Boxscore Bits: April 25th, 2022
by Paul Sporer
April 25, 2022
A few thoughts on the games from the weekend’s games:
FOR STARTERS
Weekend Starters
| # | Name | Team | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | TBF | ERA | WHIP | W | vFA (pi) | vSI (pi) | SwStr% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaron Nola | PHI | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 22 | 0.00 | 0.29 | 0 | 92 | 91.8 | 14% |
| 2 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 23 | 0.00 | 0.29 | 1 | 87.8 | 87.5 | 5% |
| 3 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | 6.2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 24 | 0.00 | 0.75 | 1 | 97.1 | 13% | |
| 4 | Dakota Hudson | STL | 6.2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 23 | 0.00 | 0.90 | 1 | 93.3 | 93 | 7% |
| 5 | Eric Lauer | MIL | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 24 | 0.00 | 1.00 | 0 | 93.9 | 14% | |
| 6 | Kyle Wright | ATL | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 24 | 0.00 | 0.83 | 1 | 96.4 | 94.9 | 21% |
| 7 | Austin Gomber | COL | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 22 | 0.00 | 0.67 | 1 | 91.1 | 10% | |
| 8 | Yu Darvish | SDP | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 22 | 0.00 | 0.67 | 0 | 95.3 | 94.4 | 9% |
| 9 | Tarik Skubal | DET | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 22 | 0.00 | 0.83 | 1 | 94.6 | 95.2 | 11% |
| 10 | Martín Pérez | TEX | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 21 | 0.00 | 0.50 | 0 | 92.5 | 93 | 12% |
| 11 | Michael Kopech | CHW | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 17 | 0.00 | 0.80 | 0 | 96.1 | 12% | |
| 12 | Trevor Rogers | MIA | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 0.00 | 1.20 | 0 | 94.8 | 17% | |
| 13 | Dylan Bundy | MIN | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 19 | 0.00 | 0.80 | 1 | 89.8 | 91.5 | 6% |
| 14 | Madison Bumgarner | ARI | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 0.00 | 0.80 | 0 | 90.6 | 4% | |
| 15 | Cole Irvin | OAK | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 19 | 0.00 | 0.60 | 1 | 92.5 | 92.1 | 12% |
| 16 | Garrett Whitlock | BOS | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 0.00 | 0.25 | 0 | 96.4 | 96.3 | 17% |
| 17 | Rich Hill | BOS | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 0.00 | 1.75 | 0 | 87.2 | 83.2 | 5% |
| 18 | J.P. Feyereisen | TBR | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0 | 93.2 | 25% | |
| 19 | Sam Long | SFG | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0.00 | 1.00 | 0 | 94.6 | 13% | |
| 20 | Garrett Richards | TEX | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0.00 | 1.50 | 0 | 94.4 | 9% | |
| 21 | Chris Flexen 플렉센 | SEA | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 26 | 1.29 | 0.86 | 1 | 92 | 11% | |
| 22 | Chad Kuhl | COL | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 1.50 | 1.00 | 1 | 94.8 | 92.7 | 19% |
| 23 | Nick Lodolo | CIN | 5.2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 22 | 1.59 | 0.88 | 1 | 94.3 | 93.3 | 9% |
| 24 | David Peterson | NYM | 5.2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 1.59 | 0.71 | 0 | 93.7 | 92.7 | 12% |
| 25 | Jesús Luzardo | MIA | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 21 | 1.80 | 1.20 | 1 | 97.7 | 97.4 | 21% |
| 26 | Zac Gallen | ARI | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 18 | 1.80 | 0.60 | 0 | 94.3 | 13% | |
| 27 | Steven Matz | STL | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 22 | 1.80 | 1.80 | 1 | 95.1 | 11% | |
| 28 | Julio Urías | LAD | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 20 | 1.80 | 1.00 | 1 | 92.9 | 11% | |
| 29 | Freddy Peralta | MIL | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 20 | 1.80 | 1.00 | 0 | 92.6 | 9% | |
| 30 | Bailey Ober | MIN | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 20 | 1.80 | 1.00 | 0 | 91.6 | 11% | |
| 31 | Jameson Taillon | NYY | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 21 | 1.80 | 1.40 | 1 | 94.7 | 94.7 | 7% |
| 32 | Glenn Otto | TEX | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 1.80 | 0.60 | 1 | 93.1 | 20% | |
