Logan T. Allen, SP, CLE (CBS: 11% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered): The Guardians have turned to Tanner….oops, Logan T. Allen, and he’ll make his MLB debut this afternoon against the Marlins. He was off to a great start at Triple-A, posting a 1.26 ERA and 20/5 K/BB ratio over 14 1/3 IP. Allen is the first of several young Guardian starters to get the call, all deserving of our attention—just a quick word of caution. Be careful when placing your FAAB bids, as you don’t want the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes reliever of the same name in your starting lineup next week.
Christian Betancourt, C/1B, TBR (CBS: 19% rostered, ESPN: 6% rostered): One could do much worse than Christian Bethancourt when searching for a replacement for Logan O’Hoppe or Will Smith. He is splitting time with Francisco Mejia in Tampa Bay and has four homers, seven RBI, and an excellent .982 OPS already in the books. How many #2 catchers in two-catcher formats are playing at that level?
Kyle Bradish, SP, BAL (CBS: 41% rostered, ESPN: 3% rostered): Bradish returned from the IL with a flourish, striking out six over six shutout innings last week against the Washington Nationals. He’s got a decent matchup this week against the Red Sox and is worthy of a moderate-level bid tonight.
Evan Carter, OF, TEX (CBS: 12% rostered, ESPN: not rostered): Evan Carter is off to a phenomenal start at Double-A, slugging three homers with 15 RBI, three thefts, and posting a 1.114 OPS. Dustin Harris, who is on the 40-man roster, has struggled to a 9-for-51 start with 23 strikeouts. Although Carter is barely out of his teens, at some point in time, if he keeps demolishing Double-A pitching, they will find a home for him in the Texas outfield. Travis Jankowski and Leody Taveras don’t appear to be the answer.
Roansy Contreras, SP, PIT (CBS: 40% rostered, ESPN: 6% rostered): In his home opener, he was toasted by the Houston Astros to seven earned runs in 3.1 IP. In his other three starts, against Boston, St. Louis, and Cincinnati, he has allowed four earned runs over 18.1 IP. He’s young and walks too many, but I’ll give him a mulligan for the poor start against the Astros and invest a few of those precious FAAB dollars this week.
Jordan Diaz, 2B, OAK (CBS: 3% rostered, ESPN: not rostered): The A’s have called up one of their top prospects, Jordan Diaz, in the hopes of providing a spark. Here are Rich Wilson’s thoughts on the young middle-infielder.
“Jordan Diaz built upon his 2021 season by slashing .306/.352/.561 In 120 games across Double and Triple-A. He makes excellent contact, only striking out 14% of the time. While his walk rate was only 5.3%, that is typical of players who make such good contact.
Simply put, they can hit everything and, therefore, can afford to be aggressive. He has solid raw power and continued to show that by hitting 19 home runs. Given his lower half, I don’t see him being much of a base stealer, and he could eventually move to first. However, the upside is a .270 BA with 20 to 25 home run pop.”
Connor Joe, 1B/OF, PIT (CBS: 16% rostered, ESPN: 8% rostered): The injury to Ji-Man Choi, a strained left Achilles, will allow Connor Joe to secure full-time at-bats for the next two months. In his past six games, he has gone 9-for-23 with one homer, 4 RBI, and eight runs scored. That’s far better than your average Joe!
Braxton Garrett, SP, MIA (CBS: 14% rostered, ESPN: 3% rostered): We’re starting to see some injuries appear in Miami. Trevor Rogers has been placed on the 15-day IL with a left biceps strain, and even more concerning is that Sandy Alcantara was scratched from his Saturday start with biceps tightness. After a rough start to the 2023 season, Garrett has allowed only one earned run in his past two starts. That warrants our attention and parting with some of our FAAB this evening.
Randal Grichuk, OF, COL (CBS: 13% rostered, ESPN: 3% rostered): Grichuk is currently rehabbing at Triple-A Albuquerque, and the early reports are favorable. We could see him returning as early as next week. The 20 HR and 70 RBI potential are an asset in shallow Leagues.
Wade Miley, SP, MIL (CBS: 50% rostered, ESPN: 22% rostered): I know, it’s Wade Miley, but when you’re hot, you’re hot, and he currently is that and then some. Three wins in his first four starts while posting a 1.96 ERA qualifies as a great start. Get him rostered and active to take advantage of his strong start.
Mason Miller, SP, OAK (CBS: 59% rostered, ESPN: 10% rostered): Is there anything left to say about Mason Miller? It’s a great story, but when coming up with the FAAB dollars you plan on tossing his way, please remember he’s playing on a team that might win 40 games this year. How many of those Wins will be heading in Miller’s direction?
Geraldo Perdomo, SS, ARZ (CBS: 25% rostered, ESPN: 8% rostered): Is Geraldo Perdomo an everyday player? When you’re currently sporting a 1.031 OPS with 11 RBI and runs scored, we should treat him as one and spend a few bucks this week to find a home for him on our active roster.
Brandon Pfaadt, SP, ARZ (CBS: 49% rostered, ESPN: 4% rostered): Last week, we mentioned that Brandon Pfaadt was the obvious choice to get the call, so the DBacks turn to Tommy Henry to take the next start in the place of the DFA’d Madison Bumgarner. It’s only a matter of time until Pfaadt arrives. Buying in now could be your last chance this year to have him on your roster.
Taylor Walls, 2B/SS/3B, TBR (CBS: 31% rostered, ESPN: 23% rostered): He might not be an everyday player, but when you’ve amassed three homers with 16 runs scored and have posted a 1.107 OPS it deserves a lot more of our love than the current 31% shown in CBS Leagues.
Joey Wiemer, OF, MIL (CBS: 22% rostered, ESPN: 2% rostered): It’s hard to believe that just a scant four months ago, the Brewers had a glut of outfielders. The pickings are very slim down on the farm with Sal Frelick on the IL nursing a sprained left thumb, so Wiemer it is……for now. Let’s hope we can see a return to the form he demonstrated in the high Minors last season.
The Closer Report
Brad Boxberger, RP, CHC (CBS: 21% rostered, ESPN: 4% rostered): Michael Fulmer looked to be the favorite to own the closer gig in Chicago but has stumbled of late and stumbled to the tune of two losses and six earned runs in his past four appearances. Next up is likely Brad Boxberger, but he had a rough outing Saturday. Bid small on Boxberger and hope to find your way into some saves in the short term, but the guy you want to target in “Cubbieland” is Jeremiah Estrada.
Jeremiah Estrada, CHC (CBS: 2% rostered, ESPN: not rostered): I was shocked that Jeremiah Estrada didn’t break camp with the Cubs. Now that he has gotten the call, he’s a must-add in all formats as the “closer of the future” definitely applies, and that future could not be all that far off.
Jeurys Familia, RP, OAK (CBS: 1% rostered, ESPN: not rostered): It looks like Familia has the job, and we all know that historically, closers on bad teams have earned their keep and provided value. The question is, have any of those bad teams been as traditionally bad as the Oakland Athletics? Bid accordingly!
Duane Underwood, RP, PIT (CBS: 1% rostered, ESPN: not rostered): Underwood is off to a great start with two saves, four holds, one win, and a 3.48 ERA. With David Bednar closing and Underwood and Colin Holderman setting him up in fine style, the Pirates currently have one of the best bullpens in the game.
