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MIXED LEAGUES
(Players rostered in under 50 percent of Yahoo leagues)
Note: Percentages are from the morning of Thursday, April 14
Kyle Lewis OF, Mariners (Yahoo: 13 percent rostered)
Unfortunately, the main reason I’m advocating for a stash of Lewis is the early-season struggles of Jarred Kelenic, who is off to a 1-for-15 start with nine strikeouts. He’s also been benched in two of the last three games, including once against a righties. I still think Kelenic will eventually figure it out, but the Mariners are trying to compete this year so I’m not sure they’ll have patience when they have an alternative like Lewis. The former AL Rookie of the Year is being eased into things after last year’s knee issues but should be ready for extended spring training games and a rehab assignment soon. There’s still plenty of potential in his bat if he can stay healthy.
Jurickson Profar 1B/2B/OF, Padres (Yahoo: 28 percent rostered)
I’ve been stumped as to why the Padres didn’t do more to help their offense, especially after the Fernando Tatis Jr. (wrist) injury. However, they’ve gotten a nice early-season boost from Profar, who has been the club’s everyday left fielder. Profar has put up a robust 1.241 OPS with two home runs, a double and seven RBI in his first six games, and the early batted ball data has backed up the production and then some. The 29-year-old has never reached the heights projected of him when he was a top prospect, but Profar makes a lot of contact, has some power and speed and is eligible at multiple positions.
Nestor Cortes SP, Yankees (Yahoo: 30 percent rostered)
Cortes might be best known for his mustache and varied deliveries, but hopefully that doesn’t overshadow how good he’s been since the beginning of last season. The left-hander put up a 2.90 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 103/25 K/BB ratio over 93 innings last season, which included a 3.07 ERA over 14 starts. He then went out and dominated the dangerous Blue Jays lineup in his season debut Tuesday, allowing just three hits and no walks while fanning five over 4 1/3 scoreless frames. Cortes is more crafty than overpowering, but he’s clearly found a mix that works for him.
Seth Brown OF, Athletics (Yahoo: 6 percent rostered)
The A’s rebuild means Brown should be an everyday player at the major league level in 2022 for the first time in his career. He’s earned it, having posted a decent 107 OPS+ in the big leagues coming into the season and popping 20 homers in just 307 plate appearances last year. The 29-year-old also has a couple 30-homer seasons under his belt in the minors, including a 37-homer showing in 2019. Brown is off to a fast start this year with a .857 OPS, two bombs and eight RBI in his first six games, and he’s batted either fourth or fifth every contests so far. He will also pick up first base eligibility soon.
Tanner Rainey RP, Nationals (Yahoo: 18 percent rostered)
It was unclear coming into the season whether it would be Rainey, Kyle Finnegan or someone else handling closing duties for the Nationals. However, the team had indicated a desire for Rainey to run with the job, and so far he’s obliged with two saves and a 3/0 K/BB ratio in three innings. Some potential landmines remain here. Rainey is still trying to regain the velocity he had a couple years ago, and he’s often displayed poor control in his career. However, he’s the clear favorite for saves in Washington’s bullpen right now and has shown some potential in the past. Sometimes we can’t be too picky when mining for saves.
Dylan Floro RP, Marlins (Yahoo: 22 percent rostered)
Speaking of saves, Anthony Bender has blown one of two save opportunities and took a loss in another appearance in the early going for the Marlins. I still think he’s the best reliever the Marlins have, but Floro (shoulder) is pretty good in his own right and fared well in the closer role down the stretch last season. Floro is still working his way back from a shoulder issue, but he’s nearly game-ready and should rejoin the Miami bullpen relatively soon. The 31-year-old makes for a sensible roster stash if he’s available.
Andrew Heaney SP, Dodgers (Yahoo: 19 percent rostered)
Heaney’s signing with the Dodgers over the offseason seemed to raise some eyebrows, in part because he got $8.5 million following a season when he posted an ERA near 6.00 and also because the Dodgers figured to have a game plan to best utilize his repertoire. If the lefty’s first start is any indication, that plan appears to be throwing a bunch more curveballs, as it was his most-used pitch against the Twins on Tuesday with a usage rate of 46.3 percent which more than doubled last year’s. The velocity of Heaney’s curveball was also up 3.3 mph and it induced a whopping nine whiffs on 20 swings. Home runs still figure to be a problem for the 30-year-old, but he’s suddenly looking a lot more interesting.
Jake Diekman RP, Red Sox (Yahoo: 29 percent rostered)
Hansel Robles RP, Red Sox (Yahoo: 2 percent rostered)
Matt Barnes has put up two scoreless appearances after overcoming a minor back issue, but he’s still trying to regain some velocity and the Red Sox don’t seem inclined to throw him back into the closer’s role until that happens. Garrett Whitlock also doesn’t appear to be a closer candidate right now, as the team has kept him stretched out in a multi-inning relief role. Instead, it’s been Diekman and Robles to pick up one save apiece in the early going. I prefer Diekman, who doesn’t have splits and who has the bigger contract. Robles got the most recent save (after Diekman had appeared) and is also rosterable, though.