| 33 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 1.80 | 0.80 | 1 | 91.5 | 91.4 | 5% |
| 34 | Ranger Suárez | PHI | 4.2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 1.93 | 1.50 | 0 | 93.9 | 92.9 | 9% |
| 35 | Lucas Giolito | CHW | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 2.25 | 1.75 | 0 | 93.2 | 22% | |
| 36 | Frankie Montas | OAK | 7.1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 26 | 2.45 | 0.55 | 0 | 96.2 | 95.5 | 14% |
| 37 | Shane McClanahan | TBR | 7 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 27 | 2.57 | 0.86 | 1 | 97.2 | 22% | |
| 38 | Tylor Megill | NYM | 6.2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 26 | 2.70 | 0.90 | 1 | 95.5 | 12% | |
| 39 | Nestor Cortes | NYY | 6.1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 21 | 2.84 | 0.47 | 0 | 90.3 | 11% | |
| 40 | Bruce Zimmermann | BAL | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 21 | 3.00 | 1.00 | 1 | 91.5 | 91.4 | 16% |
| 41 | Alek Manoah | TOR | 6 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 25 | 3.00 | 1.17 | 1 | 94.6 | 93.1 | 11% |
| 42 | Robbie Ray | SEA | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 23 | 3.00 | 1.00 | 0 | 93.1 | 14% | |
| 43 | JT Brubaker | PIT | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 3.00 | 1.67 | 0 | 92.4 | 92 | 18% |
| 44 | Noah Syndergaard | LAA | 5.2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 24 | 3.18 | 0.88 | 0 | 94.8 | 95.6 | 11% |
| 45 | José Urquidy | HOU | 5.2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 23 | 3.18 | 1.24 | 0 | 93.9 | 11% | |
| 46 | Alex Wood | SFG | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 20 | 3.60 | 1.00 | 1 | 93.1 | 10% | |
| 47 | Humberto Castellanos | ARI | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 19 | 3.60 | 1.00 | 1 | 89.3 | 90 | 10% |
| 48 | Reid Detmers | LAA | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 19 | 3.60 | 0.80 | 0 | 93 | 7% | |
| 49 | Ian Anderson | ATL | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 24 | 3.60 | 1.80 | 0 | 93.5 | 14% | |
| 50 | Michael Wacha | BOS | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 3.60 | 1.00 | 1 | 93.6 | 92.4 | 4% |
| 51 | Spenser Watkins | BAL | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 3.60 | 1.20 | 0 | 93.3 | 9% | |
| 52 | Nick Martinez | SDP | 4.2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 22 | 3.86 | 1.93 | 0 | 92.7 | 92 | 13% |
| 53 | Tyler Anderson | LAD | 4.2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 3.86 | 1.50 | 0 | 90.6 | 89 | 10% |
| 54 | Bryce Elder | ATL | 4.2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 3.86 | 2.36 | 0 | 91.2 | 15% | |
| 55 | Jose Quintana | PIT | 4.2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 3.86 | 1.29 | 0 | 90.9 | 8% | |
| 56 | Logan Webb | SFG | 6.2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 28 | 4.05 | 1.20 | 1 | 92.9 | 92.1 | 9% |
| 57 | Tyler Mahle | CIN | 4.1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 4.15 | 1.85 | 0 | 93.2 | 14% | |
| 58 | Cal Quantrill | CLE | 6.1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 25 | 4.26 | 1.42 | 0 | 92.4 | 92.4 | 9% |
| 59 | Justin Verlander | HOU | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 22 | 4.50 | 0.83 | 0 | 94.3 | 4% | |
| 60 | Adrian Houser | MIL | 6 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 23 | 4.50 | 1.00 | 1 | 94 | 93.9 | 7% |
| 61 | Yusei Kikuchi | TOR | 3.2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 20 | 4.91 | 2.18 | 0 | 94.6 | 9% | |
| 62 | Carlos Hernández | KCR | 5.1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 5.06 | 1.50 | 0 | 96.1 | 11% | |
| 63 | Beau Brieske | DET | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 5.40 | 1.00 | 0 | 95 | 7% | |
| 64 | Brad Keller | KCR | 4.2 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 5.79 | 1.71 | 0 | 94 | 93.1 | 9% |
| 65 | Eli Morgan | CLE | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 6.00 | 1.00 | 0 | 91.1 | 14% | |
| 66 | Chris Archer | MIN | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 6.00 | 2.00 | 0 | 93.4 | 8% | |
