Preseason Prep – March 4, 2025
Yankees Again Half of the Rotation is Immediately Unsure
Whereas the High of the Yankees rotation appears to be like as strong as ever, accidents have made for some alternatives on the again half. Clark Schmidt has but to pitch within the spring as a result of a again damage and has been restricted to bullpen classes though he’s anticipated to get right into a sport quickly. Schmidt had a breakout half-season final 12 months with a 2.85 ERA / 3.85 fip and a 9.8 Ok/9 over 16 begins. He featured a knuckle curve that restricted batters to a .190 SLG towards as his greatest pitch and when wholesome needs to be one of many higher #4/5 starters in ball.
Luis Gil was despatched for an MRI after coping with shoulder discomfort and it was revealed he might be out a minimal of 6 weeks. That is large blow to fantasy homeowners who already drafted or stored him in keeper leagues/ Should you performed fantasy baseball final 12 months you realize that Gil was a late draft darling nabbing 15 wins with a 3.50 ERA and 171 strikeouts as detailed by a few of our different writers earlier this season. I will not go into an excessive amount of extra element right here however you could need to take a look at a couple of beneath Yankees SPs as replacements.
Due to these Marcus Stroman has seemingly a shot at reclaiming a rotation spot. He had a troublesome begin yesterday permitting 4 ER over 2.2 IP together with 2 house runs vs the Braves. Regardless of nabbing wins final 12 months Stroman’s 4.31 ERA/ 4.62 whip and 1.47 whip inform a special story. His bread and butter has been inducing floor balls which is a cause the mushy tosser has caught round for as long as he’s traditionally close to the highest of the league in GB fee. His 49.1% GB fee was the bottom of his profession and his 30.8% FB fee was the best making his 1.11 HR/9 fee a profession excessive. Until Stroman can get again to his GB inducing methods it is exhausting to belief him as something apart from SP depth in your workforce.
Will Warren alternatively has been a sizzling story in Yankees camp. He has been almost good over 5 spring innings permitting 1 hit, 1 stroll and hanging out 7. Warren had strong numbers within the decrease minor leagues however had a 5.91 ERA in AAA final 12 months because of permitting 19 house runs. The outcomes had been even worse in 6 video games with the Yankees final 12 months as he had a ten.32 ERA with 5 HR allowed over 22 innings. That being stated Warren has routinely struck out batters in droves within the minor leagues and that did proceed final 12 months in New York. Warren has 2 minor league choices which might make him a great choice to open if each Schmidt and Gil are unable to open the season.
Across the League
Jackson Holliday (2B- Orioles)
Holliday has gone 4-12 with a HR and a couple of steals this spring thus far. Most fantasy gamers know Holliday struggled after his recall final 12 months as his stroll fee dropped 14% and his Ok fee rose 11% from his 2024 AAA begin. Maybe understanding he has a roster spot locked down will take away a few of his jitters and it’s anticipated for him to tighten up these stroll and Ok numbers which can assist his counting stat which might be high tier for second baseman. Holliday goes between 15-Twentieth for second baseman in most predictions; if he’s accessible in your dynasty league he needs to be a high goal.
Vidal Brujan (2B -Cubs)
Brujan has had an amazing spring thus far going 6-19 with 3 XBH, 4 steals and 4 walks in 8 video games. He had some shine as a high prospect a couple of years in the past however hasn’t put it along with a profession .189/.261/.270 over 550 PAs. Brujan often is the beneficiary of the Cubs opening the season in Japan early since beginning 2B Nico Hoerner will not be making the journey and Rookie Matt Shaw has been banged up together with his standing up within the 12 months. Brujan stole some luggage within the minor leagues however was simply 5 for 11 final 12 months and should not have fairly the pace profile he did 5 years in the past. Nonetheless in the event you play in a weekly fantasy league the place week 1 is brief it is essential to get these additional at bats from Cubs and Dodgers so I might be keeping track of Brujan late in drafts.
Alex Name (OF-Nationals)
Name has gone 2-9 this spring however has additionally drawn 8 walks. Name has appeared in main league video games in every of the previous 3 seasons and raked in 30 video games with the Nationals a 12 months in the past, slashing .343/.425/.525 with 3 HR and 5 steals. Name has a profession 11.7% stroll fee and 18.6% Ok fee and is at the moment ticketed to be OF4 for the Nationals to open the season. With the Nationals working out a younger lineup with 2 outfield studs, Name will play sparingly however he’s value watching if an damage happens later within the 12 months.
Landen Roupp (SP- Giants)
Roupp has fired 5 shutout innings this spring, hanging out 8 of the 17 batters he has confronted. He routinely put up large Ok numbers within the minors and whereas his sinker sits within the low to mid 90s he’s efficient at mixing his 4-pitch arsenal. In his debut final 12 months he turned in a strong 3.58 ERA over 23 appearances together with 4 begins. An 8.4 Ok/9 was the primary time this mark was beneath 10 since A ball in 2021. He’s at the moment on the skin of the beginning rotation image as Kyle Harrison and Hayden Birdsong are additionally within the battle for that closing spot. Roupp most likely finally ends up beginning the 12 months in AAA however when he does get the decision to enter the rotation I like the worth right here so much.
