Previous editions are here. This week, I’ll focus mainly on starting pitchers.
Starting Pitchers
Josh Beckett
I understand that some find owning older, injury-prone veterans like Beckett distasteful, but he should really be on a roster in every league right now. His velocity is up, he’s throwing his curveball as frequently as he did in his prime, he plays in a great park, and is backed by a very good offense.
Drew Pomeranz
Pomeranz has had a pretty unremarkable career thus far, but the Rockies system can humble otherwise promising prospects. Once upon a time he was a name to watch, and the centerpiece of the trade that brought then-ace Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland. Now he’s in Oakland and has displaced Dan Straily in the rotation. That particular change of venue would be good for any pitcher, but may benefit Pomeranz even moreso, given that he relies heavily on a curveball. I still worry about his control, but he’s worth at least picking up for a few starts.
Alex Wood
Wood has a much higher ownership percentage than I usually allow in these (85% Yahoo, 91% ESPN), but he is bound to shake loose in a few leagues as people realize that he has been shifted to the bullpen. Consider this a heads-up in case it happens in yours. The Braves want to limit his innings, which is not the worst idea, given that he had Tommy John surgery in college. I have a hard time imagining that it will stick. A couple of bad turns from either Aaron Harang* or Gavin Floyd should get him back where he belongs.
*Interestingly, there is nothing particularly fluky about Harang’s performance so far, aside from the fact that he hasn’t been good since 2008, when Dusty Baker may or may not have ruined him. If he were 26 instead of 36, folks would be justifiably touting a breakout candidate. I guess it worked for Scott Kazmir, but if I owned him, my trigger finger would be quick.
Marcus Stroman
Substitute Dustin McGowan and J.A. Happ for Harang and Floyd, and most of what I said about Wood applies to Stroman. He should be in the rotation before long, and at the moment, he’s much easier to acquire than Wood.
Trevor Bauer
There really aren’t many high-upside bets knocking down the door of a rotation near you. Bauer has been good in AAA this year, but not good enough that I’ve stopped worrying about his control. Also, he’s always been a flyball-heavy pitcher, which at the very least tends toward a high variance in outcomes, and at worst can make any MLB stint a short one.
Position Players
Cameron Maybin
Maybin may never hit for power, but he’s still only 27. He appears to be healthy for the moment, and isn’t too far removed from a 40 SB season. In limited action so far, his strikeout rate is down, as well. You could do worse with a flier.
Wilmer Flores
Flores is a “shortstop” prospect set to see regular playing time with the Mets. I’m avoiding him in mixed leagues. His minor league power numbers are seductive, but Las Vegas giveth and Citi Field taketh away. Also, it’s worth noting that BA recently comp’ed his speed to Billy Butler, saying that many scouts are skeptical of his range even at third base. Fantasy is largely unconcerned with his glove, but Flores is really going to have to hit to stay on the field.
Closers
Bryan Shaw, Cody Allen
John Axford has been removed in Cleveland. Allen has long been touted as the next in line (justifiably so, in my opinion), and is gone in a lot of leagues. For the moment, though, it’s a committee, and as of this writing, Allen is on in the 8th, and has given up a hit and hit a batter. I’ll wait here to see if Shaw can convert, but in general he is decent and worth a flier. And… a one, two, three ninth for Shaw. Add away.