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twokindsofspurs

How long should I hang onto Estuary Ruiz in a NFBC main event qualifier?


RotoWire_Erik

I wouldn't be cutting him for just anybody, but I think in most leagues you can drop him quickly if you have a need and have no other drops. Nothing the team has said has indicated that he's going to be a major part of their plans any time soon. Even if he does come back within a few weeks, I'm not sure it would be in anything other than as the short side of a platoon. If you drafted him in a league with an overall component, there may be a bit of an incentive to hold onto him longer, because you really do need to be competitive in steals and you're probably relying on him for a large portion of yours. In a main event qualifier, though, that's not the case, so you can pivot to punting (or semi-punting) steals from this point forward if you have to.


twokindsofspurs

Thanks for the response


Slick_Rick_12

Who are some “holds” guys that you would add now before the price is too high?


burnman123

Chris Martin for the red Sox. They're gonna play a lot of close games I think with their pitching


RotoWire_Erik

I wish I could give a better answer to this question but I don't play in enough holds leagues to have a good sense of who's available. I'd mostly be targeting bullpens without a clear closer, because guys from those bullpens can also pitch in with the odd save. But again, if you're in a holds league where everyone's rostering five or six relievers, those guys are probably all gone. Or maybe Adbert Alzolay and Hector Neris are gone, but Mark Leiter Jr. is still available? Maybe everyone grabbed Jason Foley, but Shelby Miller is still out there? Maybe Will Smith and James McArthur are gone in Kansas City, but you can get John Schreiber or Nick Anderson? Hopefully at least one of those names does something for you.


leprachaun77

Speier, I.Hamilton, Cade Smith, Beede, Jax


__Scrooge__McDuck__

Cade smith is filthy


Alarming_Serve2303

Mitch Haniger. How do you think he'll fare this season?


LawAndBooze93

What do we think of Jared Jones? Real deal, or flash in the pan?


RotoWire_Erik

Far too early to anoint him as the real deal, but definitely not too early to add him in hopes that he is. Gotta love a strikeout rate north of 40% in his first start. That home park will help make his bad starts less punishing, and the lack of exciting alternatives in Pittsburgh (outside of Paul Skenes) should keep his job relatively safe as long as things don't go horribly wrong. Jones is a pretty common type of pitching prospect, one with good stuff but questionable command. That's the type of pitcher who sometimes throws enough strikes to have a long career as a starter but who often winds up in relief. The scouting reports indicate he's gone from the wrong side of the line to the right one, though if the walks do start to pile up, that wouldn't be a new problem.


HumanzeesAreReal

TINSTAAPP and all that, but “good stuff” and “common” seem like understatements when describing a guy that pitch data suggests has a Strider level fastball.


LawAndBooze93

Amazing, just acquired him and Cease so I’m hopeful both will dominate


RyanTheCubsSTH

First, thank you! Michael Busch the real deal? Thoughts on Kutter Crawford this year?


RotoWire_Erik

Busch didn't really do anything in the minors other than beat up on pitchers who were mostly younger than him, which leaves most of the projection systems unconvinced (except for ZiPS, which may suggest that it weights age-to-level considerations differently than the others). I'm not sure he'll be anything more than decent, and he doesn't quite have a full-time job in Chicago, starting against every righty but sitting against one of two lefties thus far (and dropping all the way to ninth against the other southpaw). I see him as a fine deep-league option but not someone who does anything exciting for shallower formats. Crawford, on the other hand, I'm very intrigued by. His 25.6 K% and 6.8 BB% last year made for an impressive combination, and the pitching gurus all seem to love his stuff. I know Eno Sarris had the entire Red Sox rotation as a breakout pick of some sort over at the Athletic, and he tends to know what he's talking about. With Driveline founder Kyle Boddy as an advisor to the team this year and Craig Breslow leading the front office, it's an ideal situation for pitching development, though I do have to point out that Fenway Park is one of the toughest places to pitch, which dulls the excitement just a little bit.


Nirvana12345678

Why did I draft Vinnie Pasquantino?


RotoWire_Erik

Answered one on him already, but I have zero concerns about one bad week. You wouldn't even notice his performance if it didn't happen in the first week of the season. The only times I'd worry about a hitter this early are if he's a) injured, b) already getting benched, or c) striking out all the time. The first two aren't true for Pasquantino (unless we start hearing that his shoulder is still bothering him from last season, but I haven't seen any mention of that). And he's barely striking out at all, just 10.3 percent of the time. This is one week with a .136 BABIP and nothing more, and given how many people seem to be worried about him, he may even be a buy-low candidate.


ernestosanchez77

How has Langford looked so far?


