20 Things to Watch: Garrett Crochet, Lawrence Butler, Colton Cowser (2024 Fantasy Baseball)

It is vital to look at important storylines and aspects this week to be ahead of the curve and gain an edge on your league mates. We have 20 such storylines for you to monitor.

20 Fantasy Baseball Things to Watch

1. Schedule Notes

The following teams have just five games this week:

Minnesota Twins at MIL, vs. CLE
Milwaukee Brewers vs MIN, vs. SEA

The following teams have seven games this week:

Chicago White Sox vs. ATL, at KC

2. Anything but the Standings

This is some “do as I say not as I do” advice, but the standings do not matter this early. People care too much about standings in the first month of the season. As long as you aren’t getting buried in a category, things will take time to stabilize, so don’t worry about them too much.

3. The Weather

One of the frustrating parts of the early season is the number of games that will be postponed because of rain. Keeping track of MLB cities’ weather is a sneaky way of maximizing plate appearances and innings early in the season. For daily lineups leagues, pick-up leagues or DFS, follow Kevin Roth on Twitter, who is a fantastic resource for weather content.

4. Lawrence Butler (CF – OAK)

Lawrence Butler started in the outfield over teammate Esteury Ruiz on Opening Day. I don’t think Ruiz is a bench bat but this is something to monitor for Butler. If Butler plays regularly, he has a lot of power and speed upside as long as he can keep the strikeout rate in check.

5. Chicago Closer Chaos

The White Sox won’t win a lot of games but it is still an open question on who their closer is. A lot of people thought it could be Michael Kopech, who was converted from a starter to a reliever this offseason, but he entered the game in the seventh inning when they were losing. The frontrunner is John Brebbia and the dark horse could be Jordan Leasure, who made the team as a non-roster invite to spring training.

6. Minnesota Closer Chaos

With Jhoan Duran out for a month or two with an oblique injury, the Twins are looking for a closer to hold down the fort until he returns. Griffin Jax is the favorite and got the first save of the season but the Twins follow the Tampa Bay Rays model and may share responsibilities. If Jax is the main guy, he has a lot of value for the next couple of months.

7. Milwaukee Closer Chaos

With Devin Williams out for at least three months following back surgery, the Brewers are looking to see who will fill in. Abner Uribe was the first recipient of a save and has two already, so this may already be decided. Joel Payamps was the presumed favorite coming into the season with Trevor Megill as the second option. Uribe can struggle with walks, so keep an eye on this one.

8. Detroit Closer Chaos

There wasn’t much question coming into the season that Alex Lange was the closer in Detroit until Jason Foley got the first save of the season. Is this a committee or is Foley now the guy with an improved pitching arsenal?

9. Garrett Crochet (SP – CWS) vs. Spencer Strider (SP – ATL)

Spencer Strider is the best pitcher in baseball but Garrett Crochet wowed in his first Major League Baseball start after being converted from a reliever. Crochet has a tough test against a top-tier offense in Atlanta. If he can survive it will put him on the map for every format.

10. Colton Cowser (LF, CF, RF – BAL)

Colton Cowser was a top-10 prospect this year and last year but was an afterthought in drafts until a big spring training put him back into sleeper conversations. However, he was on the bench for the first two games and now it appears he may be a backup option. Let’s watch and see if the playing time ticks up because there is a lot of upside in his bat.

11. The First Rockies Home Series

After starting their first two series on the road, the Rockies head home to Colorado with a matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays. This is a good time to bench your Rays pitchers and stream hitters for the Rockies and Rays.

12. Jared Jones (SP – PIT) vs. Grayson Rodriguez (SP – BAL)

On Friday we get a fantastic matchup of two great young pitchers in Grayson Rodriguez and Jared Jones. They both had great season debuts. Rodriguez is already rostered everywhere; Jones should be very soon.

13. Luis Gil (SP – NYY) vs. Ryne Nelson (SP – ARI)

Luis Gil and Ryne Nelson were two interesting high-upside sleepers coming into drafts. Now they face off against each other to start the week on Monday. Both have nice strikeout stuff but Gil struggles with injuries and Nelson struggles with control. This will be a great test and matchup for each pitcher.

14-16. Streaming Options

Javier Assad (SP, RP – CHC) vs. COL

Javier Assad is not a pitcher I think is overly talented. However, this is a fantastic matchup versus a bad Colorado offense away from Coors Field that I would take advantage of.

Louie Varland (SP, RP – MIN) at MIL

Louie Varland was another popular sleeper but he is still widely available in most formats. He gets a Milwaukee offense filled with a bunch of young hitters and could be a nice source of strikeouts.

Max Meyer (SP – MIA) vs. LAA

Max Meyer had been fantastic in spring and was a surprise addition to the rotation because all of Miami’s pitchers are hurt. This is a two-start week but the back half of this one is pretty scary since it is in Cincy. The front half at home is really nice, though.

17-20. 2-Start Options

Dean Kremer (SP – BAL) vs. KC, at PIT

Dean Kremer has been great at home when protected by Camden Yards’ dimensions. There is good stuff in the profile. He is at home for the first half of the week and then in Pittsburgh’s spacious PNC Park for the second start.

Reese Olson (SP -DET) at NYM, vs. OAK

I have not been the biggest Reese Olson fan but he has a juicy matchup versus a mediocre (at best) offense in the Mets. He follows that up with a start against maybe the worst team in baseball in the A’s.

Michael Wacha (SP – KC) at BAL, vs. CHW

Michael Wacha has been a pretty reliable pitcher over the last few seasons. While the front half of this two-start week is a little scary, it is in Camden Yards, the best park in baseball to pitch in. The back half is really juicy versus a bad White Sox team at home.

James Paxton (SP – LAD) vs. SF, at CHC

James Paxton is an older, thicker version of Triston McKenzie, meaning he is usable now while healthy. Add in the fact he has the Dodgers offense supporting him. As long as he can go five innings, he should get a win.

MLB Weekly Advice Lawrence Butler Esteury Ruiz Michael Kopech John Brebbia Jordan Leasure Jhoan Duran Griffin Jax Devin Williams Abner Uribe Joel Payamps Trevor Megill Alex Lange Jason Foley Garrett Crochet Spencer Strider Colton Cowser Jared Jones Grayson Rodriguez Luis Gil Ryne Nelson Javier Assad Louie Varland Max Meyer Dean Kremer Reese Olson Michael Wacha James Paxton

About Author

Justin Mason

@JustinMasonFWFB

Justin Mason is the lead fantasy writer and analyst for Friendswithfantasybenefits.com. He is a writer at Fangraphs and Fantasy Pros. You can hear him on the Radio on the FWFB, TGFBI and the Sleeper and the Bust Podcasts. He also runs The Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational and the Bay Area Roto Fantasy (BARF) league.