KRIS BRYANT
Kris Bryant is undoubtedly killing it for the Cubs. Through 46 plate appearances he’s batting .351 with a .478 OBP and he’s only struck out nine times while walking eight times. Unfortunately he has as many home runs as Hunter Pence – zero.
DFS PLAYBOOK PRO – An exciting new offering from the Alarm is here! It’s the DFS Playbook Pro. I will be doing a daily breakdown of the hitters –Hitting Coach – while Howard Bender looks into the Pitchers (Pitching Coach).
OTHER LINKS TO BOOKMARK:
INJURIES
Homer Bailey has been placed on the DL with ongoing woes with his elbow. Tommy John surgery is a growing possibility for the Reds' righty, though such a call is admittedly premature. The next few days will be key with Bailey as we try to determine what his value will be for the 2015 season.
Brandon McCarthy is done for the year with a torn UCL. Ugh. Looks like Scott Baker will get the first shot to fill the rotation spot. He doesn’t beat himself with walks, but he’s nothing other than an NL-only option at the moment.
Hunter Pence is likely a week away from taking BP as he comes back from his broken forearm. Looking like a mid-May return if things go well.
JOSH HAMILTON NOW A RANGER
It’s official, Josh Hamilton is heading back to the Rangers, the site of his greatest big league success (in 2012 he hit .285 with 43 homers, 128 RBIs and 103 
runs scored). Hamilton, returning from a shoulder injury, hopes to be back on the field at some point around the middle of May. What will he bring if healthy? That’s an open ended question, but he could still be a productive performer. If we look at least year as a guide, his effort in 2014 over 150 games would equate to 17 homers, 74 RBIs and 72 runs scored. He’s not a world beater, and he looked totally lost at times last year flailing at pitches (a career worst 28.3 percent K-rate), but there’s still enough talent in his bones to be an effective depth outfielder in mixed leagues.
HURLERS
Jarred Cosart needed 93 pitches to work through eight scoreless innings against the Mets Monday night. The effort lowered his ERA to 2.49 and 0.91 WHIP. He’s only struck out 12 batters in 25.1 innings, and his K/9 rate for his career is barely over 5.50. To this point in 2015 he’s done something he’s often struggled to do – limit the walks. Last season his BB/9 rate was 3.64. This season the mark is 2.49. He’s still not likely to fall into season long fantasy relevance in mixed leagues.
Dillon Gee last 7.2 innings Monday night against the Marlins as he needed a mere 70 pitches. Wow is right. He allowed a mere run in that effort as he lowered his ERA to 4.26 and his WHIP to 1.18. As with Cosart, he’s not a strong mixed league option despite this start. A streaming option.
Jason Hammel tossed eight innings of shutout ball Monday. Through 25.1 innings he’s posted a superb 23 strikeouts versus one walk. That’s just fantastic stuff. He posted a 3.47 ERA and 1.12 WHIP last season, but he’s also won 10 games just once the last four seasons and he has never, not one time, thrown 180-innings in a season.
Joe Kelly had 10 strikeouts last night over six innings against the Blue Jays. The strikeouts are nice, and for the first time in four seasons his heat has transitioned to strikeouts. Kelly has 28 punchouts in 23.2 innings, impressive even if you are Stephen Strasburg. However, Kelly also allowed five runs in the outing and his ERA is now 4.94 despite a 1.10 WHIP over the four starts. It should all even out, but it’s tough to fully support the huge growth in the strikeout category and that makes Kelly a nice arm to take a chance on, but not one that you should feel overly confident in rostering in mixed leagues.
Corey Kluber will end April without a victory. Through five starts he owns a 4.24 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 9.53 K/9, 5.15 K/BB ratio. People are panicking in the streets. You know what Kluber’s numbers were last season in April, you know, when he won the Cy Young award? He made six starts with a 4.14 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 8.51 K/9, 3.5 K/BB ratio. See what I mean when I say it’s too early to panic.
Andrew Miller is the best pitcher in the world. He has yet to allow a run over 9.1 innings as he’s converted all eight of his save chances. He’s also struck out 17 batters and allowed seven base runners (three hits, four walks). Dellin Betances only has value in AL-only leagues at the moment and there is no sign in Miller’s effort that will allow that to change any time soon. 
Taijuan Walker has a 6.86 ERA and 1.83 WHIP through four starts. Awful after his scintillating start to the season. However, second level, let’s look at the four starts. In his first two trips to the hill he allowed 14 runs in 7.1 innings. The last two times out he’s allowed one earned run over 12.1 innings after he allowed one unearned run to the Rangers Monday. Pull back further. He’s recorded 19 strikeouts in 19.2 innings and has allowed one home run. Maybe things aren’t as bad as they look from the outside.
BULLPEN CHANGES
BLUE JAYS
I warned you not to go all-in with 20 year old Miguel Castro.
For the fourth time in five outings, and fifth time in seven, Castro allowed a run. Moreover over his last three outings the Blue Jays reliever recorded four outs and allowed three runs and six hits. All told he’s the owner of a 3.60 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and has allowed a .308 BAA. Roberto Osuna, another 20 year old, has hit a bump in the road as well allowing runs in his last two outings. "I love both of them, I think they're both going to be great pitchers when it's all said and done, but we're asking a lot out of them, and I'm not sure how fair that is," said manager John Gibbons.
Brett Cecil has been installed as the closer, Castro demoted, moving forward. Cecil has allowed one run over his last three outings. Through five innings Cecil has allowed just one unintentional walk while striking out six. Cecil is the guy to own right now, but it’s far from clear how this situation will play out moving forward.
Note: The team has discussed putting Aaron Sanchez back into the bullpen, and if that were to happen he would potentially become an option for the 9th inning.
ROCKIES
LaTroy Hawkins was removed from the closers role and replaced by Adam Ottavino recently. However, it’s on to option #3 for the Rockies as Ottavino was placed on the DL with right triceps inflammation. It’s not certain how much time he will miss. Rafael Betancourt is lurking but it certainly seems like the arm to own is John Axford. The former Brewers’ closer is 3-for-3 and he picked up that third save Monday. Through five outings Axford has six strikeouts and two walks, but he’s also yet to allow a run. Don’t forget that from 201012 Axford saved 24, 46 and 35 games. If he gets on a roll, it’s not at all certain that Ottavino will return to 9th inning duties for the Rockies.