Who is Being Dropped & Why (Week 19)

There are quite a few more names this week as are cleaning out the players who have seen their playing time clear up. Lots of hitters without jobs and relievers who are not in line for Saves. It is one of the more talented list of players I’ve profiled this season.

For this weekly feature, I use the NFBC Main Event because of the number of identical leagues. Additionally, the managers stay engaged longer on the whole since each spent $1700 per team. I tried to find that sweet spot between the obvious and bizarre drops and will focus on players dropped in seven to ten leagues. Previously the number was six to nine, but I adjusted with the Main Event adding four leagues since I did the report.

Hitters

Tyrone Taylor (10): Taylor has been a fine bat (.774 OPS, 9 HR, 5 SB) but the Brewers have too many healthy outfielders. If one of the regulars heads to the IL, look at rostering Taylor.

David Peralta (10): He only starts against righties and the Diamondbacks only face four of them this week. He’s also shown no power this season with a .140 ISO.

Rodolfo Castro (10): He’s started 12 of 13 since being promoted. He’s being dropped because of his .207 AVG (.184 BABIP) even those he has a .753 OPS and 5 HR in 63 PA. I’d not be surprised if his BABIP regresses up and he becomes a sleeper pick next season.

Bobby Bradley (10): It looks like those early season strikeout gains have all but disappeared. Since the All-Star game, he has a 47% K%.

Additionally, he’s not been playing because of knee issues. Easy drop.

Derek Hill (9): He’s started eight of the last 10 games. He’s batting ninth, so he gets limited counting stats. He’s just hit .237/.293/.368 over the past two weeks without a steal. A steals-only desperation play.

Ha-Seong Kim 김하성 (8): The Padres decided to move Jake Cronenworth to shortstop and Kim remains on the bench.

Nick Gordon (8): Optioned back to AAA

Willi Castro (8): He’s splitting time with Harold Castro and Zack Short at second and short. Besides the limited playing time, he’s also not hitting (.610 OPS).

Luis Urias (7): Since Eduardo Escobar joined the team, Urias has started in only four of nine games.

Jesus Sanchez (7): He was placed on the COVID-IL while hitting OK (.265/.315/.434 with 3 HR in 89 PA) this season.

Darin Ruf 러프 (7): He is losing playing time with Brandon Belt off the IL and the trade for Kris Bryant.

Jurickson Profar (7): He’s barely hitting like a replacement player (.667 OPS, 2 HR, 10 SB) and is losing playing time to Adam Frazier.

Steven Duggar (7): The addition of Kris Bryant finally put the dagger in Duggar’s fantasy value as he was optioned to AAA.

Yonathan Daza (7): If playing full-time, he was streamable at home. With the addition of Sam Hilliard, he’s barely starting half the time.

David Dahl (7): Released by Rangers but it’s tough to understand why he was rostered to begin with (.569 OPS).

Greg Allen (7): Demoted to AAA.

Starters

Taylor Widener (10): He’s got the deadly combination of allowing too many walks (4.1 BB/9) and too many home runs (2.2 HR/9, 34% GB%). Both have lead to a deserving 4.89 ERA and 1.43 WHIP.

Matt Manning (10): In just 42 IP this season, he just has a 4.9 K/9 while getting hit around (1.1 HR/9, .320 BABIP). While his fastball is average, all his secondary pitches have below-average swing-and-miss rates.

Jordan Lyles (10): He’s allowing a ton of home runs (1.9 HR/9) while not posting good walk or strikeout rates. He has a well-deserved 5.45 ERA and 1.48 WHIP.

Ryan Weathers (9): Since his last promotion, he’s struggled to find the plate (5.7 BB/9) in three starts. He’s destined for the bullpen (4.94 ERA as a starter, 1.80 ERA as a reliever).

Eric Lauer (9): I’m guessing this drop involves a few factors. The entire Brewers rotation schedule is up in the air, so it’s tough to know when/if he’ll start. He’s been just good (3.50 ERA, 8.7 K/9, 1.24 WHIP), not great. Also, teams have just so many bench spots, so someone has to get cut. Finally, he is on the COVID-IL. It looks like he’s scheduled to face the Pirates this week once off the IL, so I’m surprised the previous four factors were enough of a reason to drop him.

JT Brubaker (9): He’s got two switches, lights out or a complete dumpster fire. In 20 starts this season, he’s allowed 2 or fewer runs in 11 starts. And he has five starts with five or more runs allowed with the worst (8 R) coming in his last start. All his struggles are because of home runs. He allowed 11 in those five “bad” starts. He’s still rosterable.

Caleb Smith (8): Even though he’s striking out 10.5 batters per nine innings, his 5.5 BB/9 has led to a 1.47 ERA and 5.48 ERA. And he’s a flyball pitcher (28% GB%), so 1.7 HR/9 doesn’t help with all the walks.

