Weekly Pitcher Planner: Starters and Saves
Plus my biggest FAAB weekend of the season so far
This was the most active weekend FAAB period of the season for me. In an effort to overreact less in Fantasy Baseball, I try to limit myself from any big bidding in the opening month. The sample sizes are simply too small to evaluate hitters, and pitchers are best churned through early on.
In my 12-team roto format I won Travis Bazzana for $19 / $100 FAAB. I don’t even have a huge need for him (Altuve underperforming), but this kind of talent/role/upside combination is when I’m comfortable betting big.
Then there’s JJ Bleday, flashing a major bat speed gain with a growing sample that includes his time at Triple-A. He’s playing nearly every day and hitting second against most right-handers. He even stole a base on Sunday. I wound up with him in nearly all my leagues this week. Could he be this year’s Jo Adell? It’s possible, and I’m hoping to ride a homer binge in the worst-case scenario.
I also picked up some Ben Brown, Gregory Soto, Robby Snelling, Casey Schmitt, and Gus Varland. I have no Spencer Jones and am looking to get my first share of Ryan Waldschmidt tonight. Zack Gelof and Jake McCarthy are deeper-league hitter streams for me this week.
I’ve been working on some bigger, more creative pieces this past week and hope to release at least one of them soon. Subscribe to make sure you’re getting all posts emailed directly to your inbox. And happy Mother’s Day!
Weekly Starting Pitcher Decisions
Arizona Diamondbacks — Michael Soroka gets a great matchup in Texas followed by an outing in Coors. I’d lean toward using him. Zac Gallen and Ryne Nelson are at least streamable in Texas if they can be acquired cheaply. Sit Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez in Coors.
Athletics — Springs is a go with a two-step at home vs. the Cardinals and Giants. Ginn (vs. STL) and Severino (vs. SF) are fine by me as cheap streamers. Aaron Civale and Jacob Lopez don’t strike out enough hitters to justify the Sacramento risk. To be clear, my strong preference would be to have a roster deep enough to avoid them as options entirely.
Atlanta Braves — Chris Sale is the ace. Bryce Elder has been terrific. Spencer Strider delivered a gem in Dodger Stadium last time out and now gets the Red Sox at home. JR Ritchie is scheduled for a two-step against the Cubs and Red Sox.
Baltimore Orioles — Trevor Rogers (illness) will be back this week for either a home start vs. the Yankees or on the road in Washington. Kyle Bradish looked better last time out and now draws the Yankees again, this time at home. The underwhelming Shane Baz gets the Nats on the road.
Boston Red Sox — Payton Tolle and Connelly Early are both lined up to pitch in Atlanta. Brutal, but probably just set-and-forget with them. Brayan Bello pitched well behind an opener last time out and now draws the Phillies at home plus the Atlanta trip. Starting Ranger Suarez and Sonny Gray where I have them.
Chicago Cubs — The story to me is Ben Brown, who has a new sinker and threw four strong innings while being stretched out on Friday night in Texas. He gets the Braves in Atlanta next, so he’s a sit for the week. But I’m watching closely where I have him rostered.
Chicago White Sox — Davis Martin (vs. CHC) should be started where rostered. He’s the only SP I’m looking at here.
Cincinnati Reds — I’ve never been an Andrew Abbott (at CLE) guy, but start him where you have him. Chase Burns (vs. WSH) looks great.
Cleveland Guardians — Joey Cantillo’s two-step vs. the Angels and Reds is doable. Messick, Bibee, and Williams are all starts.
Colorado Rockies — Firing up Chase Dollander on the road in Pittsburgh. I prefer when they give him the opener.
Detroit Tigers — Jack Flaherty (at NYM, vs. TOR) is a desperation two-step in my eyes. Keider Montero is usable in deeper leagues on the road against the Mets. This rotation is hurting.
Houston Astros — Mike Burrows (vs. SEA) has been better of late and has the best strike rate in this rotation among starters with at least 10 IP. Tatsuya Imai is a wait-and-see off the IL in the same matchup. Spencer Arrighetti is a start at home against Texas, but things don’t look super promising under the hood.
Kansas City Royals — Seth Lugo (at CHW) and Kris Bubic (at CHW) are usable. Michael Wacha (at STL) is a little iffier.
Los Angeles Angels — Reid Detmers (at CLE) and Jose Soriano (vs. LAD) are the only two I’m starting.
Los Angeles Dodgers — Roki Sasaki completed six innings for the second time in his career last time out. Now he gets the Giants at home, a near-perfect matchup. If there’s ever a time to use him, it’s now. Blake Snell struggled in his first outing back and draws the Angels on the road. That means we’re firing up everyone, including Justin Wrobleski (at LAA).
Miami Marlins — Starting this entire staff with matchups in Minnesota and Tampa Bay. Eury Pérez is scheduled for the two-step.
Milwaukee Brewers — Trusting Jacob Misiorowski (vs. SD), Kyle Harrison (vs. SD), and Logan Henderson (at MIN). Skipping Brandon Sproat’s two-step with those matchups.
Minnesota Twins — Connor Prielipp is a start at home against the Marlins. Bailey Ober is a volume-based two-step against Miami and Milwaukee. Zebby Matthews will be interesting to monitor if he joins the rotation from Triple-A.
New York Mets — I’d start Christian Scott at home against the Tigers, which means starting everyone but David Peterson.
New York Yankees — Using everyone, including Carlos Rodón, who came off the IL on Sunday. Ryan Weathers might get two outings, one in Baltimore and another on the road against the Mets.
Philadelphia Phillies — Starting everyone except Andrew Painter, which is a bummer.
