Wil Myers is pretty annoying to own. It feels like he is always on the 10-day DL with at least another 10 days before he will be ready to return. He has played in ten games so far this season. There is a good chance we don’t see him back until the middle of July.
Byron Buxton has to be included in this conversation because what would a discussion about draft pick duds be without good old Byron Buxton.
You are only going to let a player burn you so many times before you add him to your ‘dead to me’ list. You’ll immediately know when it happens because you will have more than one of the following symptoms:
- It becomes personal. You literally dislike the guy
- You cringe when someone says his name
- You secretly root against him
- You never pick him in the daily game
Some players have pushed you to the brink in the past, but you still took a chance on draft day and those are the ones we find added to the ‘Dead to me” list by June 1.
Waiver Wire Targets
Junior Guerra is 3-3 with a 2.65 ERA, 41 hits allowed and 51 strikeouts through 54 ⅓ innings. His WHIP is 1.123. His velocity has gone up about one mph.
Jason Heyward was moved to second in the order last Thursday and since then he has gone 8-for-12.
Kyle Barraclaugh was officially named the closer in Miami
Johnny Field (OF-TB) should have no problem getting consistent playing time with his only competition in left field is batting less than .200 on the season.
Harrison Bader (OF-STL) continues to give management reason to slot him in the lineup over veteran Dexter Fowler. In 20 May plate appearances, Bader batted .500 with a double, two home runs, three RBI and five runs
Yairo Munoz (SS/3B STL) will continue to get at bats until at least late June or early July when Paul DeJong returns from injury, but if he continues to hit the way he is currently hitting, he will stay in the lineup.
Nick Williams (OF-PHI) is hitting .304 with three home runs over the last seven games
Dylan Cozens (OF-PHI) was called up yesterday to take the roster spot of the injured Rhys Hoskins. I am not sure what is going on with Aaron Altherr but he has not been hitting well and the Phillies are not going to continue to platoon him. Cozens was hitting .228/.323/.432 with nine homers and seven stolen bases across 48 games with the IronPigs prior to earning the promotion.
Jason Vargas (SP-NYM) was not good at all upon returning from injury, but in the past couple weeks, last three starts, he seems to be turning things around. He comes with a little risk but last season he finished tied for the most (18) wins.
Shelby Miller (SP-AZ) Lou and I discussed Miller on this week’s podcast and we both feel that he is a great pick-up right now. He is expected to return from the disabled list to make his season debut and is likely sitting out on the waiver just waiting for some lovely person to give him a home. In his first rehab outing at High A, Miller threw gave up one run and struck out eight through five innings. He makes his next rehab start Monday. He was traded from Atlanta to Arizona for Dansby Swanson and Ender Inciarte so someone somewhere believed he was pretty darn good.
Ben Zobrist isn’t fancy and he isn’t going to contribute a bunch in any one category. He still does contribute in most categories and should really be owned in most leagues.
Player News
Freddie Freeman is batting .385 during current hitting streak of 14 games.
Nick Markakis finished May with 42 hits
Sean Newcomb finished May 5-0 with a 1.54 ERA, and did not allow a home run in 36 innings. He is 6-0 with seven quality starts and a 2.16 ERA in the 10 starts since he lost to the Nationals in his season debut
Injuries
Mark Melancon was activated from the disabled list but I have zero faith in him pitching well. Just my opinion based on conversations I have had with people who have watched him pitch since his arm injury. Tread lightly.
It is a sad and unfortunate turn of events for Clayton Kershaw. Don’t draft pitchers approaching 30 with back problems. Just don’t.
D.J. Lemahieu was activated and David Dahl has a broken foot
Noah Syndergaard won’t be ready when eligible on Tuesday. He likely won’t pitch Wednesday either because that would keep him from getting a start next weekend when the Mets and Yankees play the Subway Series.
Team Stuff
The Diamondbacks scored the least runs (77), they had the least number of hits, doubles and RBI. They struck out the most and had the lowest batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. They were second to last in home runs.
The Braves have faced teams with a winning record 40 times already this season, the most of any team not in last place. They are 24-16 in those games
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