[brid autoplay=”true” video=”280818″ player=”10951″ title=”Fantasy Baseball Mailbag Week 21″]
The Braves called up Bryse Wilson, their third starter who is under 21 years old (Soroka, Allard) and 4th player (Acuña). Mean’s while, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. just collected his 3,000th minor league hit. By the time Vlad Jr. is called up, he will be Vlad Sr.’s brother. Didja you know in Latin America junior is a term of endearment like when you call that old lady in your family ‘aunt’ even though she’s unrelated? That’s why so many Jr.’s get to their 2nd year of pro ball and drop the junior. Right, Raul Mondesi Jr.? Any hoo! The Braves called up yet another gorgeous, young prospect. “That’s what I love about these Braves starters, man. I keep getting older, they stay the same age.” — Matthew McConaughey seeing Bryse Wilson. Prospector Ralph just gave you his Bryse Wilson fantasy. He’s also in his top 500 fantasy baseball prospects. Previously, he said, “A 4th rounder in 2016, Bryse Wilson rode his plus sinking fastball to one of the bigger breakouts of 2017. His four-seamer sits 92-95 with sink, and commands it extremely well. His secondaries are far more raw with a power 12-6 curve, and a fringe changeup. Speaking of Wilson, I’d like to spike Grey like a volleyball.” Okay, not cool! Yesterday, Wilson went 5 IP, 0 ER, 6 baserunners, 5 Ks, as the Braves bumped everyone in their rotation back a day. The big thing that struck me about Bryse is he looks like he’s been doing it for years (which could be said of the other young Braves players). About to call him Poyse Wilson. Seems weird to call him up to just send him back to the minors, so gotta expect him to stay up. In shallower redrafts, I’d view Wilson as a streamer, but I did grab him in two mixed league redrafts. He’s obviously a decent keeper in deep leagues (10.8 K/9, 0.9 BB/9 in only 20 Triple-A innings), especially now that’s he’s up with rest of the Braves’ Poyse of Summer. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Dan Winkler – 1 IP, 0 ER, recorded his 2nd save, ERA at 2.61. A.J. Minter Amber Heard’d the bed on Saturday, and there might be a change afoot in the Braves’ bullpen. Not to be confused with Change Afoot, who was a circus performer who walked on hot coals. If you’re looking for saves, I would grab Winkler.
Chris Archer – 4 IP, 1 ER, ERA at 4.91 with the Pirates, and left early, tweaking his leg. I watched this game to see Bryse, while suffering through Archer. Imagine someone did a montage of all of Fernando Rodney’s archery moves combined with a nine-minute, seven-pitch single — that’s Archer.
Starling Marte – Benched for a lack effort. Geez, is my mom managing the Pirates now? Yo, moms, you a momanager of the Pirates? Are their uniform colors a problem too? Geez, leave me alone, mother!
Brandon Nimmo – Hit the DL with a bruised index finger. For ten days, he won’t be giving any pointers.
Zack Wheeler – 7 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 10 Ks, ERA at 3.63. This start was at home vs. the Giants, i.e., they don’t need Sandoval for a cakewalk.
Dereck Rodriguez – Will return on Friday from the DL to face the Rangers, which is a solid matchup. Fun fact! Dereck is how Shock G sounds out the bass groove in The Humpty Dance.
Derek Holland – 5 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 3.75. The Stream-o-Nator liked Holland yesterday vs. the Mets, but, between being shook by Pivetta vs. the Mets, and not trusting Holland, I didn’t start him. SON has crazy shine on Holland for his next start too. Like the Nazis, I could kinda take or leave Holland.
Kenley Jansen – 1 IP, 2 ER, allowing back-to-back homers for the first time in his career, as he returned from the DL, ERA at 2.44. If he’s breaking hearts, I’m sure he’d prefer it be the fans’.
Alex Wood – 4 IP, 3 ER, 9 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 3.60. The Dodgers might want to start calling this guy an opener and tag team him with Maeda. Though, you could get in trouble opening with Wood.
Jose Martinez – 2-for-5, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and his 15th homer, hitting .309. Wow, Cards new manager, Shildt, is pulling all the right strings. Wait, his string pulling is starting one of the Cards’ best hitters who he originally benched? Oh, yeah, smart.
Stephen Gonsalves – 1 1/3 IP, 4 ER, as he was called up. He was also on Prospector Ralph’s top 500 fantasy baseball prospects. Prospector Ralph said just the other day, “After digging around a little, there’s some stuff to be concerned with. First, swinging strikes, over the 23 starts he’s made on the season, less than half have seen him tally double digit swinging strike totals. The next issue is the amount of strikes he’s getting looking. That’s telling of two things, one good, the other bad. He’s either completely fooling people with his changeup or curveball, unlikely, but possible, both flash plus. Or, the more likely scenario, he much like Jalen Beeks before him, is a benefactor of the slightly more generous black of a minor league strike zone. There’s still a lot to like with Gonsalves, he has two above average secondaries in his curveball and changeup, as well as a lower velocity fastball with reportedly good spin. If only we could spin Grey’s head off his body.” Hey! For what it’s Werth, I watched Gonsalves and Bryse and came away a lot more impressed with Bryse. Plus, good team in NL East vs. bleh team in the AL.
