Fantasy Baseball

They may have beaten Toronto to win their latest three-game series, but many of the same problems that have plagued the L.A. Angels through their first two months of the season were still evident Wednesday.

Just because you’ve slipped behind in the Stolen Base category doesn’t mean you can’t catch up.  Here are some reasonably available SB threats.

This is the time of year, with nearly a third of the season complete, when you start cutting the guys not producing.

Here's looking at you, Carlos Quentin, Gordon Beckham, and Aramis Ramirez.

Sometimes fantasy owners can't afford to be patient with some of these guys.

Why not add a red-hot slugger like David Ortiz or Jose Bautista?

You have to ride hot streaks, because once their streaks end they aren't as intriguing. It might be hard to part with hype machines like Beckham, but it's necessary if you want to win.

Admit it Angels fans. You've been spoiled.

Since Bryan Harvey took over the role in 1989, the Angels have been blessed with a shut-down closer every year until now.

Harvey, Troy Percival, Francisco Rodriguez and yes, Brian Fuentes, have provided an unbroken, 20-year chain of confidence for Halo managers to go to the pen in the ninth.

That amazing streak of good fortune seems likely to be ending this year.

In just 11 appearances this season, Fuentes has already allowed four homers, blown two saves, and lost a game.

Over the weekend, owners in two-catcher formats got a new name to ponder: the Brewers' Jonathan Lucroy.

With Gregg Zaun going on the DL, the Brewers recalled Lucroy, who Baseball America ranked their fifth best prospect heading into the season.

Splitting time between Double and Triple-A, he posted the following line in 2010:

122 At-Bats
.311 Batting Average (38 Hits)
Two Home Runs
16 RBI
16 Runs
Zero Stolen Bases
.349 On-Base Percentage
.418 Slugging Percentage
.350 Batting Average on Balls in Play

Here’s a look at some unheralded players who played well yesterday.

Scott Rolen, Cincinnati Reds (pictured)

Rolen went 2-for-3 with two HRs and three RBI. He’s hitting .287 with 10 HRs and 27 RBI.

Zach Duke, Pittsburgh Pirates

Duke got a no-decision despite holding the Braves to one unearned run with five Ks in seven innings. He lowered his ERA to 4.47.

Gaby Sanchez, Cody Ross, and Ronny Paulino, Florida Marlins

It’s time to look at the potential two-start options for the upcoming fantasy week.  If I have someone rated as a three, four, or five-star option, they are someone I would definitely use.  A two-star option is someone who is borderline, but I’d strongly lean against it unless I have no other options.  The one-star options are an absolutely not scenario.

So, with that said, let’s take a look at the players available to you this week:

Five-Star Options

Here’s a look at the unheralded players who played well yesterday.

Here’s a look at some unheralded players who played well yesterday.

Luke Hochevar, Kansas City Royals

Hochevar threw a complete game, allowing three runs on four hits with seven Ks, to improve to 4-2 with a 5.37 ERA.

Laynce Nix, Cincinnati Reds

Ben Zobrist finally went deep.  The same could be said about Troy Tulowitzki, who hit just his second home run of the season.  Clayton Kershaw, Jon Lester, and Ubaldo Jimenez dominated.  Let’s look at these stories and all the rest from yesterday’s games.