The Week Ahead: Week Ahead: Conley Maybe
Last year, as a 25-year-old MLB rookie, Adam Conley put up a 3.76 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 15 appearances (11 starts) for the Marlins. Over 67 innings, the lefty struck out 59 and walked only 21. The strong debut built up anticipation for his sophomore campaign here in 2016.
He looked excellent in spring training, raising his stock, and in his second outing of the season this past week Conley really burst onto the fantasy scene. In a masterful start against the Mets on Wednesday, he struck out nine hitters while allowing just one walk and four singles over six scoreless frames.
Despite the outstanding performance, Conley remains owned in only 18 percent of Yahoo leagues. He’s lined up for a pair of starts in The Week Ahead — one at home against Washington, one in San Francisco — making this a great time to add him and see what he can do.
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* Kevin Gausman was expected to make his first start for Baltimore on Tuesday, which would have made him a two-start pitcher, but with a second minor-league rehab outing taking place Friday, he’ll be pushed back by at least a day. Keep an eye on his status because whenever he makes his season debut he’ll be a worthwhile streamer with upside.
* Chris Archer is looking ahead to a pair of tough match-ups with the Rays traveling to New York and Boston, but there should be no thought of sitting him despite an inflated 5.87 ERA through three starts.
* The Brewers are playing the Twins and Phillies, two of the worst offenses in the league, so give both of their two-start pitchers (Chase Anderson and Wily Peralta) a bump, though neither is a top-tier choice.
* Mike Leake had an excellent spring for the Cardinals, posting a 2.25 ERA and 24-to-2 K/BB ratio in 20 innings, so it was disappointing to see him struggle in his season debut against the Pirates, although chilly conditions might have affected his outcome. He looked better in his second turn against the Brewers. Next week he gets the Cardinals at home and follows up with an easy match-up in San Diego.
* I’m loving Carlos Rodon this week with two home starts on tap. He has looked tremendous early on.
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Going Twice…
American League
Strong Plays
Carlos Rodon: LAA, TEX
Carlos Carrasco: SEA, @DET
Chris Archer: @BOS, @NYY
Marcus Stroman: @BAL, OAK
Michael Pineda: OAK, TB
Decent Plays
Ubaldo Jimenez: TOR, @KC
Yordano Ventura: DET, BAL
Hector Santiago: @CWS, SEA
Phil Hughes: MIL, @WAS
Ervin Santana: MIL, @WAS
Wade Miley: @CLE, @LAA
J.A. Happ: @BOS, OAK
Shane Greene: @KC, CLE
At Your Own Risk
Clay Buchholz: TOR, @HOU
Joe Kelly: TB, @HOU
John Danks: LAA, TEX
Scott Feldman: @TEX, BOS
Matt Shoemaker: @CWS, SEA
Kendall Graveman: @NYY, @TOR
A.J. Griffin: HOU, @CWS
National League
Strong Plays
Raisel Iglesias: COL, CHC
Jose Fernandez: WAS, @SF
Noah Syndergaard: @PHI, @ATL
Stephen Strasburg: @MIA, MIN
Decent Plays
John Lackey: @STL, @CIN
Jason Hammel: @STL, @CIN
Alfredo Simon: COL, CHC
Adam Conley: WAS, @SF
Chase Anderson: @MIN, PHI
Wily Peralta: @MIN, PHI
Jerad Eickhoff: NYM, @MIL
Jake Peavy: ARI, MIA
Matt Cain: ARI, MIA
Mike Leake: CHC, @SD
Tanner Roark: @MIA, MIN
At Your Own Risk
Rubby De La Rosa: @SF, PIT
Robbie Ray: @SF, PIT
Matt Wisler: LAD, NYM
Jordan Lyles: @CIN, LAD
Alex Wood: @ATL, @COL
Colin Rea: @PIT, STL
Streamer City
The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:
American League
Wednesday, April 20th: Rick Porcello vs. TB
Porcello picked up a win with seven strikeouts and one walk in his first start. He’ll get a Rays team that has struggled to score runs early on.
Wednesday, April 20th: Nathan Eovaldi vs. OAK
The hard-throwing Eovaldi has had his strikeout stuff working so far. He should fare well at home against an unintimidating A’s lineup.
Thursday, April 21st: Cody Anderson vs. SEA
The right-hander won a spot in Cleveland’s rotation by flashing improved velocity during the spring, and he proved effective in his first start.
National League
Wednesday, April 20th: Ross Stripling @ ATL
The upstart rookie merits a look in this plum match-up against the lowly Braves.
Thursday, April 21st: Taylor Jungmann vs. MIN
The sophomore righty is off to a rough start but should be able to get on track against Minnesota’s extremely K-prone offense.
Saturday, April 23rd: Charlie Morton @ MIL
Morton’s heavy sinker has looked good so far and has even induced some whiffs.
Total Games
American League
6: BAL, CLE, DET, HOU, KC, NYY, OAK, SEA, TB, TEX
7: BOS, CWS, LAA, MIN, TOR
National League
6: ATL, COL, LAD, NYM, PHI, PIT, SD, STL
7: ARI, CIN, CHC, MIA, MIL, SF, WAS
Notes: The Angels will see a heavy dosage of southpaws (four in their seven games), so consider downgrading lefty swingers like Kole Calhoun … The Royals, meanwhile, get all right-handers. Good news for the likes of Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Alex Gordon.
The Infirmary
You can get a full listing of injured players at Rotoworld’s Injury Page but here’s the latest on a few prominent players who have been out of action:
Kevin Gausman: Returning this week? (shoulder)
Pablo Sandoval: Out indefinitely (shoulder)
Kyle Schwarber: Out for the season (ankle)
Michael Brantley: Returning this week? (shoulder)
James McCann: Out until mid-May (ankle)
Scott Van Slyke: Out until late April (back)
Glen Perkins: Out until May (shoulder)
Felix Doubront: Out for the season (elbow)
Ben Revere: Out until early May (oblique)
