- Greg Pokriki - Fantasy Focus
Start
Billy Butler- Oakland Athletics
Fantasy Sit Start
There's no mystery in Oakland when it comes to a sit or start decision with Billy Butler. He's off to a prolific start batting .387 in 31 at bats for the Athletics He’s knocked in five RBI, including three off a home run knock against the Astros. Butler obviously will not be racking up the stolen bases for your team, but could provide solid contributions to the other four categories in standard 5x5 leagues. Thus far, Butler has strictly been played as a DH, but the A’s don’t have an interleague series until mid-June. He should be seeing plenty of plate appearances and opportunities in an undervalued Athletics lineup. The slugger is available in approximately 38% of ESPN leagues.
C.J. Wilson- Los Angeles Angels
Ridiculously, Wilson is still available in 56.6% of ESPN fantasy leagues. Wilson had his fair share of question marks heading into the season, and struggled mightily in his last start against the Royals, allowing seven runs (six earned) in 5.2 innings. However, Wilson only allowed one walk in his outing against the Royals and had a stellar first outing of 2015. On April 7, Wilson pitched eight shutout innings of two hit ball. Sure, his first two starts are extremely polarizing. But, his third start comes next Saturday against the mediocre Astros. Wilson certainly will be looking for a bounce back start, and you should have the faith in him for a fantasy start on your lineup.
Sit
Dellin Betances- New York Yankees
Any person I chose to “sit” will come off as a knee-jerk overreaction this early in the season, so take these with a grain of salt. But, in The Bronx it is obvious that, at least for now, Andrew Miller is the Yankees closer. Betances has struggled with his command early, handing the job to Miller (not to say Miller hasn’t pitched lights out). Betances has walked six in 3.1 innings. Monday he did work out of a jam, earning himself a hold, but not before putting himself in that jam with two hits and two walks in the inning. Betances likely will turn this early slump around, but until proven otherwise Betances could be earning himself a spot on your bench.
Curtis Granderson- New York Mets
Granderson put in a great spring training this year. He had a lot of promise heading into 2015, and I had a lot of faith in him to open the season hot. But, he’s fell on his face out of the gate, batting .056 in 16 at bats. He tallied one stolen base and has scored four runs. He’s walked a league leading nine times, but walks are worth nothing in the standard 5x5 fantasy scoring format. Granderson’s percentage owned in ESPN leagues has dropped over 15% in the last seven days, and rightfully so. Granderson got a day off, likely to get his head straight, but for now he is not worthy of a start and barely a roster spot. Keep a close eye on Granderson over the next few weeks for improvement, but for now avoid…heavily avoid.
Stay tuned to ASL for the best fantasy football start and fantasy baseball start info!
- Tim Haberin - Fantasy Focus
Fantasy Waiver Wire Pickups -
With only a week in the books, you're probably still getting a feel for your MLB fantasy squad. But if you're the proactive type, here are a few waiver wire pickups you might consider to stay ahead of the competition.
Anthony Gose - OF, Detroit Tigers
The young outfielder, traded from Toronto in the offseason, is off to a fast start in Detroit. He has gone 9-for-23 in his first five games with six runs scored, a home run, five RBI, and a stolen base. Though he didn't exactly set the world on fire during his time with the Blue Jays (.633 OPS in three seasons), he was a well-regarded prospect and still has plenty of room to improve at 24 years old. Though you shouldn't expect him to maintain his current pace, batting atop a stacked Tigers lineup should continue to offer him plenty of opportunities to score runs and show off his speed.
Roberto Perez - C, Cleveland Indians
With starting catcher Yan Gomes out 6-8 weeks with a knee sprain, backup Roberto Perez will assume the role for Cleveland. Perez exhibited some solid offense in limited action last season, hitting .271 with five doubles over 29 games. He's enjoyed success in the early going this year as well, with a home run and three RBI in his first eight plate appearances. His plate discipline can use some work (26 strikeouts in 85 at-bats in 2014), but Perez will now have the chance to show what he can do on a regular basis. Gomes owners or those seeking depth at catcher should give Perez a look.
Jed Lowrie - SS, Houston Astros
Lowrie showed some pop in the opening week of 2015, belting two homers in his first six games back with the Astros after returning to the team as a free agent. That's already a third of his total from last year, and although you shouldn't bet on Lowrie turning into a bona fide slugger or anything, he is only two years removed from hitting .290 with 15 HR and 75 RBI for the A's. With offense always at a premium at the middle infield spots, it might be worth your while to take a flyer on a player like Lowrie who's still widely available throughout leagues. He could prove to be one of the better early season fantasy pickups.
