MLB daily notes: Fantasy rankings for Wednesday
— -- Wednesday's full slate features Jameson Taillon's long-awaited debut, Yu Darvish's third start since rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, James Shields returning to the American along with Archie Bradley's quest to prove he belongs in the Show. Oh yeah, we also have four of the game's best among the elite options, joined by two of the up-and-coming aces. It's a busy day but we have you covered with all the pertinent details in the Daily Notes.
Pitching
Elite
The two biggest mysteries of the 2016 season to date are how did Alfredo Simon manage to last seven innings in Coors Field last week and what's with all the Max Scherzer homers. We'll get to Simon later, now we'll focus on Scherzer as he'll take the hill in U.S. Cellular Field to face the Chicago White Sox in an interleague tussle. The Washington Nationals right-hander has allowed a long ball in all but two outings, including his previous six efforts. However, despite playing in a homer-friendly venue half the time, the White Sox are in the bottom third of the league with respect to home run rate versus right-handers. Scherzer may not be the best value play on the board, but he's still one of the optimal cash anchors.
The best pitchers in the league are match-up proof. We're going to learn a lot about Noah Syndergaard as he and the New York Mets visit the Steel City. The Pittsburgh Pirates are one of the toughest foes for a right-hander as they carry a productive 0.344 weighted on base average along with a below average 19 percent strikeout rate in that scenario.
One of the top match-ups on the docket will take place in Petco Park as Drew Pomeranz and the San Diego Padres will entertain Julio Teheran and the Atlanta Braves. Pomeranz is quietly establishing himself as a front-line starter, sporting a dominant 10.7 K/9. His control needs work as evidenced by a 4.3 BB/9, however the Braves are the third least patient team in the league when facing a southpaw along with toting an above average 23 percent whiff rate. Of the six elite hurlers, Pomeranz profiles as the top tournament option based on huge strikeout potential.
Let's knock off the next two together as David Price leads the Boston Red Sox into AT&T Park to tangle with Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants in the marquee game of the night. This is one of those contests that could be a 0-0 tie heading into extra innings or a 9-8 slugfest as both squads feature grinding offenses that can get to anyone. Playing either southpaw goes beyond a contrarian play since neither has, at least on paper, huge strikeout upside. Let someone else try to be the smartest guy in the room. Fade the affair for DFS but watch it for the beauty of the game.
The last of the elite is Carlos Carrasco, making his second start since coming off the disabled list. He was on an 80-pitch limit in his return, falling two tosses short in a five-inning stint. While there's no official word on a maximum for his tilt with the Seattle Mariners in Safeco Field, the host's offense is dangerous, which makes Carrasco a tenuous DFS play.
Solid
I'll make a deal with Vince Velasquez. If he learns to be more pitch-efficient, I'll devote him more bandwidth. The Philadelphia Phillies right-hander hasn't made it out of the fifth frame in his past three outings and is a date with the Chicago Cubs on tap. Someone will deem him a tournament option. That someone is not me.
On the other hand, Yu Darvish is an intriguing play as he has exhibited uncharacteristically sharp control since returning from Tommy John surgery, walking just two with 12 punchouts in 12? innings. The Texas Rangers right-handers battles their Lone Star State rivals, the Houston Astros, in Arlington. The visitors offer some strikeout upside as they fan one quarter of the time against righties. Darvish may not be ready to throw a complete game but finishing the sixth is plausible, which is sufficient for GPP action.
Regular readers of this space recognize a personal affinity for using John Lackey in DFS cash games, and this is no exception. The Cubs continue a series in Citizens Bank Park against a pedestrian Phillies lineup with an above average strikeout rate versus righties. Lackey is viable in all formats.
Jameson Taillon will be called up to make his major league debut as the Pirates host the Mets at PNC Park. Taillon has earned the promotion with a 9.0 K/9 and eye-popping 0.9 BB/9 at Triple-A Indianapolis. Something to note, with a hat-tip to my colleague Tristan Cockcroft is Taillon exhibited reverse splits in the minors, especially with respect to fanning left-handed batters. This will come in handy as the Mets will send up a parade of lefty and switch hitters. If you've been patiently waiting to use the rookie righty, he should be safe. Just be aware getting his first win will be tough with Thor as his mound foe.