Deeper Dandies:
(Players rostered in under 10 percent of Yahoo leagues)
Chad Pinder 2B/OF, Athletics (Yahoo: 2 percent rostered)
Pinder has always had some good raw power and has had spurts of being useful in fantasy leagues during his seven seasons. While he’s never exceeded 400 plate appearances before, that seems likely to change in 2022 amidst the A’s rebuild. Pinder has started five of six games and played in all six, starting occupying the cleanup spot twice and the leadoff spot once. He’s got 20+ home run potential and is eligible at two positions, with additional eligibility likely to be picked up along the way.
Taylor Ward OF, Angels (Yahoo: 1 percent rostered)
Manager Joe Maddon surprised everyone when he announced prior to the team’s opener that Ward would be the everyday right fielder once he returned from his groin injury. That return is expected this weekend. Ward is a former first-round pick who has struggled to find a defensive home, but he looks to be a full-time outfielder now and had a solid 2021 season when healthy with a 109 OPS+ and eight homers in 65 games. The 28-year-old also put up a 1.011 OPS with 27 dingers and 11 steals at Triple-A Salt Lake in 2019. With some power and a little speed, Ward has a bit of mixed league potential.
Jose Siri OF, Astros (Yahoo: 3 percent rostered)
The Astros have received excellent production from their center field spot so far, with Siri putting up a 1.357 OPS with a home run and a stolen base and Chas McCormick posting an even 1.000 OPS. Siri also had a .956 OPS with four long balls and three steals across 49 plate appearances with the Astros last season. Between the majors and minors in 2021, he hit 20 homers and stole 27 bases. There’s a lot of swing-and-miss in his game, but the 26-year-old has always intrigued from a tools perspective. Siri can be useful in fantasy especially if he earns more playing time.
Weekend Warriors:
Aaron Ashby SP/RP, Brewers (Yahoo: 17 percent rostered)
Pitchers who can miss bats and also induce a lot of ground balls are unique and Ashby falls into that bucket. The young left-hander began the season in the Brewers’ bullpen and has allowed one run with a 5/3 K/BB ratio over five innings covering two appearances. On Sunday against the Cardinals he’ll receive his first start. After going 3 1/3 frames and throwing 68 pitches in his last relief appearance, it’s reasonable for Ashby to stretch out to five innings this weekend if he’s pitching well.
David Peterson SP/RP, Mets (Yahoo: 1 percent rostered)
The Mets sent another starter to the injured list earlier this week when Taijuan Walker went down with right shoulder bursitis. When Walker was hurt on Monday against the Phillies, it was Peterson who came on to relieve him and the left-hander fired four scoreless frames, picking up three strikeouts along the way. The club has held off on officially naming Peterson the replacement for Walker on Sunday versus the Diamondbacks, presumably in case he’s needed in relief before then. However, all signs point to him getting the nod, and he’s a viable streamer against a bad lineup.
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AL ONLY
Tommy Romero SP, Rays (Yahoo: 9 percent rostered)
Romero’s major league debut didn’t go well, as he walked five and allowed three runs over just 1 2/3 innings against the Athletics on Tuesday. The minor league track record certainly suggests better days are ahead if he gets another opportunity, though. The 24-year-old has posted a sub-3.00 ERA every year on the farm, including a 2.61 ERA and 145/31 K/BB ratio over 110 1/3 innings in 2021 between Double- and Triple-A. The right-hander is a hold for me in single-league formats.
A.J. Puk RP, Athletics (Yahoo: 2 percent rostered)
Puk seems likely to remain in the bullpen for the long haul now after injuries hindered his development as a starter. It’s probably where he’s best suited, anyway, as his control issues can be better hid by his upper-90s fastball and nice slider. Puk has fanned five in his first three innings this season while surrendering one run. Lou Trivino has a clear hold on Oakland’s closer job right now, but he seems unlikely to hold the job all year, whether it’s because he struggles or, probably more likely, he’s traded. Puk could be the next man up.
NL ONLY
Thairo Estrada 2B/SS/OF, Giants (Yahoo: 4 percent rostered)
Estrada was one of many Giants to give the team some unexpected production last season, as he put up a .813 OPS with seven home runs and a stolen base across 132 plate appearances. With Tommy La Stella still dealing with some soreness in his surgically-repaired Achilles, Estrada has been the club’s regular second baseman in the first week and has contributed a homer, a steal and four RBI. Evan Longoria (finger) is also sidelined and Brandon Crawford (wrist) is now a little banged up, which could create additional opportunities for Estrada.
Cooper Hummel OF, Diamondbacks (Yahoo: 0 percent rostered)
Acquired from the Brewers last July in the Eduardo Escobar trade, Hummel was added to the Diamondbacks’ 40-man roster over the offseason and wound up making the Opening Day roster. The 27-year-old boasts an interesting skill set as switch-hitter with excellent plate discipline who is capable of playing catcher and also all four corner spots. He had a .978 OPS with 12 homers and more walks (63) than strikeouts (61) in 2021 at Triple-A. Hummel has found his way into the lineup in three of the last five games and has hit leadoff in each instance.
