Goodness gracious, just when we thought the injuries would slow to a trickle, the epidemic shifted from elbows (mostly, but not fully) to ribs. Once again, Keelin has you covered on all those injury updates as our Saturday Crew powers unite.
Rosters across the landscape or ripped to shreds just like all those obliques out there, which has led to the waiver wires also being left in a tattered hell. I’ll fully admit that some of these budgeted amounts are light because the players left for us all have some flaws. Plus, we haven’t even hit Call-Up SZN quite yet, so be mindful of watching those budgets over the coming weeks.
Okay, let’s get to it, Razzballers, good luck with those bids this weekend!
The stats and ownership percentages below are updated as of noon central time on 4/26.
As always, if you want advice on specific roster decisions you might have, feel free to leave a comment. You can also find me on twitter (X) (@mcouill7) and bluesky (@mcouill7.bsky.social).
CATCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Connor Wong (BOS, 22% CBS Ownership) – Wong is starting to run away with the starting Red Sox catcher job, slashing .364/.379/.655 on the season while starting eight of the last nine games. He’s only attempted one steal thus far, but I love that his wheels (83rd percentile sprint speed) can provide a handful of steals in a position that typically produces a big fat zero. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Keibert Ruiz (WSN, 39% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Elias Diaz (COL, 37% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Shea Langeliers (OAK, 27% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Patrick Bailey (SFG, 22% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Danny Jansen (TOR, 20% CBS Ownership) – Jansen is the de facto catcher in Toronto now as Alejandro Kirk fumbled away the opportunity with his 45 wRC+ out the gate. It’s going to be a long time in a deep league until you see another catcher sporting a career wRC+ above 100 and sniffing the middle-of-the-order like Jansen, so grab him while you can. (3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Ivan Herrera (STL, 20% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Miguel Amaya (CHC, 5% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Joey Bart (PIT, 4% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ben Rortvedt (TBR, 2% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
INFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Luis Rengifo (2B/3B/SS/OF, LAA, 40% CBS Ownership) – It’s still taking too long, however slowly but surely, Ron Washington is beginning to see the light here. Rengifo has started eight of the last nine Angels games (as of drafting this Friday afternoon), taking hold of the second base job as Brandon Drury serves as the DH and Miguel Sano starts at third in wake of Anthony Rendon’s injury. Now, the next step in the Ron Washington evolution process will be to get Rengifo out of the eight-hole. That seems like only a matter of time as the Angels utility-man is hitting .288 while already setting a career high with seven steals. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Brett Baty (3B, NYM, 43% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Orlando Arcia (SS, ATL, 42% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Ty France (1B, SEA, 41% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Masyn Winn (SS, STL, 36% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Luis Garcia (2B, WSN, 35% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Blaze Alexander (SS, ARI, 28% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Josh Smith (3B/SS/OF, TEX, 22% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB))
15 Team Adds
Tyler Freeman (3B/MI/OF, CLE, 20% CBS Ownership) – It’s centerstage for the utility guys this week as Freeman, like Rengifo, carries plenty of positional flexibility to provide a salve to any fantasy team. The 24-year-old has provided some solid production with three homers and three steals in a surprisingly impressive Guardians offense (currently seventh in team wRC+ with a 111). Freeman is currently only hitting .221, but that figure is weighed down by an unlucky .231 BABIP. Even more surprising than the hot Cleveland offense, Freeman has a blushing Savant page that portends a pretty solid bat here. (1-3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Wilmer Flores (1B/3B, SFG, 18% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Zach Neto (SS, LAA, 17% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Orelvis Martinez (SS, TOR, 17% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Willi Castro (3B/SS/OF, MIN, 16% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Mauricio Dubon (2B/OF, HOU, 11% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Gabriel Arias (1B/3B/SS, CLE, 10% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Miguel Sano (1B/3B, LAA, 9% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Miguel Vargas (2B, LAD, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2B/3B/OF, TOR, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Trey Lipscomb (3B, WSN, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Emmanuel Rivera (1B/3B, MIA, 0% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Jose Fermin (2B/3B, STL, 0% CBS Ownership) – Jeremy and I discussed Fermin last week in our pod about hot minor league starts (yes, he was the last player covered in a two-hour pod, sorry). This is simply a dude that can hit and is now in the big leagues with Jordan Walker’s demotion. He was slashing .350/.458/.650 (184 wRC+) with Memphis after posting a .283/.370/.478 line in spring training. Fermin produces via a superb feel of the strike zone as he regularly ran walk rates in excess of 10% and in-line or greater than his K-rate in the minors with the Cardinals organization. He currently lacks a path to clear playing time in St. Louis, but I’m believing in the talent here as the anemic Cardinals offense (currently 27th in the league in team wRC+ only above the White Sox, Marlins, and Rockies… yeesh) needs a jump start from some fresh blood. (1-3% FAAB)
