Everyone loves Houston Astros infielder Alex Bregman, but those who follow the MLB amateur draft recall he was not the first pick in the 2015 draft. The Arizona Diamondbacks had the pick and went with Dansby Swanson, another accomplished shortstop from a southern college. Swanson was later traded to the Atlanta Braves, but his first two big league seasons did not look anything like what Bregman achieved; Swanson produced a sub-.700 OPS in his first two full seasons and with disappointing power, speed and plate discipline. Few fantasy managers invested.
Two weeks into the season, however, Swanson is among the most-added players in ESPN standard leagues, and he has moved up in Atlanta's solid lineup to sixth. Swanson is among the leaders in home runs, runs batted in and OPS, and while it is way too early to extrapolate any numbers, he has nearly as many walks as strikeouts and just looks different, more confident at the plate. A series in Coors Field helped, but even prior to that, Swanson was hitting. Hey, he is only 25. His injured wrist from last year healed. Sometimes it takes a bit longer for young hitters to emerge. Bregman is an MVP candidate. Swanson is, for now at least, fantasy relevant.
As always on Thursdays, I go position by position for fantasy free agents available in more than half of standard leagues. Swanson just inched past that mark. He is not Bregman, not yet, but the case can be made to add Swanson in place of Marwin Gonzalez, Eduardo Escobar, Andrelton Simmons and Brian Dozier, none of whom is a safe five-category fantasy option. Swanson might not be as well, but so far he looks capable of hitting at least .275 with 15-20 home runs, and we know he can run if he wants to, as he attempted 14 steals in 2018.
Catcher: Seattle Mariners
Corner infield: Seattle's Daniel Vogelbach is the hot name here, and let's face it, we expected a breakout several times in the past. Arizona's Christian Walker and Boston's Mitch Moreland are popular as well, but neither is a lock to reach 20 home runs. Walker has to hit to keep his starting role. Moreland hit 22 home runs in four of his past five full seasons, but not in 2018. Vogelbach might have the most upside. If you need a third baseman, and Maikel Franco and Ryon Healy are gone, try the Mets' J.D. Davis and the Orioles' Renato Nunez. Davis has to hit to hold off Todd Frazier, and even then, who knows for sure? Nunez has 20-plus-homer upside and should play regardless.
Middle infield: Detroit's Niko Goodrum was a surprise breakout in 2018, and the fact that the Tigers hit him cleanup on occasion should tell us they believe. Goodrum is going to play and could be a 20-homer option with modest speed. Pittsburgh's Adam Frazier continues to lead off, but he should run more. Miami's Starlin Castro remains boring but productive. Tampa Bay's Brandon Lowe boasts power but a lot of swing and miss too.
Outfield: Chicago's Jason Heyward and Kansas City's Alex Gordon used to be solid fantasy options. They lead the most-added list among outfielders, but it is hard to make a great case for them in standard leagues. Tampa's Kevin Kiermaier and newly acquired San Francisco Giant Kevin Pillar are also defensive stalwarts but are capable of 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases, a bit more well-rounded for us. Austin Meadows and Jay Bruce surpassed 50 percent rostered. Ramon Laureano, another top glove man, has not, and he profiles offensively like Kiermaier and Pillar. Toronto's Randal Grichuk does not help in batting average, but a 30-homer season seems realistic.
Starting pitcher: Toronto's 3-0 Matt Shoemaker is all the rage, but I still predict he ends up on the most-dropped list in April. I like Detroit lefty Matthew Boyd better. I think the Yankees' Domingo German can be a top-60 fantasy starter. Same with Oakland right-hander Frankie Montas, though he is more of a streamer so far. Atlanta lefty Max Fried has the numbers and upside, but his role remains uncertain. Add and stash in case he joins and sticks in the rotation. Boring Pirate Trevor Williams is proving 2018 might not have been so fluky.
Relief pitcher: Seattle's Anthony Swarzak and White Sox right-hander Alex Colome are clear closers readily available, while Minnesota's Blake Parker might be. Take a chance on Boston's Ryan Brasier, though it could just as easily be Matt Barnes. Brasier is readily available. Philadelphia might go with Hector Neris more than expected, and Milwaukee likely gives currently injured Jeremy Jeffress save chances when he returns. Take Jeffress over the Cubs' Brandon Morrow.
Wednesday recap
Box scores
Highlights:
• Khris Davis, DH, Oakland Athletics: 3-for-5, 2 HR, 4 RBIs
• Tommy Pham, OF, Tampa Bay Rays: 2-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBIs
• Marcell Ozuna, OF, St. Louis Cardinals: 3-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs, SB
• Tyler Glasnow, SP, Tampa Bay Rays: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 K
• Jordan Lyles, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
Lowlights:
• Joey Gallo, 1B/OF, Texas Rangers: 0-for-5, 4 K
• Kyle Schwarber, OF, Chicago Cubs: 0-for-4, 4 K
• Reynaldo Lopez, SP, Chicago White Sox: 4 1/3 IP, 10 H, 8 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
• Nick Pivetta, SP, Philadelphia Phillies: 3 2/3 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
• James Paxton, SP, New York Yankees: 4 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Wednesday takeaways:
Terrance Gore had two Major League hits coming into tonight, in 20 PA spread over six seasons.
