BP Fantasy: Week One Studs and Duds

With the news of the Yankees game tonight against the Tigers being postponed, here is a fun read for your pre-week fantasy studies, as we run down of the best (and worst) of the first week of the season. So far we have already seen studs emerge and some other stars come out flat. We’ve watched an incredible Story unfold in Colorado, a nightmare hit Chicago and everything in between.

To fill your baseball void for the night, here are some of the top performers from the first week of the season at each position.

Starting Pitcher: 

• Clayton Kershaw, LAD: No surprise here as Kershaw opened the season with two solid starts racking up one win, 14 strike outs, a 1.20 ERA and 0.47 WHIP. Kershaw has shown us just a taste of his abilities so far this season.
• Cole Hamels, TEX: Hamels opened the season with a 7 inning, eight strike out performance and a win. His next start was a 6 inning, four punch out win. Sporting a 2.08 ERA and 1.08 WHIP, Hamels is out of the gates quickly.

Relief Pitcher:

• David Robertson, CWS: The White Sox closer has been efficient in his outings thus far posting a 0.00 ERA and a 0.50 WHIP in three appearances. If Robertson can keep runners off base (avoid his Houdini act), he could find himself as a top closer in fantasy.
• Roberto Osuna, TOR: Nearly perfect to start his season, Osuna has posted two saves in two opportunities while having a near perfect 0.33 WHIP. The Jays will give Osuna plenty of save chances this year, which could result in big numbers.

Catcher: 

• Brian McCann, NYY: It only has been a week, but you probably wouldn’t guess that McCann leads (tied) the league in runs scored. Yup, our big, lovable catcher is leading baseball with eight runs scored on the young season. To go along with those runs, he has one homer, three RBI and supports a .467 average.
• Francisco Cervelli, PIT: The former Yankee backstop has gotten off to a hot start in Pittsburgh has he has a .389 average, three runs and four RBI. With the loaded lineup in front of Cervelli, he will have chances to continue to knock in runs all year.

 

First Base: 

• Tyler White, HOU: We should recognize this name as White got off to his hot start in the Bronx. It has continued as Houston went to Milwaukee. White has now hit three homers, has 9 RBI and a .667 average. White has grabbed onto the starting spot in Houston- and doesn’t look like he wants to give it up.
• David Ortiz, BOS: Ortiz started his farewell tour by connecting with home runs in each of his first two games. He has five RBI and a .385 average to start. Owning Ortiz is tough for any Yankee fan, but the home runs and RBI totals will be there throughout.

Second Base: 

• Starlin Castro, NYY: Star light, star bright, Starlin has been hitting with all his might. (Paraphrased from John Sterling’s radio call for Castro’s second home run). The new Bronx Bomber has come out swinging with eight RBI, two homers and a .450 batting average. He was on my ‘Target List’ before the season started, but I never expected this hot start.
• Robinson Cano, SEA: The former Yankees’ second baseman is also off to a blazing start by hitting four home runs in his team’s first three games. Last season Cano’s early struggles were well documented. It looks like he was out to prove those not to be true this year.

Short Stop: 

• Trevor Story, COL: Without adding to the constant stream of puns, Trevor has been one of, if not THE biggest Story to start this season. Bursting onto the scene thanks in part to Jose Reyes‘ touchy situation, Story has already made a name for himself. Six home runs, 11 RBI, six runs and a .333 average are stats to get excited about. If he is not owned in your league- pick him up! (UPDATE: Story hit his 7th home run of the season in Sunday’s game setting a MLB record for most HRs through 6 games)
• Jean Segura, ARI: Talk about some one needing a change of scenery! Segura’s first week in Arizona was, well it was as hot as the desert heat. Hitting .423 with three long bombs, five RBI, six runs scored and two steals, Segura has found comfort with his new team.

Third Base: 

• Eugenio Suarez, CIN: The young Reds third baseman is making people learn his name in his first season after taking over for fan favorite, Todd Frazier. Suarez has started by hitting three big home runs, knocking in eight and carrying a .368 average. Sure we’ll see some ‘come back to reality’ with him the next few weeks, but there is much to like here.
• Josh Donaldson, TOR: Production for the hot corner around the league hasn’t been all that impressive in this first week, so Donaldson lands here somewhat by default. Sure he has three homers, eight RBI and six runs scored, but his .280 average isn’t where we’d like it to start. A bit reliant on the long ball to start the year, he should find his constant stroke where his stats elevate across the board.

Outfield:

• Matt Kemp, SD: Thanks to Saturday’s huge day (.600, 2 R, 2 HR & 6 RBI), Kemp’s first week was one to take notice. With totals of .429, 4 runs, 3 home runs and 10 RBI, Kemp has started strong. Most of this was done at Coors Field, so take this all with a grain of salt, as I wouldn’t expect these outputs to continue.
• Jay Bruce, CIN: Another former big name that fantasy baseball owners were casting aside heading into this season. With an opening line of .368, two homers and eight RBI, Bruce is trying to prove everyone wrong. The Reds have shown some grit and offensive competencies to start this season, all the doom of the Reds (at least fantasy-wise) may have been overstated.

Now that we’ve looked at the hottest players at each position, let’s take a quick look at some of the players to stumble out of the gates.

