Adam Ottavino notched his ninth save of the season Friday night pitching a scoreless ninth inning, allowing a walk, and striking out two to lower his ERA to 3.51. Matt Barnes has lost all his steam and possibly will to live and Manager Alex Cora’s options include a couple of Garretts: Garrett Whitlock with his 1.60 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and arguably Boston’s most consistent bullpen arm all season, or Garrett Richards (4.86 ERA, 4.60 WHIP) who has a 0.90, 1.00 WHIP in his past 10 IP in relief. So yeeaah ignoring Hansel Robles, the answer is clearly Adam Ottavino who has done the job before and set up Barnes all year. Grey told you to BUY Adam because Robles scarred him for life, and as far as late-season closer adds go Ottavino could be a real cherry. Or should I say Fenway frank? As hard as this team has stumbled post-break, they still appear to be trying to win baseball games and there should be plenty of save chances to be had as they battle for the wild card. I’d grab Ottavino wherever I needed saves. But wait! We’re not done yet, as this headline is doing double duty today. Glenn Otto pitched five scoreless innings in his Tejas Rangers debut Friday night and allowed just two hits and struck out seven Astros. “His name is Otto, he loves to get blotto!” Thanks for that Ottoman! If you dominate the Asstros like that you have my attention, sir, and his 3.20 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 134/24 K/BB rate in the minors this year show me he might have the stuff to hang with the big boys. With half the Rangers starting rotation on the COVID list, Glenn should get another shot next week versus Colorado. I could see streaming him if you’re as desperate for pitching as I am for positive feedback. There you go, a two-fer lede! Not bad right? Larry David might even say it’s pretty good. So go play the fantasy lotto and grab one of these Ottos!
Here’s what else I saw in fantasy baseball Friday night:
Jose Ramirez – 3-for-4, HR (30), 2 RBI. JoRam has an insane 1.001 OPS in August to go with 8 bombs and 8 steals. He’s nine home runs away from tying his career-high, and he also wears a chain with a picture of himself on it. What’s not to love about this man?
Jonathan Arauz – 1-for-2, go-ahead 3-run HR (1) in the 8th. *Shudders* Arrauz gives me 2020 Red Sox flashbacks.
Eduardo Rodriguez – 7.0 IP, 8 hits, 3 ER, BB, 2 K, 10th win. A welcome rebound after getting owned by the Rangers last week, but 8 hits and 2 K doesn’t instill a lot of confidence heading into playoffs times. Can Chris Sale pitch every day or nah?
Logan Allen – 6.0 IP, 1 hit, ER, BB, 5 K. Should we call you Logan, Weapon X? No? Wolverine! Allen got the call with Tristan McKenzie injured and should get another shot next week. Pick him up if you hate yourself.
Matt Manning – 6.0 IP, 6 hits, ER, BB, 5 K, ERA at 5.46. I have to admit I lol’d out loud when someone in one of my leagues grabbed Manning to stream versus Toronto, but wow! The five Ks were a career-high! Where is he getting his intel? What does he know that I don’t know!? Is there a next-level stat I’m not looking at that Matt Manning is absolutely crushing?
Steven Matz – 6.0 IP, 4 hits, ER, 2 K. While some stream the Matt Mannings of the world and get wins and career-high games, I stick with Matz and tend to drop him before he’s even finished his outing.
Wade Miley – 7.0 IP, 6 hits, 0 ER, BB, 5 K, 11th win. Wade To Go, Miley! Caaaause he caaaan’t stop! That’s a Miley Cyrus song, ya’ll! It’s pretty cool. He’s been a lot shakier in August than the previous months but that 2.74 ERA, 1.22 WHIP speak for themselves and he hasn’t lost a game since May 19th. I personally appreciate how he pitches deep into games and wish the rest of my team would take note.
Tyler Naquin – 3-for-4, HR (19). Tyler the Run Creator extended his heating streak to 16 games! Yuh. And he’s is batting closer to .500 in the past week with 5 homers in the past nine days. Yes, I want some of that.
Mike Moustakas – 2-for-4, HR (6). Moose has struggled since return from the IL August 6th but now has had two bombs in the past week. Hopefully, this is the start of better things to come and not another 0-for-19 streak.
Shane McClanahan – 6.0 IP, 8 hits, 2 ER, 4 K, 9th win. Hello, Aces! Only the Devils Rays could be in first place after starting the season with their Ace in the minor leagues. I imagine Colorado pitchers have dreams about being traded to Tampa. As for McClanahanhanahan, he’s probably going to be over-drafted next year but I still like him!
