Fantasy baseball daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Wednesday
Elsewhere, it’s a fine night to stream pitching with a handful of solid options. As usually, batters are plentiful, and with the batting average down across the league, prudent streaming is more necessary than usual.
Here are Wednesday’s players in the streaming spotlight, all rostered in fewer than half of all ESPN leagues.
Alex Wood (L), rostered in 32% of ESPN leagues, San Francisco Giants vs. Colorado Rockies: For the past several seasons, the Rockies road weighted on base average (wOBA) against lefties has been the league’s worst. Granted, the players are different every season, but there’s nothing to suggest this year’s edition will buck the trend. Wood is one of the more popular pickups as he’s coming off a home gem against the Marlins, fanning seven with just one walk and one hit (a homer) for the only run allowed in seven frames.
Dane Dunning (R), 29%, Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Angels: After three solid outings to open the season, Dunning was hit hard by the White Sox in his last time out, surrendering eight hits with two walks in just 2 2/3 innings, resulting in five earned runs. Even so, the rookie is sporting a 3.06 ERA with 18 punch outs in 17 2/3 innings. Wednesday will be a good test for Dunning as he’ll look to rebound against an Angels club handling righthanded pitching well, with Mike Trout back from missing a few games over the weekend.
Ryan Weathers (L), 29%, San Diego Padres at Arizona Diamondbacks: It’s a little surprising Weather’s rostership hasn’t increased more as he’s been impressive in a pair of outings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the last, Weathers outdueled Walker Buehler, holding the Dodgers scoreless for 5 2/3 stanzas, fanning six with just one free pass. On paper, Weathers should be in a good spot with the Diamondbacks offense led by lefty swingers David Peralta, Kole Calhoun and Pavin Smith, but so far Arizona has hit southpaws hard. Even so, Weathers has earned this start.
Mike Minor (L), 22%, Kansas City Royals at Pittsburgh Pirates: Minor’s return to Kansas City has been a mixed bag, though he’s coming off his best effort, fanning nine Tigers in 5 2/3 innings, walking a pair and scattering four hits while allowing a pair of runs. Minor draws another beatable lineup in an interleague affair. The Pirates sport the first lowest wOBA with a lefty on the hill, plus Minor doesn’t have to deal with a designated hitter.
Alex Cobb (R), 9%, Los Angeles Angels at Texas Rangers: After racking up 17 punch outs in his first two efforts, spanning 11 2/3 frames, Cobb had no Thing last time out. The Thing is the nickname for Cobb’s signature changeup but he wasn’t fooling the Astros as they pounded six hits while drawing three walks on route to five runs, four of which were earned in just 2 2/3 innings. Cobb is earmarked to rebound against a Rangers lineup fanning at a 31% clip against righthanders.
Bullpen: Just as you think you know the answer, the Athletics change the question. After assumed closer Lou Trivino yielded a pair of runs a week ago, Jake Diekman garnered the next two Oakland saves. However, Trivino captured their last save, indicating manage Bob Melvin is playing matchups. Both Diekman and Trivino are pitching well, thus deserve a spot in a fantasy lineup, just don’t really on each for a yeoman’s number of saves. In shallower formats, it’s best to spot them in when you have an opening as opposed to occupying a roster spot dedicated to a full time closer.
For the latest team-by-team closer situations, please consult our Closer Chart.
Note: W-L, ERA and WHIP are 2021 statistics
Catcher — Omar Narvaez (L), 40%, Milwaukee Brewers vs. Miami Marlins (RHP Sandy Alcantara): Alcantara is a tough customer, but Narvaez’s early season success along with the absence of Christian Yelich as propelled the backstop to the two-hole. Alcantara’s primary issue remains control, meanwhile Narvaez has more walks (8) than strikeouts (7), rendering him a prime option in points leagues.
First Base — Rowdy Tellez (L), 5%, Toronto Blue Jays vs. Washington Nationals (RHP Erick Fedde): Tellez is doing everything he’s supposed to do as he’s hitting the ball hard with a fly ball tilt. Unfortunately, the power has yet to manifest, but if keeps doing what he’s doing, it will come. Fedde has only been taken deep once in 16 1/3 innings this season, but he was responsible for 21 souvenirs in 128 1/3 innings from 2019-2020.
