If you woke up early enough, you saw two regular season games in Seoul, South Korea last week. Baseball fans everywhere were so excited for the season to begin. It was just a teaser of what was to come, though. We’re now waiting till Thursday for the full Opening Day lineup of games.
- Week 1 Waiver Wire & FAAB Targets
- Deep Sleepers & More Waiver Targets
- Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings
- Fantasy Baseball Projections
Fantasy managers are chomping at the bit for more baseball that counts. This week was the first waiver run in many leagues. That leads directly to setting lineups, and then checking and rechecking those lineups as new information becomes available.
This is the preseason edition of what will become a weekly article. Throughout the season, this article will focus on the latest news from Major League Baseball (MLB). The news will then be converted into 10 burning questions for fantasy baseball.
Keep checking back every week for the latest questions that need answers.
10 Burning Fantasy Baseball Questions
How concerned should I be about Yoshinobu Yamamoto?
Unfortunately, this was the biggest question coming out of the Seoul Series. Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s major league debut couldn’t have gone much worse. He pitched only one inning. He gave up four hits and a walk, which led to five earned runs allowed.
Yamamoto threw 43 pitches in his only inning. He was able to produce 10 called strikes + whiffs. When he did give up hits, he was hit hard. He gave up four balls over 96 miles per hour (MPH), including two over 100 MPH. The Padres were attacking early in the count so he couldn’t get to his splitter. There was always the potential for struggles during the transition from Asia to the United States. In the long haul, the expectations remain that Yamamoto will be a fantasy asset.
Who is going to be the closer in Milwaukee?
All-Star closer Devin Williams is dealing with two different stress fractures in his back. The injury will likely make him unavailable for at least the first half of the season. It’s a tough blow for fantasy teams that drafted him early as he was selected as one of the top closers.
Who will the Brewers turn to at the end of games now? The good news for the Brewers is that they have options. The bad news for fantasy managers is that the Brewers have options. Joel Payamps, Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe all showed closer skills last season. Payamps is the pitcher who had the most saves among the three last season and should be considered the favorite for the initial opportunity. However, all three pitchers should be on a roster in 15-team leagues until a leader emerges.
Who is going to be the closer in Minnesota?
Another top-tier closer is also beginning the season on the injured list. Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran strained his oblique, likely keeping him out for at least the first month of the season. Much like with the Brewers, it opens an opportunity at the back of the bullpen for the Twins.
Unlike with the Brewers, there are seemingly only two closing options in Minnesota: Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart. Jax had four saves last season, while Stewart didn’t record any. Because of that usage pattern from last season, Jax will likely get the first opportunity. With his ability to avoid the barrel of the bat (3.3 % barrel) and get groundballs (56.8%), he should succeed as a fill-in until Duran returns.
What can we expect from Gavin Stone during his second MLB stint?
Gavin Stone was with the Los Angeles Dodgers for 31 innings last season. During those 31 innings, he surrendered 31 earned runs for an ERA of 9.0. The good news is his spring training performance earned him the Dodgers’ fifth starter job. He pitched 9.2 innings in spring training with nine strikeouts, one walk and one earned run allowed.
It’s enough to go back and look at those 31 innings again from last season. Even though he only had a 14.5 K%, he had a 34.3% chase rate and a 30.9% whiff rate. Both of those numbers indicate better strikeout numbers should come. With the Dodgers’ offense backing him, Stone should be on a fantasy roster in 12-team leagues.
How will the Reds’ infield playing time going to shake out?
That’s been a burning question all offseason. Recent injury and suspension news has led to new developments in the situation. First, we learned Noelvi Marte was suspended for 80 games for performance-enhancing drug use. Second baseman Matt McLain is dealing with a shoulder injury, which will make him unavailable for a while. While not an infielder, the team also recently lost TJ Friedl to a wrist fracture, which will impact infield playing time.
The injury to Friedl will likely push Spencer Steer primarily to the outfield. That leaves Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Jonathan India, Elly De La Cruz and Jeimer Candelario to play the infield. Each player needs to be owned in fantasy leagues. With a consensus FantasyPros average draft position (ADP) outside the top 250, India may end up being the steal of the group.
Who benefits from the Cardinals’ injuries?
Another team dealing with injuries at the start of the season is the St. Louis Cardinals. Tommy Edman will begin the season on the injured list with a wrist issue. Lars Nootbaar is dealing with fractured ribs, which he injured in spring training. He seems unlikely for Opening Day. That creates new opportunities for playing time.
The injuries ensure playing time for Masyn Winn at shortstop to start the season. The outfield is where the bigger question still exists. Dylan Carlson has had a good enough spring training to get another opportunity in center field. He better keep looking over his shoulder because Victor Scott is coming fast. Emphasis on the fast. Between the minor leagues and the Arizona Fall League last season, Scott stole 112 bases. He hit .353 and stole four bases in spring training, showing he is ready for his first chance at the Major leagues soon.
What is the status of Jordan Montgomery?
The most important remaining free agent is starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery. Montgomery has an ADP of 159, showing fantasy managers still value him. To this point, though, no major league baseball team has valued him enough to sign him.
The latest indications are that teams including the Red Sox and Yankees are interested in Montgomery. With the injury to Gerrit Cole, adding Montgomery for more pitching depth makes sense for New York. Should he sign with the Yankees, it would be a reunion as that is where he began his career. His ERA and FIP were the highest of his career when he was with the Yankees as he surrendered home runs at the highest rate of his career. Statcast’s Park Factors still show Yankees Stadium as the third-worst park for pitchers to surrender home runs.
When will Blake Snell be ready to pitch?
Defending National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell signed last week with the San Francisco Giants. Snell has yet to pitch in spring training and won’t pitch at all in front of live batters (at least in a game situation). When can we expect to see him in the regular season?
Snell himself was asked this exact question. He indicated he would not be available to pitch on Opening Day but may be available in the first series against his former team (San Diego Padres). The Giants will instead turn to Logan Webb, who finished second in Cy Young voting last season to Snell.
What will J.D. Martinez offer the New York Mets’ lineup?
The last major offensive free agent to sign was designated hitter J.D. Martinez with the New York Mets. There were reports the 36-year-old slugger was seeking a multi-year contract. In the end, he settled for a one-year contract worth $12 million. When he arrives in New York, he will slide right into the cleanup role with the Mets. He is starting with the Mets’ minor league affiliate team first, though, to get some initial at-bats.
He showed last season with the Dodgers that he still has plenty left in the tank with 33 home runs and 103 RBIs in just 113 games played. That rate of production is absurd and will slow with the Mets. That being said, he is still going to be a valuable fantasy asset and someone who is going to likely end up being a deal if you drafted him early when his ADP was outside the top 200.
Which fantasy-relevant rookies can we expect to start the season with their major league teams?
For 12-team leagues, nine rookies should be with their major league teams immediately and ready to impact your fantasy team.
First, are the Asian players. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was already discussed above. San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee and Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga are other rookies who should be on fantasy rosters for their potential.
Traditional rookies who are starting in MLB include Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, Texas Rangers outfielders Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones and San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill.
Notable names missing from the list include Baltimore Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday and Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero. Both players have been re-assigned to the minor leagues to begin the season.
Remember to check back weekly for updates on that week’s burning questions.
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