A funny thing happened while I was setting my lineups for this week. I picked up not one, BUT TWO starting pitchers from the Colorado Rockies. Here’s where I blow your mind….They’re both named Tyler! Weird, right? You see friends, there once was a myth in fantasy baseball that the only good Rockies’ pitcher was the one not on your roster. My how times have changed. I mean, people are listening to albums again, The Rock is contemplating a Presidential run and a good portion of the Colorado pitching staff is fantasy relevant. What’s real anymore? Is this the Upside Down?? Anyway, both Tyler Anderson and Tyler Chatwood have dates with the San Diego Padres this week and here’s the best part: The games are in Petco Park. I just high-fived myself. Both Anderson and Chatwood are lightly owned, just 11% & 7% respectively. That’s bargain bin shopping amigos. Ignore Anderson’s ugly ERA (5.38) and focus on this: He’s allowed just seven runs and racked up 32 K’s over his last 24.2 innings across his past four starts. Chatwood owns a 4.50 ERA (Thanks Coors!), but he’s been effective on the road dropping that number to 3.06 while producing a 3.86 xFIP. The Padres meanwhile, have decided to continue their tradition of being all but unwatchable by turning in a .641 OPS, .148 ISO and 73 wRC+. Those numbers rank 29th, 29th and 30th respectively. So yeah, this seems like a great time to get to know the Tyler’s.
As always, all of the suggestions below were selected with the help of the Stream-o-Nator and Hitter-Tron. Make sure to help yourself to a subscription if you haven’t already. Also, every player mentioned in this post is available in at least 50% of standard ESPN leagues. Just a helpful tip from your fantasy bestie. Remember, when it comes to Honcho and Razzball……Always swipe right!
Robert Gsellman vs MIL, vs PIT – If we’re being honest, the only reason Gsellman is in the rotation is due to the Mets being hard up for starting pitchers. Nonetheless, we’re hitching our wagon to him twice this week because the Stream-o-Nator’s running hot for these two match-ups. Both starts will be inside spacious Citi Field so Gsellman’s tremendous 3.11 GB/FB ratio should play very well. Over the past seven games Milwaukee has been quite disappointing at the plate, sporting a hefty 25.3% strikeout rate along with a weak .118 ISO. Meanwhile, the Pirates have struggled with the lumber all season as they rank 27th in the league offensively. Raising the Jolly Roger won’t be easy against Gsellman as Pittsburgh’s below average 87 wRC+ and .378 slugging percentage might indicate.
Eddie Butler @ SD – Butler has won two of his three starts and is the proud owner of a shiny 1.93 ERA. Although Butler’s success might be tied to his 84.2% strand rate, he’s yet to allow a long ball over his 14 innings pitched and is set up to face the Padres who’ve hit 58 home runs collectively as a team this year. That number is good for 16th in baseball, so they’re not exactly pulling a “Murderers Row” here. They also rank last in OBP (.287) and batting average (.217), while maintaining a tantalizing 24.6% K-rate. I haven’t been this excited about a Butler since Mr. Belvedere! I’ll show myself out.
Dan Straily vs ATL – It’s easy to love most Miami pitchers when they’re at home since Marlins Park has yielded the fifth fewest home runs of all stadiums in 2017. The Braves seem to be running into Straily at the wrong time as he’s produced a 2.74 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in his last four starts, while manufacturing a respectable 9.00 K/9 ratio. The Braves bats have lost their thump on the road as reflected by their 24th ranked ISO (.147). Miss you Freddie! Get well soon!
German Marquez @ SD – Another Rockies pitcher?! Am I crazy?! Did we just become best friends?! Yep!! This is borderline absurd, I agree, but the Padres are so bad the bot keeps pushing every opposing pitcher to the front of the line. The good news here is the fact that Marquez will make this start on the road. That’s important considering he’s limited opposing hitters to a .281 wOBA on the road this year. If you’re into the ERA thang…..he’s put up a spectacular 1.06 earned run average along with a 9.00 K/9 and 91.7% strand rate away from Coors Field.
Ariel Miranda vs TB – Honcho definitely wants some of this action! Miranda has punched out 21 batters over 17 innings spanning his last three starts. For the season he’s sporting an 8.61 K/9 and that should rise a bit as the Rays lead the league with a 26.9% strikeout rate and that number jumps to 29% on the road. While Tampa Bay has a knack for turning mistakes into souvenirs, their .316 OBP & .405 SLG% away from home is barely league average.
Joe Mauer – Oh. God. Yes!!!!! Another week, another Joe Mauer recommendation. The Twins will face seven right-handed starters this week and that’s great news for Mauer considering his dominance over RHP throughout his career. We’ll skip those gaudy numbers and deal in the now. Over his last seven games, Mauer has produced a .300/.417/.450 slash line. Let’s play the positive spin game here…Mauer’s hit safely in 12 of the last 13 games he’s started and the Twins optioned Kennys Vargas to Triple-A! So there’s that.
Cameron Maybin – The Maybin train lost some steam last week when he was removed from a game after injuring his knee. Fortunately the injury was not serious as he returned to action on Saturday. Prior to the injury, Maybin was hitting .429 with 2 HR and a steal in his last 35 at-bats. He’s reaching base at a .369 clip this season and part of that success is due to his excellent 15.6 BB% rate.
Mitch Moreland – Five of Boston’s seven games this week will feature a right-hander as the opposing starter. Moreland has five home runs this season and all of them have come at the expense of righties. He’s also racked up an .358 OBP vs RHP this season as well. Wait friends…..It gets better. The Red Sox will be on the road for the entire seven game stretch and that’s where Moreland has excelled this season, racking up a .417 wOBA and 164 wRC+ in opposing parks vs RHP. Ready for more? He’s also produced a stout .292 ISO & 1.010 OPS against right-handers away from Fenway. Fun.