José Suarez (7): He’s been surprisingly OK (3.60 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 8.5 K/9) but faces Toronto this week. He seems like a streamer depending on the matchup.

Relievers

Chris Stratton (10): He was sort of used as a closer last weekend, so there was hope he’d be given the role. Nope.

Martín Pérez (10): Subpar starter (4.81 ERA, 1.52 WHIP) moved to the bullpen.

Cole Sulser (9): He’s Baltimore’s closer and has been a good pitcher (2.98 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 11.7 K/9). He’ll get added in all leagues next week.

Joakim Soria (9): What a delayed drop. As soon as he was traded to Toronto, he lost all his fantasy value. Additionally, he on the IL (finger).

Andrew Kittredge (9): A fine reliever (1.38 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 9.2 K/9) who is part of the Rays bullpen by committee.

Paul Sewald (8): The Mariniers added Diego Castillo at the deadline. Even though Kendall Graveman got traded, Sewald remains the setup man.

Amir Garrett (8): Again, he’s unable to hold down the Reds’ closer role.

Tyler Duffey (8) and Taylor Rogers (7): They had a chance of being the Twins’ closer, but Alex Colome got the role instead.

Matt Wisler (7): A fine reliever (3.74 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 11.8 K/9) who is part of the Rays bullpen by committee.

Richard Rodriguez (7): No longer the closer after being traded to the Braves.

Cristian Javier (7): It’s kind of a weird drop for the reason I’m not sure why he was rostered to begin with. He’s been a reliever since late May.

JT Chargois (7): A fine reliever (2.32 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 8.1 K/9) who is part of the Rays bullpen by committee.

Anthony Bender (7): While the Marlins’ best reliever, he doesn’t look to be the closer.

Players Dropped in the NFBC Main Event
Player Drops
Ramon Laureano 31
Michael Wacha 30
Anthony Rendon 29
Heath Hembree 26
Daulton Jefferies 25
Ben Gamel 22
Gavin Sheets 19
Kendall Graveman 16
Tony Gonsolin 16
Brian Goodwin 15
Michael Fulmer 15
Brandon Marsh 12
Brent Rooker 11
John Nogowski 11
Chad Kuhl 11
Brad Hand 11
Wilmer Flores 11
Ji-Man Choi 11
Taylor Widener 10
Tyrone Taylor 10
Chris Stratton 10
Martin Perez 10
David Peralta 10
Matt Manning 10
Jordan Lyles 10
Rodolfo Castro 10
Bobby Bradley 10
Ryan Weathers 9
Cole Sulser 9
Joakim Soria 9
Eric Lauer 9
Andrew Kittredge 9
Derek Hill 9
JT Brubaker 9
Caleb Smith 8
Paul Sewald 8
Ha-Seong Kim 8
Nick Gordon 8
Amir Garrett 8
Tyler Duffey 8
Willi Castro 8
Matt Wisler 7
Luis Urias 7
Jose Suarez 7
Jesus Sanchez 7
Darin Ruf 7
Taylor Rogers 7
Richard Rodriguez 7
Jurickson Profar 7
Cristian Javier 7
Steven Duggar 7
Yonathan Daza 7
David Dahl 7
JT Chargois 7
Anthony Bender 7
Greg Allen 7
Bradley Zimmer 6
Vince Velasquez 6
Hansel Robles 6
Wily Peralta 6
Francisco Mejia 6
Nicky Lopez 6
Craig Kimbrel 6
Nico Hoerner 6
Domingo German 6
Bobby Dalbec 6
Alex Cobb 6
Kris Bubic 6
David Bote 6
Tres Barrera 6
Taylor Ward 5
Luis Torrens 5
Magneuris Sierra 5
Kyle Ryan 5
Eddie Rosario 5
Harold Ramirez 5
Cal Raleigh 5
Hector Neris 5
Gavin Lux 5
Dinelson Lamet 5
Brad Keller 5
Greg Holland 5
Jason Heyward 5
Garrett Hampson 5
Pete Fairbanks 5
Paul DeJong 5
Zach Davies 5
Matthew Boyd 5
Shane Bieber 5
Trevor Bauer 5
Elvis Andrus 5
Jorge Alfaro 5





Jeff, one of the authors of the fantasy baseball guide,The Process, writes for RotoGraphs, The Hardball Times, Rotowire, Baseball America, and BaseballHQ. He has been nominated for two SABR Analytics Research Award for Contemporary Analysis and won it in 2013 in tandem with Bill Petti. He has won four FSWA Awards including on for his Mining the News series. He's won Tout Wars three times, LABR twice, and got his first NFBC Main Event win in 2021. Follow him on Twitter @jeffwzimmerman.

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