Tag: Matt McLain

The Weekly Planner – 5/22 – 5/28

sethroto

For the past five-plus years, I’ve contributed The Week Ahead and Impact Report at Rotoworld. Those articles included a look at two-start pitchers, streamers, waiver pickups, and injuries. Many readers planned their week and FAAB deadlines around those articles, so my plan is to contribute something similar weekly throughout the 2023 season in this space.

If there’s something else you’d like to see, please let me know in the comments section.

 

Two Start Pitchers

American League

Strong Plays

Gerrit Cole: BAL, SD

Cristian Javier: @MIL, @OAK

Luis Castillo: OAK, PIT

Eduardo Rodriguez: @KC, CHW

Bailey Ober: SF, TOR

Dane Dunning: @PIT, @BAL

 

Decent Plays

Dylan Cease: @CLE, @DET

Jose Berrios: @TB, @MIN

Chris Bassitt: @TB, @MIN

Kyle Bradish: @NYY, TEX

Taj Bradley: TOR, LAD

Michael Lorenzen: @KC, CHW

Mike Clevinger: @CLE, @DET

Marco Gonzales: OAK, PIT

 

At Your Own Risk

Josh Fleming: TOR, LAD

Brady Singer: DET, WAS

Kyle Muller: @SEA, HOU

Luis Medina: @SEA, HOU

 

National League

Strong Plays

Spencer Strider: LAD, PHI

Corbin Burnes: HOU, SF

Alex Cobb: @MIN, @MIL

Yu Darvish: @WAS, @NYY

 

Decent Plays

Zack Wheeler: ARI, @ATL

MacKenzie Gore: SD, @KC

Jordan Montgomery: @CIN, @CLE

Drew Smyly: NYM, CIN

Charlie Morton: LAD, PHI

Kodai Senga: @CHC, @COL

 

At Your Own Risk

Eury Perez: @COL, @LAA

Edward Cabrera: @COL, @LAA

Sean Manaea: @MIN, @MIL

Colin Rea: HOU, SF

Gavin Stone: @ATL, @TB

Graham Ashcraft: STL, @CHC

Tommy Henry: @PHI, BOS

Brandon Williamson: STL, @CHC

Dylan Covey: ARI, @ATL

Chase Anderson: MIA, NYM

Austin Gomber: MIA, NYM

Streamers

These are pitchers I’m considering as single-start streamers this week in a 12-15 team mixed league that are available in at least 50% of leagues.

American League

Zack Greinke: DET (5/24)

Alex Faedo: CHW (5/25)

 

National League

Ryan Weathers: @WAS (5/24)

Eric Lauer: SF (5/25)

Steven Matz: @CIN (5/25)

 

Player Notes

  • Banking on prospect call-ups to produce in MLB is a crapshoot, especially hitters. A favorable opportunity and lineup spot like the Reds are providing with Matt McLain as their No. 2 hitter makes the projection a bit more favorable, but I don’t understand why many fantasy managers are dismissing his minor league struggles prior to this season. He was no longer on the top prospect radar after a mediocre season at Double-A Chattanooga, hitting only .232-17-58 with 27 steals in 452 plate appearances. The performance was far worse in the Arizona Fall League (.657 OPS), but suddenly he’s the middle infield prospect everyone has been waiting for after crushing Triple-A pitching in 38 games at Louisville. This isn’t to say McLain, a former first-round pick, won’t have a great MLB career, though the past struggles should be baked in to the projection and FAAB effort. Despite the good situation, I’d personally much rather wait on Royce Lewis’ pending promotion when he’s eligible to come off the IL for the Twins next week.
  • Speaking of Reds prospects, I’m not ready to be fooled by Brandon Williamson’s great debut at Coors Field. He undoubtedly has a plus arm, but Williamson’s control has been sub-par since last season with a BB/9 above 5.0 in the minors. Going back through recent history, the number of pitchers who have been an asset at the MLB level immediately after showing such poor control in the minors are few and far between. Williamson will get a much bigger test tomorrow against a hot Cardinals lineup that crushes lefties.
  • The Cardinals finally promoted Matthew Liberatore, a move fans have been screaming for since the pitching staff’s slow start. As he showed during Spring Training and Triple-A, Liberatore’s velocity was up significantly in his first start in the bigs in 2023. His fastball was up above two mph, and Liberatore worked more heavily off his curveball than we saw last season. The first-round pick’s turnaround already happened at Triple-A, with a 3.13 ERA in eight starts and a career-high 11.0 K/9. He had a very forgettable 2022 season in which he didn’t look like an MLB pitcher, including an ERA above 5.00 in 22 starts at Triple-A. The control here still makes me nervous in the short term, with a BB/9 that’s been above 3.0 as a pro for the most part, but Liberatore has a chance to be an asset in all leagues this season if the new found velocity holds.
  • This is a huge week for players returning from injury. In addition to the aforementioned Royce Lewis, pitchers Kyle Hendricks, Luis Severino, and Tyler Glasnow are set to make their season debuts, while Garrett Whitlock will also return for Boston. It’s a much-needed boost for fantasy lineups and MLB teams alike.

