It’s been less than a week but we have new data and information on players. No matter how poor anyone has looked it isn’t enough to make any real large adjustments in your initial valuations. We are looking for new developments early in the season. For a pitcher, that may be adding a new pitch or finding additional velocity. For a hitter, perhaps it’s additional loft in the swing or a new position in the lineup that could add (or subtract) from their playing time projections.
Read on for 10 burning questions that have already developed in the limited regular season action we have seen.
It’s been less than a week but we have new data and information on players. No matter how poor anyone has looked it isn’t enough to make any real large adjustments in your initial valuations. We are looking for new developments early in the season. For a pitcher, that may be adding a new pitch or finding additional velocity. For a hitter, perhaps it’s additional loft in the swing or a new position in the lineup that could add (or subtract) from their playing time projections.
Read on for 10 burning questions that have already developed in the limited regular season action we have seen.
Burning Fantasy Baseball Questions
Who is the closer in Detroit?
Alex Lange‘s surface-level stats from last season portrayed a solid closer with a 3.68 ERA and 26 saves. The underlying numbers were concerning, though. He walked over six batters per nine innings, which was a big reason his FIP was 4.36.
Therefore, it was noteworthy that the Tigers asked Jason Foley to get the final two outs on Opening Day. He struck out both batters he faced on just 11 pitches. He would add another save over the weekend. Foley had better numbers last season than Lange with a 2.61 ERA, which his 2.73 FIP fully supported. He also came out throwing harder than last season with a max pitch velocity of over 101 miles per hour (MPH). The current save situations in Detroit trend towards Foley. Lange was brought in for the seventh inning in his single appearance so far where he struggled with command. If you roster Lange, move forward with Foley instead.
In spring training, we learned that after pitching 12 total innings between 2022 and 2023, the White Sox were going to try Garrett Crochet out as a starter. He performed so well in spring training that he earned the Opening Day start for the club. His dominance continued in his start against the Detroit Tigers. He pitched six innings with eight strikeouts, zero walks and only one earned run allowed.
Crochet should be added in all leagues that have at least 12 teams. There is too much breakout potential to leave on waiver wires. Just be aware there are also some issues here. He is primarily a two-pitch pitcher. That can work, however, it makes the margin of error thinner. Keep in mind that his next start is against the Atlanta Braves. You need to see more before you can start him in that matchup. In case he pitches well in that start, having him on your bench already is advised.
Shane Bieber was a popular bust selection among fantasy analysts early in the offseason. His decreased velocity last season led to an xERA of 4.83 and a career-low 7.5 strikeouts per nine. Then, there were reports of visits to Driveline baseball to increase velocity.
That was on display in his first start against the Oakland Athletics. His average fastball velocity was 91.6 MPH. Far from overpowering but up over two MPH from last season. The results were encouraging — 11 strikeouts over six innings without an earned run allowed. His last game with that many strikeouts was in September of 2022. Monitor the velocity, but he looks back as a frontline option.
Should I keep A.J. Puk if I drafted him?
A lot of pitchers that performed well in spring training carried it over into the regular season debuts. A.J. Puk was not one of them. In spring training, he struck out 23 and only walked four batters. It was enough to earn him a spot in the starting rotation.
He looked like a completely different pitcher in his first regular-season start. The walks were the issue. He allowed three hits but more worrisome was that he issued six walks in only two innings. With all the intriguing starting pitchers that have emerged on the waiver wire (Jordan Hicks, Jack Flaherty, etc) it’s possible to consider dropping Puk. There was enough upside shown in his spring training starts to give him another opportunity before moving on.
Last season, Brady Singer pitched 159 innings with a 5.52 ERA. A high batting average on balls in play (BABIP) and low strand rate didn’t help his cause. His FIP was over a run lower at 4.29. Even with some positive regression expected, no one could have been prepared for what he showed on Sunday against the Twins.
Singer threw 98 pitches, producing an impressive 19 whiffs on those pitches and 10 strikeouts over seven innings. It should be noted he faced a Twins team that just last season set the record for most strikeouts as a team in a single season. Singer is going to have to continue to avoid giving up hard contact. He was the worst in all of baseball last season in that regard. It wasn’t a problem in this start but more starts are needed from Singer to fully buy-in.
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