10-Team League
Joe Musgrove SP, PIT– Musgrove was a popular sleeper candidate heading into the season and he has done nothing to make people think those predictions weren’t right on the money as he has a sparking 0.81 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 21 strike outs over 22.1 innings to begin the season. He has a two-start week coming up with a home start against the Diamondbacks and a road start against the Dodgers coming up. He is owned in 80-percent of 12-team standard leagues, so I expect that ownership to be a little bit lower in 10-team leagues. If he is at all on the waiver wire in any format he must be added.
Hyun-Jin Ryu SP, LAD – Ryu came off the IL on Saturday and pitched pretty well given the circumstances as he allowed two runs on six hits while striking out nine over 5.2 innings against the Brewers. His ownership took a slight dip while on the IL in 12-team leagues as he sits at just 73-percent. His next start will be on the road against the Cubs who are again underwhelming as an offense to begin the season. Ryu is worth being a staple in fantasy rotations as long as he is healthy.
Yu Darvish SP, CHC – Ok so this one is really just a boom or bust play. Darvish has an unsightly 7.15 BB/9 on the year so it’s not shocking that he hasn’t found success on the mound. Outside of his control issues however the rest of his numbers aren’t the worst. We have seen his velocity sit in the mid-90s and he has a 9.9 K/9. His BABIP is a respectable .278 as well. He needs to limit the walks and limit the home runs. Easier said than done I realize but if he gets over the early season rust, he could be a key fantasy pitcher as we hit the summer months. Darvish will make his next start on the road against the Diamondbacks whom he just faced and allowed three runs on five hits over five innings while striking out seven. He allowed two home runs during this game which was really all the damage.
12-Team League
Mike Minor SP, TEX – There are rumors that teams are already looking to trade for Minor because of his incredible start to the 2019 season which sees him with a 2.60 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 22 strikeouts over 27.2 innings. Minor just tossed a complete game shutout against the Angels last Tuesday and will have a two-start week on the horizon as he has road starts against the A’s and Mariners, both of which are better pitcher parks than the one he pitches in when on the home mound. These upcoming match ups should pose an interesting test for Minor as the A’s and Mariners have strong hitters against southpaws but then again so do the Astros and Minor shut them out of seven innings already this year as well. He is owned in just 36-percent of 12-team leagues which I figure will jump quickly following the upcoming FAAB period.
Domingo Germán – The Yankees offense has certainly taken a hit of late due to injuries, but their starting pitching hasn’t been too bad. German is 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA while striking out 23 over 19.0 innings to begin the season. He has a two-start week coming up with favorable matchups as he faces the Angels and the Giants both in the opposing ballpark which is a big upgrade for German as he gets out of that hitter friendly Yankee Stadium. German is owned in just 55-percent of 12-team leagues and I would say now is a good time to grab him.
Carlos Rodón SP, CWS – We have a strong match-up coming for Rodon as he draws the Orioles on Wednesday. Rodon has been busy this season, already making five starts on the year and dominating as he owns a 2.89 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP while striking out 35 over 28.0 innings. The Orioles offense is far from intimidating and I expect another strong performance. Rodon is owned in 55-percent of 12-team standard leagues but he should be a popular add for the upcoming week.
15-Team League
Clay Buchholz SP, TOR – I put Clay in this article last week and he was meh, going just 4.2 innings while allowing three runs on six hits. So, it wasn’t a repeat of his debut outing I am not jumping ship quite yet. His next start will be at home against a weak Giants lineup, so I’d be willing to give him another start given the deep league format.
Homer Bailey – This isn’t your fathers Homer Bailey … OK maybe he hasn’t been around that long. This isn’t the 2018 version of Homer Bailey that’s for sure. Through four starts this year Bailey has a 10.6 K/9 and though he owns a 4.30 ERA his peripheral stats are much better as he boasts a 3.48 xFIP and a 3.57 SIERA. I am buying into Bailey right now, remember, he was once a pretty solid pitcher for the Reds before all the injuries.
Sonny Gray – A switch to the Reds has Gray looking much more like the Oakland A’s version of Sonny Gray instead of the New York Yankee version. Through four starts this season, sure he may be 0-3, but he owns a 2.79 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP while striking out 22 over 19.1 innings. His next start will be at home against the Braves in his next start and will finish the week with a road start against the Cardinals.