So last week I had a guy (or perhaps it was a lady because their name was Kelly) email me (not sure how the hell they even got my email) and ask about this piece and what happens if a pitcher in their shallower league that I recommended isn’t available. And I didn’t want to be rude, but the answer is really simple. If you’re in a ten-team league and none of the players recommended are available just refer to the names in the 12-team league section. My range typically varies, but I’m trying to avoid listing players in the ten-team league section that are over 70% owned. And the deeper league suggestions are usually owned in less than 20-25% of leagues. But if you have a question about the article or need help with an emergency streamer feel free to slide into my DM’s (@RealDANlanta) over on the Twittersphere. For now I’m going to be trendy and blame my email leak on Facebook. Here’s whom I like next week.
10-Team Leagues
Fernando Romero (MIN) – Romero is one of the hottest names in baseball right now. His fantasy ownership is spiking and if he does well against the Angels on Sunday you may not be able to jump on the bandwagon anymore. In two starts this year (11.2 innings) he has yet to give up an earned run while striking out 14 batters and walking six. Yes the walks are concerning, but the strikeouts are pretty nice. Next week he gets the Brewers at home. It’s a good hitting team in a hitter’s park so there is some concern and this is the type of matchup that could humble the young righty. But he does have an elite fastball that averages around 96mph and he touts a nice 12.9% swinging strike rate. His ownership could fluctuate if he struggles against the Angels on Sunday, but if he’s available in your league right now he’s worth taking a chance on.
Sean Newcomb (ATL) – I love Newcomb. I featured him in last week’s 12-team section and his ownership is sitting right around 65% so this could be your last chance to grab him. Last week I was a fan because he had two tempting starts and next week I still like him because he gets another start against the Marlins, this time it’ll be in SunTrust Park so the ballpark is a bit of a downgrade, but I’m still a fan of the matchup. Even if you need a pitcher to end the current week you should grab Newcomb for his start tomorrow because it’s in Miami. Everything about Newcomb just screams Jon Lester to me. From his arsenal, to the fact he probably grew up watching Lester as a Sox fan (Newcomb’s from Brockton, MA), and even to the shape of his head he just gives me a Lester-ish vibe. And that’s a big compliment! If Newcomb can get the walks down there’s no reason he can’t be a top 20 starting pitcher in fantasy. I foresee a no hitter in his future so go get this guy.
Mike Foltynewicz (ATL) – Folty is a frequent guest of this article and it feels like I can never get it right with him. The fact he’s appearing in this piece should tell you not to stream him because I have an awful track record with recommending him. Alas, here he is. Folty’s really only had one bad start this year, but he doesn’t pitch deep enough into games. He’s a mid-three’s ERA guy with some strikeout upside. Now he only has four strikeouts in each of his last two starts, but he gets the Cubs and Marlins next week and both starts are at home. The first start against Chicago is somewhat concerning because the Cubs have won four straight and the offense is rolling so I understand if you don’t want to stream him for that start. He is most definitely in play for the start against the Marlins because Derek Jeter isn’t fooling anybody with his “we’re going to compete” comments. That team sucks.
Jeff Samardzija (SF) – I’m not wild about suggesting Samardzija in this spot for two reasons: 1. He hasn’t been good so far this year, and 2. Typing his last name is a real pain in the ass. In four starts (17.2 innings of work) he’s given up 13 earned runs and walked 13 hitters. Even the fact he hasn’t cracked 18 innings in four starts ought to tell you he isn’t pitching very deep. By all accounts and however you want to look at it, he’s been a big bucket of suck so far in 2018. But I am intrigued by his start next week at home against the Rockies. Don’t be fooled by Colorado because they aren’t an elite offense. Sure they play in an elite hitter’s park, but they’re pretty terrible on the road slashing just .215/.293/.386 away from the high elevation of Coors Field. Somehow Samardzija is 51% owned on Yahoo! which seems laughable, but he’s under 40% owned in ESPN leagues. If you feel like getting a little funky next week take a flyer on this guy.
