He’s on his way.
On Monday night, ESPN’s Jeff Passan was first to report that the Mariners are planning to promote top outfield prospect Jarred Kelenic on Thursday for the start of their series against the Indians. The team, for what it’s worth, has yet to confirm or deny the report, but it’s since been confirmed by other outlets.
One of the top prospects in baseball, Kelenic landed with the Mariners in the December, 2018 trade with the Mets which sent Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to New York. He’s ranked by both MLB.com and Baseball America as the No. 4 overall prospect in the game. Our own Christopher Crawford just ranked Kelenic No. 2 among prospects for 2021, behind only consensus top prospect Wander Franco.
In his last full season in 2019, Kelenic batted .291/.364/.540 with 23 home runs and 20 stolen bases across three levels. He entered play at Triple-A Tacoma on Monday having gone 8-for-18 with two home runs and two stolen bases in his first four games of 2021.
When it comes to a 21-year-old, there are no slam dunks to have success in the big leagues right away. Kelenic is the kind of player fantasy managers dream about, though. At his peak, he should hit for average, hit for power and steal bases. He will take his walks and doesn’t strike out all that much.[[ad:athena]]
Kelenic has primarily been a center fielder in the minors, but with reigning American League Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis occupying that spot in the majors, Kelenic looks to be in line for the left field job. Taylor Trammell has just a .593 OPS and 43.2 percent strikeout rate and has been losing playing time to Sam Haggerty of late, so he’s a good bet to be optioned to make room for Kelenic.
You shouldn’t need us to tell you, but run to pick up Kelenic if he’s somehow still available in your league.
Starting Pitchers with an EDGE
Luke Weaver vs. MIA – 6 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 6 K
You could argue that Weaver might have been pitching to keep his spot in the rotation on Monday. If that was the case, then he should feel confident he’ll be getting the ball again this weekend. The right-hander faced little resistance from the Marlins, needing just 75 pitches to cruise through his 6 1/3 innings of work. Weaver entered this outing having allowed 17 runs over his last 17 frames.
Alex Wood vs. TEX – 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 7 K
It was yet another superb showing from Wood, who hasn’t permitted more than two runs in any of his first five starts of the season. The left-hander threw a season-high 99 pitches in this one and got 10 whiffs on 20 swings at his slider. Health has often been the biggest stumbling block for Wood, although he wasn’t healthy or effective the previous two seasons. He’s got the latter down so far this year. We’ll see about the former.
Kyle Gibson vs. SF – 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K
Gibson continued his red-hot stretch on Monday night in San Francisco. The right-hander wasn’t as efficient as his counterpart, Wood, needing 103 pitches to cover his six innings. He limited the damage to just a Brandon Belt solo home run, though, while getting through at least six frames for the seventh start in a row. He’s allowed one earned run or fewer in six of those starts, and in the one he didn’t he gave up three runs over eight innings. It’s been quite a turnaround since an Opening Day disaster which saw Gibson fail to make it out of the first inning.
Hitters with an EDGE
Jared Walsh vs. HOU – 4-for-4, HR, 2B, BB, 2 RBI, SB
Walsh did it all for the Angels on Monday as they edged the Astros. The first baseman fell a triple shy of the cycle while reaching base in all five trips to the plate. The weakest hit ball of the four he hit in play was measured at 97.4 mph off the bat, and he topped out at 106.9 mph on one of his singles. Walsh is now sporting a ridiculous .347/.426/.593 batting line for the season.
Tyler Naquin vs. PIT – 2-for-5, HR, 2B, 4 RBI
A blazing-hot start for Naquin was followed by an ice-cold slump. He’s started to heat back up since the calendar flipped to May, though, reaching base 12 times in seven games while smacking a couple long balls. The Reds’ newfound willingness to use Nick Senzel at second base gives Naquin more avenues to playing time.
Ryan Mountcastle vs. BOS – 2-for-4, HR
We could be seeing Mountcastle finally coming out of his season-long slump. Monday’s two-hit effort was the 24-year-old’s third multi-hit game in his last four tries, and he’s batting .382 with two home runs over his last 10 tilts. Mountcastle was also back in the cleanup spot for the Orioles in this one after mostly batting sixth of late.
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Priority Pickup
Logan Webb, SP, Giants – available in 92 percent of Yahoo leagues
Webb was a buzzed-about player in fantasy drafts this spring after he was arguably the most impressive starting pitcher during Cactus League play. Things got off to a rocky start once the regular season kicked off, though, sending Webb back to waiver wires. However, Webb was excellent against the Marlins a couple weeks ago and posted a quality start in a tough matchup in San Diego after that. He took a step back in his last outing versus the Rockies, but we’ll forgive him for that since it was at Coors Field. On Tuesday Webb takes on the Rangers, a club which has the third-highest strikeout rate (27.8 percent) against righties in 2021. Stream away.
Closing Time
Stefan Crichton tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning to secure Monday’s victory for the Diamondbacks over the Marlins. With Joakim Soria back from the injured list, there’s been some talk of him eventually being elevated to the closer role for the D-backs. He served up a two-run homer Monday, though, and has been scored upon in two of four appearances since being activated.
Jake McGee yielded a couple singles but held on to collect the save on Monday versus the Rangers. The left-hander has been erratic lately to the point that manager Gabe Kapler said last week that Tyler Rogers would likely see some save chances moving forward. McGee has now recorded nine saves this season and has blown just one save opportunity.
Tuesday’s Matchup of the Day
Adbert Alzolay (CHC) vs. Shane Bieber (CLE)
You don’t need me to tell you that every Bieber start is must-watch. The reigning American League Cy Young winner already has a major-league record of 19 straight starts with at least eight strikeouts and will be looking to extend it to 20 on Tuesday. The guy I’ll really have my eye on, though, is Alzolay. The 26-year-old’s 4.50 ERA doesn’t tell the whole story of what’s been a sneaky breakthrough. Alzolay boasts a 0.89 WHIP and 30/7 K/BB ratio over his 26 innings, and the key has been throwing his slider a ton at 43.4 percent. Only Huascar Ynoa and Clayton Kershaw have thrown the slider at a higher rate this season among pitchers with at least 20 innings. The pitch has a 38.5 percent whiff rate and opponents are batting just .111/.179/.130 off of it, so it’s no wonder Alzolay has been leaning on it.
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American League Quick Hits: Framber Valdez (finger) is close to beginning a rehab assignment, possibly starting one after throwing a bullpen session in Houston this week … Anthony Rendon (knee) has been doing light baseball activities and has a chance to be activated this weekend … Trey Mancini went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI in the Orioles’ win over the Red Sox on Monday … Jorge Lopez pitched 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball and struck out five Monday as the Orioles took down the Red Sox … Martin Perez yielded one run in five innings Monday in a no-decision against the Orioles.
National League Quick Hits: The Mets will place Jacob deGrom (side) on the injured list prior to Tuesday’s game against the Orioles … Cody Bellinger (leg) has resumed running on the field … The Rockies placed C.J. Cron (back) on the injured list Monday … Gregory Polanco (undisclosed) is expected to rejoin the Pirates later this week … Tyler Mahle walked four batters but held the Pirates to one run while fanning seven over 5 1/3 innings Monday … The Pirates claimed Ben Gamel off waivers, designating Todd Frazier for assignment in a corresponding move … The Braves have inked Tanner Roark to a minor league contract … Bryan Reynolds (lower body) reached base in all four of his plate appearances Monday in his return to action.