| 67 | Jose Suarez | LAA | 4.1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 19 | 6.23 | 1.38 | 0 | 93.8 | 92.6 | 12% |
| 68 | Matt Brash | SEA | 4.1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 6.23 | 2.08 | 0 | 96.5 | 9% | |
| 69 | Ross Stripling | TOR | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 6.75 | 1.50 | 0 | 92.4 | 91.4 | 12% |
| 70 | Zack Wheeler | PHI | 5 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 22 | 7.20 | 1.40 | 0 | 96.3 | 95.5 | 7% |
| 71 | Drew Smyly | CHC | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 7.20 | 1.40 | 0 | 92.3 | 13% | |
| 72 | Corey Kluber | TBR | 5 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 7.20 | 2.40 | 0 | 90.9 | 89.3 | 10% |
| 73 | Adam Wainwright | STL | 5 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 7.20 | 2.20 | 0 | 89.8 | 88.9 | 4% |
| 74 | Luis Garcia | HOU | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 23 | 7.50 | 1.00 | 0 | 94.7 | 11% | |
| 75 | Hunter Greene | CIN | 3.1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 8.10 | 2.40 | 0 | 96.2 | 9% | |
| 76 | Aaron Sanchez | WSN | 4.1 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 8.31 | 1.62 | 0 | 93.5 | 93.2 | 3% |
| 77 | Antonio Senzatela | COL | 5 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 9.00 | 2.00 | 0 | 94.4 | 92.8 | 6% |
| 78 | Adam Oller | OAK | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 9.00 | 1.40 | 0 | 93.6 | 9% | |
| 79 | Justin Steele | CHC | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 9.00 | 2.67 | 0 | 93.1 | 9% | |
| 80 | Elieser Hernandez | MIA | 4.2 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 9.64 | 1.50 | 0 | 91.5 | 10% | |
| 81 | Joan Adon | WSN | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 11.25 | 1.75 | 0 | 95.6 | 10% | |
| 82 | Tyler Alexander | DET | 3.2 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 12.27 | 2.45 | 0 | 90.3 | 90.1 | 4% |
| 83 | Sean Manaea | SDP | 4.1 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 23 | 12.46 | 2.08 | 0 | 89.7 | 11% | |
| 84 | Vince Velasquez | CHW | 3.1 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 19 | 13.50 | 2.70 | 0 | 93.4 | 92.6 | 9% |
| 85 | Aaron Civale | CLE | 3 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 18.00 | 2.67 | 0 | 90.6 | 90.9 | 7% |
| 86 | Zach Thompson | PIT | 2 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 18.00 | 5.50 | 0 | 93.5 | 93.2 | 14% |
| 87 | Trevor Williams | NYM | 2 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 18.00 | 3.50 | 0 | 90.6 | 8% | |
| 88 | Kris Bubic | KCR | 2 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 22.50 | 4.00 | 0 | 91.7 | 6% | |
| 89 | Patrick Corbin | WSN | 1.2 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 37.80 | 6.00 | 0 | 92.6 | 92.9 | 10% |
Sorted by ERA
Friday:
- Wright has been one of the early waiver wire standouts with velo spike aiding the best MLB work we’ve seen from him. He is undoubtedly an all-formats arm right now.
- Rogers bounced back after the meltdown v. PHI (1.7 IP/7 ER). He only had 4 Ks in 5 IP, but his 17% SwStr rate was 3rd-best on Friday. Hopefully you didn’t panic-bench him.
- Flexen is a traditional starter and with at TB, v. HOU, and v. TB lined up for his next three, you can send him back to the wire or at least to your bench if you’re in a league deep enough where he’s a team streamer.
- The first good start from Peralta should calm the concerns that might’ve been starting to crop up. He wasn’t being benched anywhere anyway, but it’s nice to see him excel.
- Otto was a key target for me this weekend as I think he can hold a spot even once Jon Gray returns. Otto was excellent in his season debut and some wild variance (.423 BABIP, 46% LOB) last year obscured an 18% K-BB in 23.3 IP. Obviously, it will depend how they all pitch, but Otto should have an inside edge over Taylor Hearn and Spencer Howard right now.
- Zimmermann allowed his first runs of the year, but still had a strong outing in LA. He has been untouchable vL (.143 OPS; .683 vR) with his secondary stuff carrying the load. A trip to NYY this week will be interesting and if he excels, interest in him will soar with a 2-step on tap for next week (MIN, KC).