Archie Bradley - SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Bradley had a major league debut to remember, limiting a potent Dodgers lineup to one hit over six innings, allowing no runs and striking out six as well. His youth (22 years old) and upside make him an appealing commodity, but he isn't one of those mandatory fantasy pickups. Bradley has exhibited some lack of control, walking four and needing 112 pitches to make it through those six innings. He earned a rotation spot on the strength of his Spring Training, posting a 1.61 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over six spring appearances. Fantasy owners in deeper leagues willing to roll the dice on a back-end rotation piece would do well to pick up Bradley.
NFL Player News
The New York Jets are banking on the fact that running back Stevan Ridley will be good to go when training camp kicks off this year. It’s been five months since his knee surgery and many believe that this former fantasy football RB stud can lead a crowded New York backfield.
Ridley's 2014 season got cut short when he tore his ACL and MCL in October playing for the Patriots. His injury dropped his stock in free agency dramatically considering he’s only two years removed from a 1,200 yard, 12 TD season.
Ridley has always had issues with ball security but if he can protect the ball and get back to his old self, he could regain fantasy relevance.
Ridley joins Chris Ivory as the second power-back on the roster. Ridley will need to establish himself in the passing game if he wants to get on the field during third down situations. Ridley has always had success finding the end zone so there is a lot of upside for the Jets.
At 26, Ridley has several good years left in the tank and could end up being the top-dog for Gang Green's backfield this season.
Keep reading for the latest NFL fantasy info!
- Greg Pokriki - Fantasy Focus
Justin Verlander- Detroit Tigers
In other fantasy baseball news, the Tigers announced that Justin Verlander will be start the MLB season on the DL. However, the organization seems confident that he will be ready to return quickly. Manager Brad Ausmus said it’s simply a matter of carrying a complete roster into opening day, not a long-term situation. With that in mind, Verlander’s drack stock should not be heavily penalized in your league. He’s a natural competitor and will likely return quickly. He also knows he has something to prove this season after a down 2014. The Tigers are counting on Verlander this season, and you shouldn’t have any reservations doing the same for your fantasy team.
Coco Crisp- Oakland Athletics
Coco Crisp had successful surgery on his elbow on Friday and is out for at least the next 6-8 weeks. The best advice for handling Crisp in the fantasy world would be to avoid him in the draft. If you have a deep enough bench after the draft and feel comfortable using a wasted spot for two months on him, grab him out of free agency. However, at 35-years-old and injured you must understand the risk. Unless you can snag him for a cheap price in an auction format, avoid Crisp in the draft.
Curtis Granderson- New York Mets
Unfortunately, Granderson is very familiar with the injury bug. Even further, Granderson is familiar with being hit by pitches forcing him to miss time. Thursday Granderson’s old friend revisited him, as he was struck on the knee by a Lance Lynn pitch. His fate is now uncertain. “We’ll see how it feels tomorrow,” Granderson said. This is one situation to monitor very closely when deciding if and when to draft Granderson. He has put in a phenomenal spring training. He’s parked three homeruns and is hitting .435. If healthy, it seems Granderson is primed for a big year. He’s also somewhat flying under the radar, giving him steal potential for your fantasy team. Keep an eye on his knee, but stay confident on a healthy Granderson.
Bruce Rondon- Detroit Tigers
Rondon is no stranger to the DL. He spendt all of 2014 watching from home after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Now, Rondon returns to the DL with bicep tendinitis. Concern luckily remains low and optimism high around Detroit. Apparently the injury is very common for pitchers, specifically when picking their game back up in spring. The Tigers are not expecting this to be a long-term situation. With their generally weak bullpen and softened starting staff from last season, a good campaign from Rondon would be ideal for the Tigers. His fantasy stock should remain around the same area for now, but be sure to monitor his next throwing session before over committing.
In QB fantasy news, the Dallas Cowboys reached an agreement with QB Tony Romo to restructure his contract and open up nearly $13 Million in cap space.
The Cowboys couldn't reach a deal with their All-Pro running back DeMarco Murray and now the football world is speculating on whether or not they can afford to land All-World running back Adrian Peterson. Peterson has stated that he would love to play for America's Team, but even with fantasy QB Romo's new deal, it doesn't seem very likely. Minnesota insists that they won't part ways with Peterson without getting a great deal in return.
Dallas recently signed Greg Hardy ($11.3 million) and Rolando McClain ($3 million) to one-year deals which means Romo would need to take a pay cut to land Adrian Peterson if the Vikings are even willing to trade him.
