Solid showing last week with a number of my suggested fantasy baseball adds making impacts. The one that stood out the most was Jack Flaherty after registering 13 Ks and a win through 7.2 innings against the Phillies. Eduardo Rodriguez also picked up another quality start and win against the Orioles. Do what it takes to get these six pitchers on your roster by way of trade or picking them off the waiver wire this week.
SP Andrew Heaney (Los Angeles Angels) – I told you to keep an eye on Heaney a couple weeks back. After putting forth a pair of quality starts last week against the Astros and Rays, he’s an all-out buy! I had him on my roster a couple week’s back but dropped him for streamers. I regret that decision as it ultimately cost me last week since my opponent picked him up. While his walk rate over his last three starts is a bit inflated (4.1), you can’t help but love his 10.9 K/9 for the full season. Each of his last four outings have been of quality, and he looks to be coming into his own on a Halos squad that doesn’t look to be going away anytime soon.
Week Seven’s awards have been released!
Hitter of the Week:
Brandon Belt (.444 AVG, 8R, 5HR, 11RBI, 2BB, 0SB)Pitcher of the Week:
Andrew Heaney (14 IP, 0.64 ERA, .245 OBA, 2QS, 1W, 17K, 0SV) pic.twitter.com/x5oY3iYLV6— Swingman Fantasy Baseball (@SwingmanLeague) May 22, 2018
SP Nick Pivetta (Philadelphia Phillies) – I’m going to continue suggesting Pivetta until his fantasy ownership rate is well over 50 percent. It currently checks in at 43.1 percent in ESPN leagues, and that’s simply uncalled for! All he’s done over his last six starts is surrender 26 hits, 13 ER and tally 39 strikeouts to just 10 walks. If you take the one-inning disaster against the Nationals out of the equation, his numbers are staggering! Even so, many still aren’t believers. Silence the noise and get him on your roster now – the lack of respect for this bust out arm is ludicrous!
Nick Pivetta is through six. His last three starts (since the DC incident):
18 IP, 10 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 24 K
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) May 22, 2018
SP Jake Odorizzi (Minnesota Twins) – If I asked you which of the Twins starting pitchers owned the lowest ERA, would Odorizzi even come to mind? Probably not. Either way, that’s exactly the case with the veteran getting back to his old form in logging quality starts and producing better than average counting stats. He’s the team leader in both ERA, WHIP and wins. Though he doesn’t normally go past the sixth inning, he’s still racking up a solid amount of strikeouts evidenced by his excellent 13.1 K/9 average. He’s got a solid chance to build upon his resume Friday in Seattle, so if he’s available – he likely is with a 46 percent ownership rate – look to stream him if not pick him up full time.
.@JakeOdorizzi struck out a season-high 10 batters Sunday. It’s the fourth time in his career he’s fanned at least 10 in a game. #TwinsWin #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/kFxvjKjBR4
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) May 21, 2018
SP Ross Stripling (Los Angeles Dodgers) – Stop me if you’ve heard this before, Rich Hill is back on the disabled list. Shocker, I know. Stripling came on in relief against the Nats last Saturday after Hill went down after throwing two pitches. He came up huge for Dave Roberts by tossing six innings of 1 ER ball to lead LA to the win. Most impressive from a fantasy baseball standpoint were his nine strikeouts! With Alex Wood and Clayton Kershaw not coming off the DL anytime soon, it’s highly conceivable a number of starts are in the righty’s future. LA might be turning it around, and if it is, you’ll want to cash in on the comeback party!
Ross Stripling, Filthy 81mph Curveball. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/I1V3dDpQYC
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 19, 2018
RP Seranthony Dominguez (Philadelphia Phillies) – A speculative add more than anything, Dominguez has exhibited the traits of being a future shutdown closer. Gabe Kapler hasn’t officially come out and stated that Hector Neris has lost the job, but the Phillies said closer has only received two save opportunities in Philly’s last 11 games. The other two went to Edubray Ramos and Anthony of which each was converted. It seriously wouldn’t shock me if the move was made in short order, so if you have Neris on your roster, you might want to think about taking an insurance policy out on Seranthony.
In his first six big league appearances, Seranthony Dominguez has not allowed a hit or a walk. Today, he notched his first save.
Take a bow, Ser. pic.twitter.com/2yWBrrVM5v
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 20, 2018
RP Ken Giles (Houston Astros) – The back end of the Astros bullpen has been quite the conundrum all fantasy season long. First it was Ken Giles. Then it was Chris Devenski getting multiple innings saves just like the Milwaukee Brewers’ Josh Hader. Now, it looks like A.J. Hinch has gone back to Giles with the right-hander being called upon in each of Houston’s last three save opportunities. He converted each and every one of them, so it’s possible Giles is once again back in the good graces of his manager. If that’s the case, you could do a lot worse than install the defending champs’ closer onto your roster.
Uh, did Ken Giles just punch himself in the face? pic.twitter.com/Y8kbDIDVtl
— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) May 2, 2018
Add To Watch List: Vince Velasquez, Reynaldo Lopez, Dan Straily, Lucas Giolito, Sonny Gray