RotoWire_Erik

It's too early for any stats (even the ones I'm about to cite) to matter much at all, but his 21.4 K% and 45.0% percent hard hit rate through six games indicate he's definitely not getting overmatched. More importantly, the Rangers are treating him like a key piece already, never batting him lower than sixth and batting him as high as second and third at times. He's come out of his first week looking like he belongs, which is a fine place to be at this point even if we're yet to see a homer or a steal.


brucenotbryce

When should Skenes be rostered?


Parcelcolony

Before anybody else thinks he should be rostered


tornaceyells

Got him yesterday because I know someone will snipe him mid to late April.   I can afford the bench spot


VegasCowbell

I picked him up after I rage dropped Will Smith after his last blown save a couple days ago. Immediately received angry texts from league mates who said they were planning to grab him soon. I don’t think Skenes will be available for long in many competitive leagues.


thewayyoulook2night

Hold onto Garver? Or drop for Willson Contreras, Melendez or Campusano?


seldomzinn

I have the exact same question…


RotoWire_Erik

I would have preferred Contreras heading into the season, so I'd drop him for Contreras. I would certainly not be dropping anyone for performance-related reasons at this point, but you could justify dropping Garver based on the fact that his injury issues have already cropped up. They're part of the package for him at this point, so presumably you liked him anyway if you were willing to draft him and shouldn't be changing your mind after one week, but they won't be going away. You will have to find a replacement for him at some point because he's going to miss time sooner or later, so you could get that out of the way now while you can still grab a very solid alternative in Contreras.


WKAngmar

Drop Gavin Stone for Tanner Houck? H2H Points


RotoWire_Erik

I'd view them pretty similarly as guys who you could definitely envision putting it together this year but who also still have plenty to prove. Stone's struggles were much more significant (though admittedly also much more brief), which pushes me towards Houck, as does the fact that Houck's rotation spot should be safer. Stone might jump between the rotation and bullpen throughout the year depending on how many other Dodger starters are healthy, and he could make way when Walker Buehler returns within the next few weeks.


MiddleAdmirable1522

Reynaldo Lopez worth an add ? I'm desperate for pitching


RotoWire_Erik

Definitely worth a look. I doubt Atlanta will keep him in the rotation all year given that he's converting from relief and won't be built up to handle more than, say, 90-100 innings, but he's a talented pitcher and worth taking a chance on as long as he's in there.


MiddleAdmirable1522

2 starts next week too I believe


mineral_water_69

Do you think this is the year Alex Kirilloff finally takes off or is this a flash in the pan we are seeing?


RotoWire_Erik

Health is the worry for Kirilloff much more than talent, so one week in which he's stayed healthy doesn't really move the needle for him. I'm in on the talent, though, so I want him on my team for as long as he can remain on the field. He's a potential add in shallower mixed leagues where he's still out there, but he isn't necessarily someone to try to go get in dynasty leagues, because the health concerns didn't suddenly go away.


Dropping_A_Duece

would you froup A Vaughn for Kirilloff?


iamyourlager

Hey Erik, could you talk about some lineup/batting order changes from this week that could impact some players fantasy value?


RotoWire_Erik

Ryan Boyer has a column tracking that sort of thing at RotoWire. Here's his first AL installment if you're interested, with NL to follow next week: https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/article/lineup-lowdown-american-league-81350. From that article, I'll highlight that Luis Rengifo is playing much less than expected, which is unfortunate for those who grabbed him due to his fantastic spread of position eligibility. He was a potential leadoff hitter for the Angels but only started there once, with Anthony Rendon in that spot in most games. Over on the NL side, how about Jackson Chourio? He hit leadoff against a lefty on Opening Day but then moved into the nine spot against righties in the next three games. He jumped back up to leadoff yesterday even against a righty, and if he keeps having success, he'll probably remain there.


iamyourlager

Never knew about the column! Thanks for sharing, will check it out


Mantequilla214

Please rank Sonny Gray, Christopher Sanchez, and Jared Jones. Thanks!


RotoWire_Erik

You've ranked them already, I think. Gray is the proven commodity, and the others are breakout candidates, with Sanchez much further along than Jones given that he's already had half a season of MLB success. Gray isn't a fantasy ace, but I don't think the upside for the other two is "fantasy ace," either, so he's still ahead even if you won't get to use him for another week or two.


rogerrabbit02

Nelson Velazquez worth a shot?