- Martinez has run a gauntlet to start the season with SF, ATL, and LAD as his first 3 starts. Nine walks have hampered him in the last 2 starts, but his 13% swinging strike is nearly double the 7% he had from 2014-17 with TEX. I’m not against benching him, but I’d probably try to hold him as he figures out how to harness this improved, but wild new stuff.
- Keller came back to earth as he couldn’t get to his secondary offerings as he threw his fastballs 73% of the time (up from 52% in his first 2 starts). He remains a streamer and might be a better option than we think this week with a trip to CWS. Their 66 wRC+ against righties is 29th this year and with Eloy Jiménez now out, that lineup isn’t that
- We knew Greene would eventually hit a hiccup and it’s not surprising that walks were the culprit. He goes to COL this week, so I’d reserve him in most formats.
Saturday:
- Perez, Hendricks, and Bundy are pretty standard streamers, and they showed the upside of what you can get in some matchups. Just be careful with all of them.
- Whitlock is all over the place with a save on April 19th and then a start on April 23rd. So much for him consistently being the follower to Rich Hill, but he is still a must-roster, must-start arm.
- Skubal still hasn’t allowed a HR and now has back-to-back elite starts.
- Nasty Nestor remains completely on fire with 20 Ks in his last 2 starts and is still inexplicably available in 25% of ESPN leagues. He goes to KC this week, giving him a great chance to stay hot.
- Anderson will be joining the LAD rotation with Andrew Heaney shelved and after 80 pitches this last time out, he is pretty much stretched out enough to go 5+ now. He has a strong 18% K-BB rate with a 12% SwStr and 55% GB rate on a great team which made him a popular pickup in the Main Even world this weekend and if he does well against DET this week, he will be a major target in shallower formats next weekend.
- Brieske has a modicum of super deep league intrigue for DET. He will square off against Anderson in his second start after flashing a few signs in his MLB debut: 95 mph fastball, 4-pitch mix, and 5 IP. He was 10th in DET’s prospect list and could be someone who sticks for the Tigers. Keep tabs on him.
- Brash managed to dole out 4 BB to KC, a team that is often allergic to doing so with a 6% so far this year (28th) and 7% since 2019 (30th). The lack of control and command will continue to breed volatility, but his upside is so rich that I don’t envision myself benching him all that often.
- Wheeler’s velo was up to a season-high 96.3 mph, but he still had just a 7% SwStr and still allowed 7 hits. I still don’t see anything actionable, though. He hasn’t been the ace you drafted, but he is still an automatic start across the board.
- I’ve never been a huge fan of Hernandez as anything more than a standard streamer with his persistent HR issues (2.1 career HR/9; 3.5 this yr). I’m not too confident in starting him against SEA this week and would wait until his start v. ARI next week.
Sunday:
- A couple of veteran lefties in Hill and Bumgarner popped off, though the combined 5 Ks and 4% SwStr in 9 IP don’t instill a ton of confidence. Hill isn’t even penciled in for a start this week and Bumgarner gets a tough draw at STL. Sit both.
- Irvin delivered an excellent streamer 2-step with 10 IP of 1-run ball, 1.10 WHIP, and 8 Ks against BAL and TEX. He stays home this weekend with CLE coming in and despite their strong start at the dish, I’m keeping Irvin in the lineup. They have scored 3.7 runs per game since that 37-run barrage in a 3-game run from April 10th-12th.
- Lauer enjoyed a favorable zone on Sunday night, but still had a 14% SwStr aiding his 13-K performance. He has amped his velo up to a career-best 94 mph and is looking more and more like a consistent start after a strong 2021 in addition to these three good starts.
- Lodolo has done great in back-to-back starts since his ugly MLB debut with 13% SwStr and 44% O-Swing rates leading to 15 Ks in his last 10.7 IP. He is headed to COL this week so I totally understand sitting him, but I certainly wouldn’t cut him.
- Elder refuses to give in with 11 BB in his last 2 starts (9 IP), but he is walking a dangerous line with that as the 2.11 WHIP will eventually come back to bite him and that 4.30 ERA will rise. With Huascar Ynoa sent out, Elder should remain in the rotation for now, but this feels like a very deep league play at best right now. A trip to TEX this weekend is streamable in the leagues where Elder is being rostered.
- Kikuchi has been through the ringer with his first three starts at NYY, at BOS, and at HOU en route to more walks (10) than strikeouts (9). He heads home this week, but his next two starts are set to be HOU and NYY! This is brutal!
