Valente Bellozo, SP, MIA (CBS: 2% rostered, ESPN: who??)
It’s “rookie coming off a decent debut week,” so we might as well get started with Valente Bellozo. He’s young, which in our world means he walks too many, but isn’t that the price to be paid with virtually all young starters? He’s looking at a two-start week with a pair of socks (Red and White) on the schedule.
Hayden Birdsong, SP, SFG (CBS: 10% rostered, ESPN: not rostered)
Let’s take a gander at what Rich Wilson has to say about the Giants’ #10 prospect. “He’s athletic with an above-average arsenal. He needs to cut down on his walks, but there’s the making of a number four or more starter.” With 27 walks in 57 1/3 innings down on the farm, that seems like a pretty good assessment, Rich! Birdsong has the Braves and Guardians in his two-start foray.
Davis Daniel, SP, LAA (CBS: 5% rostered, ESPN: 3% rostered)
Davis Daniel misses the two-start week this coming week but is looking at a juicy opportunity against Oakland, followed up by a two-start week in which he faces Texas (Jon Gray) and Seattle.
David Festa, SP, MIN (CBS: 20% rostered, ESPN: 3% rostered)
Is it early Festa-vus time in “The Twin Cities”? Let’s hope for “feats of strength” and a limited “airing of grievances” while facing off against the Tigers, White Sox, and Giants over the next two weeks.
Heston Kjerstad, OF, BAL (CBS: 38% rostered, ESPN: 5% rostered)
Damn, the O’s just keep on showing off their stable of riches. With 16 homers in 213 at-bats, Kjerstad has earned the right to display his skills in Baltimore. His debut this week has proven to be a booming one with a two-homer week, the second of which came with the bases loaded. This level of play guarantees his days at Norfolk are a thing of the past.
Kyle Higashioka, C, SDP (CBS: 4% rostered, ESPN: 3% rostered)
Luis Campsuano is dealing with a thumb injury and has hit the IL, forcing the Padres to use the consummate backup, Kyle Higashioka. He responds by going 7-for-19 in his past six games with four home runs, 12 RBI, and seven runs scored. It’s time we lobbied hard for the inclusion of retro stats!
Keston Hiura, 1B, LAA (CBS: not rostered, ESPN: still listed as a Tiger)
In the deepest of Leagues, it’s time to toss a small spec bid in Keston Hiura’s direction. Hiura has mashed nine homers with a 1.377 OPS in his first 55 at-bats and is creating a buzz at Triple-A Salt Lake. The struggling A’s will give him a call and quite possibly sooner as compared to later. Mike who?
Luis Matos, OF, SFG (CBS: 12% rostered, ESPN: 3% rostered)
A solid opportunity is at hand for the 22-year-old youngster to lay claim to the right field job on a full-time basis, and with two homers in his past five games, Matos is thus far getting it done. A small bid could secure solid power numbers for the balance of the 2024 campaign.
Michael Mercado, SP, PHI (CBS: 4% rostered, ESPN: 6% rostered)
Did I mention that the current rookie call-ups have a history of allowing too many batters to take a leisurely stroll down to first base? Mercado is looking at the Cubs and Braves in his two-start opportunity.
Frankie Montas, SP, CIN (CBS: 37% rostered, ESPN: 9% rostered)
This caught me off-guard, as I would have bet that Montas would have been rostered to a higher level, especially in CBS Leagues. In his last three starts he has held Milwaukee, Boston, and St. Louis to three runs or less. He owns a 4.23 ERA on the year and that definitely qualifies Montas as a #4/5 type starter and worthy of a bit more love than he’s currently receiving.
Jhonkensy Noel, OF, CLE (CBS:19% rostered, ESPN: 4% rostered)
Noel doesn’t exactly fit the Guardians typical batting profile, but maybe that’s a good thing and will provide him the opportunity to stick around. He’s a strong kid that can hit the ball a mile, something he did this year to the tune of 18 home runs in 258 at-bats at Triple-A Columbus. He also struck out 60 times in those 258 at-bats. With two homers already under his belt, he could easily prove to be the second best home run bat in Cleveland this year.
Simeon Woods-Richardson, SP, MIN (CBS: 43% rostered, ESPN: 6% rostered)
It seems that Woods-Richardson should be older than his 23-years-of-age as we’ve been talking about him forever. In 13 starts (66 IP) this year he has posted a very solid 3.41 ERA and held the opposition to only 19 free passes. As a #4/5 type starter that works extremely well. He has the Tigers (Tarik Skubal) and Astros (Spencer Arrighetti) on the schedule in a two-start week.
The Closer Report
Porter Hodge, RP, CHC (CBS: 1% rostered, ESPN: not rostered)
The Cubbies ‘pen is a mess. Hector Neris and his company of merrymen have simply not gotten the job done. Neris currently has a tenuous grip on the ninth-inning gig, but it wouldn’t take much to see a change occurring in Chicago. Hodge got the call at the end of May and thus far has posted a 1.64 ERA with 15 K’s in his first 11 IP. He also earned his first save of the season Thursday against the Giants. That would currently leave him next-in-line in the Cubs hodge-podge collection of potential closers.
Griffin Jax, RP, MIN (CBS: 33% rostered, ESPN: 14% rostered)
Rocco Baldelli won’t be receiving any Christmas cards this year from the folks that play Fantasy baseball.
Michael Kopech, RP, CWS (CBS: 23% rostered, ESPN: 3% rostered)
Michael Kopech is back in the driver’s seat for saves on the “South Side”. For how long? Who knows but take what you can take while it’s there for the taking.