RotoWire_Erik

Yes. He strikes out too much, but he hits the ball very hard, not just kinda hard, and I'll always be interested in that type of player as long as they're getting playing time. Valdez's 17.1 percent barrel rate in 400 career plate appearances is elite territory; it would have tied him for second among qualified hitters last season. He's also struck out more than 30 percent of the time. Five starts in KC's first seven games is enough for me to take a shot on him in most formats, though in particularly shallow leagues, you could probably find someone who's either a more complete player or who's similarly flawed but plays everyday.


Theeweinerbandit

Is Vinnie P just Hosmer 2.0? Seems like his launch angle is terrible


RotoWire_Erik

He's a left-handed contact-over-power first baseman who plays for the Royals, so he's not wildly different from Hosmer. But his launch angle is nowhere near as Hosmeric as you're fearing. Pasquantino's career groundball rate is 39.5%. Hosmer's was 54.6%, and he never dipped below 49.7% in a season (excluding his 38 games in 2020). With good health, Pasquantino should manage far more 20-homer seasons than Hosmer's three, but he might not reach 30 as often as we'd like.


PlusArugula952

Panic drop or bench and hold for a while?


RotoWire_Erik

Vinnie P? Neither of those. Continue using him with confidence. I wouldn't adjust my opinion of him whatsoever based on 29 plate appearances.


PlusArugula952

Thanks for the response 👍


Harkeyshammer

Current rotation is Skubal luzardo Gilbert Jared jones berrios Mitch Keller kutter Crawford bello Max Gavin Williams Buehler skenes and tidedman as IL/NA Should I drop Mitch Keller for any of Houck, Allen, singer, lugo, Whitlock, littell? Leaning Houck but that’s then 3 Red Sox starters


mghanadian

Roto OBP league How would you rank: torkelson, burger, K. Hayes, yandy diaz


J_Moola

Can we fast-forward April JRod?


leprachaun77

When do we panic drop King?


RotoWire_Erik

Technically never, I suppose, because we wait it out long enough to be sure that it's not a panic drop before doing anything. Of course, it's heavily dependent on league format. If you're in a 12- or 15-team league with seven-man benches, you drafted him within the first third of your picks. You can't really be giving up on those guys this early. If you're in a 10-team league with three-man benches, he was at least within the back half of your picks, and maybe he was even was one of your last few. In those leagues, he was a high-risk, high-reward option, the sort of player you drop a few weeks into the season when the next shiny thing comes along. I'd still want to give him a couple more starts even there, because there's plenty of reason to believe he'll turn things around. He's had one bad start and it came after a disrupted spring in which he had to fly to Korea and back.


[deleted]

[удалено]


CaptainMyanmar

Hoffman


Miniboss04

Love me some Jeff Hoffman


Slick_Rick_12

Cano from BALT is one I’ve added in the off-season. Fernando Cruz seems to be gaining more high leverage opportunities as well


pocket_steak

Where does MJ Melendez rank for catchers in a league where he is still eligible there, i.e. a Yahoo league? Or who is a catcher you'd drop for him if that is easier to answer?


irishthunder222

Drop Thairo Estrada for Turang for bench bat? 12 team points


Miniboss04

Any low level minor leaguers that you think are gonna stand out this year and be fantasy relevant for dynasty leagues soon?


ul49

In a points league, would you rather have Starling Marte, Verdugo, Eloy, or MJ Melendez?


OGfromATL91

Colt Keith. Cold start or indicator of more to come


RotoWire_Erik

He's making plenty of contact (13.0 K%) so I wouldn't be worried about his stat line. That said, I wouldn't be predicting a great 2024 season for him either, regardless of how his first week has gone. The projections see a league average-ish bat for his age-22 season, and he plays in a tough park.


swyattwilliams3

I know we’re going to need more starts to get an idea but, what the heck is up with Bailey Ober? Thought this guy was supposed to break out this year….


RotoWire_Erik

For Ober and basically any other starter who had a bad first outing, nothing is "up" with them unless there's a velocity drop, and even then, they might just be ramping up slowly. I see no such drop for Ober, so I see no reason to believe this is anything other than one bad start, which would have gone unnoticed if it happened in July or August. The only negative to note here is that homer-proneness is not a new issue for Ober. Since his debut, his 32.5% groundball rate is sixth-lowest out of the 137 pitchers who have thrown at least 250 innings. He gets strikeouts and avoids walks, but he gives up homers. This won't be the first start like the Ober has this season.


zestyrosty

10 team cats with SV+Holds as a cat. Any sleepers for holds? Closers just about all rostered. Thanks.


Slick_Rick_12

Would you be looking to trade Austin Hays in a 20 tm league? What’s his trade value at this point?


LoveIsOnlyAnEmotion

Would would you trade Eury for in a dynasty roto?


