Jesus Sanchez ending the first half on a high note highlights the Week That Was and Will Be.  

Player Blurbs

Jesus Sanchez:  Jesus Sanchez ended the first half with a big day, going 3-4 with 2 runs scored.  Since his call-up, the Marlins’ future has hit a respectable .265 with three dingers and 9 RBI in just 79 at-bats.  That said, he is clearly getting more comfortable as he has hits in 8 of his last 11 games.  What I really like is that he is not all pull all the time.  Indeed, he goes up the middle and oppo more often than he pulls the ball.  This will serve him well.  Oh, and it does not hurt that he makes very good contact for a young power hitter (around 77%).  

For the Week That Will Be: With four games in three days in the hitter haven that is Philadelphia in the short post-ASB week, Jesus is plug and play.

Wily Peralta:  Wily Peralta pitched five innings of one-run ball to drop his ERA to 2.08.  Yes, that Wily Peralta.  I know, I doubted it too but the numbers say what they say:   2.08 ERA and a WHIP under 1.00.  Can this last?  Well, he does not get a lot of swing and miss but the almost 60% ground ball rate should serve him well.  

For the Week That Will Be:  Unless you need to make a big jump quickly, I leave Peralta on the bench against Minnesota for the first start back.  If he continues to pitch well, maybe the next week is the time to roll the dice.  Wait a little longer. 

Starlin Castro:  Starlin Castro registered three hits Sunday to raise his average to .283.  Nice recovery for a guy getting cut in many leagues.  I believe that makes it a 14 game hitting streak to end the first half.  I have always thought Castro was underrated.  I mean, this is a guy who if he stays healthy will end the 2021 season with 1,800 hits in the big leagues at the age of 31.  I believe.  

For the Week That Will Be:  Given that he is red hot, is hitting the ball harder than he ever has and still maintains close to an 80% contact rate says plug and play.  

Logan Gilbert:  Logan Gilbert was brilliant Thursday tossing 7 innings of 1 hit, shut out ball against the Yankees.  On the year, Gilbert has a 3.51 ERA and 0.97 WHIP despite his slow start (and early demotion).  Given that his fastball is 95mph and he has two offerings (change and slider) with swinging strike rates over 18%, there is a lot to like here.    

For the Week That Will Be:  At this point, Gilbert is set it and forget it.  Enjoy the ride.

Alec Mills:  Alec Mills was not great this week but still managed to battle, pitch 5.2 innings and get the win.  This is notable because since Alec has been back in the starting rotation for the Cubs, he as improved, kept his team in the game and even won two of his last four starts.  There is not a lot of swing and miss to his game these days but a strong ground ball rate and solid first pitch strike rate gives me confidence he can be solid for those NL-only types out there.  Moreover, if he ever threw more changes and sliders (both with 16.5%+ swinging strike rates), the performance would probably be even better.    

For the Week That Will Be:  Mills is not slated to start in the short week but has a two-step the week after.  Wait for that and roll on.  

What to do if your FAAB bids did not go as planned:

If you did not get the pitchers you want, consider these middle relievers on teams with weak or unsettled closing situations or potential openings in the rotation:  Paul Sewald and his 14% swinging strike rate and potential vulture saves; or Josh Osich (I mean someone has to save games in Cincy and he did on Sunday).  

If you are in the mood to gamble, how about Stuart Fairchild. The recently promoted Diamondback hit .351 with a .411 OBP in AAA before getting called up to the show. 

And Last But Not Least:

The moment you have been waiting for (just play along) -- Schultz says: “The All-Star Break always provides a time for roto-owners to internally engage in two equally time-consuming debates: (1) “Yikes, [my team’s leading home run hitter] is in the Home Run Derby – this can’t be good” and (2) “hmmm, did I make the wrong call on [my team’s most underproducing player].” While this would seem to be a lead-in to Schultz’ biggest gripe of the 2021 season - namely “why in the world did The Overlord talk me into keeping Victor Robles over Alex Verdugo and Trent Grisham??!!??” Schultz is still seething to much over that one to write about it in a way that clears Fantasy Alarm’s most liberal standards and practices. Nonetheless, lets treat this week’s Schultz Says as an ad hoc support group that reminds us that we roto-owners are smart enough, our roto-disappointments good enough and doggone it, we still like them  

 Roto-owners that bargained for more from Anthony Rendon than his underwhelming .240, 6 HR 34 RBI first half can take solace in the fact that the third head of the Angels’ MVP-candidate hydra has been plagued by nagging injuries. As he will not have to trouble himself with All-Star festivities, he’ll enter the second half healthier than he’s been all season. Similarly beset by injuries, George Springer, the Blue Jays’ big free agent signing has yet to hit his stride, mainly because he literally can’t get his legs underneath him. Seeing as everyone else in Toronto’s lineup is outkicking the coverage, there’s little reason to believe that a healthy Springer won’t spring back.  

 While not reportedly injury related, roto-owners surely rent their garments at the beginning of June over Luis Castillo’s 6.63 ERA and ghastly 1.66 WHIP. He wasn’t even striking out a batter an inning to make that bad medicine go down. Well, whatever switch needed to be switched seems to have been switched for the Reds’ hurler. He’s not at peak form yet but he’s looked more like the old Castillo since the start of the summer than he has his evil doppelganger.  

Finally, David Price hasn’t really pitched enough to truly do any damage (or be actively rostered) but he’s about to land a featured role in the Dodgers’ second half run to a repeat title. Trevor Bauer’s future is uncertain, Clayton Kershaw has developed arm trouble and Dustin May isn’t coming back until 2022. As Price sat out the 2020 season, he’s definitely well-rested and there may be some roto-value left in his veteran arm.  

For those looking for some kinds words and optimistic thoughts about Blake Snell, Christian Yelich and Mookie Betts . . . sorry, friends. Schultz has nothing for you.”

Response:  As the Wolfman always says on Colton & the Wolfman on Tuesday nights on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio, one has to be self-compassionate.  We make good calls, we make bad calls, but hopefully we are having fun playing this little game of ours.  And yes, Victor Robles has not done any fantasy owners any favors.  The only sliver of hope is that he does continue to get on base (.325 OBP) so maybe the steals will come.  We can dream right?