joe Maddon. Right fielder Brian Goodwin hits left-handed but has reverse splits, with a significantly higher career OPS against southpaws compared to righties, so it's possible Fletcher begins the year in a platoon role alongside Goodwin. The 25-year-old will look to build upon a productive .290/.350/.384 slashline with 83 runs scored in 653 plate appearances in 2019.
David Fletcher 2B/SS FA Wed 9/25/19 3:18 AM
David Fletcher
2B/SS FA
Fletcher went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in a win over Oakland on Tuesday.
EDGE Analysis
Fletcher's trio of singles accounted for his third three-hit performance in his last six games. The Angels' leadoff man is finishing his second season in emphatic fashion, batting .341 (28-for-82) while scoring 12 runs over 20 games in September.
David Fletcher 2B/SS FA Sun 9/22/19 5:53 AM
David Fletcher
2B/SS FA
Fletcher went 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Saturday's 8-4 win over the Astros.
EDGE Analysis
After going 0-for-8 in the prior two games, Fletcher bounced back with his ninth multi-hit performance in 18 games this month. The 25-year-old is slashing .329/.388/.370 in September, although Saturday's solo shot was his first extra-base hit of the bunch, as he caps off a solid first full season in the majors.