The usually steady Jaime Garcia has been inconsistent but is in play against the Cincinnati Reds since he has the platoon edge over Joey Votto and Jay Bruce.
Wei-Yin Chen returns to an American League stadium as the Miami Marlins take on the Minnesota Twins in Target Field. The former Oriole is in a good spot as the Twins whiff at a hefty 25 percent clip against southpaws.
Streamers
James Shields first start in a White Sox uniform will come against the Nationals in U.S. Cellular Field. Home runs are a well-documented issue for the veteran right-hander and the venue will do him no favors. Neither will the opponent as the Nationals boast the eighth-highest home run rate in the league with a right-hander on the hill. Shields isn't in play for mixed leagues but is viable in American League only under the guise that you acquired him knowing his pre-existing condition of gopheritis.
Archie Bradley is in a great spot as the Arizona Diamondbacks welcome the Tampa Bay Rays into Chase Field. The right-hander has a 19-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his two starts since being called up in late May. The visitors walk at the league average pace but they fan 26 percent of the time against righties. Bradley is not only a strong start in seasonal leagues, he's also a DFS candidate.
Ricky Nolasco and safe aren't often used in the same sentence but the Minnesota Twins right-hander is boasting a solid 8.2 K/9 in tandem with a stingy 1.6 BB/9. The visiting Miami Marlins are league average versus righties, mostly because Giancarlo Stanton has scuffled. There's some risk but Nolasco's low walk rate reduces much of that.
Chase Anderson is in play regardless, but if the designated hitter-less Oakland Athletics are also without Danny Valencia and Khris Davis, who both missed Tuesday's tilt, the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander is an even better play.
Avoid
Somehow Jered Weaver keeps getting it done but with a date in the Bronx with the New York Yankees, the fly ball pitcher's luck could run out in front of that short right-field porch.
His Game Score is higher than most that make the avoid list, but until Jesse Hahn starts missing more bats, he's reserve fodder. The opposing Milwaukee Brewers do whiff at a huge 27 percent clip versus righties, but Hahn's 4.4 K/9 should allow for better contact.
Hitting
As alluded to earlier, last time out Alfredo Simon put a damper on DFS stacks everywhere as he held the Colorado Rockies to four runs over seven innings in Coors Field. What do they say about blind squirrels and acorns? The St. Louis Cardinals visit the Great American Ballpark with Simon on the hill. Matt Carpenter, who may soon be second base eligible with Jhonny Peralta returning and playing the hot corner, is the chief target. Fellow lefty Matt Adams is next followed by righties Aledmys Diaz, Matt Holliday, Stephen Piscotty as well as Peralta.
New York Yankees fly chasers Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner aren't usually power threats, but with Jered Weaver on the hill, everyone is in scoring position when they step into the batter's box. Other threats to go deep include Carlos Beltran, Alex Rodriguez and Brian McCann.
Stacking against a knuckleball is high risk, high reward. When the offense includes Ian Kinsler, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez, the risk is worth it. Other Detroit Tigers to deploy against R.A. Dickey's floater are J.D. Martinez and Nick Castellanos.
Doug Fister doesn't throw a knuckler but stacking against him as the same feel as the Houston Astros sinkerballer can be tough when on but incendiary when not. The Jurickson Profar-led Texas Rangers are next up for Fister as the Texas clubs battle in Arlington. Joining Profar as solid options are Ian Desmond, Nomar Mazara, Adrian Beltre and Rougned Odor.
Most likely to go deep: Not only is Jesse Hahn not missing many bats, he's allowing homers by the bushel. Ryan Braun lacks the platoon edge but quite frankly, he doesn't need it to take Hahn out of Miller Park.
Most likely to swipe a base: Sometimes chalk is the right call. Syndergaard can't control the running game and Starling Marte's running out of control with 18 bags so far.