Matt Harvey – 6.0 IP, 4 hits, 3 ER, BB, 4 K. The Dark Knight has a pretty rough stretch of starts where he gave up 14 runs in his past 19 innings but he looked OK Friday night. He didn’t get the win but baby steps.
Cedric Mullins – 2-for-5, HR (23). If he keeps stealing bases and hitting home runs, dude might find himself on my fantasy team next year. Wouldn’t you be so lucky!
J.A. Happ – 5.2 IP, 3 hits, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 8th win. Just Awful Happ posted enough for another dubya with St. Lou Friday night, and now has three wins with his new club. I’m sure it helps that he’s faced the Pirates three times in five starts, but credit where credit is due. I might avoid him next week at Cincinnati though!
Rich Hill – 5.0 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, 8 K. Rich “Ain’t Over the” Hill racked up a season-high eight strikeouts Friday night and gets a rematch with these same Nats next week! Yo dat means maybe more Ks? That would be tight.
Paolo Espino – 5.0 IP, 3 hits, ER, 7 K, 4th win. Allowed a home run to Javiez Baez but that was the only damage. Paolo is one of the active leaders in HR/9 this year alongside teammate Patrick Corbin. So go ahead and grab him if that’s a stat in your league.
Kyle Finnegan – 1.0 IP, K, SV (6). Finnegan’s wake! Three saves in the past two weeks and hasn’t allowed a run? What are you expecting from your closer?
Jorge Soler – 3-for-4, HR (19), 3 RBI. Soler power! Dude is slashing .274/.398/.524 with 6 bombs in 84 at-bats for Atlanta, after batting .192/.288/.370 in 94 games with Kansas City. He’s a real peach! I told you the Coke is better in Georgia!
Max Fried – 6.0 IP, 5 hits, 3 ER, 5 K. Not the gem you wanted after coming off that complete game shut out last week but this was against the “best team in the league.” I’ll take it!
Kevin Gausman – 6.0 IP, 6 hits, 2 ER, 2 K. Missed a few days after the vaccine kicked his butt but also the Braves are good right? Nah, they ain’t no problem. I got this, Skip. Just get that Moderna shot away from me, my arms still swole as hell.
Wilmer Flores – 2-for-4, HR (16). Next time someone asks you who’s even on this first place giants team you tell them without missing a beat: Wilmer Flores.
Kris Bryant – Left the game with tightness in his side, which is bad news but could mean more ABs for Wilmer Flores!
Jake Odorizzi – 5.0 IP, 6 hits, 2 ER, 5 K. More like Odorizzzzzzi, because I am bored talking about him.
Andy Ibanez – 2-for-5, HR (6). BUY. Andy is batting a blistering .538 in the past week with a home run. He’s also got an 11 game hitting streak, and 7 straight multi-hit games! Sounds like hot schmotato to me!
Josh Donaldson – 1-for-2, HR (20). Three bombs in the last week, Buxton’s back, are the Twinkies about to make a run?? No. No, they are not.
Miguel Sano – 1-for-4 2 K. Sano doinked a child with a home run ball during batting practice last week and ended up giving the kid a bat and jersey along with a promise he’d hit a home run for him later that night. That home run was a 495-foot shot, the longest dong of the season. Yup. He’s basically the Babe, if the Babe batted .215.
Alex Colome – 1.0 IP, 2 K, SV (8). He’s got six of his saves and two wins over the past month since reclaiming closer duties. All it took for him to take hold of the closer job was Minnesota trading away all his competition.
Taylor Widener – 5.0 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K. Widener!? Isn’t she big enough! Please don’t cancel me for that joke.
Aaron Nola – 5.1 IP, 3 hits, 2 ER, 7 K. Not what I wanted coming off an 8.2 IP, 11 K gem last week but I will take it, and I will pretend to be happy about it. Pretending to smile is still smiling!
Bryce Harper – 2-for-3, HR (25), 2 RBI. Last week I incorrectly wrote based on a “unreliable” source that Harper was just 23 and hey maybe that 13-year contract ain’t so bad! Let me correct myself and apologize for the blunder, Harper is 28 and will be a Philly till he’s 38 but his .298/.418/.583 with 25 bombs and 12 steals this year certainly makes that easier to swallow.
Ketel Marte – 1-for-1, pinch-hit HR (8). Hitting .417 with 2 homers in the past week! I know someone who’s going to be severely discounted on draft day next year! I’m all in!