12-Team Leagues
Caleb Smith (MIA) – I have been very slow to come around to Caleb Smith . While I didn’t recommend him as a streamer so far this season I did stream him for one start against this Phillies back in April and he gave up three runs in three innings. So I quickly jumped off the bandwagon. However, he has been very good on the year. Walks are a concern for him because he still possesses a gaudy 4.31 BB/9, but he has an elite K/9 rate at 12.03. He’s kind of like Robbie Ray ; they both will walk a lot of batters and they’ll both strike out their share of guys as well. And it appears that Smith is playing in the better ballpark for pitchers at this point. Over his last four starts (24 innings) he has 31 strikeouts to just four walks while giving up just four earned runs. He faces the Dodgers next week who are slashing just .226/.303/.356 against lefties and the start comes at home for Smith so this is a prime matchup for him.
Kyle Gibson (MIN) – Gibson is somewhere between 20-30% owned depending on the site you play on. He could even be available in deeper leagues so hopefully if you do play in a deeper league you aren’t skipping over this section. Sure he had a couple rough starts about a month ago, but the 3.49 ERA is justified by his 3.10 FIP. He’s only given up two home runs this year in 38.2 innings of work so he’s at least keeping balls in the park. Additionally over his last four starts he has at least six strikeouts in each appearance. In total he has 31 K’s in his last 24 innings of work. Gibson, like Fernando Romero , draws Milwaukee at home next week so there is some concern, but I wouldn’t deter from Gibson solely because of the matchup.
Jacob Faria (TB) – This comes with the warning that when Faria is good, he’s good. But when he’s bad he’s an atrocity. To be fair to Faria he’s actually kept the walks in check. In four of his last five starts he’s given up just one walk, but the home runs are still an issue as he’s given up three in his last two starts. But dating back to April 13th he’s been doing better save for his last outing against Baltimore. The strikeouts haven’t been great and his numbers are slightly inflated because of the horrific Orioles game. But I would take a peak at Faria for next week. He draws the hot hitting Kansas City Royals in Kauffman Stadium so it’s still a pitcher-friendly environment and he could get back on track.
Deeper League Options
Tyler Anderson (COL) – Anderson gets two starts on the road next week. That should be enough to peak your interests because he’s a Rockies pitcher that gets to pitch twice next week away from Coors Fields. Both starts will come in the pitcher-friendly ballparks in San Francisco and San Diego. The Padres are one of the worst offensive teams in all of baseball and the Giants offense has cooled off after sweeping the Braves last weekend. After scoring 24 runs against Atlanta in a three-game weekend series, they’ve scored just ten runs in their last five games. Home runs are an issue for Anderson (1.69 HR/9), but considering he’ll pitch in AT&T Park and Petco Park he should be streamed in deeper leagues and you can easily drop him after that.
Vince Velásquez (PHI) – I do recall recommending Velasquez earlier this year and it did not go well. Velasquez struck out 12 hitters in his last outing. That looks great by itself, but over his last five outings he’s given up eight home runs. I’m optimistic about his next start because it comes on the road against the Orioles and Baltimore has been one of the worst offenses in baseball. He’s a boom or bust pick and the strikeout numbers are inflated due to his last outing, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he got eight strikeouts against Baltimore because the O’s are tied with the 7th-most strikeouts so far this season.
Chris Stratton (SF) – Welcome back to planet Earth, Chris! Must have been nice up in the STRATTON-sphere. I’m a lover of dad jokes (even though I have no kids) and awful puns and that is truly one of my worst. Anyway Stratton has been garbage the last couple weeks, but I like his matchup this week to get back on track. Over his last five starts (25.2 innings of work) he does have a 10.17 K/9, but at the same time there is frustration because he’s given up 17 earned runs over that span. Additionally he’s also given up four home runs in his last three starts. This could be a “get right” week for the tall, lanky righty. He gets two home starts against the Reds and Rockies. With the benefit of AT&T Park in his sails he could be cruising to STRATTON Island later this week... That’s supposed to be a play on Staten Island… I’ll shut up now.