Boxscore Bits: April 19th, 2022

A few thoughts on the games from Monday’s games:

FOR STARTERS

• Kuhl’s move to COL essentially took him off my board as is the case with all Rockies pitchers and now he wants to dominate?!? I mentioned after his first start that he was at least joining the Watchlist for me, but I still can’t see myself starting him too often. He goes to DET this weekend and I’d use him there, but he’s back in Coors against CIN next week.
• Lauer held most of his velo games from his season opener when he was at 94 mph on average as his 93.5 mph fastball is still well above his career norms (91.9). PIT didn’t have answers for him and those who streamed him are very happy with the results. If they run a 6-man, he won’t start this weekend, but then would be lined up for a 2-step next week against SF and CHC. Lauer is at least a team streamer right now with the upside for more.
• McClanahan has an MLB-high 24 Ks despite having only gone at least 5 IP in just one of his three starts. The standout lefty also has an elite 62% GB rate, though it is kind of a bummer that he opened with starts against BAL, OAK, and CHC and he’s 0-1. Good ol’ wins, they’re so fun! At least he has a 2.40 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in his 15 IP of work.
• Bundy was sharp in Fenway, allowing his first run of the season and notching 6 Ks thanks to an 18% SwStr rate. I was unmoved by his scoreless debut against SEA, but this has more juice behind it because of the opponent and amped up whiffs.
• Nola survived in Coors and given that it’s a 2-start week, it’s not unrealistic to think a good number of managers started him. 4 HR in 3 starts are really hampering his bottom line and creating a scenario like last year where his ERA (5.52) is much higher than his SIERA (2.87).
• Hendricks is just a standard streamer, especially with the elevated BB rate. He gets PIT this weekend, but then heads to MIL next week and I’m passing on that one.
• It was a solid rebound outing for Lodolo, especially going to SD against a competent team (though that lineup isn’t all that scary for a perceived contender). 8 Ks with an excellent 17% SwStr rate drove the outing and he settled down very nicely after a 1st inning 2-run shot by Manny Machado.
• Kershaw was excellent through 5 with 71 pitches but came unraveled in the 6th opening HR-1B-2B before being removed and Brusdar Graterol allowed the two inherited runners to score. We already don’t deal with whole numbers for ERA, so why are inherited runners not divvied up between the 2 pitchers in question? It’s just so stupid to give full negative credit to the guy who left them, but nothing to the guy who let them cross the plate. Anyway, Kershaw is fine. Auto-start everywhere.
• Hill is likely being stretched out to get himself in shape to go at least 5, but until then, he might not even be streamable since your win chances are minuscule and he isn’t missing bats anywhere near his normal clip with a 5% SwStr rate.
• Ynoa’s brutal outing got him sent out to Triple-A. He now has a 6.11 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 53 IP since returning from his self-induced hand injury (punched a wall). He is a cut in a all but the deepest of leagues (20+ mixers, NL-Only) and even those formats aren’t “must-hold” if you have someone you like on the wire.
• I took a shot with Lorenzen at HOU knowing the risks and ate a dud. LAA’s 6-man rotation often prevents 2-start week, but Lorenzen is set up for one next week with 7 gms for the Angels (CLE, at CWS). I remain fully in and excited about him. Getting smacked at HOU is hardly reason to change an outlook.
• Thompson was just too inconsistent and then done in by a Christian Yelich grand slam, totally obscuring his 17% SwStr rate. I still think there will be periods of streaming usefulness from Thompson, but obviously he needn’t be held anywhere right now.

STOLEN BASES

• Trea Turner 1 (3)
• Brett Phillips 1 (2) – Just not sure the pwr/spd is worth it; he had a double-double last yr but hit .206 so if you can’t afford the hideous AVG, stay away
• Josh Lowe 1 (1) – Nice to see the struggling rookie get something going (60 wRC+ this yr)
• Gary Sánchez 1 (1) – He and Miguel Sano both has SBs this year, lol

MULTI-HR/MULTI-SB

Guys with 2+ HR or SB on Monday:

• Yordan Alvarez 2 (3) – He’s just SO damn good

NOTABLE CALLUPS

• Nick Allen, SS | OAK – A COVID outbreak opened the door for Allen in OAK. The slick fielding shortstop might be like another Nick A. in MLB: Nick Ahmed, which of course wouldn’t really bode well for his fantasy upside. He does have 3 SB already so if he comes up and gets a green light, there could be some usefulness there, but he was graded with a 45 hit tool and 20 game power on this year’s Oakland prospect list.

WTWT

Here is What To Watch Today for Tuesday, April 12th:

• An amazing doubleheader in Citi Field features Alex Cobb – Tylor Megill in game 1 and Logan Webb – Max Scherzer in game 2!
• We will see two vastly different strategies in play with Adam Wainwright and Jesús Luzardo squaring off in Miami.
• Can Nathan Eovaldi keep the Jays at bay?
• How will waiver wire fave Justin Steele (v. TB) do in his first of two this week?
• I’m always rooting for Chris Archer so I hope he does well in his 2nd start of the season.
• A couple of guys in new spots look to get right with Jon Gray v. Robbie Ray.
• Max Fried/Walker Buehler could be an elite nightcap as the final game of the night.