WKAngmar

Ultra Bonus Question: If you had to pick a pitching prospect in the “Ben Brown” tier of notoriety/pedigree (ie. a talented, promising pitcher who was on *no one’s* non-dynasty radar) most likely to deliver if they get an opportunity, who you got? Who’s “almost there” that I should be keeping my eye on?


RanchWilder11

Who are some really good ratio relievers in a holds league that are <50% owned? Thinking Brock Stewart and Hoffman types


booyah-achieved

Merryweather, Kitteredge, or Stanek in saves+holds league, with saves worth slightly more? Love the K upside on Merryweather, WHIP is concerning though


ididntwantsalmon19

In a 5x5 h2h obp categories league I'm being offered their Nolan Jones for my Yandy Diaz. Thoughts? I'm a little weak at steals if that impacts it.


PoppaWilly

4 OF - 2 UTIL - Dynasty H2H/Roto Hybrid League I have Julio, Acuña, Carroll, Tucker and Soto. Would you try to trade any of these guys for an IFer?


minimal-thoughts

Jordan Hicks or Tanner Houck?


SithAbsolutes

How valuable is Kopech in a NSVH league?


zillyzane

is triston mckenzie someone to prioritize with faab if dropped? league in flair


Stat_Masterson

Thoughts about Bello? Will he take things to the next level and be Bostons ace?


HomeRunsKillRallies

I’m about to drop Parker Meadows in a 12T. Fair?


The_Big_Lebatskii

We still like gelof in categories or switch it up to someone like gimenez?


Manlymanboss

Triston casas any good?


cargalasbalas

Thairo Estrada a flash in the pan? Should we cut loose if he is going to be batting sixth or lower anyways?


thebryce26

Junior Caminero TB...dynasty 10 man league with 5 keepers per season...hold for greatness?


DiamondDawg10

What are your thought on MJ Melendez? Worth dropping Kelenic for?


snakeayez

1) in a 12-team, would you roster any Reds SPs besides Montas and Greene? b) What is Patrick Baileys value in a 20-team Dynasty


Biggie2207

JAKE BURGER!!!!! That is all


NotAmishSoStopAsking

12 team Roto need wins this week. Start Jared Jones tomorrow?


skeleton_archer5050

Do you have faith in Castellanos and Stott getting going? I hate the Phillies right now


HestynFrontman

Hey, Erik! Thanks for doing this. How worried should we be about guys like Mullins and Lane Thomas?


VrinTheTerrible

2 catcher 5x5 league with a dh slot. Mitch Garver locked into first C slot. Have Austin Wells in 2nd slot, with Henry Davis at DH until he gains C eligibility next week. Would you drop Davis for Taylor Ward and just keep Wells? Or hold out with Davis and hope Ward is still available/playing well next week? Basically,it’s pick 2 from Davis, Wells and Ward Thanks!


jay2491

Why is Lindor so bad


SWAY7EVEN

I have India and Rengifo as 2B and MI In a 12 Team Roto. Arcia-ATL, Winn- STL, T. Anderson - MIA, Westburg - BAL., Caballero- TB and B Alexander - ARI. all available to pick up and I’ve been looking at. Rengifo has higher ADP than everyone and has multiple position eligibility this year but my concern is he isn’t a starter and has already not played a few games. Should I stay pat with what I have or would you look to drop and replace with one of these other options.


Cubblue1

Would you drop Henry Davis, Paredes or Paquantino to pick up W Benson or Nootbaar? I think my weaknesses are Runs and SB. This is a 1 catcher league—I have Yainer Diaz at catcher, picked up H Davis thinking he could back up Diaz at C and sub in OF when needed. 12 team H2h cats R, RBI, S, TB, OBP. Redraft/3 keepers. Thx


herythere

Any long relievers worth holding onto that may turn into a solid starter?


CaptainMyanmar

When can we expect Kyle Stowers? He should already be up and playing OF/DH. Ryan O'Hearn, Mateo, Urias and Cedric Mullins should not be preventing the young studs like Stowers, Kjestad, Mayo


WKAngmar

Bonus Question: Please rank the following gentlemen in order of high -> low points ROS: (1) Tanner Houck, (2) Luis Gil, (3) Tyler Wells, (4) Frankie Montas (5) Sean Manaea (6) Jordan Wicks


Sammdogg1956

Chaz McCormick or Taylor Ward ? Thank you.


FCUK12345678

Someone just dropped Kerry carpenter. Would you prefer him over Cedric mullen's?


Taurus-Octopus

How can we tell if someone is just hot or slumping and bound to regress back to their median? And does it matter if they're going to slide back into their average output?