Angels
• With Jared Walsh on the IL, Phil Gosselin (.272 .332 .370) has started nine of 10 games at first base.
• Since being called up, Jo Adell is batting fifth or sixth.
• With Anthony Rendon out for the season, Jack Mayfield (.176/.200/.206) is playing third base and batting ninth.
• Justin Upton (.230/.319/.442) has sat for three of the last six games. Read the rest of this entry »
Just starting with the trade as it has been reported:
The Guardians trade Cesar Hernandez to the White Sox for Konnor Pilkington
While the White Sox filled a void at second base that was created when Nick Madrigal was lost for the season, the trade might be a linear move for Hernandez’s fantasy value.
So far this season, Hernandez’s fantasy value has him as the 28th middle infielder boosted by his 18 HR and 60 Runs (T25th in the majors). Hernandez’s biggest valuation gain will come from the other White Sox hitters. They are just better than those in Cleveland and should give him a better chance for at-bats, Runs, and RBI. So far this season, the White Sox have averaged 4.94 R/G while the Guardians are at 4.28 R/G. Also, the White Sox have not been at full strength. They just got Eloy Jiménez back from the IL and Luis Robert could return soon.
While the park is an upgrade on the surface, it shouldn’t make a major difference. The new park would not have allowed just one additional projected home run on the season. His value will hinge on where he gets slotted into the lineup. Read the rest of this entry »
The Yankees acquired much-needed outfield by adding Joey Gallo and trading away some better than slap-dick prospects.
There are some obvious players gaining and losing value, but there is some murkiness that should clear up by the end of the weekend. As of now, here is who I see as the players gaining and losing values in the trade.
Note: The following players are ranked from most redraft fantasy value added to the most lost.
Joey Gallo
The Yankees needed at least one outfield replacement since they’ve been rolling out the likes of Estevan Florial, Greg Allen, Brett Gardner, and Ryan LaMarre. And they have been the replacements in the last two games. For the season, Gallo is hitting .223/.379/.490 with 25 HR and 6 SB. This is what has always been expected from Gallo. His 162 game average is .211/.336/.497 with 41 HR and 7 SB. With the Yankees dealing with several injuries (e.g. Aaron Judge and Luke Voit), Gallo should slot into the top of the lineup dropping down either Gleyber Torres (.678 OPS) or Rougned Odor (.757 OPS). Read the rest of this entry »
Angels
• Taylor Ward (.932 OPS over the last two weeks) has hit third in four straight games.
• Luis Rengifo (.559 OPS) has started four straight.
• Juan Lagares (.575 OPS) has started eight of nine games.
Read the rest of this entry »
Angels
• José Iglesias(.711 OPS) has hit fifth for four straight games.
• Max Stassi (1.013 OPS) has hit third for three straight.
Read the rest of this entry »
Normally, I’m the fantasy manager who fades anyone in a platoon. I find that most weeks these hitters are unstartable and just take up roster spots. After two months of trying to find starting outfielders in 15-team leagues, I’m looking into platoons to help me find some weekly rentals. For that reason, I wanted to add set platoons to my weekly lineups article. Here is my first stab at the format and let me know what should be improved.
The main lineup article is being pushed back starting this week to run on Tuesday or Wednesday. Real-life (i.e. my kids are home for the summer) has limited the amount of time I have near the end of the week and my waiver wire article will take precedence. Read the rest of this entry »
Not everyone is playing in a high-stakes NFBC league. Some of us are just trying to beat our family members, friends, or random strangers who have agreed to play fantasy baseball with us. In addition, not all of us are in deep leagues. Sometimes it’s hard getting even 10 people to pay enough attention to baseball for a full season to make your league competitive. If you just so happen to find yourself in one of these shallow leagues, like an ESPN or CBS league, where the stakes are low, the waiver wire is full of talent and everyone is bought in, consider yourself lucky. But, don’t consider yourself in an easy league.
Angels
• Phil Gosselin (vs LHP) and Kean Wong (v RHP) are in a second base platoon.
• Juan Lagares (.558) has started 13 of 14 games in center field.
• If promoted, Jo Adell will need to stick in the majors.
As general manager Perry Minasian said last week, the Angels want Adell to stick in the Majors when they bring him up, instead of having to shuttle him between Triple-A and the big leagues.
To get the call, he’ll either be hitting or the Angels’ management will have given up on the season.
I’ve got a full weekend planned. Besides for a few hours today, I’m not going to have time expound this or the waiver wire article. I’ll see if I can sneak away for Sunday’s chat while still taking care of my own teams. So for this article, I didn’t add many player stats and just focused on major changes. I’m now going to try to at least get a Waiver Wire rankings out.
Angels
• Justin Upton has hit leadoff in the last four games.
• David Fletcher is batting ninth.
• Drew Butera has started five of the last seven games at catcher.
• Juan Lagaras is playing everyday and hitting in the middle of the lineup.
• Jo Adell is making strides to get promoted.
Angels GM Perry Minasian on minor league slugger Jo Adell "He's making some strides. He's not there yet."
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) May 26, 2021
• Some teams may save their high strikeout pitcher for extra innings to help mitigate the extra runner.
There might not be a reliever better equipped to handle the runner-on-second-in-extra-innings rule than Karinchak, who is averaging nearly two strikeouts per inning this season. Karinchak has allowed only three hits and five walks in 17 1/3 innings, so he has essentially been automatic. His penchant for racking up strikeouts, as demonstrated Wednesday, allows the Indians to wiggle out of those artificial jams in extras.
And because of that, it made more sense for manager Terry Francona to summon Clase to keep the Cubs quiet in the top of the ninth. Clase strikes out a batter per inning and doesn’t issue many walks, but because he so often forces hitters into weak contact, usually on the ground, with his 100 mph cutter, teams need to string together a few hits or benefit from a defensive gaffe to scratch across a run against him. With a runner on second to start the inning, that endeavor would become much more attainable.
As of now, I’m not sure if this applies to any bullpen but the Indians. I’ve got too much on my plate to investigate, but it might be worth those managers in deeper leagues (e.g. Only’s) to find the few examples and roster these second closers for the potential Wins and Saves. Read the rest of this entry »