- Steele’s 2-start week was a flop (11.12 ERA, 2.47 WHIP, 3 K, and 7 BB in 5.7 IP) as he just couldn’t consistently miss bats against TB or PIT. I’m keeping an eye on the 26-year-old lefty, but he is an easy cut for now.
- Manaea was blasted by LAD, nothing to worry about there.
- Civale’s .382 BABIP has been particularly punishing with 13.1 H/9 driving his 1.94 WHIP through 3 starts. It is also exacerbating the damage done by his elevated BB rate. The 3-point jump to 9% wouldn’t be so punishing if he wasn’t giving up hits at such a crazy clip with a meager 42% LOB rate, too. I reserving but holding in deeper formats, but I understand cutting him in 10s and 12s, especially if you are struggling to find a cut for an appealing breakout arm.
COMBO MEALS
Shoutout to ESPN’s Fantasy Focus podcast for coming up with the “combo meal” term when guys get a HR and SB in the same game. Here are the weekend (Fri-Sun) combo meals:
- Mookie Betts (2 HR) – Friday
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2 SB) – Saturday
- Tim Anderson – Sunday
MULTI-HR/MULTI-SB
Guys with 2+ HR or SB over the weekend (Fri-Sun):
SBs:
- Jorge Mateo 4 (7)
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. 3 (4)
- Julio Rodríguez 2 (6)
- Adalberto Mondesi 2 (5)
- Cedric Mullins 2 (3)
- Christian Yelich 2 (2)
HRs:
- Byron Buxton 3 (6)
- Ty France 2 (5)
- Joc Pederson 2 (5)
- Mike Trout 2 (4)
- Austin Riley 2 (4)
- Christian Walker 2 (4)
- Cody Bellinger 2 (4)
- Wander Franco 2 (3)
- Aaron Judge 2 (3)
- Mookie Betts 2 (2)
- Santiago Espinal 2 (2)
NOTABLE CALLUPS
- Glenn Otto, P | TEX – I mentioned Otto earlier as he debuted Friday with a gem. He only got a 35 command in his 2021 report on the TEX prospect list, but surely that is better at this point after a strong 2021 season. I already picked him up in deeper formats and he is firmly on my watchlist for shallower leagues. The righty will be tested with HOU and at PHI as his next two starts. A quality outing against HOU will likely raise his stock for next weekend’s pickups.
- Vidal Bruján, 2B | TBR – The speedy utilityman got his first call of the season but could be an up-and-down guy in the short term until more of a permanent opportunity opens. He was called up for Yandy Díaz, who was on the COVID IL for all of a day. Bruján started Sunday with a lefty on the mound and hasn’t been sent back as of this writing on Monday. Perhaps Josh Lowe and his 40% K rate are on the outs if and when the Rays need to trim the roster back down. Bruján could be an instant all-formats game changer with his speed if he is installed in the lineup consistently.
WTWT
Here is What To Watch Today for Monday, April 25th:
- It’s ace day! Corbin Burnes kicks it off with an odd one-off game against SF before the Brewers go to PIT and Giants head home to face OAK.
- Nathan Eovaldi and José Berríos square off in TOR.
- The Kyles rematch in PHI as both Kyle Freeland and Kyle Gibson looked solid in Coors. Because baseball is the way it is, they will both allow 7 ER tonight.
- Max Scherzer has been excellent as expected while Miles Mikolas looks to stay hot.
- Can Framber Valdez find the zone after 9 BB in his last 2 starts?
- Will Shane Bieber continue to put up elite results with less-than-elite stuff?
- Walker Buehler has just a 16% K rate, but I don’t see anything troubling within his stuff profile so I think the Ks will come and that could start tonight w/ARI’s 27% K rate ranking 30th vR.
- This will be a great challenge for Merrill Kelly 켈리, though this isn’t his first tough offense (HOU, SD).
Can’t decide what to make of Bellinger’s recent resurgence accompanied by (still) fairly high K%. Maybe this will just be the new Belly going forward indefinitely I suppose… and I should be glad for it (despite the iffy underlying/peripherals) since I’m stuck w/ him (on a hefty contract) in my salary dynasty…
Just wishing/hoping LAD would move him up the lineup w/ so many others struggling before he regresses…
Yeah I think the swing-and-miss will breed volatility but the pwr & spd will hopefully be there this season along with health. I’ve always rooted for Belly so I hope he’s back and ready to rock