Starting Pitcher:

• Collin McHugh, HOU: The Astros starter was taken to task in his first start against the Yankees as he could only record ONE out. He gave up six runs in the first inning, yielding to a mind blowing 135.00 ERA and a 15.00 WHIP with 0.1 innings pitched. Not how you want to start a season.
• Zack Greinke, ARI: The biggest pitching transaction this off-season hasn’t quite lived up to the hype to start the season. In his first start, Greinke was tagged for seven runs in four innings, only to follow that up in his next start by giving up four runs in six innings. Not sure the D’Backs signed Greinke to start 0-2 with a 9.90 ERA and a 2.0 WHIP with only 10 innings pitched in two starts. Woof.

Relief Pitcher:

• Shawn Tolleson, TEX: Talking about pitchers who couldn’t get out of their own way, Tolleson’s second appearance was anything but ideal. He gave up five earned runs on five hits as he gave up a one run lead against the Mariners. Pumping his ERA up to 22.50, the Rangers closer needs to get back into form.
• Francisco Rodriguez, DET: K-Rod had his own issues in the first game of the season as he was knocked around by the Marlins for four hits and three runs. He did however get out of the inning, which was more Tolleson could do, but nevertheless, not impressive for Rodriguez.

Catcher: 

• Russell Martin, TOR: Imagine being in the best offensive lineup in baseball. You try to envision how you will play, how your team will start, and that you want to get off to a fast start. Now if you imagined starting the season with 17 at bats in the first week, and only having ONE hit to show for it- you would be Russell Martin. One for 17, a .059 batting average. Yucks.
• Travis d’Arnaud, NYM: Travis and Russell both have one hit this season. d’Arnaud has had five less at bats than Martin, but it isn’t how either of these guys wanted to start. In d’Arnaud’s favor is the fact he mustered up one RBI- not completely shut out like Martin.

First Base: 

• Albert Pujols, LAA: The start of the season for Pujols might be more of a precursor for the rest of the season, than for anyone else on this list. There was fear that because of age and injury, the player formerly known as ‘The Machine’, that this season would be the beginning of the end. If a start of 2/20 (.100 average) with only two RBI doesn’t strike fear in Pujols owners, than their optimism is better than most.
• Kendrys Morales, KC: Morales does have one home run in his 14 at bats, but that is his only one of his two hits of the season. Hitting .143 with only that one home run, will not suffice for his fantasy owners. He needs to be more of a run producer for him to have value in fantasy. I don’t doubt the Royals would like more from him as well.

Second Base: 

• Addison Russell, CHC: Russell took all of his Spring Training successes and just threw them out the window when the regular season began. He has two hits in his 17 plate appearances and has only scored, or knocked in runs in one game. Outside of that one game, he is 0 for 13 on the year with no runs and no RBI. Not how you want to start a year.
• Rougned Odor, TEX: Another young infielder that was expected to do big things this season. However, the start of 2016 hasn’t been kind to Odor as he supports a .136 average with one home run, three RBI and one steal. Ideally, this is just a slow start and not a sign of things to come for both young, emerging stars.

Short Stop: 

• Ian Desmond, TEX: Now Desmond has gotten a lot of time in the outfield, so this is cheating to a degree, but there are no if’s, and’s or but’s about how poor of a start it has been for him. A former Silver Slugger Award winner, Desmond has a .130 batting average to start the year with no home runs, no RBI, no steals, no nothing really. Hopefully, he can adjust to the change of scenery as nicely as we mentioned Segura has done.
• Troy Tulowitzki, TOR: Tulo started with a homer on Opening Day, and then has disappeared since then. Only two hits and one RBI since the opener, Tulo hasn’t exactly exploded out of the gates. Despite a .143 average and that one home run, the positive is that he has been healthy! (so far)

Third Base: 

• Miguel Sano, MIN: The big slugger in the Twin Cities has gotten off to a slow start as he hasn’t connected on a long fly yet, but has one ejection under his belt. Being tossed from a game arguing balls and strikes, makes a cold start, that much colder, especially playing in cold Minnesota. Burrr.
• Nolan Arenado, COL: One of the top rated third basemen heading into the season has flopped to start. Hitting .136 with one home run and three RBI, owners cannot be thrilled with their first round pick. So far, not even playing in Coors Field has helped. (EDIT- Until today as he is 2/2 with a home run on Sunday).

Outfield: 

• 

  Kyle Schwarber, CHC: Now this one isn’t for any of the reasons above, but what we as sports fans and fantasy owners hate to see the most- injury. Schwarber collided with teammate, Dexter Flower, and tore ligaments in his knee that knock him out for the season. A big hit to the Cubs, and Schwarber owners everywhere.

• Curtis Granderson, NYM: The GrandyMan can, but hasn’t yet. Hitting only .063 a week into the season, Granderson has been very much underwhelming. With only one hit on the season- coming in the opener- Granderson hasn’t found his stroke as of yet. Maybe if he spent more time in the cages and not trying to figure out his walk-up music, he wouldn’t have this slow start.

After looking at some of the week’s hottest and coldest, let’s take a quick look of players to pick up that might be sitting on your league’s waiver wire: (Player ownership based on Yahoo public leagues)

• Nomar Mazara, TEX: Just called up to replace an injured Shin-Soo Choo (28% owned)
• Tyler White, HOU: Mentioned his hot start above. If available, jump on it! (65%)
• Ian Kennedy, KC: Strong first start of the year. Could build off relationship with Dave Eiland (48%)
• Jorge Soler, CHC: The first candidate to get playing time after Schwarber’s injury (53%)
• Vince Velasquez, PHI: Shut down the Mets on Saturday and faces San Diego on Thursday (36%)