10-Team Leagues

Hyun-Jin Ryu (LAD) – So Ryu appeared in last week’s piece and was great against the Nationals and then solid again last night against the Giants. He has three wins in his last four starts, and four straight appearances with at least seven strikeouts. Next week he’ll face the Diamondbacks on the road in Chase Field. The humidor was a hot topic of conversation during sprin training. For the most part I hate including park factors this early in the season because we need a larger sample size from each park to determine how a ballpark has been catering to hitters and pitchers. For the most part most trends hold true year-to-year. However, so far this season Chase Field has catered more to pitchers than it has to hitters. Again it’s a small sample size, but the humidor truthers out there (myself included) are sporting an evil grin. Arizona is slashing just .231/.321/.388 at home where they’ve averaged about 4.5 runs per game. They aren’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard. Taking all that into consideration, Ryu is in play as a streamer in shallow leagues next week. If he posts another stellar stat line expect his ownership to be too high to appear in the following SP streamers piece.

Joey Lucchesi (SD) – “God is great, Beer is good… And People are crazy.” In honor of the Billy Currington concert I attended last night I opted to preface this part of the article with that lyric. Because people are truly insane for dropping this kid. Lucchesi had one rough start against Arizona and some owners jumped off the bandwagon. It’s as if all that he had done up until then no longer mattered. The 24 strikeouts he logged in his previous 17 innings of work? WHO CARES! It’s wild that his ownership dropped and if you play in a shallow league and he’s available go grab him. He’s 69% owned in Yahoo! leagues and somewhere Rob Gronkowski is giggling at that (I hope). He squares off against the Mets later today and then he’s home against the Dodgers next Friday night at home. Los Angeles has gotten off to a mildly sluggish start, and they’ll likely turn it around. But if you can grab Lucchesi as a regular addition to your team or as a streamer then go do so.

Miles Mikolas (STL) – Mikolas has been quiet, but more people are starting to take notice including me! He won’t wow you with strikeout numbers. He has only 27 in 33 innings to start the year. (UPDATE EVERYTHING HERE AFTER HIS FRIDAY START AGAINST PITTSBURGH) But his 3.27 ERA (3.78 FIP) seems legit and he has a 0.97 WHIP. Part of the reason his WHIP is where it’s at is because he’s only allowed two walks so far. The control has been on point and he’s given up just two home runs over his last 27.1 innings of work. Next week he draws a very tough matchup against the Cubs so it’s not too ideal, but he’s been doing well enough lately to warrant consideration as a streamer and his ownership is on the rise.

 

12-Team Leagues

Nick Pivetta (PHI) – Pivetta’s ownership is hovering right around 50% right now so he might be available in 12-team leagues. He throws hard and has accumulated a 2.57 ERA (2.28 FIP) through 28 innings of work on the year. He’s faced the Braves twice so far on the young season and faces them again later today. To be fair he’s had his worse outings against the Braves. In nine innings against the Braves he has just five strikeouts and he’s given up four earned runs on ten hits and two walks. In the remaining 19 innings of work from Pivetta against other opponents he has 23 strikeouts and just four earned runs allowed. Either way next week he duels the Nationals, but then the week after he draws the Giants. So while true tests are coming up there is relief two weeks away. But with big offenses come big strikeout potential and Pivetta is the kind of hard-throwing pitcher that could really pad his numbers over his next couple starts.

Tyson Ross (SD) – Going to go back to the well with Ross after he disappointed in Coors Field this past week. Next week he draws the Giants in San Francisco so I fully expect him to get back on track. His last start against the Rockies was the only appearance where he failed to go six innings deep and he should be more than capable of doing that against the Giants. In his previous start against San Francisco he lasted six innings while striking out five hitters and giving up just one walk. Even after the rough start against Colorado, Ross’s ownership is on the climb as owners jump on board to get him for his next start.

Eduardo Rodríguez (BOS) – Finally an American League pitcher! Rodriguez has been good, not great. He had a rough debut in 2018, but he’s been okay since then. In his last three appearances (18.2 innings) he’s gone at least six innings in each start while amassing 16 strikeouts, six walks, and six earned runs. He has allowed a home run in each of his last two starts, so be aware. He gets two starts next week against two of the colder offenses in baseball (Kansas City and Texas) and considering the offense that supports Rodriguez there is significant win potential for him. The start against the Royals will come in Fenway, while the Rangers start comes in Arlington against Cole Hamels .

 

Deeper League Options

Tyler Mahle (CIN) – Mahle’s a risky play and gets tough road matchup against the Twins on Sunday to finish this week, but he gets a very juicy matchup against the Marlins next Saturday on Cinco de Mayo. In his last start against the Braves he carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning while striking out 11 batters. He does carry a 5.00 ERA on the year with a 1.41 WHIP. None of those are incredible and nothing to be proud of, but he should be streamed next week against Miami. The Fish are last in the league in OPS at .614 and they’ve only hit 17 home runs. Derek Jeter isn’t fooling anyone when he says the team is competing. They stink and Mahle should be streamed against them.

Daniel Mengden (OAK) – Mengden had a rough 2018 debut, but over his last four starts (24.2 innings of work) he has a 2.92 ERA and has given up just two walks and two home runs. He’s a modest strikeout pitcher who faces off against the Astros this weekend, but hosts Baltimore in week five. The O’s are just 2-11 in their last 13 games and they’ve scored just 88 runs in 26 games. Mengden and his moustache are a solid streaming option in deeper leagues next week.

Bartolo Colón (TEX) – Once again Bartolo Colón continues to defy time. He came close to no hitting the World Series champs earlier this year and he’s boasting a  2.59 ERA through five appearances. He’s given up just three walks on the year so far and even though he turns 45 next month he’s still a reliable innings eater for the Rangers. He draws a nightmarish start against Boston next week, but hey the last time a pitcher appeared in this piece with a start against Boston they threw a no hitter (thanks Sean Manaea ).