Tyler Clippard – 1.0 IP, 1 hit, ER, BS. Ian Kennedy also blew his save chance. Who would you rather own? The answer is death. Was that an option?
Dallas Keuchel – 1.0 IP, 7 hits, 5 ER, BB, K. The fact that the White Sox can still manage to win this game (which included 30 runs scored) says a lot about how good this team is–or how bad the Cubs are.
Yasmani Grandal – 4-for-6, 2 HR (16), 8 RBI. Have a day, hoss! The 8 RBI tied a White Sox record. Luis Robert and Jose Abreu also had 3 hits apiece en route to scoring 17 runs. Why can’t my team be this good?
Patrick Wisdom – 2-for-4, 2 HR (23), 4 RBI. A wise man once said…Wisdom is in the hands of the fantasy owner. Or he might be sitting on waivers. You don’t have to be a rocket surgeon to know Pat Wisdom is a good pick-up. He’s hitting .273 with 4 homers and 10 RBI in the past week! What are you waiting for–you’re fantasy football draft?!
Michael Hermosillo – 1-for-4, HR (2). So apparently Rafael Ortega is not magic and anyone can leadoff for the Cubs.
Joe Musgrove – 8.0 IP, 3 hits, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 9th win. Joe Musgrooved to his second shut out of the season. He’s rocking a 2.85 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 169/39 K/BB! He’s more or less guaranteeing I won’t own him again next season. Womp womp.
Gerrit Cole – 6.0 IP, 6 hits, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 13th win. He’s got a 34/6 K/BB in the past month and leads the AL with 200 Ks. The Yankees also haven’t lost in like 2 weeks. Why is this happening to me?
Luke Voit – 1-for-3, HR (8). Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge also homered. It took about three weeks for New York to become the scariest lineup in baseball. I think it was the corn game that triggered it but to have to face those three back to back, not to mention Joey Gallo. RIP AL East pitchers.
CJ Cron – 1-for-4, HR (23). Cron air! Batting close to .400 with 5 homers in the past two weeks. I understand if you’re waiting for him to hit more home runs before you grab him but–don’t.
Elias Diaz – 2-for-4, HR (15). When in doubt what catcher you run with when your options are limited, whoever’s playing in Colorado is always a good choice.
Nicky Lopez – 3-for-6, run, RBI. Nicky ur so fine. Batting .328 with 8 steals and 9 runs in the past two weeks. Nicky was BUY. And the lede! And that headline contained an Adam Sandler reference which is always a good thing. What do you think about that Mr. Blue Duck? “That’s quacktastic!”
Salvador Perez – 3-for-5, Grand Slam HR (36), 4 RBI. Back-to-back games with grand salamis and he’s got 7 dingers and 17 RBI in the past two weeks. Sally is having the quietest MVP season ever, has 9 more bombs than the next catcher, and is currently winning me my fantasy league.
Logan Gilbert – 4.0 IP, 9 hits, 5 ER, BB, 5 K. Tbqhwy, we all want him to suck at this point so we can draft him next year, unless of course, you own him now, in which case you probably shouldn’t. But if you do, my condolences, thoughts and prayers, etc.
Kyle Freeland – 6.0 IP, 4 hits, 2 ER, 7 K, 5th win. Freeland’s not getting nearly enough credit. Four of his five wins have come over the past month and he’s got a 38/5 K/BB and 3.09 ERA in the stretch. He gets Tejas in Tejas next week, you don’t need to be a brain scientist to know that’s a good stream! How about the power to kill a yak from 200 yards away with mind-bullets? That’s telekinesis, Kyle!
Carlos Estevez – 1.0 IP, 1 hit, 3 K, SV (3). I love Daniel Bard, but I kind of wish Carlos was the closer because Charlie Sheen aka Carlos Estevez aka Wild Thing was a closer and it just seems right.
Trea Turner – 1-for-4, HR (20). .319/.365/.515 with 20 homers and 20 steals. Imagine your team traded for Turner at the deadline? Yeah, would be pretty awesome, right? Is this like HBO’s White Lotus where the rich people will always win no matter how awful they are? Hopefully, Bauer gets murdered in season two.
Will Smith – 2-for-3, HR (21). Getting jiggy with it! Three straight games with a home run, and that’s the second time this month he’s done this. Smith must still be upset he was left out of the new Suicide Squad.
Thanks for reading! Questions? Problems? Complaints to management? Advice, small gifts or large bribes? Please leave it in the comments below. Join us next Saturday for another Friday recap as fantasy baseball continues next week, all week long!
