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
Shane McClanahan: @CHC, @BOS
Joe Ryan: @HOU, CLE
Sonny Gray: @HOU, CLE
Nathan Eovaldi: @DET, SEA
Zach Eflin: @CHC, @BOS
Decent Plays
Tyler Wells: CLE, @SF
Michael Kopech: LAA, DET
Bryce Miller: NYY, @TEX
Brayan Bello: CIN, TB
Logan Allen: @BAL, @MIN
Yusei Kikuchi: MIL, @NYM
Domingo German: @SEA, @LAD
Griffin Canning: @CHW, @HOU
J.P. France: MIN, LAA
At Your Own Risk
Brandon Bielak: MIN, LAA
Cal Quantrill: @BAL, @MIN
Matthew Boyd: TEX, @CHW
Paul Blackburn: ATL, @MIA
National League
Strong Plays
Zac Gallen: COL, ATL
Sandy Alcantara: SD, OAK
Decent Plays
Marcus Stroman: TB, @SD
Kodai Senga: PHI, TOR
Anthony DeSclafani: PIT, BAL
Bobby Miller: WAS, NYY
Adrian Houser: @TOR, @CIN
Michael Soroka: @OAK, @ARI
Kyle Freeland: @ARI, @KC
At Your Own Risk
Rich Hill: @SF, STL
Trevor Williams: @LAD, PHI
Ryan Weathers: @MIA, CHC
Ranger Suarez: @NYM, @WAS
Ben Lively: @BOS, MIL
Ryne Nelson: COL, ATL
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
Austin Voth: CLE (5/31)
Daniel Lynch: COL (6/4)
National League
Adam Wainwright: KC (5/29)
Sean Manaea: PIT (5/30)
Jared Shuster: @OAK (5/31)
Zach Davies: COL (6/1)
Player Notes
- This is another good opportunity if you need middle infield help, as the returns of Royce Lewis and Luis Urias from the 60-day IL are imminent. Lewis has continued to rake in the minors, going 7-for-33 with four home runs and four steals in 10 games at Triple-A St. Paul. That steal total is especially significant coming off a knee injury, and an indication that he will be able to provide steals for fantasy managers. As for Urias, he’s really struggled at Triple-A, going 0-for-13, but the Brewers desperate need the help after losing Willy Adames to a concussion. His track record over the last two years indicates that Urias should be fine, at least if you need power.
- Jake McCarthy was dropped in most leagues after his demotion to Triple-A, an example of cutting our losses after he was top 120 in ADP entering the season. He’s back as the Diamondbacks try to find answers in their outfield, and could be the big FAAB prize this weekend for fantasy managers desperate for stolen bases. It’s still worth noting that McCarthy is hitting eighth in Arizona’s batting order. He was mostly between 3-6 in the batting order last season during his breakout campaign, so the positioning in the order could hurt even if McCarthy is able to rebound. That said, steals are steals, and McCarthy showed great efficiency on the basepaths with 23 steals in 26 attempts last season.
- It’s Miller time once again in this week’s pickups as Dodgers top prospect Bobby Miller has joined the Dodgers rotation. Coincidentally, he joins fellow top “Miller” pitching prospects Mason Miller and Bryce Miller as a FAAB prize, and the bidding should be spirited after a dominant opening act against Atlanta. Some of the hype is warranted with Miller’s dominant stuff, but I’ll be exercising some discretion with this one given Miller’s struggles in the upper levels of the minors. He doesn’t have great control (3.0 BB/9 at Double- and Triple-A), and the leash could be short with Michael Grove’s return imminent and Julio Urias likely close behind him.
- If looking for an established MLB player to help, there are two new options with Jaime Barria and Austin Voth. Barria joined the Angels rotation this week and had an excellent debut start. The key to Barria’s game has always been his control, with a career 2.8 BB/9, and he’s continued to rely more on his offspeed stuff this season with greater success. As for Voth, he has a chance to replace Grayson Rodriguez in Baltimore’s rotation after doing a great job with the team last season (3.04 ERA in 83 innings). Home runs have always been an issue for Voth, which has continued this season and makes him a risky play in shallow leagues. Still, he has a career-best 3.57 K/BB ratio out of the pen this season, and the strong supporting cast does put him in the conversation if you’re desperate for new streaming options.
