Some lesser known players who can help get you across the finish line, highlight this week’s Week That Was.
Abraham Almonte: AA had a big game Sunday going 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and a swipe in the Indians win. Yes, I know he missed half of the year on PED suspension but that was the first half and you are playing for a title in the second half! Over the last two weeks, AA has hit .290+ with 8 RBI, 6 runs and 2 SB. Do you think three more weeks of that kind of production can help? You bet it can. The Tribe are playing for a division title and will ride the hot hand. You should too. [Note, if you are into the advanced metrics, you will see that AA is hitting the ball harder than he did a year before so that supports the notion that his hot hitting can last the remaining season.]
Tyler Holt: The Reds outfielder had a big Sunday as he went 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored while hitting out of the leadoff spot. With Billy Hamilton down, there is opportunity for this 27 year old if Cincy does decide to give it to him. In this writer’s opinion, they should. Over the last two weeks, Holt has posted a gaudy 1.100+ OPS while showing good patience (5:5 K:BB). If you need to take risks to climb in the standings, this is a good place to look.
Jose Urena: The Marlins righty shut down the Dodgers on Sunday with 8.2 innings of shutout ball while allowing just four hits with no walks. With his next start coming up against the Phillies, there is little reason to doubt he can continue to pitch well. Over his last three starts, Urena has an ERA under 2.50 and a WHIP under 1.00. Bottom line – he is pitching well, averages 95mph on his fastball and has a weak opponent next up. Buy!
Chad Bettis: The Rockies righty went seven strong innings Sunday and gave up just two runs on five hits and a walk. I know, I know, no one gets rich relying on Colorado pitching. However, if you look deeper, you’ll see that over his last six starts, Bettis has a respectable 3.50 ERA and a WHIP under 1.20. Oh, and he actually pitches better at home than on the road so a home start against San Diego next does not scare me (especially because he has pushed his ground ball rate over 50-percent this year).
Adam Ottavino: Staying with Rockies pitching (why not?), the past and now current closer is Adam Ottavino. Yes, I know the Rockies do not win a lot. Yes, I know that Ottavino is just back from Tommy John surgery. However, saves are saves and he will get them for the Rockies over these last three weeks. For those worried about mile high, consider that Ottavino has picked up his ground ball ways he had pre-surgery and keeps the ball on the ground well over 60-percent of the time.
And now the moment you well, may or may not be waiting for, the Baron of Bottom of the Page pontificates -- a/k/a Schultz says: “With the football season about to start, hopefully The Overlord will indulge Schultz a little this week. Those who have been playing rotisserie baseball since it became the de rigeur pastime for baseball fans in the 1980-1990s will surely agree that although Major League Baseball has changed greatly since then, rotisserie baseball hasn't exactly kept pace. Although the Bill James statistical revolution has transformed how real-life GMs put together a team, baseball's fantastical counterpart has generally remained unchanged. Where baseball now places great emphasis on on-base percentages, slugging percentages and fielding independent pitching stats, rotisserie baseball still measures success on the basis of batting average, runs batted in and extremely fielding dependent pitching ratios. For the most part, this is purely an academic and moderately interesting observation. Except for the fact that Terry Francona may be ready to present rotisserie baseball with its biggest challenge yet.
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When the Indians acquired Andrew Miller, the prevailing wisdom was that he would take over as closer and push Cody Allen into a set-up role. From a roto-perspective, Miller's value increased exponentially, Allen's practically evaporated. However, Tito had different ideas of what should be done with a pitcher that could arguably be referred to as the league's best. Instead of giving Miller a defined role, Francona has taken to bringing him into the game when the game is on the line. While that could be the 9th inning, it more often happens in the 7th or 8th, sometimes the 6th. For Indians' fans, this strategy is phenomenal, Miller comes in to the save the game when the game needs saving instead of coming in to save the game when MLB decides that a save statistic can be registered. For rotisserie baseball fans though, this might be a nightmare. For a game where a non-starter's main value is his ability to rack up saves, there is now a situation where one of the game's best pitchers has minimal value and is worth less than Ryan Madson, Brandon Kintzler, Tony Cingrani and Andrew Bailey.
For 2016, the Miller situation is simply an anomaly. But what if it catches on? Will roto-baseball really have the same allure when it becomes common knowledge that the game's best pitchers lack value? Will a roto-revolution occur with new stats and categories invented to properly account for the game it seeks to mimic? Will Rob Manfred have to impose Draconian new rules to maintain the integrity of the save? These are things to think about while you realize that you totally botched your fantasy football draft.”
Response: Interesting on the Tito analysis from the Indian fan and funny about the football drafts! I am hoping that at least five or six of my football drafts proved to be well done but we will see. Adrian Peterson will have a lot to say about that!
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Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.