Not a lot has changed over the last week so my player blurbs will be minimal. Many of the roto category leaders are starting to solidify their spots and the frauds are weeding themselves out faster than Chipotle enters and exits, don’t forget your Chipotlaway.
Wins
AL – CLE Corey Kluber/NYY Luis Severino (6)
Last week these two were tied for the lead and still remain that way. Severino has won two of his last three matchups against solid offenses, beating the Astros in Houston with a 10 K’s and a complete game shutout. Kluber on the other hand has been slightly underwhelming going four straight games giving up three earned runs but had the support of his team to get the W’s.
Favorite in the Group – NYY Luis Severino
Both have a good opportunity to win their next games and remain in a two-way tie for the lead, however, Severino likely gets the face off against the Royals, while Kluber’s next matchup looks to be the Astros.
Waiting in the Weeds – CLE Carlos Carrasco
Faces the Detroit Tigers tonight following his last performance, a complete game 14 K night beating the Brewers.
NL – WSH Max Scherzer (7)
No changes here as Max will be Max. I imagine he’ll be fired up to face the Yankees. Personally, I don’t think it matters who he faces, when he’s on the mound, one run of support is all he needs. Through nine games, his SIERA remains at a career best 2.13. He uses the fastball as his main pitch, but started to introduce a cutter since joining the Nationals, dropped it last year and brought it back in a big way in 2018. He’s getting a lot of use out of his cutter, throwing it 13.7% of the time compared to 2.3% in 2016 and 0.6% of the time in 2015.
Favorite in the Group – N/A
Waiting in the Weeds – PHI Aaron Nola
Saves
AL – SEA Edwin Diaz (13)
No changes here
Favorite in the Group – N/A
Waiting in the Weeds – BOS Craig Kimbrel
Still two saves back from the lead sitting at 11. Boston can string together the runs, and give Kimbrel plenty of opportunities to catch up to Diaz.
NL – COL Wade Davis (14)
Favorite in the Group – N/A
Waiting in the Weeds – SD Brad Hand
Might seem like an odd pick, but SD gets to play at home to begin their week. Petco is a nice place for pitchers and could produce some close games against the Rockies.
Strikeouts
AL –HOU Gerrit Cole (86)
Ready for a lame “dad joke”??? Cole’s been riding the John Deere D110 lately, cuz he’s really MOWING down those hitters. 13.66 K/9 is just crazy.
Favorite in the Group – N/A
Waiting in the Weeds – BOS Chris Sale
One of the only changes is Sale taking over 2nd place in K’s, surpassing Cole’s teammate Justin Verlander. Only 8 K’s behind the lead, Boston’s ace has a real opportunity to catch up, should Cole stumble at all.
NL – WSH Max Scherzer (91)
Favorite in the Group – N/A
Waiting in the Weeds – WSH Stephen Strasburg
ERA
AL – HOU Justin Verlander (1.21)
Favorite in the Group – N/A
Waiting in the Weeds – HOU Gerrit Cole (1.43)
NL – STL Carlos Martinez (1.62)
Fortunately, someone other than Max Scherzer is leading an NL pitching category. Unfortunately, CarMar joined the DL with a lat strain. Hopefully he only misses one start, but only time will tell. He is proving to be the ace in St. Louis with that low ERA and a league leading HR/FB of 2.6 and a 0.18 HR/9.
Favorite in the Group – N/A
Waiting in the Weeds – WSH Max Scherzer
WHIP
AL – HOU Justin Verlander/OAK Sean Manaea (0.72)
Favorite in the Group – HOU Justin Verlander
Waiting in the Weeds – HOU Gerrit Cole
NL – WSH Max Scherzer/ARI Patrick Corbin (0.82)
Jarlin Garcia was not going to stick in that leader spot for long, and the Cubs really exposed him early last week to the tune of six hits, two walks, three home runs, and seven earned runs through four innings.
Favorite in the Group – WSH Max Scherzer
Waiting in the Weeds – STL Miles Mikolas
Runs
AL – BOS Mookie Betts (42)
Mookie is still making baseball look easy seven weeks into the season. His closest comps are Kelly Leak of the Bad News Bears, or Pablo in Backyard Baseball.
Favorite in the Group – N/A
Waiting in the Weeds – CLE Francisco Lindor
NL – ATL Ozzie Albies (37)
Favorite in the Group – N/A
Waiting in the Weeds – COL Charlie Blackmon
Homeruns
AL – BOS Mookie Betts/BAL Manny Machado (13)
Both deserve to be in this spot. Mookie is ridiculous, and Manny is walking down the runway for all the buyers in baseball willing to give up prospects to the lowly Orioles.
Favorite in the Group – BOS Mookie Betts
Waiting in the Weeds – LAA Mike Trout
Trout! It’s always Mike Trout! His name didn’t show up anywhere else and I felt it was necessary.
NL – WSH Bryce Harper (13)
Favorite in the Group – N/A
Waiting in the Weeds – ATL Ozzie Albies
We knew the speed was there, but Albies is showing some serious pop. Making a lot of medium (46.4%) to hard (33.6%) contact.
RBIs
AL – BAL Manny Machado (38)
Favorite in the Group – N/A
Waiting in the Weeds – OAK Jed Lowrie
NL – CHC Javier Baez (36)
El Mago is such a perfect nickname for Javy. He dazzles with the glove and gives the old now you see me, now you don’t slide into 2nd base. But right now, he has the bat working as well. The 19.9 K% is a career low and SLG .613 is a career high in the majors. He has produced a an above average amount of hard hits at 37.2% and an ISO at .331, his best since joining the big league club.
Favorite in the Group – N/A
Waiting in the Weeds – ARI A.J. Pollock
Stolen Bases
AL – SEA Dee Gordon (15)
Favorite in the Group – N/A
Waiting in the Weeds – CHW Tim Anderson
NL – ATL Ender Inciarte (17)
Favorite in the Group – N/A
Waiting in the Weeds – WSH Trea Turner
Batting Average
AL – BOS Mookie Betts (.360)
Favorite in the Group – N/A
Waiting in the Weeds – BAL Manny Machado
NL – PHI Odubel Herrera (.360)
Odubel please don’t call me Asdrubal has been Oduballin’ lately! Does not matter what hand the pitcher is throwing with as he’s batting .318 against lefties and .379 against righties. His BABIP is fantastic at .400 and his wOBA is a career best .426. Herrera is smacking the ball to all parts of the park pulling 35.3% of the time and going oppo 33.6% of the time.
Favorite in the Group – N/A
Waiting in the Weeds – ATL Nick Markakis