The Cowboys would love to have Peterson running behind the offensive line that paved the way for DeMarco Murray to rack up 1,845 yards, but the odds are very long that Dallas can scrape up that kind of money. Some experts still feel that Peterson could end up in Big D because Jerry Jones may do whatever it takes to land A-P. Even without AP, Romo remains a great QB fantasy football option.
Peterson landing in Big D would likely make him a top three fantasy running back next year. The addition of Peterson would make the Cowboys one of, if not the best offensive team in the NFL and a tough team to beat in the playoffs.
For the most up to date QB news, stay tuned with ASL!
- Tim Haberin - Fantasy Focus
Clay Buchholz ended his Spring Training on a positive note, holding the Twins scoreless over four innings of work. The Red Sox righty struck out four in the outing but also appeared to lack some sharpness, giving up six hits and walking one. The performance was representative of Buchholz's spring as a whole, one in which he looked much better than he did in a dismal 2014 though not quite flashing the form he reached earlier in his career.
Last year was one to forget for Buchholz; in 28 starts he put up a 5.34 ERA, managing an 8-11 record on a Boston squad that finished at the bottom of the AL East. The Sox expect to fare better this season after adding Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval over the winter, and Buchholz hopes to reap some benefit backed by that improved lineup. Advanced statistics also suggest that he wasn't quite as bad as his 2014 numbers show. His 4.01 FIP was significantly lower than his ERA, meaning some better luck and supporting defense could make a big difference in this year's results. Buchholz's case would also be helped by last season's .321 BABIP and 62% strand rate returning to league-average levels.
Despite some reasons for optimism, it remains difficult to feel truly bullish about Buchholz's prospects. He's been inconsistent throughout his career, so while you shouldn't count on a repeat of 2014, neither should you bank on the 12-1 record and 1.74 ERA of the season prior. Injuries have been a concern as well: Buchholz's sterling 2013 was shortened by a neck strain, and he underwent knee surgery at the end of last September. It's unclear how much you can reasonably expect him to rebound and whether he can be relied upon to make it though a full season as he turns 31 this year.
If you're inclined to take a gamble on Buchholz, look to pick him in the last round of your draft. However, you would probably be better served by waiting to see how he does in his first few regular season starts before deciding if he can contribute to your 2015 MLB fantasy team.
- Greg Pokriki - Fantasy Focus
The value of spring training differs from player to player. For young players, their performance in spring often heavily determines their fate. However, many veterans use spring training as a time to shed rust. That process isn’t always pretty, but it’s exactly that: A process. More often than not, veteran pitchers can turn their game around in time for Opening Day and are primed for the season.
Fantasy owners are hoping that David Price can do just that as opening day draws ever closer. The Detroit Tigers ace has traditionally struggled during the spring, but somehow always manages to turn it once the games begin to count.
This past Tuesday, Price allowed seven runs in six innings of work. However, he was perfect through the first three innings. This paradox should probably be chalked up to spring rust. A poor back half to a spring start should not heavily influence Price’s draft stock for the 2015 fantasy baseball season.
Overall, Price is an ace and should be treated as such. He has turned in seven consecutive seasons with an ERA+ over 100, topping out at 150 in 2012. He’s also a workhorse, logging back-to-back 34 start seasons. That type of high production coupled with a huge workload is a bounty for any fantasy owner.
For some reason, it appears that Price has slipped under the radar since joining the Tigers. Maybe it’s because he’s no longer the sole standout like his days in Tampa. And maybe the popularity will reignite now that Max Scherzer has fled to Washington. Either way, he certainly deserves your full attention on fantasy draft day when his name hits the board.
- Tim Haberin - Fantasy Focus
1. Aroldis Chapman - Cincinnati Reds
Chapman's flamethrower of an arm has made him one the game's finest closers, and 2015 should once again see him top the list. He notched 38, 38, and 36 saves in the previous three seasons, respectively. Chapman's fantasy value, of course, comes not just in the consistent stream of saves he provides but also in the astounding rate at which he strikes out opposing hitters. Last year's ethereal 17.7 K/9 was best among relievers by a wide margin, and at 27 years of age there's little reason to think his 100-mph fastball will be any less relentless this season. Drafting closers is always tricky business, but you can select Chapman with confidence in the fifth round and onwards.
