Fantasy owners tinker with their rotations constantly, especially when their big guns are out of ammunition or shooting blanks (i.e., Matt Harvey).
Whether turning to a highly touted prospect or a savvy veteran who recently has caught fire, we always are trying to find a pitcher who can help immediately, but it doesn’t hurt to find one who could stick around and help the rest of the season.
Though Nathan Eovaldi went 0-2 with a 6.11 ERA in his first three starts, the Yankees right-hander recently has found his groove. He is 5-0 with a 2.92 ERA over his past six starts and hasn’t allowed a run over his last 11 innings. Batters are hitting .216 against him over this stretch.
Eovaldi, who boasts a 98 mph fastball according to Brooks Baseball, is striking out a career-high 22.5 percent (8.2 per nine innings) of the batters he faces while walking just 2.1 per nine. He also has a 3.69 FIP, which indicates he has gotten slightly unlucky.
Another big reason to love Eovaldi is the three-headed monster (Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman) pitching behind him. Having that kind of security blanket will take stress off him, and if he can keep damage to a minimum over six innings, which he has pitched in four of his past six starts, you as a fantasy owner should be in good shape.
Eovaldi, available in more than 65 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues, doesn’t need to be your ace. He just needs to fill the gaps while you wait for your big guns to reload. Once Harvey, Corey Kluber, Chris Archer and the others come around (assuming they do), you will be for the better, because a deep pitching staff with a pitcher like Eovaldi is what will help you win your league.
Here are some other widely available pitchers to target while your aces struggle:
— After signing a five-year, $80 million deal with the Cardinals, Mike Leake went 0-3 with a 6.03 ERA over his first six starts. But, the right-hander is 3-1 with a 1.29 ERA and .214 opponent average over his past four starts. He doesn’t strike many out (5.5 per nine innings), but he is walking just 1.9 per nine innings, generating a lot of groundballs and is available in more than 50 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
— Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? At 36 years old, Rich Hill is striking out 10.1 per nine innings, has a 2.18 ERA and is enjoying his best season since 2007. Over his past seven starts, the lefty is 6-1 with a 1.61 ERA, 46 strikeouts over 44 ²/₃ innings and a .167 opponent batting average.
— Arizona’s Robbie Ray was striking out a career-high 9.9 per nine innings before his start Friday night against the Padres, who have struck out the third-most in the majors. Ray’s next start will come Wednesday against the Astros, who have struck out in almost 30 percent of their at-bats (worst in the league) this season. He is a solid streaming option who is available in 90 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
— If you have a chance to grab Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola, Baltimore’s Chris Tillman or San Diego’s Drew Pomeranz, all owned in 75 percent or more of ESPN and Yahoo leagues, you definitely shouldn’t hesitate.
— The Dodgers’ 19-year-old phenom Julio Urias made his big league debut Friday against the Mets, taking the place of Alex Wood (left triceps soreness). Urias probably is not in the rotation to stay, but he boasts a mid-90s fastball and struck out 308 in 263 ¹/₃ minor-league innings. Wood may be 1-3 with a 4.03 ERA, but he struck out 27 over 18 ¹/₃ innings in his past three starts (all no-decisions) while maintaining a 1.96 ERA.
— The Angels’ Nick Tropeano quietly is having a solid season, going 3-2 with a 2.86 ERA while striking out 8.8 per nine innings and having an incredibly high (and unsustainable) 90.5 percent strand rate. He is also 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 23 strikeouts over his past four starts, making the fact he is available in 85 percent or more of ESPN and Yahoo leagues very attractive. Just be careful, because he is walking 4.1 per nine (which isn’t helping his career-high 1.470 WHIP) and has a 4.37 FIP. Use him while he is hot.
Big hits
Cameron Maybin OF, Tigers
In his first nine games since coming off the DL, the 29-year-old is 18-for-33 (.545) with a homer, six RBIs, nine runs scored, a 1.220 OPS and four stolen bases. He is available in 40 percent or more of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
Miguel Cabrera 1B, Tigers
The 33-year-old has been a monster this month, going 32-for-85 (.376) with seven homers, 19 RBIs, 14 runs scored and a 1.131 OPS in 23 games before Friday night.
Leonys Martin OF, Mariners
Before tweaking his hamstring Wednesday and landing on the DL Friday, he raised his average from .203 to .262 by going 14-for-26 (.538) with four homers, seven RBIs and a stolen base over his previous eight games.
Junior Guerra, SP, Brewers
The 31-year-old rookie is 3-0 with a 3.30 ERA, 30 strikeouts and a 1.133 WHIP in five starts this season. Over his last three starts, he has 21 strikeouts in 18 innings, A 1.50 ERA and opponents hit .175 against him.
Matt Adams 1B, Cardinals
It has been a good month for the 27-year-old. He has hit .382 with four homers, 15 RBIs, 11 runs scored and a 1.106 OPS in 18 games before Friday.
Big whiffs
Michael Wacha SP, Cardinals
After going 2-0 with a 2.82 ERA over his first four starts, he is 0-5 with a 6.55 ERA and a .290 opponent average in his six starts since. He also is walking a career-high 3.6 per nine innings en route to a career-high ERA (5.04) and WHIP (1.572).
Kevin Pillar OF, Blue Jays
His batting average dipped from .301 to .243 after going 8-for-62 (.129) with two RBIs and a .302 OPS in his previous 16 games before Friday. He did steal two bases, so there’s that.
Matt Moore SP, Rays
The lefty hasn’t won since April 17, going 0-3 with a 6.89 ERA in his last six starts. He is now owned in less than 25 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
Javier Baez 2B/3B, Cubs
In 15 games since hitting a homer on May 8, the 23-year-old is 5-for-36 (.139) with no homers, one RBI and a .372 OPS.
Quick hits
After an horrific first start in which he allowed seven earned runs, Steven Matz is 7-0 with a 1.13 ERA, 49 strikeouts and a .200 opponent average in his seven starts since. Oh, and he has allowed just six earned runs since that ugly April 11 start.
With Mike Moustakas out for the season with a torn ACL, consider adding Arizona’s Jake Lamb, Minnesota’s hot-swinging Eduardo Nunez or San Diego’s Yangervis Solarte, who returned from the DL this week.
It has been 20 months since his last big league start, but Yu Darvish is set to make his return from Tommy John surgery on Saturday. The 29-year-old looked great in five rehab starts, going 1-1 with a 0.90 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 20 innings.
Jackie Bradley Jr.’s hit streak may have ended at 29 games, but before Friday’s action he was 44-for-110 (.400) with eight homers, 30 RBIs, 19 runs scored, a stolen bases and a 1.277 OPS in 30 games since April 24.
After winning a game on May 7, fantasy owners were hopeful things would turn around for Shelby Miller. Think again. He was 0-3 with a 6.61 ERA, .373 opponent batting average and just 10 strikeouts in his three starts before landing on the DL with a right finger sprain. Speaking of finger issues, those fantasy owners who have stuck with Miller have had an issue with a constantly raised middle finger.
Team name of the week
Odor Eaters
Submitted by Terrence Eaves