Perhaps fantasy managers simply hadn't noticed that Seattle Mariners outfielder Mallex Smith was mired in a brutal 3-for-46 slump -- one that got him demoted to Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday. Smith was also 8-for-9 on his SB attempts and that was pretty good. Since so many fantasy managers in roto leagues are so desperate for the steals, they were willing to ignore everything else. Smith began Tuesday still rostered in more than 75 percent of ESPN standard leagues. It was an odd showing of patience unlikely to continue the rest of the week.
Still, if you ask me which players to add in roto leagues in order to improve your stolen base count -- do not bother in a points league -- I would have to put Smith high on that list! Weird, right? Well, consider that Smith entered the 2019 season as one of only four players projected by ESPN Fantasy to steal 40-plus bases. He is certainly capable of running wild and, unlike quite a few others that get noticed for stealing bases, Smith did hit .296 for the 2018 Tampa Bay Rays. He had a good season and figured to be able to replicate it for the 2019 Mariners. In fact, he might still do so. After all, five months of the season remain to be played.
That said, fantasy managers will likely move on from Smith as we hit May and that is also understandable. Again, Smith is hitting just .165 for the season. It is tough to hit .165 and retain a starting job -- tougher still to do so and engender love in the fantasy world. The problem here is, again, so few players are capable of stealing so many bases. Perhaps a two-week stint for the Rainiers fixes whatever is ailing Smith's swing, as he strikes out at a 30 percent rate and fails to make contact. I think it is more than that, though. Smith has been brutal defensively as well. He dealt with an elbow injury several weeks ago and perhaps it remains a problem, but if that were indeed the case, one presumes the Mariners would have sent him to the injured list.
Ultimately, it seems unlikely Smith will get the chance to accumulate the stolen bases he did last season, but he nevertheless remains a valuable asset. Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner, out with a busted finger, was projected for the most steals and, when he returns to active duty in May, he can resume the chase. Still, 40 steals over five months might be too much for him, too. Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson leads the league with 10 steals. Can he steal 40 bases? Can anyone? If the overall bar is lowered in the category, then why panic about Smith going to the minors?
For those in roto leagues desperate for the stolen bases Smith will not be providing anytime soon, few options remain. Texas Rangers outfielder Delino DeShields is much like Smith this season as he is running, but he is not hitting. His spot in the starting lineup is far from safe. Fewer than 25 players have stolen five-plus bases this season -- and nearly all of them are already rostered in more than half of ESPN's leagues. The surprising Danny Santana of Texas is out there in most leagues, but he seems unlikely to keep hitting and running, based on his past. New York Yankees second baseman Tyler Wade ran a bunch last week, but playing time will become an issue. Oakland Athletics center fielder Ramon Laureano has similar stats to DeShields, though defense affords him a job.
Simply put, stolen bases are not readily available. That's why I would advise fantasy managers who are desperate for stolen bases to instead look for power and build up numbers there, and perhaps keep Smith stashed on your bench. It seems counterintuitive to roster someone in such a major slump, especially when said player is not exactly a five-category provider of fantasy goodness to begin with, but we saw Smith hit for average and steal 40 bases in 2018. Billy Hamilton cannot do that. Certainly Tyler Wade cannot. Steals are but one category. We might all need them, but this season, we can't all have them. If you drop Smith and your heated rival stashes him and ultimately gets 30 more steals over the final four-plus months as a result, you might regret it.
Tuesday recap
Box scores
Highlights:
Franmil Reyes, OF, San Diego Padres: 3-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Carlos Santana, 1B, Cleveland Indians: 3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI
Jake Marisnick, OF, Houston Astros: 1-for-4, HR, SB, 2 RBI
Rick Porcello, SP, Boston Red Sox: 8 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Spencer Turnbull, SP, Detroit Tigers: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Lowlights:
Maikel Franco, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies: 0-for-4, 3 K
Matt Carpenter, 1B/3B, St. Louis Cardinals: 0-for-4, 4 K
Sandy Alcantara, SP, Miami Marlins: 5 1/3 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
Vince Velasquez, SP, Philadelphia Phillies: 3 2/3 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
Michael Pineda, SP, Minnesota Twins: 5 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Tuesday takeaways
.@CC_Sabathia#LegaCCypic.twitter.com/WzTmRuSyms - MLB Stats (@MLBStats) May 1, 2019
Kudos to Yankees LHP CC Sabathia for registering his 3,000th strikeout. No, he is not nearly as great a fantasy option as he once was, but give him some credit. He permitted a pair of runs -- on a Wilmer Flores home run -- and that was about it over 5 1/3 effective innings. His ERA rose to 2.66, which is pretty solid. He struck out five. It seems like one could do worse in a deep league than Sabathia, who has been effective. He is rostered in roughly 19 percent of ESPN standard leagues. Whether or not that rises anytime soon, give him credit for his strikeout achievement.