Terrance Gore is 3-for-4 tonight and is a HR shy of the cycle.
- Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) April 11, 2019
• Terrance Gore is known mainly for his speed, and he stole a pair of bases on Wednesday, giving him three on the young season. He has five plate appearances, four coming Wednesday. Perhaps this is not the beginning of Gore earning regular playing time, but if it is, add another potential 30-steal option to a scarce pool. Royals manager Ned Yost moved Billy Hamilton to second in the lineup, between hit machine Whit Merrifield and Adalberto Mondesi. Not great power in that crew, but they all run. Gore hit ninth. He runs. The Royals swiped five bases in six chances, though Hamilton did nothing and cedes his Thursday lineup spot to Gore. Hmmm. Watch this team. Oh, they will lose a lot, but for our purposes, the aforementioned crew should combine for at least 125 stolen bases.
• A day after I wrote about hitters sans any extra-base hits, Tampa Bay's Tommy Pham homered twice. Yes, I am fine with taking the credit for him doing this. Seriously, this is a reminder that it is way too early to panic on proven players and even some unproven youngsters. That could have been Eloy Jimenez. Soon it will be Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr., finally healthy enough to bat for Triple-A Buffalo and likely in the majors this month. If someone in your league cut them, go get 'em.
• Washington's offense was the story in Philadelphia this week. Anthony Rendon is an MVP candidate potentially looking for a new place to play in 2020. Precocious outfielder Juan Soto is legit. The monster home run he hit Tuesday night has yet to land. I really like Victor Robles, and while it bothers me a bit that he still hits ninth, when he should hit first or second, talent will win out. I agree he should not hit eighth, ahead of the pitcher. He will not see good pitches or run. I just think a 12-homer, 30-steal season is possible, but do not assume his lineup spot kills that.
• Good to see Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jesse Winker flashing some power, and perhaps that keeps him leading off on a regular basis. There is a .380 OBP awaiting, and perhaps 20 home runs.
• We knew Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow could be a monster strikeout pitcher. Outfielder Austin Meadows looks like a 20-homer, 15-steal option. They came in the Chris Archer trade, which looks pretty awful for the Pirates. Glasnow boasts top-20 starter potential, certainly more now than Archer.
• A friend of mine texted me that the Phillies and their awesome offense might never be shut out this season, and then Jeremy Hellickson and several relievers nearly did it. Trevor Rosenthal allowed a run in the ninth, though he mercifully got his three outs. Even the top offenses struggle at times, folks. The NL East is going to be a four-team race, and that affects fantasy. These teams are trying to win.
Health report:
• Seattle Mariners outfielder Jay Bruce, tied for the major league lead with seven home runs, is resting his sore Achilles Thursday, and more off days could be coming. Bruce looks like the old version that hit for consistent power but without many other base hits. Still, we like power. Keep him around for the 30 blasts, even if he cannot hit his weight (reported at 230, by the way).
• The news might be positive for New York Yankees third baseman Miguel Andujar, who resumed throwing despite a shoulder injury that could necessitate season-ending surgery. Myriad fantasy managers moved on from this power bat, but he could return this month. See if he is available in your league.
Closing time:
• With Los Angeles Angels closer Cody Allen unavailable to close, Hansel Robles saved the win over the Brewers, not the presumed option, Ty Buttrey. Perhaps it is nothing. However, Allen, despite his hot start, is no sure thing. Add Robles in AL-only, just in case.
• Perhaps something is wrong with Texas Rangers closer Jose Leclerc, who, for the second consecutive game, struggled in Arizona. Lefty Kyle Bird saved the game after Leclerc, in a non-save chance, loaded the bases. Shawn Kelley is likely next in line for saves.
W2W4:
• Cubs lefty Jose Quintana, for years a consistent stalwart, brings a 10.29 ERA into play versus the Pirates. Buy low on Quintana. He might not return to his White Sox ways with a sub-3.50 ERA annually, but there is a top-50 starter here. Perhaps the Cubs earn a save chance this weekend and Pedro Strop gets it.
• So many eyes will be on Friday's lineups to see if Mike Trout will play after suffering what the team called a minor groin strain this week. We shall see how minor it was. It is a day game against Cole Hamels at Wrigley Field, so everyone should watch. Weather could play a role, too, as in cold weather. As for pitchers to watch, stick with San Diego right-hander Chris Paddack, despite the walk-filled outing last week. Minnesota's Michael Pineda is building up innings, and he misses bats. Zack Wheeler bounces back in Atlanta.
• Washington Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer remains on schedule to start Sunday, despite a sore ankle, but he could be moved to Monday, with Anibal Sanchez moved up a day. This affects those in weekly formats. Sanchez is available in myriad leagues, but I think what he achieved in 2018 can be resurrected. German Marquez, as with the other Rockies pitchers this weekend (Jon Gray, Kyle Freeland) is a must-start at San Francisco. Seattle lefty Marco Gonzales is safe to me, even at home against the mighty Astros. Finally, Atlanta could activate right-hander Mike Foltynewicz for the Sunday night start on ESPN, and if so, expect a pitch limit.