Cincinnati Reds Prospects 2023

sethroto

Overall Grade: A

As you’d hope from a team in a complete rebuild, the Reds are elite both with both premium prospects and depth. Top prospect Elly De La Cruz, in particular, is one of the most interesting prospect profiles in years with as much raw talent as we’ve seen in this generation.

Name PosAge Level ETAGradeComments
Elly De La CruzSS/3B20AA2023AElite power/speed and BA. Discipline is a concern, but a premium prospect.
Noelvi MarteSS20A+2024A-Clear 20/20 and decent contact.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand3B22AA2023B+Good BA and excellent power.
Edwin ArroyoSS18A-2025B+Good pop, great speed, struggled after trade from SEA.
Chase PettySP19A+2024BFormer 1st round pick, looks like control pitcher.
Matt McLainSS/2B22AA2023BFormer 1st round pick, Decent pop and good speed. Good walk rate but terrible BA.
Spencer Steer3B/2B24MLB2022BLegit pop and versatile.
Brandon WilliamsonSP24AAA2023B-Big strikeout numbers, but walks are a huge concern.
Connor PhillipsSP21AA2024B-Huge K rate, poor control.
Austin HendrickOF21A+2024B-Former 1st round pick, good pop and speed, terrible discipline and BA.
Andrew AbbottSP23AA2024B-Great K rate, poor control.
TJ HopkinsOF25AAA2023CGood pop, older than competition.
Alex McGarry1B24AAA2023CGood power and some speed. Poor walk rate.
Michael SianiOF22AAA2023CSome pop and elite speed. Clear 5th OF.
Allan CerdaOF22AA2024CGood power and walks, terrible BA.
Joe BoyleSP22AA2024CImpressive K rate, no control.

Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Rankings 2023

sethroto

Updated 01/21/23

Rankings based on 15-team mixed, standard roto-scoring leagues.

Rating: 1-5, 5 is likely improvement, 1 is likely decline

Status: Sleeper (S), Deep Sleeper (DS), Bust (B)

