As a child, I don’t know if there was a more overblown fear than the inherent fear of quicksand. It seemed from Scooby Doo to Gilligan’s Island, there was always a person falling into quicksand. I learned to carry a stick around with me everywhere I went because that seemed to be the only true action needed to be taken. Simply reach out your stick to onlookers and they will pull you to safety. Did I think I was just gonna fall into quicksand while on my way to Pizza Hut to play Mortal Kombat? Who knows? I was a dumb kid.
Saves and Stolen Bases are our quicksand. That was the whole point of that cockamamie story. At the beginning of the season, we knew that Saves and Stolen Bases would be our quicksand. Fearful and hoping that we had that stick with us, to be pulled to safety. Well damnit, I feel like I still haven’t gotten over that fear. I still have that stick, and I wish I could just forget and go back to Pizza Hut, with my BookIt coupon in hand for that free pizza, and just drop $15 into Mortal Kombat. Either way, follow this weeks formula and Finish your opponent with a Flawless Victory.
Runs/SB’s
Miguel Rojas, SS, MIA-50% rostered in Yahoo- Rojas has been a run-producing monster on the young season. I was wondering where he would bat in the order once Jazz returned, and it appears he will stay near the top of the lineup. With 7 games on the slate, it should be a good opportunity to set it and forget it. Many may be worried about the Marlins’ propensity of lineup swaps, but don’t be! They have an inter-league series over the weekend against the Red Sox and two left-handed pitchers, and Rojas has hit to the tune of .364.
Jonathan Villar, 2B/SS/3B, NYM– 33% rostered in Yahoo- Villar was mentioned last week in the SB category (still should be an add for SB’s also), but it is his promotion to the leadoff role that has me recommending him for inclusion in the Runs category. The Mets’ players took a big bite out of the Big Apple and it appears to have cursed them to the IL. Between McNeil, Davis, Nimmo, and now Pillar, Villar should be in the lineup every day, and the Mets have 7 games on the schedule.
Honorable Mention: Robbie Grossman-54% rostered in Yahoo-Tough matchups, but he has hit .308 with 12 hits vs RHP in May, and the Tigers project to face all RHP this week.
HR/RBI
Matt Beaty, OF, LAD– 8% rostered in Yahoo- Many have asked, including me, “Why is Matt Beaty hitting clean-up for the Dodgers?” Well, since May 1st, he has hit .406 with 13 hits and 14 RBI vs RHP. The 14 RBI’s are the most of any LHB vs RHP on the month, and he is scheduled to face 5 RHP, including the Inter-league game at Hou. Probably a better daily addition in case Dave Roberts does some wonky stuff to the lineup with Pujols and Yoshi joining the team.
Anthony Santander, OF, BAL-45% rostered in Yahoo- Santander is fresh off of a rehab assignment and is ready to rake! Obviously, there is risk in coming off of an ankle injury and throwing him right into your lineup. That being said, Santander has much better success from the left side of the plate and gets the Twins and their 29th ranked HR/9 staff to begin the week!
Honorable Mention: Avisail Garcia, OF, MIL- 29% rostered in Yahoo- Over the past 2 weeks, Garcia has led the Brewers’ offense with 3HR, 9RBI, and a .306 average. The Brew Crew are set to face 4 LHP this week and get the luxury of having Yelich return to the lineup.
Wins
Cole Irvin, SP, OAK– 50% rostered in Yahoo- It is beginning to feel like if I don’t recommend a pitcher who throws a no-hitter, do I even give advice bro? So how do you pick the next no-hitter? It sure seems like you stream pitchers vs the Mariners, who have already been no-hit twice on the young season. Irvin will get two starts this week, 1 vs Seattle and the other vs the Trout-less Angels. Don’t expect eye-popping k’s, but it’s all about the W’s.
Steven Matz, SP, TOR– 53% rostered in Yahoo- Matz has one of those choose your adventure types of weeks. On one hand, he faces the Yankees at home, albeit without their full complement of RHB. I give this a good chance at the W. In the other matchup, he travels to Cleveland to face an Indians team who is next to last in WRC+ vs LHP at home. I know it was a deep dive, but if I am searching for that next no-no, I have to get out my spelunking gear.
Ratios
Daniel Hudson, RP, WSH-11% rostered in Yahoo- This could easily go into the speculative saves category, but I feel like despite Brad Hand’s struggles, he is likely to keep the 9th inning to himself. Hudson, on the other Hand, has been amazing over the past month! Since April 30th, he has pitched 7 innings, given up 1 hit and 1 walk, and zero runs allowed. With Tanner Rainey going on the COVID IL, look for Hudson to get in a little extra work this week. Bonus: If Hand absolutely falls apart, you most likely would have the next man up for saves.
Tyler Chatwood, RP, TOR– 14% rostered in Yahoo- As with the blurb above, this could go into the speculative saves category. Chatwood, a la Hudson, has been electric all season. Making the switch from the 4-seamer to the cutter has really been of benefit this season. He is generating a 45% whiff rate on the cutter and has an overall .166 xWOBA. With the Jays playing 7 this week, he should give us 2-3 innings of amazing ratio help. Of course to go along with the multiple no-hitters that we will have.
Saves & Speculation
Michael Fulmer, RP, DET– 28% rostered in Yahoo- Don’t look now, but we might have another starting pitcher, turned reliever, reclamation project. Fulmer has now recorded 3 saves since May 1st, and has looked electric in that role. Touching 98 on the FB, while relying on a sinker/slider combo that is generating whiffs and a high chase rate, it is easy to see why the Tigers keep throwing him back into high leverage situations. The bonus is that he always seems to be involved in decisions, as he has collected 3 W’s, 3 SV’s, and 4 HLD’s.
Josh Staumont, RP, KC-42% rostered in Yahoo- Yes, I realize that the Royals have used 6 different pitchers to collect saves in 2021, but that is no excuse for Staumont to be rostered in only 42% of leagues. He has recorded the last 5 saves for KC, and has electric stuff. Once he has better control of the curve, WATCH OUT!
Honorable Mentions: Tyler Rogers (Do I have to mention him 4 weeks in a row?) Kendall Graveman (Still not 70% rostered. Hard to get saves if your team doesn’t record a hit, but still)