2. Craig Kimbrel - Atlanta Braves
Kimbrel shares much in common with Chapman: he's young, throws very hard, and has already proven his ability to thrive in the closer's role. He's led the National League in saves in all but his debut season, and the 50 saves he secured in 2013 topped both leagues. With the Braves looking weaker this year the save opportunities might not be as abundant, but Kimbrel will still get plenty of work and rack up strikeouts (95 Ks in 62.1 IP in 2014). He should not be left on the draft board much longer than Chapman.
3. Greg Holland - Kansas City Royals
Since his first full season as the Royals closer in 2013, Holland has rapidly ascended into the upper echelon of relievers. He saved 47 and 46 games in the past two seasons and was a major component of Kansas City's improbable run to the World Series. In his tenure he's maintained a WHIP under 1.00 and at least a 13.0 K/9 rate. The Royals generated 65 save opportunities in 2014, the sixth-most in MLB, and Holland will likely continue to receive steady work in the new campaign. As with the previous two pitchers on this list, you can justify picking Holland in the 5th round or later of a 12-team draft.
4. Mark Melancon - Pittsburgh Pirates
Melancon has been a quiet revelation the last two years working out of the Pirates bullpen, flourishing in multiple roles. He took the closing reins from a struggling Jason Grilli in June of last season and didn't look back, earning 33 saves while posting a .873 WHIP and a strikeout per inning. Pittsburgh's 72 total save opportunities were tied for the most in baseball in 2014, and their closer should remain busy this year finishing games for what hopes to be a very competitive team. Target Melancon in round 7 or later.
Sleeper: Brad Boxberger - Tampa Bay Rays
The closer landscape gets decidedly murkier beneath its top tier. If you're inclined to roll the dice a bit on a talented reliever with upside, look no further than the Rays' Brad Boxberger. Manager Kevin Cash has said the 26-year-old right-hander will fill in for about a month as incumbent closer Jake McGee recovers from elbow surgery. Boxberger put up some great numbers in 64.2 innings last season, striking out 104 batters and surrendering only 17 earned runs. He should offer significant value in April and potentially beyond. Though McGee is no slouch, Boxberger might be given the chance to hold onto the closer's job if he impresses, especially on a young squad in transition like Tampa Bay. Owners could consider taking him as a sleeper candidate with one of their last couple draft selections.
In WR news, Cruz just started running at the Giants facility last week, but it looks like the Giants are going to ease Cruz back into action to ensure that the receiver doesn't have a setback. Coach Tom Coughlin has already hinted at the fact that the organization would make sure Cruz was fully healed before he was thrust back into action.
The Giants followed a slow and precise recovery plan with Odell Beckham Jr. last year when he was dealing with an injured hamstring. That plan obviously worked as ODB went on to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. During the 2014 season, Beckham missed the entire pre-season and the first four weeks of the year with a hamstring injury.
Cruz thinks that he will back at 100% by May or June, but outside sources say he is not even close to a return to the field.
If Cruz can get back to his old ways, the Giants will have one of the better one-two punches at wide out in the league. But that is far from certain given that Cruz's success relies on short routes, quick cuts and is coming off one of the worst possible knee injuries.
It will be interesting to see how Cruz progresses through the off-season and if he can ever regain fantasy relevance.
Stay informed with ASL's WR fantasy news.
- Greg Pokriki - Fantasy Focus
The baseball community is always quick to judge, handing out proverbial MVP awards after just the first week of the season and Hall of Fame plaques after one solid season. In the same sense, baseball fans are just as quick to outcast a player after one down season, pushing him to the back burner to be ultimately forgotten. Brandon Phillips has fallen victim to the latter.
Though Phillips struggled last season, he’s only one season removed from an 18 home run, All Star season. He’s a lifetime .271 hitter and has knocked in over 70 RBI in seven of the last nine seasons. To not even consider him for your team would be a mistake.
Of course, there is some reason for reservation. Phillips is only 8-39 this spring putting him at a .205 average. He’s also coming off a significantly down season, though one that was slightly tainted by injury. He only played in 121 games and logged 499 at bats. His power severely dipped, hitting only eight home runs. However, he hasn’t hit any less than 17 in any other season since 2006. He logged only 51 RBI on the season as well. Phillips’ 1.7 WAR was his worst since 2006 as well.
Obviously last season was a disappointment for Phillips, but that doesn’t exclude him from any future success. He’s a talented and persevering personality who doesn’t take kindly to failure. The Reds as a whole are looking at a bounce back season. The lineup will have to be better than last year, and Phillips is not immune to that. If you can get Phillips at the right time or for the right price there is no reason not to add him to your squad. You may even get him as a sleeper if others in your league aren’t paying him the respect he deserves.