Jake Cave – 1-for-3,3 runs, 2 RBIs and his 6th homer, and 2nd homer in the last two games. Well, he has more power than Joe Mauer. Though, that’s underselling Joe Mauer’s charisma. More women in the Minnesota area wear sweaters with Mauer’s face knitted on their bosoms, and that’s what’s important — Mauer sweater puppies. As for Cave, he does appear to be a hot schmotato.
Max Kepler – 2-for-4 and his 17th homer, and 2nd homer in as many games. Twins bats are hot or White Sox pitching is terrible? Let’s see today, when the immoveable force meets the Kopechable object.
Matt Davidson – 2-for-5, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and his 18th homer, and 2nd homer in three games. April Grey, “Do I go Davidson or Christian Villanueva? Davidson or Villanueva?! Villanueva or Davidson?! Thank God I’m not prone to male pattern baldness, because this question is going to expand my forehead!” August Grey, “Maybe I’ll grab Jake Cave.”
Lucas Giolito – 6 IP, 3 ER, 7 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 6.08. He hasn’t been good in his career, but Giolito’s now strung together two Quality Starts! OH MY GOD!!!
Eugenio Suarez – 1-for-3 and his 28th homer, and 2nd homer in as many games. Glad to see him get going again after a slow start to the 2nd half. Eugenio, you have to shade in that gorgeous 1st half picture you were drawing. Good shade, not bad shade.
Phillip Ervin – 1-for-3 and his 4th homer, which have come in only 45 games. That sounded better in my head before I wrote it. Scott Schebler is rumored to return at some point this week too, and stop pulling a Kotchman.
Travis Shaw – 1-for-3, 2 RBIs and his 25th homer. I prolly put this together subconsciously, but I just realized something. The Brewers traded for Moistasskiss and Schoop, so they could bench Shaw, and Shaw is having a better season than both of them. *insert blinking white guy meme*
Mike Fiers – 7 IP, 0 ER, 1 hit, 1 walk, 8 Ks, ERA at 3.21. I wonder if Fiers is related to my rap alter ego, B-Fire. You can see today’s video for his latest verses. As for Fiers, I stopped trying to fight climate change, and have embraced Fiers everywhere. No idea what the Stream-o-Nator says about him, not even sure of his next start, but I’m all in. Don’t be the one guy who loses his league just because he thought it was cute he could name his team, We Didn’t Start The Fiers.
Khris Davis – 2-for-4 and his 37th homer. You know what pisses me off? Don’t guess! I’m going to tell you! The people who chat in the draft room in March shizz like, “Great value on so-and-so.” You said great value on Kris Bryant! You had no idea in March who was going to be great value! So just stop! Am I guilty of this? Prolly, yeah, so I can’t get mad? You telling me I can’t get mad pisses me off too! I need a goddamn spiritualist!
Ramon Laureano – 2-for-4, 5 RBIs and his 1st and 2nd homer. The lucky fan who caught his 1st career home run ball was kind enough to return it to Laureano, and then Laureano autographed it and threw the ball 18 miles to the fan’s home. What a guy. Laureano had 14 HRs, 11 SBs and a .297 average in Triple-A this year in only 64 games. He was a guy who had real shine on him at one point, and is still young enough (24), but he could hit .175 if he keeps striking out at a 38% rate.
Marwin Gonzalez – 3-for-4, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and his 12th homer. I feel like I’ve been cyclops’ing Marwin to get hot all year. Maybe now’s the time. I don’t know. I’m still mad about the guy telling me in March it was great value to get Kris Bryant!
Robinson Cano – 3-for-5, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and his 5th homer. Cano is back! Dot dot dot. To a guy who could hit 5 homers the rest of the way and be out-fantasy valued by Jonathan Villar.
Edwin Encarnacion – Expects to return this week. If you’re reading this next week, I hope this makes no sense and he’s already back.
Melky Cabrera – 2-for-3 and his 5th homer, and his 2nd homer in as many games, third homer in five games and fourth homer in the last eight games, and replaced midway through the game by Brandon Guyer, who is more man than Ray Guy. Not sure why Melky was replaced, guessing for defense. If so, then Melky’s one of the hottest schmotatoes in the land.
Greg Allen – 1-for-3, 2 RBIs and his 2nd homer. He’s supposed to be for SAGNOF — GregNOF? — with a full season of at-bats, Allen could steal 35-40 bags.
Michael Brantley – 2-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 14th homer, hitting .302. This was only the 15th time in the Indians’ history all three starting outfielders homered. No Indians outfield will ever be as famous as the 1998 group of Chief David Justice, Kenny “Three-Sack-jawea” Lofton and Geronimo Berroa.
Chris Sale – Red Sox said Sale won’t return when first eligible. Adding, “We don’t care about your H2H playoffs.”
Rick Porcello – 7 IP, 5 ER, 7 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 4.14. Hey, his xFIP in yesterday’s game was 4.23, and is 3.82 on the year. Lowercase yay! *raspberries lips* That makes me feel great!
Kendrys Morales – 2-for-4, 4 RBIs and his 15th and 16th homer, and three homers in two days. It’s as painful to me to say Morales is a hot schmotato as it is to see a dad with an apron that reads, “Developing the apps,” but here we are.
Renato Nunez – 1-for-4 and his 3rd homer, hitting .246. He used to be the “next power-hitting A’s 3rd baseman,” but when he refused to change his name to Rematto, he had to go. He did hit 32 homers one year in Triple-A, but he might hit .220.
Mark Trumbo – Hit the DL with knee inflammation. In related news, a Colorado baker refused to make a cake for Trumbo’s knee.
