Fantasy News: Osuna picks up save, Stroman strong and Opening Day postponements
Happy Opening Day Part II - When Nature Calls!
Congratulations to the Yankees, Astros, Indians and Red Sox for stepping out of the box against early-April winter weather conditions. The squads now wait for Opening Day Part III - Dundee in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Here's some MLB and fantasy baseball news and notes around the American League East:
Toronto Blue Jays
Incumbent 21-year-old closer Roberto Osuna staved off Drew Storen for another day after striking out two, while allowing one hit in his first save of the season Sunday against the Rays.
Pitching prodigy Marcus Stroman picked up the quality start allowing three earned runs in eight innings pitched - only needing 98 pitches in his first start of the season.
Like to see Jays' leadoff hitter Kevin Pillar pick up two hits - including a double - in five at bats against the Rays in Game 1.
Tampa Bay Rays
Chris Archer punched out 12 Blue Jays on Sunday, but the pitch count caught up with him and his day was done after 107 pitchers in five innings. He allowed three earned runs on five hits with three walks.
Evan Longoria was the only Ray with two-or-more hits in the first game of the season. He and the fantasy baseball production he provides may be boring, but he’s consistently boring.
After three-plus seasons with the Rays, 31-year-old (are you sure he’s not older?) James Loney was cut over the weekend. With Logan Morrison / Steve Pearce platooning at first and Corey Dickson locking down the DH, Loney was a man without a role. A career .285 hitter, he’ll probably land on another team soon.
Baltimore Orioles
The drama surrounding Hyun Soon Kim is part fascinating, part depressing for the Orioles. His contract stated that he didn’t have to accept a demotion to Triple-A to work the kinks out as he adjusts to MLB pitching. Instead, he “earned” a spot on the 25-man Opening Day roster and clogs up a bench spot with his crappy attitude. If Baltimore elected to move on from the experiment, they would eat 7-million dollars.
Manny Machado will leadoff to start the season. Fantasy owners will have to keep tabs on Rule 5 pick feel-good story Joey Rickard – who does possess some speed - to see if he gets a crack in the No. 1 slot early on in the season.
Boston Red Sox
Before the Opening Day postponement, starting third baseman Travis Shaw was slated to bat sixth in the lineup. Pablo Sandoval will be found making nearly $109,000 per game on the bench. Sad panda can’t be too sad.
Despite the wash out, David Price will still get two starts this week for fantasy owners on Tuesday and Sunday.
New York Yankees
Before the wash out, Brett Gardner was scheduled to sit out against LHP Dallas Keuchel. The Yankees were going to start switch-hitting Aaron Hicks in his place. Gardner is a career .260 hitter against righties and lefties. Batting right against lefties, Hicks carries a .272 BA / .360 OBP.
Andrew Miller will continue to pitch with a chip fracture in his non-pitching hand.
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