Boxscore Bits: May 31st, 2022

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

FOR STARTERS

Business As Usual: Nothing actionable

• Pablo López, Zac Gallen, Framber Valdez (CG!), Walker Buehler, Kyle Gibson (full-time starter at this point)

Notable Gems: The standouts who merit some extra attention

• Logan Webb – Great outing for Webb that probably should’ve ended with 2 ER (not sure I’d have let him face Kyle Schwarber a 4th time), but the 10 Ks are great. His Ks have held him back a bit, but no complaints about a 3.52 ERA/1.16 WHIP in 61.3 IP. An easy auto-start.
• Aaron Ashby – Beautiful outing from Ashby, especially just 2 BB in 6 IP. He has a 2.84 ERA/1.46 WHIP in 25.3 IP as a starter with 30 Ks. He will be in the rotation while Freddy Peralta is out which will be a long time and I’m starting him everywhere.
• Glenn Otto – Solid start to the 2-step for Otto, despite just 4 Ks in 6 IP. I was really impressed by him doing well at HOU and at LAA before this start, too. He gets SEA and at CWS in his next two and I’m starting to gain confidence in him as a every time start in 15-teamers and deeper.
• Tyler Wells – Wow, this was a shock! Six scoreless at Boston right now should count triple! He has posted a 1.64 ERA/0.73 WHIP at both NYY and BOS over his last two despite just 5 Ks. Wells gets CLE to finish off his 2-step and then a trip to KC next week. He is a team streamer in 12s and above, while being just a standard streamer in 10s.
• Zach Plesac – Great start to a favorable 2-step for this standard streamer. Of course, the run was still a homer (1.5 HR/9). Maybe the new left field in Camden Yards will help him keep the ball in the yard this weekend.
• Ryan Feltner – OK, is there something here? This was Feltner’s first start at home, and it was his best of the three! He now has a 3.71 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 17 IP with 20 Ks and 5 BB. The scary part is Coors, of course. Well that and rotation security as Antonio Senzatela returns tomorrow. I doubt they bump anyone to get Feltner in so he is probably the 6th man right now. He got the picture today because I’m not sure I’ll get another chance to feature him like this!
• Zach Thompson – Great work at the Dodgers, but I still really only see him as a fringe deep league streamer right now. He showed some promise last year so if he can tap back into that swing-and-miss and bring the HRs back down, there could be some streamer viability down the line.
• Matt Swarmer – 3 unearned runs made the results pretty strong (6 IP/1 ER), but I’m not sure there’s a lot here. He is a true 2-pitch guy throwing 91 mph. Oh yeah, and he’s 28 years old. I could see him being a useful bullpen piece, but not a consistent starter.

Decent Enough: Mostly biz as usual but with some commentary

• Paul Blackburn – If you took the shot on Blackburn v. HOU and BOS, you’re wild, but also breathing a bit more easily after round 1. Hard to complain about 6.7 IP/4 ER/5 Ks against a team like HOU. He gets a visit from BOS this weekend.
• Nick Martinez – The 11% BB rate pushes his WHIP to an ugly 1.42 WHIP and don’t sleep on how damaging that is to your bottom line. I think he is a streamer for 15s and deeper unless he really boosts his strikeouts (22% K, 12% SwStr).
• Dylan Bundy – Wellll, if you took the shot on the 2-step because of the trip to DET in game 1, you’re not feeling great right about now. He allowed 4 ER with a 1.50 WHIP and has a trip to TOR on deck.
• Jonathan Heasley – He has a -7% K-BB rate in 4 starts. NEGATIVE! SEVEN!! PERCENT!!!

Injury-Shortened

• Drew Smyly – A right oblique prematurely ended a beautiful start for Smyly (3 no-hit IP). Stay tuned to see what happens with Smyly, but an IL trip could be in the offing.

Duds: The worst of the day

• Spencer Strider – The defense burnt Strider in the first when Marcell Ozuna let a hit with an expected AVG of .120 fall in for a double and then Pavin Smith turned around a 99-mph heater. It wasn’t a bad pitch, Smith just did a great job getting to it. He still had 7 Ks, but it’s a tough result for those who gambled with him a trip to COL coming this weekend.
• Drew Rasmussen – Oof! A 37-pitch first inning sank the start from the jump and he wound up allowing runs in all three innings. It’s his first true dud of the year, certainly nothing to be massively concerned about right now.
• Ethan Small – Small got the spot start for the doubleheader and it didn’t go well. After two strong innings to start (2 H, 0 R, 4 Ks), it came unglued in the third with 4 walks and 39 pitches. He was sent back out after the doubleheader, but he will likely be back the next time they need an arm.
• Erick Fedde – I totally understand if you streamed a dicey looking 2-step here at NYM and at CIN as Fedde was rolling in May with 1.95 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 23 Ks in 27.7 IP. It will tough to salvage the week at this point, but that won’t be easy as CIN has a 106 wRC+ against righties at home this year, good for 10th in the league.
• Rich Hill – Hill had not allowed more than 4 ER for 59 starts per Alex Fast!

The 59 game streak is over.

This is Rich Hill's first start since 04/28/19 where he's given up more than 4 ER.

— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) May 31, 2022

MULTI-HR/MULTI-SB

Guys with 2+ HR or SB over the weekend (Fri-Sun):

SBs:

• Nico Hoerner – got both in game 1 of the DH (4, 5)

HRs:

• Yordan Alvarez (13, 14)
• Tyrone Taylor – across the doubleheader (5, 6)

MINOR LEAGUE TUESDAY

Highlighting some key minor leaguers who could be the next big fantasy producers.

• ¡Bonus Double Prospect! Vinnie Pasquantino/Nick Pratto | 1B, KCR – I’m just not sure how much longer than can stay committed to Carlos Santana and his 60 wRC+. I know there are some positives under the hood that have to regress including his .165 BABIP, but do they want to wait around to see it through or turn to Pasquantino and his 174 wRC+ through 197 PA at Triple-A. He has 14 HR and 3 SB with a .303/.396/.667 line. Pratto is an even higher pedigree 1B prospect who is doing fine in Triple-A in his own right with a 125 wRC+ in 174 PA and he’s already on the 40-man roster which might give him an edge, although there is a spot open for KC so it wouldn’t take a roster move to bring him up. I’d take shot on either in most formats when they get the call.
• Eury Pérez | SP, MIA – The 19-year-old righty is just incredible. It is hard to see any sort of quick path to the majors given Miami’s depth, but he may damn well just force his way up. He has a 2.55 FIP and 0.97 WHIP in 34 IP with a 36% K, 7% BB, and 3.71 ERA. He was excellent last year – his first as a pro – splitting between A and High-A. Just remember the name because there is a lot of excitement surrounding him.

DRAFTKINGS GAME

• I do a few DraftKings games throughout the week and I’ve got a $5 gm setup for Friday if you’re interested: https://www.draftkings.com/draft/contest/127383433

WTWT

Here is What To Watch Today for Tuesday, May 31st:

• Cristian Javier v. Frankie Montas should be a lot of fun
• Thor gets a big challenge in the Bronx
• Can Martin Perez keep it going?
• Edward Cabrera is part of that Miami depth that allows them to take their time with Perez
• Eric Lauer looks to rebound from a “meh” start last time out (4 BB, 1 K in 5 IP)
• Kody Clemens makes his MLB debut in G2 of the doubleheader – Hook ‘em Horns!