RankNameLgTeamPosCommentsRatingStatus
1Trea TurnerNPHISSDurable in four of five years. No big changes. Led league in PA. Would expect speed to decline soon.3
2Bobby WittAKCRSSExtreme LA and elite speed. Worst in second half. Finished year hitting second.3
3Bo BichetteATORSSStreaky, hit .406-7-27 in September. EV and HH% were up. Mediocre speed makes 2021 SB a fluke.3
4Fernando Tatis JR.NSDPSS
5Amed RosarioACLESSCut K%, elite speed. Slow starter again. Hit 2nd, lineup spot really matters.3
6Tim AndersonACHWSSCut K% sharply, but power also down. Missed time with groin and thumb.3
7Francisco LindorNNYMSSK% remained up and speed is in decline.2
8Xander BogaertsNSDPSSHR% worst since 2017, power returned late. EV down significantly but played through injury.3
9Oneil CruzNPITSSElite EV and speed. 34% K, huge September. High-risk, high-reward.3
10Ezequiel TovarNCOLSSBreakout at AA, clear 20/20 ability. Could be favorable price.3S
11Wander FrancoATBRSS10% K, chronic injuries but looked great in April and September.3
12Dansby SwansonNCHCSSSuper durable in three consecutive years. HR% about the same for three years. EV was up. Price is solely for PT.3
13Nico HoernerNCHCSSK% down to 11%, increased LA. Struggled in second half. Has probably reached ceiling unless he's promoted in lineup.3
14Willy AdamesNMILSSFB% from 2021 held. Showing strong growth. XBA in line with real.3
15Corey SeagerATEXSSSecond best HR% of career. .283 xBA. Slowed a bit in second half.3
16Jeremy PenaAHOUSSSmashed LHP, hot in September and playoffs. Elite speed.3
17Carlos CorreaAMINSSAlmost no change, BA was a fluke.3
18CJ AbramsNWSNSSAwful walk rate, didn't improve in WAS. Ended year hitting 2nd and 91 speed.3
19Jorge MateoABALSSHigh LA and elite speed. Defense could keep him as starter.3
20Javier BaezADETSSSecond best K% of career. Better in second half but still not great, EV well down. Speed down. Clear decline.3
21Elvis AndrusAFASSPower rebound with White Sox, increased LA. Speed has tanked.3
22Ha-Seong KimNSDPSSHigh LA, made progress in second half. Still not a regular.3
23Isiah Kiner-FalefaANYYSS14% K, showed some pop in September.3
24J.P. CrawfordASEASS13% K but horrendous EV. Demoted in lineup late in year.3
25Royce LewisAMINSSSecond torn ACL, very impressive when he played.4
26Brandon CrawfordNSFGSSFought knee problem, no sign of 2021 numbers.2
27Adalberto MondesiAKCRSSTorn ACL, speed already tanked.2
28Jose IglesiasNFASSHit better on the road than at Coors. Still strong contact.3
29Oswald PerazaANYYSSSome pop and elite speed. Didn't hit the ball hard, and BA has been mediocre.3
30Anthony VolpeANYYSS
31Miguel RojasNLADSSEv bad in b2b years but making contact.3
32Brice TurangNMILSS
33Dylan MooreASEASSSB skills better than actual speed, 29% K.3
34Kyle FarmerAMINSSSlammed LHP, likely to be his role.3
35Ryan KreidlerADETSSHas some pop and speed.3
36Elly De La CruzNCINSS
37Mauricio DubonAHOUSSMuch improved K% but didn't hit RHP. Somewhat interesting.3
38Jordan WestburgABALSS
39Alan TrejoNCOLSSSome pop but nothing else.3
40Nick AhmedNARISSShoulder surgery in June. Was terrible in 2021.2
41Edmundo SosaNPHISS
42Jose RodriguezACHWSS
43Jose BarreroNCINSS44% K, fractured hamate bone. 2021 was only showing of upside, but was good enough to be worthy flier.3
44Garrett HampsonNMIASSOnly hit LHP.3
45Maikel GarciaAKCRSSGood speed and has hit for BA. Interesting stash.3
46David HamiltonABOSSS
47Geraldo PerdomoNARISSGood defense and speed. Can't hit.2
48Blaze AlexanderNARISS
49Otto LopezATORSSSolid BA and can run.3
50Austin MartinAMINSS
51Zach NetoALAASS
52Danny MendickNNYMSS
53Masyn WinnNSTLSS
54Paul DeJongNSTLSS33% K worst by far. Looks finished.2
55Brayan RocchioACLESS
56Matt McLainNCINSS
57Liover PegueroNPITSS
58Zack ShortADETSS
59Andrew VelazquezALAASSAll defense and speed. 34% K.2
60Ronny MauricioNNYMSS
61Addison BargerATORSS
62Jordan LawlarNARISS
63Johan CamargoAMINSS
64Joey OrtizABALSS
65Jermaine PalaciosADETSSHas pop and speed. Overmatched initially.3
66Vinny CapraATORSSDisciplined and has hit for BA.3
67Braden ShewmakeNATLSS
68Jacob AmayaNLADSS