Sean Murphy (C – Braves)
Murphy sustained a cracked rib and can miss 4-6 weeks, making him unavailable for opening day. Murphy had a strong 2022 and 2023 the place he hit 58 doubles and slugged 39 house runs whereas hitting .250. Final 12 months he solely performed 72 video games and his bat regressed as his .636 OPS was by far the bottom of his profession. An indirect pressure he obtained on opening day might have been the perpetrator as he was by no means proper when he returned as a 53% groundball fee and 36% exhausting hit fee had been the worst marks of his profession. It appears to be like like he should wait just a little longer to strive for a rebound this 12 months.
Drake Baldwin (C – Braves)
Baldwin’s inventory soared with the damage to beginning catcher Sean Murphy. He has had a great spring to this point going 4-12 with 3 walks. He has a great hit and energy device and raked at AAA final 12 months to shut the season slashing .298/.407/.484 with 12 house runs. Murphy is at the moment going round catcher 15 in redraft leagues so this might be one of many extra impactful debuts for fantasy causes as if Baldwin can crack the roster because the starter. Able starved for influence bats he’s somebody who might be had later then catcher 15 however put up high 15 catcher stats till Murphy returns.
Ozzie Albies (2B – Braves)
Albies has seemingly alternated wholesome and damage inclined seasons for the previous six years. His sport whole since 2019: 160, 29 (half season’s value of sport), 156, 64, 148, 99. Its clearly one thing not possible to foretell however he is an effective wager for no less than 25 house runs and 80 RBIs with these numbers presumably a hitter greater primarily based on the previous few years of wholesome manufacturing. Albies recurrently checks in with good plate self-discipline and low strikeout totals; I need to watch a few of hit exhausting hit balls early this season in addition to his max exit velo was 113.7 mph – a high 10% determine in ball.
Jose Quintana (SP- Brewers)
Quintana signed a 1-year contract with the Brewers Monday. It’s an attention-grabbing touchdown spot because the Brewers seemingly had a full 5 man rotation; Aaron Asby often is the one who falls out of a spot if they do not make use of a 6-man as Quintana was almost definitely not introduced in to pitch from the pen. The veteran has bounced round over his profession however put collectively again to again strong seasons with the Mets delivering a 3.57 and three.73 ERA in 2023 and 2024 respectively. He was bit by the house run bug just a little bit greater than regular final 12 months and his 4.56 fip reveals he acquired a bit fortunate as does his 78% strand fee. He may not fairly be prepared for opening day with the late signing however there are worse choices to fill out the again of your fantasy rotation.
Jeff Hoffman (RP- Blue Jays)
Hoffman struck out 3 in his second scoreless innings of the spring Monday. Hoffman was a subject this previous low season with rumors of him changing to a starter adopted by studies of regarding physicals from different groups. With that noise apart Hoffman has established himself as a robust reliever as he’s coming off his first All-Star look after pitching to a 2.17 ERA with 10 saves and a 12.2 Ok/9 with the Phillies. The transfer to the bullpen has gone extraordinarily nicely as he has dialed up his fastball velocity to the excessive 96 mph vary whereas using his slider as his predominant wipeout pitch with a forty five% whiff fee the previous two seasons. Essentially the most notable storyline right here is Hoffman is anticipated to serve on the Blue Jays predominant nearer one thing he has not achieved solely earlier than though he was utilized in excessive leverage conditions all through final season. Primarily based on current outcomes I might be ok with having Hoffman as one in every of my closers on my fantasy squad.
Brendan Rodgers (2B – Astros)
The Astros introduced that Jose Altuve is planning to spend most of his time in left area this 12 months, which might open the door for Rodgers to take the second base job. The third total choose of the 2015 draft hasn’t lived as much as the lofty draft place as his .267/.314/.407 profession line is propped up by a drastic house (.306/.361/.465) cut up; his street OPS is .628. Most of his underlying stats verify in at barely beneath league common. Generally a a workforce swap can do a world of fine together with going to 1 with a wealthy playoff historical past – however I might avoid Rodgers except you’re determined for MI assist.
Bubba Chandler (SP – Pirates)
Chandler recorded simply 1 out throughout his third spring outing permitting 4 ER on 2 hits and a couple of walks whereas additionally throwing a wild pitch. Chandler is almost definitely set to start out the 12 months at AAA however needs to be a quick riser to the Pirate rotation when a necessity arises. With a 1.80 ERA over 39 AAA innings final 12 months some say he has little left to show. Chandler has at all times been a hard-thrower and the consensus is as he continues to develop his offspeed providing to pair with a 96.8 mph fastball the ceiling might be extraordinarily excessive right here.