The Los Angeles Angels unveiled pitching prospect Griffin Canning on Tuesday and he allowed three runs over 4 1/3 innings, striking out six. Canning does not light up a radar gun but he boasts strong command of his pitches and his slider misses bats. I would not call him a "must add" in shallow leagues, but one would think the Angels might keep him around.
Boston's Porcello lowered his ERA to 5.52 with eight shutout innings against the Athletics. The right-hander now boasts consecutive quality starts. While many in the fantasy world have already moved on, one should note that Porcello averaged 17 wins, 187 strikeouts, a 3.99 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP over the past three seasons. Wise fantasy managers will remain patient.
Athletics infielder Jurickson Profar, struggling both at the plate and in the field, will not start again until Friday. Profar remains rostered in two-thirds of ESPN standard leagues, despite his inclusion on the most-dropped list. The A's are not moving on, but they do have options. Jorge Mateo is hitting well over .300 at Triple-A Las Vegas and, while his is not a power bat, he is a base stealer. Profar broke out in 2018 and should improve, but keep an eye on this situation.
Health report
Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon played in just one of the last eight games and only then, of course, did he go on the injured list with a bruised elbow. Those in weekly leagues cannot be pleased but, in the big picture, if Rendon heals and hits like a champ over the final four-plus months, all will be forgiven. It just seems tough to feel that way today. Wilmer Difo should handle third base in the interim.
Atlanta Braves third baseman Josh Donaldson missed much of the 2018 season with a left calf problem, but he was scratched Tuesday due to right calf tightness, so let us assume this is no big deal until, well, it is one. Seriously, Donaldson is hitting for power and drawing walks, and those that invested in him could not have expected more than 140 games anyway. He might be just fine.
Closing time
Milwaukee Brewers LHP Josh Hader earned save No. 7 against the Colorado Rockies, but also permitted his fourth home run in five appearances! This one was hit by Ian Desmond. Hader continues to miss many bats and accrue saves, but when opposing hitters make contact, they are making hard contact. Hader allowed nine home runs over 81 1/3 innings last season, but is on pace to serve up many more in 2019.
The Phillies are at least discussing the possibility of moving right-hander Nick Pivetta to the bullpen. Since their closer situation is ever-evolving, who knows? Saves could be in his future. Pivetta fanned 14 Buffalo hitters over six innings in his second Triple-A start, but there is no room in the Philadelphia rotation. Then again, Velasquez was terrible on Tuesday. The point is, the Phillies have options.
W2W4
New York Mets RHP Jacob deGrom is hoping to end a stretch of three-consecutive outings in which he did not register a quality start. Perhaps elbow woes are to blame, but deGrom has allowed 14 earned runs over 13 innings since April 9, with an injured list stint snuck in there as well. Sure, this is a tad troubling, but deGrom's investors have to hope he is healthy and gets back on track. The Cincinnati Reds have their own issues, among them being powerless first baseman Joey Votto.
San Francisco Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner is another well-known pitcher sputtering along. Bumgarner allowed 11 hits and five runs to the Yankees in his most-recent start and has just one win in six outings. The Los Angeles Dodgers scored five unearned runs off Bumgarner earlier this season. Enrique Hernandez does damage against lefties and is 21-for-42 with four home runs off Bumgarner. He is an awesome DFS play.
Most recent KaraBlogs
Tuesday, April 30: Closer report: Will Smith, Hector Neris, others
Monday, April 29: Weekend wrap, young Nationals hitters, prospects
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