Player Blurbs

Shohei Ohtani:  So much is written about Shohei Ohtani’s incredible skills with the bat (and the 40 dingers, etc. say that is justified).  However, too little is written about how great he has been on the mound.  This week, Ohtani tossed 8 innings of one run ball, striking out 8 and walking none.  On the year, the guy “who pitches too” has a 2.79 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and has struck out 120 hitters in just 100 innings.  The advanced metrics are equally impressive as Ohtani has kept the ball on the ground at a nice rate (43%), posted a very strong 13+% swinging strike rate and has a FIP that supports the ERA.  You have to be a GREAT hitter to overshadow this kind of pitching but of course, Ohtani is exactly that this year -- GREAT.   

For the Week That Will Be: With a start against the stone-cold Orioles on deck, you want Ohtani the pitcher in your lineup.  Next year, we will need to find a way in fantasy to have both his hitting and pitching stats count in the same game and same week.

Michael Lorenzen:  Michael Lorenzen pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his third save of the season.  After a long (ok, very long) stint on the IL, Lorenzen has been dealing.   With this outing, he has now tossed 13 scoreless innings and has a perfect 0.00 ERA.  He is throwing hard (over 96 on average), getting ahead of hitters, getting whiffs and keeping the ball on the ground.  What else could one want?  

For the Week That Will Be:  While Lorenzen may not be the full time closer, he will get his shots and that plus his top flight metrics says he plays in most, if not all lineups.

Amed Rosario:  Amed Rosario had a big game on Sunday Night Baseball going 3-4 with a run, two RBI and his 8th dinger of the year.  With all the hype surrounding teammate Andrés Giménez, Rosario got lost in the shuffle this March.  Well, he is proving doubters wrong with his .289 average, .348 OBP and 12 SB.  Everything has improved for the young Guardian including his hard hit, walk, oppo, line drive, and chase rate.  I believe.  

For the Week That Will Be:  There is no possible reason to sit Rosario at this point.  After all, his OPS over the last two weeks is around 1,000.  Yep, a grand. 

Kris Bubic:  Kris Bubic tossed 6+ innings of two run ball, striking out nine to get the win on Saturday.  That 4.94 ERA will scare people away but you should not let it.  When we dig deeper, we see a pitcher who has given up 3 or fewer runs in 7 of his last 8 starts (unfortunately, the eighth was a one inning, seven run disaster).  Given that he does a good job of keeping the ball on the ground, the dinger problem he had in that one disaster should not repeat.  Those in need of pitching in AL only should take a long look.

For the Week That Will Be:  A start against Seattle says he is in my lineup.  

Brad Keller:  Sticking with Royals pitching, Brad Keller mowed down 8 on the way to a win Friday.  In the game, Brad went six innings and gave up just one earned run.  In his last two starts, he has 16 strikeouts against just 3 walks.  Like his teammate Bubic, Keller does a good job of keeping the ball on the ground.  Also, by throwing the fastball and locating it, Keller has reduced the walks significantly in the last two starts.  There is talent there.  Rick Wolf and I believe as we just invested in Keller in Tout Wars AL.  

For the Week That Will Be:  see Bubic, Kris – a start against Seattle says Keller is in my lineup.

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 16% swinging strike rate or Nick Snyder, the new Texas fireballer who struck out 25 and walked just one in 16 AA innings before being rushed to the majors.  Snyder, with his blazing heater and solid control, just may stick.   

If you are in the mood to gamble, how about Frank Schwindel and his .315 average for the Cubbies?

And Last But Not Least:

The moment you have been waiting for (just play along) -- Schultz says: “With rare exceptions, the collective unconsciousness that operates and organizes the rules and regulations of fantasy football understands that it doesn’t always make the most sense for the want-to-be-a-real-boy Pinocchio version of the sport to end at the same time as its true-to-life real season counterpart. As any NFL game goes full tilt, most teams that have secured their post-season position simply put their most valuable pieces under glass until it’s time to break them out for the playoffs. It was bad enough to watch a real-world playoff scenario decided by Nate Sudfeld. Heaven forbid, fantasy follow suit. Rather than spend eternity awaiting the Blue Fairy, fantasy football simply ends its season early. 

Schultz knows that The Overlord has yet to flip the column to football (GO BROWNS!!). However, rotisserie baseball titles can be won by remembering that not all teams “Play 162.” As the 2021 MLB season comes into its homestretch, it will pay great dividends to know who will be playing meaningful games in September. 

With the White Sox coasting on all cylinders and the (limited time only) Indians sitting well behind them in the AL Central, Tony La Russa is going make sure that his team enters October at maximum health. Tim Anderson’s “tired legs” are starting to get some rest and it stands to reason that the returning Eloy Jiménez, Luis Robert and Carlos Rodón aren’t going to pushed to their breaking point. Similarly, barring a strong Cincinnati rebound or a Phillies surge, the Braves and Brewers may get the luxury of banking hours in September. The stud racehorses surely won’t sit. However, they also won’t be pushed to their breaking point or keep up the frontrunner pace. 

If you are in a closely heated fantasy homestretch, make sure you are aware as to who will care about September baseball. The AL East is going to be contested, especially with the three runner ups in contention for the two wild card spots. Similarly, Houston may have an edge on the West but the A’s and Mariners are going to keep throwing knockout punches while staying in the Wild Card hunt. Anyone relying on their Giants and Dodgers will benefit greatly from the fact that neither wants to host the NL Wild Card, which is the only reason why the Padres will not fold and regroup in 2022.”

Response:  Strong analysis on the baseball front.  On the football front, I have done a ton of drafts and have rostered many shares of Baker Mayfield (in best ball), Nick Chubb, OBJ, and Jarvis Landry so yes, go Browns!