The dawn of a new fantasy week rises Monday morning, and with that comes a new week of pitching matchups to keep an eye on. Daily and weekly lineups lock in with the first pitch of the Tampa Bay Rays – Cleveland Indians game scheduled to start at 6:10 PM EDT. The following players are currently owned in less than 60% of ESPN and/or Yahoo leagues, and percentages are rounded to the nearest full number.
Monday, May 15
Lineups lock at 6:10 PM EDT
Chase Anderson: Despite only going 4.2 innings in each of his last two outings, Anderson has been a bright spot in Milwaukee’s rotation so far this year. He has picked up a few quality starts and has an ERA of 2.97 thus far, and he has a 9.7 K/9 rate in three road starts. I expect him to continue his strong 2017 against the Padres in San Diego on Monday.
Zack Godley: Godley got his place in the rotation by filling in for injured Shelby Miller, who had looked better to start this season before hitting the shelf. Godley has looked better this year in his own right, posting a 2.25 ERA in his two spot starts (compared to a 6.39 ERA in 27 total appearances in 2016). His next start will come against a Mets team that has already faced a great amount of adversity and health issues this season, and Arizona’s strong offense should give him plenty of support. Godley is owned in 4% of ESPN leagues, 12% of Yahoo leagues, and carries SP/RP dual-eligibility on both sites.
Yovani Gallardo: The only truly healthy starting pitcher the Mariners have had all season, Gallardo has pitched well enough to start the season posting a 4.58 ERA with 27 strikeouts. His last outing against Oakland went well allowing just 1 earned run over 6.1 innings in a quality start, and his career numbers at Seattle’s home stadium are solid as well – 2.86 ERA in 5 career starts at Safeco Field. Gallardo is very available in all formats, owned in just 2% of both Yahoo and ESPN leagues.
Tuesday, May 16
Lineups lock at 4:07 PM EDT
Eduardo Rodriguez: With how well Rodriguez has been pitching this year, it’s hard to believe that he qualifies for this list. He definitely is worth hanging on to, owning a 2.80 ERA with 42 K’s to go with it. Each of his last four outings have been quality starts, and three of those have come on the road. St. Louis’ offense has come alive lately, but Rodriguez should be able to keep their bats quiet at Busch Stadium en route to continuing his strong 2017. He is owned in 59% of Yahoo leagues and 54% of ESPN leagues.
Ty Blach: Originally a member of the bullpen at the beginning of the year, Blach took over the roster spot that opened up after ace Madison Bumgarner‘s injury. In Blach’s four starts since joining the starting staff he has posted a 4.91 ERA, most of that damage coming in a single poor start at Cincinnati on May 5. However in his next performance against the same Reds team (that time at home), he held them to 2 runs in 7 innings. He also pitches much better at AT&T Park in general, owning a 1.69 ERA in 6 total appearances (3 starts). Don’t expect too many strikeouts, but expect Blach to provide a quality outing. He is owned in 2% of ESPN leagues, 3% of Yahoo leagues, and owns SP/RP dual-eligibility on both sites as well.
J.C. Ramirez: Has been the “up and coming” name in fantasy the last couple weeks with his big strikeout ability, punching out 7+ batters in 3 of his 6 starts. He hasn’t been the sharpest arm on the hill – owning a cumulative 4.20 ERA on the season – but he has shown the ability to pitch well, logging a pair of quality starts against Oakland and Houston, respectively. Ramirez is essentially unknown to the hitters currently employed by the White Sox (Matt Davidson is the only one with an official at bat against him), so the unfamiliarity and his strikeout ability may bode well for him. He is owned in 18% of Yahoo leagues, 16% of ESPN leagues, and carries SP/RP dual-eligibility on both sites.
Wednesday, May 17
Lineups lock at 12:10 PM EDT
Alex Cobb: The Tampa Bays right-hander has logged a quality start in each of his last three outings, including 8 innings against a Toronto offense that is starting to wake up and 6.1 innings against a strong group of Boston hitters. Over those last three starts Cobb has pitched to the tune of a 2.21 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 20.1 total innings. In his four career starts against the Cleveland Indians he has a 3.57 ERA, and even though his numbers are a bit higher at Progressive Field I expect him to have another solid start. Cobb is owned in 24% of ESPN leagues and 57% of Yahoo leagues.
Patrick Corbin: Aside from a poor showing in Colorado (because Coors Field), Corbin has pitched well to start 2017 picking up 5 quality starts in his 8 outings. His 4.17 ERA doesn’t look too good, but a lot of that has to do with the aforementioned bad start against the Rockies. Corbin’s home splits are much more appealing to the eye logging a 2.45 ERA in his 5 starts at Chase Field, and also tallying 22 strikeouts in those 29.1 innings. He has a home in 32% of ESPN leagues and 29% of Yahoo leagues, and also carries SP/RP dual-eligibility on both sites.
Matt Garza: Someone must have shown Garza how to travel back in time, because for the first time since August of 2015 he has logged three consecutive quality starts. Over the entire season thus far he has logged a 2.66 ERA and 19 K’s through 23.2 innings, and he’s looking like the guy the Cubs gave up Chris Archer (and others) for back in January of 2011. The current hitters employed by the Padres don’t have much of any experience against him – except for Erick Aybar who has a .294 average in 17 at bats against him – so that could play into Garza’s favor. He is owned in 14% of ESPN leagues as well as 8% of Yahoo leagues.