Reggie Yinger
Under the Radar - AL/NL Only Leagues
Thursday June 2nd, 2011
AL-only owners should take a chance on Josh Outman. (Icon SMI)
This week's list of players includes an Oakland starting pitcher returning from Tommy John surgery, a converted reliever who's now starting in Kansas City, and two rookie starting pitchers from the National League who had impressive major league debuts.
* Owned percentages via Yahoo!
Josh Outman - SP, Oakland Athletics (2% owned)
After missing all of the 2010 season due to Tommy John surgery, Oakland starting pitcher Josh Outman has bounced back nicely in 2011. Prior to his 2011 big league call-up, Outman was 4-1 with a 4.78 ERA in eight starts with Triple-A Sacramento. In 13 big league innings this season, he's struck out four hitters and walked eight batters. The lefty has struggled with control since his minor league days, but not to the extent he did in his two major league starts this season, so hopefully those walk numbers will return to a respectable level. Although he isn't yet striking out hitters like he did pre-Tommy John surgery, his two 2011 starts (against the Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles) have been decent. Outman is serviceable as a fourth or fifth starter on AL-only rosters, but could also be worth a look in deep mixed leagues, depending on matchups.
Felipe Paulino
- SP, Kansas City Royals (0% owned)
After being run out of town (and the Rockies bullpen) in Colorado, Felipe Paulino may have found a home in the starting rotation of the Kansas City Royals. In two starts (9 1/3 innings), Paulino has not allowed a run on five hits and has yet to walk a batter. He's bounced between the rotation and the bullpen for the last three seasons with the Houston Astros and the Rockies, but may finally have a secure rotation spot for the Royals. Paulino has always been a pitcher with great upside, due to his ability to strike hitters out, but his control has been an issue. The Royals will monitor him closely to ensure he isn't overused as a starter, but adding him is a nice risk for AL-only fantasy managers.
After being run out of town (and the Rockies bullpen) in Colorado, Felipe Paulino may have found a home in the starting rotation of the Kansas City Royals. In two starts (9 1/3 innings), Paulino has not allowed a run on five hits and has yet to walk a batter. He's bounced between the rotation and the bullpen for the last three seasons with the Houston Astros and the Rockies, but may finally have a secure rotation spot for the Royals. Paulino has always been a pitcher with great upside, due to his ability to strike hitters out, but his control has been an issue. The Royals will monitor him closely to ensure he isn't overused as a starter, but adding him is a nice risk for AL-only fantasy managers.
Andruw Jones
- OF, New York Yankees (1% owned)
While the New York Yankees have a stacked lineup, the designated hitter spot is currently a black hole. Veteran Jorge Posada
hasn't produced and that has left an opening for Andruw Jones, one which should only increase as the season moves along. In the last seven games the Yankees have played, Jones has made four starts between the outfield and the DH spot, though that could be because the team was facing lefthanded starting pitchers. Regardless, with Posada struggling mightily at the plate, Jones has to be the favorite to see more at-bats. Jones won't help in the batting average department, but he's still a power threat, especially playing in Yankee Stadium.
Brendan Ryan
- SS, Seattle Mariners (4% owned)
Mariners shortstop Brendan Ryan ended a career-high 11-game hitting streak on Wednesday. Ryan hit .513/.556/.641 during the streak, while striking out just once. He's never been much of a power hitter (nine career home runs), so owners will have to hope that he can find another hitting streak. Although he doesn't strike out much, he doesn't walk much either, so his fantasy value is limited. However, he's still of some value to AL-only managers and some very deep mixed league owners.
NL-Only PlayersOriginally scheduled to be a spot-starter for the injured Wandy Rodriguez, 20-year-old righthander Jordan Lyles could see an extended look for the Houston Astros, depending on the results of his next start against the San Diego Padres. In his big league debut, Lyles kept the Chicago Cubs hitters guessing for seven innings, scattering five hits, allowing one earned run, no walks, and striking out four. The 2008 first-round draft pick looked good during spring training, but started the season in Triple-A Oklahoma City. Lyles doesn't possess a major "put-away" pitch, yet has a four-pitch arsenal that still allows him to be effective several times through the batting order. Astros manager Brad Mills has already stated he won't use a six-man rotation when Wandy returns to the team, so Lyles will need to impress on Sunday evening against the Padres to secure his spot in the rotation. He's worth an immediate pickup in NL-only leagues, and deeper mixed leagues should monitor his situation, but I wouldn't hesitate in adding him for his start against the light-hitting Padres in Petco Park.
Juan Nicasio
- SP, Colorado Rockies (1% owned)
The Colorado Rockies were thrown for a loop when lefty starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa
was injured and lost for the season, but they may have found something special with minor league prospect Juan Nicasio. Nicasio, 24, dominated while pitching for Double-A Tulsa this season, posting a 5-1 record in nine starts and a 2.22 ERA and 10 strikeouts per nine innings. He made his major league debut against the St. Louis Cardinals last weekend and held the National League's best offense to six hits over seven innings pitched. His fastball topped out at 97 mph against the Cardinals, with an average velocity of 94 mph. In addition to a lively fastball, he also featured a changeup and a slider, with both pitches sitting around 83-84 mph. His next start is scheduled against the San Francisco Giants on Friday evening, but beyond that his plan is a mystery. The Rockies' rotation is anyone's guess for now, but with Nicasio throwing gas, he's a must-start in NL-only leagues and worth a look as a streaming option in deeper mixed leagues.
Emilio Bonifacio
- 3B/SS/OF, Florida Marlins (2% owned)
Emilio Bonifacio, the waiver wire wonder who took the fantasy world by storm (before fading out) in the 2009 season, could be up to his old tricks once again, depending on the health of regular shortstop Hanley Ramirez. HanRam has missed three straight games with lower back pain and could be headed for the disabled list come Friday afternoon. If that happens, Bonifacio will see playing time at shortstop on an everyday basis. Questions on Ramirez's health still remain, but with Emilio possibly landing regular playing time, fantasy owners should look to add him.
Brandon Crawford
- SS, San Francisco Giants (1% owned)
The San Francisco Giants infield has been hammered hard by injuries this season, giving 24-year-old lefthanded hitting Brandon Crawford an opportunity to find everyday at-bats with the big club. Despite Giants general manager Brian Sabean's love affair with zombie shortstops, the youngster has started at short each of the last four games. Crawford's defense is better than that of the aging Miguel Tejada, and thus far Crawford, who's known more for his defense than his bat, appears capable of hitting big league pitching. However, the Giants like to tinker with their lineup (see Brandon Belt
) and mix and match starters here and there, so there's no guarantee on Crawford's playing time. Regardless, the shortstop position is very thin for fantasy owners, so Crawford can fill in for time being.
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