Ottoneu Hot Right Now: April 26th, 2023

The 2023 version of Ottoneu Hot Right Now will include three different sections:

1. Current Auctions: A closer look at players being auctioned at a high rate.
2. Roster Adds: Analysis of players with high add% changes.
3. Hot Performers: Players with a high P/G or P/IP in recent weeks.

The FanGraphs Ottoneu team plans to run this feature weekly, updating fantasy managers on the biggest movers in Ottoneu leagues with an analysis of how these players could or could not help your roster.

Current Auctions

Logan Allen – 84 current auctions

The 24-year-old lefty made his major league debut with the Guardians on Sunday, April 23rd and it was an impressive showing. He struck out eight over six innings, walked one, gave up five hits, and allowed one run to score on a home run. Allen is the 57th overall prospect according to FanGraphs and third overall in the organization. Roster Resource has him filling the third spot in the rotation right now, and with Triston McKenzie and Aaron Civale both on the IL without a set return date, Allen could potentially stay there. Just read his “Prospect TLDR” from his player page:

“Athletic, strike-throwing lefties with a great changeup tend to pitch in the big leagues forever.”

Yennier Cano – 83 current auctions

A quick fan favorite in Baltimore, Cano has a sinker like a bowling ball and hasn’t given up a run yet this season in seven innings pitched. Though it looks pretty hard to hit, his sinker Stuff+ only sits at 91. Royals pitchers Carlos Hernandez (162) and Aroldis Chapman (161) sit atop the qualified reliever leaderboard for the pitch. He recorded his first career save on Monday night, but closer Félix Bautista had thrown 16 pitches the day before and was likely unavailable. Still, he’s a 12.4 P/G player in 2023, yet was a sub-2 P/G player in 18 IP in the 2022 season. He has been swapping “Next man up” status back and forth with Bryan Baker in the Orioles pen as of late.

Jack Suwinski – 58 current auctions

With a slugging percentage of .635 Suwinski is being added at a high rate. He was brought through the Padres minor league system and was traded to the Pirates in 2021 where he continued to mash in the minor leagues. In 2022, he hit three home runs in AA, then jumped up to AAA and hit six home runs, then was promoted to the majors and hit 19. He seems to be picking up right where he left off, he’s hit five dingers so far this season while stealing two bases. He projects as a three true outcomes type of player with a high strikeout rate (29.5% – Steamer), a high walk rate (11.4% – Steamer), and a range between 15 and 20 home runs by the systems listed on his player page. That makes for a good Ottoneu points player (current 7.16 P/G) but his points accumulation and production in roto formats may be very streaky.

Taylor Walls – 50 current auctions

Roster Resource has Walls listed as an infield bench player. He may be able to work his way into the lineup more often, though, as his 2023 plate discipline metrics are different so far this year than they were last year.

While he is swinging more often, he’s also making contact more often:

And his swinging strike and called strike rates are down:

While it’s still a very small sample, Walls only has 53 plate appearances on a crowded Rays team, it’s the kind of change you like to see from a young hitter.

Bryan Baker – 44 current auctions

Baker is a 28-year-old, qualified right-handed reliever who has three pitches over 120 on the Stuff+ scale. His fastball (128), his slider (164), and his changeup (129) are all excellent pitches. From a fantasy perspective, he’s a great addition in leagues that record holds. While Roster Resource has him listed as the next man up behind Félix Bautista, Yennier Cano might be challenging him for that spot.

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Roster Adds

Andrew Abbott, Add% Change (7 Days) – 33.98%

The Reds #15 Prospect was recently promoted to AAA. Eric Longenhagen’s January write-up provides a lot more than I could attempt and helps add detail to his projections. Abbott could potentially make his major league debut this season, depending on how it goes at the next level. The Reds current back of the rotation isn’t exactly set in stone, their starters have a 6.28 ERA this season. That’s the third worst in the MLB behind Oakland (8.68) and Boston (6.71). However, the AAA rotation has a lot of talent in it including current #9 org-ranked Brandon Williamson. Abbott is a great minor-league player to add if you have the patience and the roster spot.

Connor Joe, Add% Change (7 Days) – 31.73%

David Laurila’s interview with Joe provided great insight into the 30-year-old right-handed outfielder’s hitting philosophy. He currently is a 7.37 P/G player but has had a handful of big games that have aided that ratio. He has 66 at-bats and has worked his way into the three spot in the lineup a time or two. If Joe can continue to perform and remain in the lineup, he is a good player to get some points out of while he’s hot. He also has 1B eligibility in Ottoneu leagues.

Dylan Lee, Add% Change (7 Days) – 30.13%

Lee has thrown 11.2 innings in relief this season after throwing 50.2 last year. He’s only given up two earned runs so far in 2023 and has a decent 10.03 K/9. His xFIP (3.63) is significantly higher than his FIP (1.87), but he’s already recorded five holds and one win. Roster Resource lists him as a setup man behind setup man Nick Anderson behind struggling closer A.J. Minter.

Harold Ramírez, Add% Change (7 Days) – 28.52%

Like Connor Joe, Ramirez is a high-points per-game (8.45) player right now, he’s had 62 at-bats with a potent offense, and he has 1B/OF eligibility. Mostly filling the DH spot in recent appearances, Ramirez needs to keep the bat hot to stay in the lineup, but you can’t argue with a .371/.435/.710 slash line. The Rays have so many pieces they can move around like Isaac Paredes who has been playing third base, moving Yandy Díaz to the first base position. Playing time will be key for Ramirez, but he’s such a good hitter that he’ll find his way in.

Nick Anderson, Add% Change (7 Days) – 28.20%

Just look at this career K/9 graph:

That’s an elite K/9 and for context, Josh Hader’s 2022 K/9 was 14.58. Anderson has battled injuries for a few years but now has a K/9 headed back up to some impressive levels. FanGraphs’ own Esteban Rivera wrote about Anderson when he signed with Atlanta back in November. He earned his first save of the season back on April 11th but hasn’t recorded one since. He has recorded two holds and a win though, and that’s good for a 7.99 points per game mark. He’s currently listed as the first man up behind closer A.J. Minter, but Minter has a “Not Very Stable” yellow tag on Monday’s Bullpen Report. It’s telling that he’s already rostered in just over 70% of Ottoneu leagues.

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Hot Performers

There are lots of highly rostered players heating up at the moment, including Ronald Acuña Jr. (9.08 P/G), Max Muncy (8.73 P/G), and Jarred Kelenic (8.56 P/G), but you would either read that list and feel vindicated in rostering one of those great performers or regretful in not. A player like Jarren Duran (8.10 P/G), however, might make you run to the waiver wire as he’s rostered in less than 40% of Ottoneu leagues. Duran has been holding down the centerfield position and has a .387 batting average. Those who gave up on Brandon Marsh are kicking themselves and running to pick him back up as he’s lowered his K% (though still very high at 28.4%) and he’s increased his BB% to 13.6%. He’s also batting .357. James Outman still hasn’t cooled off as he hit seven times in his last three games. Lastly, Stone Garrett’s 7.59 P/G mark is inflated by a .526 BABIP. He has one home run, no stolen bases, only 31 plate appearances, and is striking out 25.8% of the time.