Who is Being Dropped and Why (Week 7)

This week’s player list is full of bad hitters who are losing playing time or relievers owners threw darts at hoping for Saves. Most of the drops are in some way related to the trade deadline.

For this analysis, I use the NFBC Main Event because of the number of identical leagues. Additionally, the managers stay engaged longer since each spent over $1000 per team. I tried to find that sweet spot between obvious and bizarre and will focus on players dropped in six to nine leagues.

Hitters

• Avisaíl García (9): He hasn’t been playing (started two of the last eight games) and isn’t hitting when he does play (.224 AVG, 2 HR).
• Marwin Gonzalez (9): When Josh Donaldson returned from the IL, it seemed like Gonzalez would head to the bench. Instead, it has been Ehire Adrianza starting fewer games at second with Gonzalez starting three of the last four games there.
• Mitch Garver (9): On the IL with a vague return timeline.
• Yandy Díaz (9): On the IL (hamstring).
• Cole Tucker (8): Even the noodle-bat Pirates are starting to sit (two of last three games) the struggling (.575 OPS) Tucker.
• Jason Castro (8): He has little to no fantasy value after being traded to the Padre to backup Austin Nola.
• Elvis Andrus (7): Has started sitting with Anderson Tejada playing as the Rangers transition to a younger team.
• Eric Thames 테임즈 (7): He has struggled (.614 OPS) so far this season while starting only four of the last seven games.
• José Martínez (7): He’s only started three games since being traded to the Cubs.
• Kevin Newman (7): He isn’t hitting (.585 OPS) or stealing bases (0 for 1) this year.
• Teoscar Hernández (7): On the IL.
• Austin Hedges (6): One start since being traded to Cleveland.
• Dylan Carlson (6): He’s been horrible since being called up (.458 OPS) to the point that Harrison Bader is now playing every day.
• Freddy Galvis (6): The Reds have benched Galvis (.703 OPS) in order to play José García (.349 OPS).
• Jose Altuve (6): On the IL.
• Robinson Chirinos (6): He has started three of the last five games but is just hitting .135/.220/.173.
• Shed Long Jr. (6): The steals (4) and homers (3) are acceptable but the .174 AVG is not.
• Tyler Wade (6): With Gleyber Torres of the IL, Wade is headed to the bench.

Starters

• Asher Wojciechowski (9): I’m a little surprised at this drop. In some of my deeper leagues, I’m streaming him at the Mets (Porcello). Away from his high school home park, he has a 3.55 ERA and just a 0.7 HR/9 (3.4 HR/9 at home).
• Brady Singer (9): He’s not been that bad (8.0 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, 53% GB%) but the 1.8 HR/9 is just killing his fantasy value. It hasn’t helped that he’s only faced the Twins and White Sox over his last five starts (6.04 ERA). He is still a streamable option.
• Brandon Bielak (9): He’s been trying to pitch with a time tested proven failure method, allowing tons of walks and homers. I’m surprised his ERA is only at 6.00 with a 5.0 BB/9 and 2.7 HR/9.
• Brett Anderson (9): There are some traits I like about Anderson (62% GB%, 1.9 BB/9) but he’s stop missing bats. He had a 7.4 K/9 in his first four starts, but just a 3.9 K/9 in the last three.
• Ryan Brasier (9): A subpar reliever who some managers thought could be Boston’s closer.
• Alec Mills (8): He’s not getting the strikeouts (10.5 K/9 to 6.2 K/9) that made him interesting in entering the season. He’s moved to his sinker (24% to 37%). While the pitch generates more ground balls (67% vs 30%) compared to his four-seamer, it has been getting half the swinging strikes (2.4% vs 5.4%).
• Alex Wood (8): A bullpen arm now.
• Kyle Gibson (8): He can’t find the plate (4.0 BB/9) and is still too hittable (1.9 HR/9, .315 BABIP). He is just a stubborn tart. He has three average or better pitches (sinker, slider, and change) but insists on throwing his useless four-seamer and curve. While he’s only thrown those pitches a combined 23% of the time, they’ve allowed over half his home runs.
• Daniel Ponce de Leon (7): A complete mess so far (10.0 BB/9, 2.8 HR/9).
• Erick Fedde (7): When a strikeout rate is just 3.3 K/9, a pitcher can’t have a higher walk rate (4.2 BB/9). And a 2.2 HR/9 to boot. I’m amazed his ERA is only 5.29.
• Jaime Barria (7): A reasonable drop with a game at Colorado. He looks to be in line for a start at Texas next week.
• MacKenzie Gore (7): It doesn’t seem like the Padres are calling up the highly touted prospect.
• Ross Stripling (7): Something seems off with him with his strikeouts down (9.2 K/9 to 7.3 K/9) and his walks up (1.1 BB/9 to 2.8 BB/9). Being “off” has led to a 5.68 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.
• Logan Webb (6): He’s been a good pitcher besides posing the 6th lowest LOB% in the league (min 30 IP). At least six managers didn’t trust him enough for his two starts versus Seattle and at San Diego.

Relievers

• Rowan Wick (9): He been a good reliever, but it seems like Jeremy Jeffress is the official Cubs closer.
• Scott Barlow (9): Got passed over by Greg Holland as the closer.
• Carlos Estévez (8): Over his last five appearances, he has a 24.55 ERA, 7.4 HR/9, two losses, and two blown saves. Hint: that’s bad.
• José Cisnero (8): Gregory Soto was handed the closer’s role instead.
• Ryan Helsley (8): Giovanny Gallegos is back as the closer.
• Jesse Hahn (7): Mike Matheny mentioned Hahn would get some Save chances but hasn’t used him in that role since rambling on the subject.
• Mychal Givens (7): Daniel Bard kept his role at closer with Givens now the setup man.
• Sam Coonrod (7): I had no idea who this person was until I looked up the Giants setup man. That role about explains how much I care about their bullpen and Mr. Coonrod.
• Cal Quantrill (6): After being traded to Cleveland, he’s being used as a bullpen arm.
• Darwinzon Hernandez (6): Another failed deadline bullpen gamble.
• Freddy Peralta (6): The 16.6 K/9 is nice but for the managers steaming middle relievers, they probably want something better than a 4.35 ERA.
• Joakim Soria (6): Good bullpen arm who is just not accumulating any Saves.
• Jonathan Hernández (6): Same story, good numbers but not closing.
• Tyler Rogers (6): He might still be the Giants closer but he’s a drain otherwise (6.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and just 9.0 K/9).