Nearly a month has passed since the season started and finally, some big-name prospects have surfaced. Gleybar Torres started on Sunday and Walker Buehler gets the call on Monday. Miguel Andujar is on fire, going 4-4 on Sunday to lift his average over .300. Maybe you’re Interested in more established players that are hot. Look no further than our boy, Brandon Belt. Just remember, he’s a streaky hitter and when he’s hitting, it’s very good. When he’s not, well…
If you’re interested in beating others to the punch, Nick Kingham, Michael Kopech and Mike Soroka are both worthy of a few bucks. As we’ve said many times about Kingham, he should have been up last year and we are not sure what the Pirates are waiting for.
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Miguel Andujar, 3B, NYY (CBS: 40% owned): He was owned to the tune of 39 percent back in Week Two and is still hovering in that range. He’s heating up folks, with two homers and five RBI in his past five games. It’s time to get back onboard the Andujar train.
Kyle Barraclough, RP, MIA (CBS: 23% owned): Brad Ziegler is off to a horrid start, with three losses and a 7.27 ERA. Barraclough is sporting a 3.12 ERA and has struck out 15 batters in 8 1/3 IP. It’s only a matter of time before what few saves that are available in Miami, shift to either Barraclough or Drew Steckenrider.
Jaime Barria, SP, LAA (CBS: 4% owned): The 21-year-old righty gets the call today against the Giants and a successful outing could mean an extended stay in the Halo’s beat up the rotation. He did one-hit the Rangers over five innings in his first start of the season.
Brandon Belt, 1B, SF (CBS: 50% owned): We’re now heading into Week Five of the 2018 season and Belt is not only healthy but has homered in three consecutive games, with four in total. You won’t find a better time to add him to your roster.
Joe Biagini, SP, TOR (CBS: 1% owned): Marcus Stroman has now allowed 19 earned runs in 20 IP. He dealt with shoulder issues in spring training and got off to a late-start. The velocity is down and it wouldn’t be overly shocking to see a stint on the 10-day DL in his future. Biagini is next-in-line and worthy of a bench slot in AL-only Leagues.
Walker Buehler, SP, LAD (CBS: 39% owned) Here I sit. Waiting, and waiting, and waiting for the announcement as to who will be starting against the Fish on Monday. Finally, towards 1 pm the Dodgers make the announcement and a smile creeps across my mug. Buehler it is. If he’s available, go get him and quick. A decent start from the young phenom and he’s looking at the Giants later in the week. A two-start week against the Marlins and potentially the Giants is a pretty favorable way to make ones 2018 MLB debut.
David Dahl, OF, COL (CBS: 40% owned): Carlos Gonzalez hits the 10-day DL with a right hamstring strain and the Rockies have turned to Dahl for hopefully regular at-bats over the next several weeks. The Rockies outfield is still rather full, and Dahl’s stay in Colorado is likely to be a short-term stint, but one shouldn’t pass on the youngster’s potential.
Josh Fields, RP, LAD (CBS: 8% owned): Kenley Jansen’s struggles are well documented, and the leash will be incredibly long, but should one want some ninth-inning insurance, Josh Fields looks to be the current front-runner for the gig. The 12 strikeouts in nine IP and 1.00 ERA posted by Fields, has to be the early hi-lite from a struggling Dodger bullpen.
Adam Frazier, 2B/OF, PIT (CBS: 11% owned): The fractured hand suffered by Josh Harrison, has thrust Adam Frazier into a starting role for the next 6-to-8 weeks. He’s off to a slow start, but the potential is there to provide some offensive help until the return of Harrison in June.
Jarlin Garcia, SP/RP, MIA (CBS: 27% owned): Jarlin the Marlin. It almost has a ring to it. He has managed to shut down the Yankees, Mets, Phillies, and Cubs thus far. Can he add the Dodgers to this list?
Joe Jimenez, RP, DET (CBS: 7% owned): Shane Greene hasn’t exactly been lights out thus far. He’s currently blown two saves in his past three outings. The odds of Greene being trade bait are high, which should guarantee some patience on the Tigers behalf, but they will only suffer through the poor outings for so long. Jimenez currently has two wins, two holds, and is yet to allow an earned run this season. The clock is ticking.
JaCoby Jones, OF, DET (CBS: 3% owned): The at-bats will be there if he’s producing. This past week, he’s doing exactly that. In his past four games, Jones has gone 8-for-20 with a pair of long balls, four RBI and six runs scored.
Nick Kingham, SP, PIT (CBS: 2% owned): Not every pitcher returns from TJ Surgery at the same pace, and Nick Kingham is a prime example. In 2017, his first full year after TJ, he struggled. In 2018, not so much, as he has been on fire at Triple-A Indianapolis with 21 strikeouts in 17 IP and a scant three earned runs allowed. I’m betting on a call-up before the end of May.
Matt Koch, SP, ARZ (CBS: 2% owned): He’s no Taijuan Walker, but he has the job and one solid start against the Padres (a six-inning two-hit effort) under his belt. The job is his to lose.
Michael Kopech, SP, CWS (CBS: 45% owned): The ChiSox have to be running out of patience with Lucas Giolito, especially with that last dreadful effort. Buying into one of the best Minor League starters in the game is a wise move. Spend a nickel now, to save a quarter later. The investment will be well worth it.
Eric Lauer, SP, SD (CBS: 3% owned): The 22-year-old southpaw has now pitched six innings in each of his three starts at Triple-A El Paso and is sporting a 3.00 ERA, with better than a strikeout per inning. It won’t be long before we see Lauer joining Joey Lucchesi as a fixture in the Padres rotation.
Daniel Robertson, 2B, TB (CBS: 2% owned): He’s coming off a week in which he hit his first two homers of the 2018 campaign, but that’s not what should be drawing our attention. He’s now walked 13 times with 12 strikeouts and heading into today was sporting a .434 OBP. It’s high time that both the Rays and us Fantasy folk gave him a bit longer look.
Mike Soroka, SP, ATL (CBS: 15% owned): He’s off to a great start at Triple-A, sporting a 2.87 ERA in 15 2/3 IP with 20 strikeouts and a scant two free passes. Buy him cheap and stash him on your bench. It’s only a matter of time before the 20-year-old phenom arrives in Atlanta.
Mac Williamson, OF, SF (CBS: 11% owned): Until the return of Hunter Pence, currently on the DL with a right thumb sprain, Williamson is going to see regular at-bats in the Giants outfield. He was tearing it up at Triple-A, with six homers in 39 at-bats at Fresno, and already has one under his belt with the Giants. Take what you can get and run with it. It could prove to be more than what one was expecting.
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