Addison Barger (3B/OF, TOR, 5% CBS Ownership) – I covered Barger here a few weeks ago, and his time as arrived with a hip flexor injury sending Kevin Kiermaier to the IL. I’m in love with Barger’s bat as he was annihilating Triple-A to the tune of .314/.435/.586 (163 wRC+) over 85 plate appearances. Plus, there’s plenty of space for him to stick in Toronto as Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Cavan Biggio and Davis Schneier, who occupy a mix of second, third and a corner outfield spot, are not world beaters. Annoyingly, Barger might not qualify at third in some leagues despite starting 10 games there with Buffalo, so keep that in mind for your league. He’s likely to be the best AL prospect bat to get the call here for a few weeks, so be aggressive if you need an offensive boost. (5-7% FAAB)
OUTFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC, 28% CBS Ownership) – Admittedly, I’m probably going to be light on where PCA’s bids will settle this weekend, but I think it reflects his true value. Going beyond 5% of your budget is just projecting on prospect pedigree that Jenny Heywood’s real son has yet to flash at the upper levels recently. Crow-Armstrong was struggling in Iowa prior to coming up as Cody Bellinger’s replacement, slashing .203/.241/.392 (55 wRC+) with a 28.9% K-rate and 3.6% BB-rate. That’s no bueno. However, the hope here is that PCA was frustrated/bored with his time in Triple-A and finds his way to a .250-ish average with oodles of steals in the majors. I’m just skeptical that will come to fruition, so don’t go overboard here. (5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Lars Nootbaar (STL, 50% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), James Wood (WSN, 50% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Will Benson (CIN, 48% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Andy Pages (LAD, 46% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jesse Winker (WSN, 45% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ryan O’Hearn (1B/OF, BAL, 42% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Wilyer Abreu (BOS, 41% CBS Ownership, 3-5% FAAB), Nelson Velazquez (KCR, 26% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Mark Canha (DET, 36% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Joc Pederson (ARI, 23% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Harrison Bader (NYM, 21% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Jonatan Clase (SEA, 20% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Johan Rojas (PHI, 11% CBS Ownership) – Now is the time you begin looking at standings to see the flaws in your team after a month of run. If you are light in the steals department, here lies an Esteury Ruiz-like player without the platoon problems. Rojas is firmly planted in center for Philadelphia and looks to be well on his way swipe around 35 bases with a .250-.260 average. Just be prepared for the lack of power production you will get out of Rojas’ spot, and you could make him work in your deep league lineup. (3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Leody Taveras (TEX, 16% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Gavin Sheets (1B/OF, CHW, 15% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), LaMonte Wade (1B/OF, SFG, 15% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Austin Martin (2B/OF, MIN, 11% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jake McCarthy (ARI, 6% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jacob Young (WSN, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Lawrence Butler (OAK, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jesus Sanchez (MIA, 5% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Tommy Pham (CHW, 4% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Sean Bouchard (COL, 4% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Andrew McCutchen (PIT, 3% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Mike Tauchman (CHC, 4% CBS Ownership) – Somewhere in the dark recesses of… ? (I searched and honestly have no idea what he’s up to currently), David Ross is maniacally cackling between his high-pitched diatribes about Tauchman. You can remove Ross from the Cubs, but you can’t remove his favorite player from the Cubs lineup. Thanks to injuries felling both Seiya Suzuki and Cody Bellinger recently, Tauchman marches is way into regular time with a solid Cubs starting unit. In addition, Bellinger’s injury carved out the path for erstwhile Yankee to hit in the top of the order, where is league average bat should provide good runs and some extra RBI. This is exactly the type of boring production you need to stay afloat all summer in an NL-only league. (5% FAAB)
Estevan Florial (CLE, 3% CBS Ownership) – Florial was a preseason deep sleeper favorite of mine as the move to Cleveland seemed ripe for opportunity after he posted a .284/.380/.565 slash line in Triple-A last year. I was especially interested in Florial’s batting average abilities, but he’s realizing this might be one of his last opportunities to regular playing time and completely sold out for power. That’s led to a current .250/.333/.500 slash line with a 37% K-rate and 41.7% hard-hit-rate in his first 46 plate appearances. This is a juicy week for Florial and his strong-side platoon as the Guardians as five of their six games next week should be against right-handed starters. (3% FAAB)
STARTING PITCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Yariel Rodriguez (TOR, 37% CBS Ownership) – Rodriguez has pitched quite well in his rotation audition so far, tossing a 3.86 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 11.57 K/9 in his first three starts. His strikeouts provide some much needed volume in that department in the back end of our player pools. Sure, the WHIP is a tad high, but it’s also driven by a .367 BABIP, so that should settle a bit towards his mid-1.20 WHIP in the projections. What makes Rodriguez a must pickup for this week is that he has a very tempting two-start week lined up with the Royals at home and Nationals on the road. Supposedly, the Blue Jays want Alek Manoah to come and take Rodriguez’s job, but I’ll believe it when I see it as Manoah has been putrid in four rehab starts, sporting an 11.85 ERA and 2.56 WHIP, with one of those starts coming against Single-A bats. If Toronto is serious about contending, they can’t be serious about allowing Manoah to stick in the rotation in any capacity. (3% FAAB)