Second Base — Nicky Lopez (L), 6%, Kansas City Royals at Pittsburgh Pirates (RHP Mitch Keller): Lopez has been the beneficiary of Adalberto Mondesi’s extended absence and he’s taking advantage, batting a respectable .286. He’s not hitting for power, but with the top of the Royals order playing surprisingly well, Lopez has scored 11 runs, a solid total relative to where he’s hitting in the lineup.
Third Base — J.D. Davis (R), 28%, New York Mets vs. Boston Red Sox (RHP Nick Pivetta): Since returning from the IL with a hand injury, Davis has slashed .435/.480/.783 with production coming against both lefthanders and righthanders. Pivetta’s return to the rotation may look encouraging with a 3.48 ERA in four starts, but he’s issued 14 bases on balls in 20 2/3 innings.
Shortstop — Willy Adames (R), 10%, Tampa Bay Rays vs. Oakland Athletics (LHP Cole Irvin): By the numbers, Adames is off to a slow start, slashing just .183/.227/.338 through Monday’s action. However, he’s hitting the ball harder then ever and has but back on strikeouts compared to last season. His issue has been too many fly balls, which may seem odd but remember fly balls not leaving the yard are almost always caught. The key is his exit velocity is a career best, so when he begins to center the ball a bit more, the power should dovetail.
Corner Infield — Jesus Aguilar (R), 31%, Miami Marlins at Milwaukee Brewers (Undecided): Aguilar has quietly been a points league plus this season as his on base and slugging marks are both up, with his on base level pacing to be a career best. On Wednesday, Aguilar also enjoys a big park upgrade in some familiar digs, having playing in then Miller Park, now American Family Field from 2017-2019.
Middle Infield — Nick Maton (L), 2%, Philadelphia Phillies at St. Louis Cardinals (RHP Johan Oviedo): Granted, Maton is way out over his skis, batting .440 despite a 30% strikeout rate (a .647 BABIP will do that), but he’s facing another unaccomplished rookie as Oviedo is slated to make his first start this season after five last year. Neither sport an impressive minor league pedigree, so why not go with the one with the platoon edge, playing with some Lady Luck induced confidence.
Outfield — Brent Rooker (R), under 1%, Minnesota Twins at Cleveland Indians (LHP Logan Allen): Rooker is chiefly a conduit to getting a piece of what should be a productive lineup against a struggling southpaw, coming off an outing where he gave up three homers. Rooker has been part of the platoon filling in for Max Kepler. The righty swinger has a double and homer in his last two starts, so he has the pop to take advantage of Allen if the lefty doesn’t rebound from his last outing.
Outfield — Jordan Luplow (R), 21%, Cleveland Indians vs. Minnesota Twins (LHP J.A. Happ): Speaking of righthanded hitters in a platoon with power, Luplow has six dingers in just 56 plate appearances, though he has three against right pitching. However, Luplow’s success without the platoon bump helps prevent Cleveland skipper Terry Francona from removing Luplow for a pinch-hitter against a righthanded reliever.
Outfield — Myles Straw (R), 11%, Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners (RHP Justin Dunn): Entering Tuesday’s action, Straw was one of nine players tied for fourth in the league with five steals. He’s in a great spot to move up as Dunn has been victimized six times already this season. For his career, Dunn has been on the hill for a generous 23 steals in just 67 frames.
Hitter ratings account for the opposing starting pitcher’s past history (three years’ worth as well as past 21 days) as well as ballpark factors. “LH” and “RH” ratings account only for left- and right-handed batters, respectively. Weighted on-base average (wOBA) is the primary statistic used in the calculation. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst. So, for example, a 10 is a must-start rating, while a 1 should be avoided (if possible); a 1-2 is poor, 3-4 is fair, 5-6 is average, 7-8 is very good and 9-10 is excellent.