The Washington Nationals enter the week with more losses than wins and a struggling bullpen, but offensively, few teams can match the young talent. Sunday was a bit of an historic day for the young offense, as Juan Soto, Victor Robles and new shortstop Carter Kieboom each homered. This is the first time in history
Soto and Robles are rostered in most every league, and Kieboom is one of the most added players in ESPN standard leagues. This offense is capable of great things, especially when third baseman Anthony Rendon and shortstop Trea Turner return from injury.
Kieboom was a surprise call-up on Friday, and while his promotion lacked the buzz of a certain top Toronto prospect, the fantasy implications matter. Kieboom was available in nearly all standard, non-dynasty formats, as he played in only 18 games at Triple-A Fresno. He profiles as someone capable of hitting .275 in the majors with strong plate discipline and perhaps 20-home run power, though he is not a base-stealer. He can play second, short or third.
The Nationals showed with the Soto promotion a season ago they are willing to be a bit unorthodox if the situation warrants. Kieboom struggled to hit for power at Double-A Harrisburg, and the organization signed veteran Brian Dozier to handle second base, with Turner at shortstop. Turner broke a finger and Wilmer Difo has been ordinary in his stead.
Regardless, fantasy managers should add Kieboom in case he keeps hitting, because he would be pushing the ordinary Dozier to the bench when Turner returns, which should be sometime in May. Either way, do not worry about it today. Add Kieboom and figure the rest out later. He appears here to stay and he would not be the first to hit better in the majors than he showed in recent minor league action.
Meanwhile, Soto is awesome and capable of winning a batting title and hitting 30 home runs. It has been a bit of a slow start for him, though. He usually follows the similarly awesome Rendon in the lineup. Rendon played one game this past week after being hit on the elbow by a pitch, and an injured-list stint could be the result soon. His absence and Dozier's struggles were likely the impetus to move Robles up, mercifully, from the No. 9 spot in the lineup. Robles, a top prospect himself a year ago, features enough power to reach 20 home runs and excellent base-stealing upside. His seven steals rank among league leaders. Adam Eaton still gets on base, so who knows what this lineup will look like this week.
One thing we do know: First baseman Ryan Zimmerman hit the injured list -- you cannot see it, but I am making my sarcastic shocked face right now -- and that means Matt Adams, who knocked the game-winning home run Sunday, gets all the first-base action in a week the team plays seven games against right-handed starters. You should know what to do here. Washington might not prevent many runs late in games without lefty closer Sean Doolittle in there, but there should be offensive shootouts. Get Soto, Rendon and Robles if you still can in trade, add Kieboom and Adams until things change, and move on from Dozier.
Sunday recap
Box scores
Highlights:
• Melky Cabrera, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates: 4-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI
• Ozzie Albies, 2B, Atlanta Braves: 3-for-5, 2 HR, 3 R
• Hunter Pence, OF, Texas Rangers: 3-for-5, HR, 4 RBI
• Reynaldo Lopez, SP, Chicago White Sox: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 14 K
• Zach Eflin, SP, Philadelphia Phillies: 9 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Lowlights:
• Wil Myers, 3B/OF, San Diego Padres: 0-for-5, 4 K
• Michael Taylor, OF, Washington Nationals: 0-for-4, 4 K
• Tyler Anderson, SP, Colorado Rockies: 4 2/3 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 9 K
• Kevin Gausman, SP, Atlanta Braves: 5 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
• Joey Lucchesi, SP, San Diego Padres: 4 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Weekend takeaways
Reynaldo López is just the 3rd pitcher ever with 14+ K in 6 IP or less while allowing 0 ER. pic.twitter.com/autj5GVPuB
- MLB Stats (@MLBStats) April 28, 2019
• Whoa! Those sure are myriad strikeouts! Reynaldo Lopez has teased with his talent before, but then again, he is 25 years old. He was dominant last September, with a 1.09 ERA, suggesting a breakout was coming. Many investors probably moved on before Sunday, though. Lopez has time, and perhaps fantasy managers should be more attentive. The problem is Lopez -- even after that Sunday outing against the Detroit Tigers, a team last in the majors in home runs and 27th in runs -- boasts an ugly 6.03 ERA, and his WHIP is 1.69. His past three starts have each been six innings in length, with three earned runs total, but he was not facing strong lineups. I would add Lopez to your bench and see if this is real. His first three outings were bad, and his most recent three are good. This happens with young pitchers. If only every athlete could be consistent.
• Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a double and two singles over 12 at-bats in his debut weekend, with a .641 OPS and nary a run batted in. Bust! OK, that is not true. Vlad is awesome, and I feel weird even joking otherwise. There is no great window to buy low on the game's signature prospect, but if there was, it comes before his first four-hit, two-homer game, which is coming any day now. Kudos to displaced infielder Brandon Drury, who at least retains his big league roster spot if not a starting one, and homered twice over the weekend, including one off Oakland Athletics closer Blake Treinen. Wow! Drury retains AL-only value.
• Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant homered twice in Arizona over the weekend, mere days after this blog entry examined his slow start with considerable worry. Bryant still cannot pull a fastball and do damage. The Sunday home run off Luke Weaver went opposite field, and that is OK, but pitchers have to be aware of his shoulder weakness. I would use this strong weekend -- well, he was 3-for-14, so eh -- to talk trade.
• Boston Red Sox lefty Chris Sale fell to 0-5 with Sunday's loss, though it was hardly a rough outing, with two earned runs (four total) over seven innings. He fanned eight. I would still buy low here, and quickly. If choosing between sputtering New York Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom and Sale, you know, it is closer than most would realize because deGrom, who made it through only four innings versus a good Milwaukee lineup Friday and could not locate anything, has elbow concerns.
Health report
• Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. left his Sunday game prematurely after an awkward play at second base during which one of his legs did one thing and the other did quite another. It was a split that gymnasts handle, not ordinary persons. Tatis is not ordinary and perhaps there are no missed games. I would miss months. Regardless, watch the news on Monday afternoon to see if he and his sore hamstring are OK. Tatis is more than OK at the plate and should be in all lineups unless injured. If he has to miss time, Manny Machado handles shortstop and perhaps prospect Ty France gets a start or two at third base. France is a hitter sans a position.
• Time is running out to add Athletics first baseman Matt Olson, who is recovering from a broken hamate bone. His rehab assignment could start Tuesday. Olson hit 29 home runs last season. It is feasible he can do so again, still, but the point is he might be better than your current corner infield option, so stashing is smart. Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano and Mets infielder Jed Lowrie are also looking at a return in early May, but I would take Olson first.
• White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez has not hit as expected, and now he is on the injured list with a sprained ankle so many fantasy managers will run away. That is, of course, a mistake. Go stash Jimenez. We might not see him for a few weeks, but he will hit.
Closer report
• More in the Tuesday closer report, but fantasy managers have to be confused by what Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash is doing. It sure appeared that lefty Jose Alvarado was handling the ninth-inning closer duties and right-hander Diego Castillo was next in line. What a bullpen! Then 27-year-old Emilio Pagan saved a few games early last week and things became problematic. OK, so Alvarado and Castillo were unavailable those days. Then on Saturday, those fellows handled the eighth inning so Pagan could close. OK, that is odd. Pagan is pitching great; he has permitted one hit and one walk over 7 1/3 innings, striking out eight. The Rays are smart. Anyone can close. It sure looks like Pagan is in the lead now, so yeah, go get him.
W2W4
• Braves right-hander Mike Soroka makes his first of two scheduled starts this week, at home against the Padres. Soroka looks strong through two outings, and is one of the most added pitchers in ESPN standard leagues for good reason. The pitchers behind him holding leads are a problem, and Soroka needs to be more efficient and go deeper into starts, but a Padres lineup likely missing Tatis Jr. is attractive for fantasy. Soroka, who battled shoulder woes a season ago, could be the Atlanta ace.
• Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland comes off a short injured list stint to face a Milwaukee Brewers lineup that may be missing amazing outfielder Christian Yelich, as he left Sunday with back spasms. Perhaps it is nothing. Freeland missed time with a blister. The elbow is fine, and his 2018 numbers were certainly fine. It is not too late to get in on the Freeland fun. As for Brewers to watch, first baseman Jesus Aguilar barely played last week, and while I think it is early for the team to move on, if they are, fantasy managers must as well ... for the likes of Christian Walker, Luke Voit and others. I just feel like Aguilar is going to be a popular fantasy addition soon.
Most recent KaraBlogs
Thursday, April 25: Free agents to get, including Gio Gonzalez, Brandon Lowe and Mike Soroka
Wednesday, April 24: Kris Bryant struggles, Luke Voit does not
Tuesday, April 23: Closer report: Seattle's slew of options
Monday, April 22: Weekend wrap, injured stars edition
Thursday, April 18: Free agents to get, led by several Tampa Bay Rays