Pittsburgh Pirates — Carmen Mlodzinski is a nice stream at home against the Rockies. Start everyone else other than maybe Bubba Chandler (vs. PHI).
San Diego Padres — Michael King (at MIL) and Randy Vásquez (at SEA) are the only two I’m starting.
San Francisco Giants — Trevor McDonald is up for Logan Webb (knee), and he’d be interesting if it wasn’t for one of the most difficult two-steps imaginable (at LAD, at ATH). If he’s cheap and you have a bench spot, include him in FAAB waterfalls. Start Robbie Ray and Landen Roupp based on skills, but both visit Dodger Stadium.
Seattle Mariners — Emerson Hancock is a start at home against the Padres. Sit Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller, both in Houston. This staff is going six-man for the week, so pay close attention to arms whose roles are most up in the air. Star pitching prospect Kade Anderson is waiting in the minors too.
St. Louis Cardinals — Michael McGreevy has pitched well this year, but I can’t recommend him in Sacramento. Dustin May is a deep league stream at home vs. the Royals.
Tampa Bay Rays — Not starting Griffin Jax in Toronto, but he’s a reasonable bench stash in leagues where starting pitcher upside is hard to come by. Nick Martinez is a start at home vs. the Marlins.
Texas Rangers — MacKenzie Gore is frustrating, but worth starting at home against Arizona. Kumar Rocker is a boom-bust stream in the same matchup. I’m trusting Jack Leiter in a tough spot in Houston.
Toronto Blue Jays — Start Kevin Gausman (vs. TB, at DET), Dylan Cease (vs. TB), and Trey Yesavage (at DET).
Washington Nationals — Foster Griffin has a 2.12 ERA but draws the Reds in Cincinnati.
Closer Chaos
Arizona Diamondbacks — Paul Sewald is the closer with Juan Morillo as the handcuff.
Athletics — Jack Perkins only has three of the team’s 12 saves this season, but his skills are the only ones I want to roster. I’d bet he earns the majority of opportunities going forward.
Atlanta Braves — Raisel Iglesias is back in the ninth and Robert Suárez is the handcuff. Dylan Lee is posting truly elite ratios.
Baltimore Orioles — Rico Garcia looks like the closer while Helsley (elbow) is sidelined. He picked up two saves and a win this week.
Boston Red Sox — Aroldis Chapman is in the non-Mason Miller tier of elite closers. Garrett Whitlock is his handcuff.
Chicago Cubs — Daniel Palencia is the guy.
Chicago White Sox — Seranthony Domínguez continues to hold the role while Grant Taylor’s skills still haven’t translated to fantasy-friendly usage.
Cincinnati Reds — Tony Santillan doesn’t interest me. Pierce Johnson has the most recent save. Graham Ashcraft is lurking as well.
Cleveland Guardians — Cade Smith looks dominant. Erik Sabrowski is elite in formats with holds.
Colorado Rockies — I’d be interested in Antonio Senzatela if he started getting saves.
Detroit Tigers — Kenley Jansen looks to be in trouble if his skills don’t improve. Meanwhile, Will Vest (elbow) is on the IL and Kyle Finnegan has a troubling K-BB%.
Houston Astros — Josh Hader (biceps) will be back soon enough with the role waiting for him.
Kansas City Royals — Lucas Erceg continues to pile up saves despite my talent concerns. At this point, Daniel Lynch IV is a bigger threat to his job than Carlos Estévez (foot, shoulder).
Los Angeles Angels — Ryan Zeferjahn has their most recent save. Jordan Romano has the other four. I’m waiting for Ben Joyce (shoulder) to return and stashing him on IL where possible.
Los Angeles Dodgers — Tanner Scott has all three Dodgers saves since April 16th.
Miami Marlins — Pete Fairbanks (hand) is expected to return from the IL and resume the role soon.
Milwaukee Brewers — Very few save chances of late, but I continue to operate as if Abner Uribe is the 1A and Trevor Megill the 1B (and trending down).
Minnesota Twins — Yoendrys Gómez got the save Sunday. Passing on this bullpen.
New York Mets — Devin Williams is the guy despite some shaky outings.
New York Yankees — David Bednar is locked in.
Philadelphia Phillies — Jhoan Duran is the guy with Brad Keller as the handcuff.
Pittsburgh Pirates — Gregory Soto has taken the role. Add him where available.
San Diego Padres — Mason Miller remains special. Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejon, and Jason Adam form a high-end bridge and are all players to value properly in holds formats.
San Francisco Giants — Caleb Kilian has the most recent save. Erik Miller (back) should return from the IL later this week. Keaton Winn would be my preference to eventually claim the job. Not bothering with Ryan Walker anywhere.
Seattle Mariners — Andrés Muñoz has been shaky at times this year, but his underlying skills have been dominant enough for me to still consider him in the elite tier like I did before the season. Jose A. Ferrer is the handcuff of choice, especially with Matt Brash (lat) currently sidelined.
St. Louis Cardinals — Riley O’Brien is the real deal. Huge in-season riser. JoJo Romero piles up the holds.
Tampa Bay Rays — Bryan Baker earned his 10th save on Sunday. Ian Seymour and Cole Sulser have picked up recent ones too, but Baker is the primary closer.
Texas Rangers — Jacob Latz picked up a two-inning save on Sunday, his fourth of the year and the first of the week for this team.
Toronto Blue Jays — Jeff Hoffman is pitching better of late, and many of his underlying metrics are downright elite. But Louis Varland has just been better (one of the very best in MLB), and he has each of the team’s past five saves.
Washington Nationals — Gus Varland has an elite 70% strike rate and should be rostered wherever saves are needed. Sunday bids can be made cheaper after he allowed three runs on the day.