Trevor Rogers (MIA, 32% CBS Ownership) – If you thought Rodriguez presented a great two-start week, Rogers might have an even better one with the Nationals at home and the A’s on the road. Rogers is suffering from the same run of bad luck as Rodriguez, with a .353 BABIP and 64.8% LOB-rate driving his 1.52 WHIP. He is by no means going to be a WHIP or win asset in our fantasy game, but Rogers can be useful beyond this week with 4.00 ERA and 9 K/9 while making starts in a brilliant home park for pitchers. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Dean Kremer (BAL, 49% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Keaton Winn (SFG, 41% CBS Ownership, 3-5% FAAB), Mitchell Parker (WSN, 40% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Patrick Sandoval (LAA, 39% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ryan Weathers (MIA, 37% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jameson Taillon (CHC, 34% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Jake Irvin (WSN, 19% CBS Ownership) – Wednesday’s start against the Dodgers was certainly tough for Irvin, but I mean, come on, it was the Dodgers. Take the optimistic view here… combined with his start in Chavez Ravine on April 17, Irvin just tossed 10.2 innings of 2.03 FIP (5.06 ERA) with nine Ks in back-to-back starts against the Dodgers. He gets a relative breather with two starts, first at Miami, second at home against Toronto. It’s not a bad gamble as Irvin has been surprisingly solid in total on the season, pitching to the tune of 3.19 FIP and 7.5 K/9 over 27.2 innings. (3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Colin Rea (MIL, 19% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Matt Waldron (SDP, 11% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Albert Suarez (BAL, 12% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Joe Boyle (OAK, 11% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Ben Lively (CLE, 10% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Landon Knack (LAD, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Cole Irvin (BAL, 8% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Cade Povich (BAL, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ryan Feltner (COL, 6% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Ross Stripling (OAK, 5% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Bryse Wilson (MIL, 1% CBS Ownership) – Wilson enters the Milwaukee rotation and should be relatively stretched out soon as he tossed 75 pitches as an “opener” on Wednesday. The former Atlanta starter feels like he has been around forever, but he’s only 26 years old and has been solid. Wilson has thrown 94.2 innings for the Brewers since the beginning of last year with a 2.76 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 7.2 K/9 over 61 appearances. He won’t be quite as a good pacing himself as a starter, but I trust Milwaukee’s pitching development that has made arms like Wade Miley, Colin Rea and Eric Lauer valuable at various points over the past few years. Oh yeah, and Wilson gets a two-start week, hosting the Rays and on the road against the Cubs. (5-7% FAAB)
Cooper Criswell (BOS, 1% CBS Ownership) – You can just about copy and paste the situation from Wilson above here to Criswell. He’s a 27-year-old that rose as a prospect through the Angels system and finds himself with a new rotation spot thanks to injury on a big-time pitching development team. And he gets two starts too (home against the Giants, on the road versus the Twins)! He’s looked like a new pitcher this year with Boston, so I’m throwing the projections out the window and praying he can be a league-average starter. (5% FAAB)
RELIEVERS
10/12 Team Adds
Joel Payamps (MIL, 42% CBS Ownership) – Round and round we go, where we stop, nobody knows. The Milwaukee saves carousel continues and it’s looking like we will end up with three guys hitting double digits. Perfectly fine in our current environment considering Payams should offer solid enough work for your ratios. (5% FAAB)
Hector Neris (CHC, 32% CBS Ownership) – This is not the Neris of old as his Savant page hues match his ballcap. However, Neris has collected the last two saves in the Cubs bullpen and is the hot hand with closer moxie. (5-7% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Michael Kopech (CHW, 39% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), A.J. Minter (ATL, 33% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jason Adam (TBR, 30% CBS Ownership, 3-5% FAAB), Griffin Jax (MIN, 30% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Alex Lange (DET, 28% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Yennier Cano (BAL, 26% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Trevor Megill (MIL, 10% CBS Ownership) Welcome back, Trevor. Megill looks more like the high-leverage reliever in Milwaukee, but saves opportunities are sometimes that high-leverage time. (5-7% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Jeff Hoffman (PHI, 17% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Shelby Miller (DET, 14% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Mark Leiter Jr. (CHC, 10% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Justin Lawrence (COL, 9% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Chris Martin (BOS, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ryne Stanek (SEA, 6% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Garrett Cleavinger (TBR, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Fernando Cruz (CIN, 5% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
