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While it’s nice to get off to a good start with the matchups to exploit and some early SAGNOF, there is no reason to get a big head about things.  For every Jurickson Profar, there is a David Peralta waiting in the shadows to kick you in the nuts during your victory lap.  The lesson to be learned in stay humble and stay the course.  With this week’s assortment of delicious treats, we will follow the same method of taking all 200+ games and condensing the “need to know” items into one tangible morsel.  So grab a Beer, and let’s Gio with Week 3!

 

  •  Favorable Team Schedules:  Which teams/players are in line for the most or the fewest games of the week.
  •  SPARP of the Week: Starting Pitcher as Relief Pitcher- SP/RP eligibility (according to Yahoo)
  •  Righty and Lefty Matchups to exploit
  •  SAGNOF: Both Stolen Bases and Saves to target.

 

7 Games (Assuming no makeup games)

ARI (vLAD/@StL)
BOS (@TOR/@BAL)
CLE (@LAA/@OAK)
COL (@PHI/vCIN)
HOU (@TEX/@TOR)
LAA (vCLE/@CWS)
MIL (vSF/@PIT/vCHC)
PHI (vCOL/@NYM)
STL (vNYM/vARI)
TEX (vHOU/vATL)
TOR (vBOS/vHOU)

 

5 Games

OAK (@SF/vCLE)

 

SPARP(S) Of the Week!

Michael Lorenzen-RP (vCLE/@CWS) (16% rostered in Yahoo)– Lorenzen has had 2 starts on the season, with polar opposite results.  In his 1st start v MIA, he completed 6 masterful innings.  The 2nd start vs HOU wasn’t quite as impressive, only barely working into the 4th while allowing 4 earned.  There are brighter days ahead for the converted reliever this week.  For starters, he gets the coveted 2-start SPARP appearance, then add in the 2nd matchup vs the CWS without Luis Robert (potentially) and facing Dallas Keuchel.  Not to just pile on Keuchel, but as long as L0renzen can go 5, I am pretty comfortable with projecting a W this week.

Jordan Hicks-RP (vNYM/vARI) (24% rostered in Yahoo)- The great unknown is just how many innings/pitches the Cardinals will let Jordan Hicks go in his next starts.  Yes, plural!  Hicks, like Lorenzen above, is slated for a 2-start week vs the Mets and the D’Backs.  If his most recent outing is any indicator, there is a chance that he gets worked up to 60 pitches, which hopefully could get him into the 5th!  The sinker/slider combo has been a deadly one to date (35% K%).  The Mets may be a difficult task, but there is no reason to think that he should have his way with the Diamondbacks.

R/L Matchups to Exploit

Seth Beer, UT, ARI (16% rostered in Yahoo)- I hate recommending UT only players to pick up in H2H leagues, and it’s extremely difficult to find UT only players on Yahoo.  If you just walk past the position you are granted eligibility.  Either way, that shouldn’t stop you from cracking open a spot on your roster for Beer.  He is off to an amazing start (3/1/8/.435) and gets to play 7 in Week 3, with 6 of the matchups against RHP.  Beer has had multi-hit games in 2 of the last 3, despite the lack of production from his teammates.  Unlike most beers, this is one that you need to get while it’s still warm.

Randal Grichuk, OF, COL (50% rostered in Yahoo)- This is the matchup that you want to see!  Grichuk has hit safely in his past 7 games, yet is looking for his first HR of the season.  Look no further than this upcoming weekend!  I feel pretty confident that we see the power that Grichuk possesses in the weekend series against the Reds at Coors!  It doesn’t hurt that Randall has been seeing ABs from the top of the lineup!

Gio Urshela, 3B/SS, MIN (38% rostered in Yahoo)- Urshela has been the recipient of constant playing time over the past week and hasn’t really taken advantage.  This is the week tho that we see get our money’s worth!  Urshela will look ahead to the 5 lefties on the week.  For his career, Urshela carries a solid .281 average.

Brandon Marsh, OF, LAA (16% rostered in Yahoo)- Brandon Marsh has been nothing short of consistent for the Angels this season.  The extended playing time has really helped solidify the floor for the young outfielder.  Marsh should see plenty of ABs this week.  For starters, the Angels play 7 games, and 5 of those are against RHP.  The other 2 matchups vs LHP are not exactly challenging situations.  They are scheduled to face Kirk McCarty (CLE) in his 2nd career start, and then Dallas Keuchel over the weekend.  Look for Marsh to get in 6 or 7 this week with solid production!  He has been hitting as high as 5th on multiple occasions!

SAGNOF

Hector Neris, RP, HOU (44% rostered in Yahoo)- Ryan Pressley has been placed on the IL with knee inflammation.  While it’s very possible that the knee issues were the cause of his velocity dip, it’s also possible the velocity just wasn’t able to return yet due to shortened spring.  Regardless, there is a void in the 9th currently for Houston, and it would appear that Neris will get his chances.

Josh Staumont, RP, KC (28% rostered in Yahoo)- Kansas City is an absolute mess when it comes to the “closer’s role”.  Mike Matheny and Cal Eldred have made it abundantly clear that they have no defined closer.  Each game will simply be a matchup-based approach depending on who is batting in each high leverage inning.  I only recommend Staumont because even if he doesn’t pitch the 9th, there is a good chance at quality ratios.  I also have seen a Velo dip from Barlow which is worth monitoring.

Jorge Lopez, RP, BAL (13% rostered in Yahoo)- Hasn’t allowed a walk or a hit in his past 3 outings.  Really appears to have earned Brandon Hyde’s trust in the 9th!  Might not be a ton of save opps in Baltimore, but in the 4 games that they have won on the season, he has 1 Win and 2 SV.  As long as he keeps the control in check, he easily has a great chance to hold the role all year!

Emilio Pagan, RP, MIN (11% rostered in Yahoo)- The Twins hadn’t had a save opportunity all season until Thursday night, and they turned to Emilio Pagan to record the final outs.  While many, including myself, think that Jhoan Duran is likely to eventually take the 9th, for the time being, it appears that it is Pagan’s to lose.

Dany Jimenez, RP, OAK (8% rostered in Yahoo)- With Lou Trivino on the COVID list, it was Jimenez who got the save chance on Thursday.  Jimenez has more than capable “stuff” to hold onto the 9th.  It is a roller coaster of opinions on Lou Trivino and I wouldn’t invest a ton into Jimenez, but he definitely is near the top of the pecking order when it comes to high leverage innings.