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Though streaming pitchers is a viable fantasy baseball strategy, it’s unpredictable. Your plan is dependent on a pitcher who isn’t on fantasy rosters for a reason, but analytics say he has a good shot at success in a particular matchup. So you drop a spare part, cross your fingers and hope your plan doesn’t backfire.
Instead of dropping a prospect or slow-starter and taking a shot in the dark on some Joe Schmoe starter who might have a shot of success for a few innings, wouldn’t you rather have a hurler who can become a permanent fixture in your rotation (even if you avoid him in certain matchups)?
Wouldn’t you like to have a guy who can be the next Carlos Rodon and Trevor Rogers instead of renting a guy because analytics say the Reds never hit well against lefties with 94 mph sinkers on Sundays?
Roto Rage prefers useful, dependable arms for the long term rather than throwing darts at names who might have some success.
After going 1-4 with a 5.96 ERA in just 16 appearances (nine starts) from 2019-20, Alex Wood is 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA, 10 strikeouts per nine innings and a career-low 1.50 walks per nine after his first three starts for the Giants. It is a small sample size, as he has pitched just 18 innings, but Wood owns career-best marks in ERA, swinging strike rate (14.5 percent), ground-ball rate (57.5) and strand rate (84.9).
Wood appears to be healthy, which is good news as he missed portions of 2019 and 2020 with back and shoulder issues. He also appears to have his velocity, especially with his slider and sinker, closer to 2017 levels. He was an All-Star and finished ninth in Cy Young voting that year after going 16-3 with a 2.72 ERA, 1.057 WHIP and 8.9 strikeouts per nine.
Wood, who relies on three pitches (none of which is a fastball), is doing most of his damage with his slider. Opponents are hitting .118 with 16 strikeouts against the pitch. He has career-high marks in swinging strike rate (27.6 percent), ground-ball rate (72.2) and put-away percentage (37.2), the rate of two-strike pitches resulting in a strikeout, with his slider.
Though Wood’s 2.09 FIP and 2.24 xFIP are indications he has gotten slightly lucky, and he has faced just the Marlins (twice) and Rockies, he was the most added pitcher in ESPN leagues this week. With his ownership hovering around 50 percent, fantasy owners should confidently roster the lefty, as he has the tools to provide solid depth to your rotation.
Another veteran reclamation project the Giants have had success with is Anthony DeSclafani, who is 2-0 with 1.50 ERA and a career-high 25 percent strikeout rate. He is also walking just 2.1 per nine innings and, as of Friday, had the sixth-best ground-ball rate (54.9 percent) and the fourth-best strand rate (91.6), which is bound to regress. DeScalfani’s 2.66 FIP indicates some luck, but fantasy owners should benefit from keeping him around.
The Royals’ Jakob Junis has appeared in six games this season — two as a reliever, four as a starter. Overall, he is 1-1 with a 3.47 ERA (2.23 FIP), 27-7 strikeout-walk rate, 1.157 WHIP and a .233 opponent average. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three of his four starts, and he is striking out a career-high 10.4 per nine innings.
A big part of Junis’ early success is the introduction and development of his cutter, a pitch he is using 35.7 percent of the time. It is a pitch that opponents can’t seem to figure out, as they are hitting .094 with 19 strikeouts (54.3 percent of his whiffs) against it. He is available in almost 90 percent of ESPN leagues.
Michael Kopech struck out 10 last Sunday in his second start of the season. He is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA, 14 strikeouts, one walk and a 0.750 WHIP in his two starts. Only problem: Tony La Russa is in no rush to make Kopech an permanent fixture in the White Sox’s rotation. Luckily, the 24-year-old, who is making his return from Tommy John surgery this year, has value as a reliever — he has a 1.17 ERA, .077 opponent average and 13 strikeouts in 7 ²/₃ innings of relief (15.3 per nine).
Big Hits
Trevor Rogers SP, Marlins
The lefty allowed two earned runs over his past four starts while going 3-0 with a 0.75 ERA, 32 strikeouts, six walks and a .195 opponent average.
Jesus Aguilar 1B/DH, Marlins
Was 7-for-22 (.318) with five homers, 11 RBIs and a 1.385 OPS during the six-game hit streak he carried into Friday. He had at least one RBI in eight of his previous 11 games.
Cristian Javier SP, Astros
Hasn’t allowed a run over his past three starts, going 3-0 with 22-6 strikeout-walk rate and a .140 opponent average.
Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, Padres
Went 13-for-31 (.419) with five homers, eight RBIs, 11 runs, four stolen bases and a 1.457 OPS during the eight-game hit streak he took into Friday.
Big Whiffs
Avisail Garcia OF, Brewers
Entered Friday with one hit in his previous 27 at-bats (.037). He struck out 15 times and owned a .225 OPS in that nine-game stretch.
Casey Mize SP, Tigers
After going 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA in his first two starts, he is 0-3 with a 8.04 ERA, 11-6 strikeout-walk rate and .300 opponent average in his past three starts. He allowed five homers and 14 ER in those outings.
Dane Dunning SP, Rangers
Allowed one earned run over his first three starts (0.60 ERA), but has allowed nine (10.57 ERA) in his past two starts.
Akil Baddoo, OF, Tigers
Average dipped from .391 on April 13 to .233 after going 5-for-37 (.135) with 21 strikeouts and a .482 OPS in his 11 games before Friday.
Check Swings
- With Leody Taveras optioned to the Rangers’ alternate site, the door opened for Adolis Garcia, who was the most added player in ESPN leagues this week. He had at least one hit in eight of 10 games between April 19 and Thursday — going 11-for-38 (.289) with four homers, 10 RBIs, a stolen base and a .965 OPS. Only real downfall is his 14 strikeouts.
- As debate rages on as to whether Madison Bumgarner threw a no-no vs. the Braves last Sunday, let’s recognize the fact he is looking like his old Cy Young self in his past three starts. He has gone 3-0 with a 1.06 ERA, 18-2 strikeout-walk rate and a .107 opponent average.
- You can take Steven Matz out of the NL East, but you can’t stop the NL East from beating up on Steven Matz. Over his first four starts with the Blue Jays, the former Met was 4-0 with a 2.31 ERA, 25-8 strikeout-walk rate and a .169 opponent average. The Nationals visited the Blue Jays and the lefty was handed his first loss after allowing six runs on eight hits over 3 ²/₃ innings. In 16 appearances (15 starts) against the Nats, he is now 1-8 with a 5.29 ERA.
Team Name of the Week
Yabba Dabba Baddoo
Submitted by Joseph Carola
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