Shopping at the five-and-dime:
(Players rostered in under 10 percent of Yahoo leagues)
Trevor Cahill SP, Angels (Yahoo: 9 percent rostered)
Similar to Kiermaier above, Cahill is the sort of player who you shouldn’t count on for a full season’s worth of production. Still, when he’s on the mound, he’s proven useful. After posting a 3.76 ERA (109 ERA+) with 100 strikeouts and 41 walks in 110 innings with the Athletics last season, the 31-year-old owns a solid 3.50 ERA and 16/2 K/BB ratio in 18 innings over his first three starts with the Angels. He’s gone six innings in all three of his starts. And we’re not talking about easy matchups here, as he’s faced the Brewers, Mariners, and Athletics. I’m on board for a start against the scuffling Cubs this weekend.
Raimel Tapia OF, Rockies (Yahoo: 2 percent rostered)
While everyone involved insists that it’s not a long-term concern, David Dahl hit the injured list this week with a left-side core injury. This likely means that Tapia will only be a short-term addition in mixed leagues, but given Dahl’s injury history, you just never know. Though nothing is set in stone, Tapia has hit second in each of his first two starts since Dahl went down. He’s shown an ability to make contact in the minors with good speed and even some pop. Definitely worthy of a short-term flier in deeper formats.
Derek Holland SP/RP, Giants (Yahoo: 9 percent rostered)
Holland didn’t get much respect in fantasy drafts this spring despite posting a 3.57 ERA and 169/67 K/BB ratio over 171 1/3 innings last season. He sported the best strikeout percentage of his career. After returning to the Giants on a one-year, $7 million deal, the southpaw owns a 3.38 ERA and 21/8 K/BB ratio through his first 16 innings this season. He was shaky in his season debut, but has bounced back with consecutive strong outings. I see Holland as a matchup play at home at the very least, which is why I’m recommending him here with a start against the Rockies this weekend.
AL ONLY
Richard Lovelady RP, Royals (Yahoo: 2 percent rostered)
There’s plenty of interesting options for AL recommendations this week, but we have to start with Lovelady, who was promoted by the Royals on Tuesday. With a mid-90s fastball and plus-slider, the 23-year-old posted a 1.99 ERA with 180 strikeouts and 47 walks over 167 1/3 innings in the minors and was excellent in Triple-A last year. It would be no surprise if he finds himself in an important role in the Royals’ bullpen in short order. I mean, the alternatives aren’t very impressive here. I’d even consider stashing him in some deeper mixed formats.
JaCoby Jones OF, Tigers (Yahoo: 0 percent rostered)
Jones missed the start of the season due to a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder, but he was activated on Thursday and should draw fairly regular starts in center field moving forward. The 26-year-old has produced a weak .199/.258/.339 batting line with a strikeout rate of 33.7 percent over 649 plate appearances in the majors, but he at least amassed 11 homers and 13 steals in 129 games last year. It’s something. If you can stomach the batting average risk, there’s counting stat ability here.
Chris Bassitt SP, Athletics (Yahoo: 0 percent rostered)
Bassitt, working his way back from a bruised shin, has allowed one run with 12 strikeouts and two walks in six innings over his first two minor league rehab appearances. He should be an option for the A’s rotation before long. He was useful enough at the major league level last year, with a 3.02 ERA in seven starts and four relief appearances. The secondary numbers say we shouldn’t count on a repeat, though. Edwin Jackson (Yahoo: 0 percent rostered) is reportedly close to a minor league deal to return to Oakland and could also surface again soon. It should be obvious, but Clay Buchholz should be rostered in any leagues where he’s still available with his Blue Jays debut coming up.
NL ONLY
Travis d’Arnaud C, Mets (Yahoo: 1 percent rostered)
After missing most of last season following Tommy John surgery, d’Arnaud is back in the majors to serve as the backup to Wilson Ramos. While it doesn’t mean much for his fantasy value, he’s looked pretty good throwing the ball to second base, which is a good sign about the strength of his elbow. Ramos is no stranger to injuries himself and d’Arnaud has been a productive fantasy catcher before, so he’s worth a stash in this sort of format. He might play more than most backup catchers.
Tyler Austin OF/1B, Giants (Yahoo: 0 percent rostered)
I would have liked to see Austin land in a more hitter-friendly setting, but it makes sense why the Giants were willing to take a shot on him. The 27-year-old made his first two starts at first base with his new team before playing left field on Wednesday. With Brandon Belt in-house, that’s likely how things will be most of the time. Austin has been much better against left-handers than right-handers, but there’s some interesting pop here, anyway.
