Last week it was all about the rookie hitters who had earned surprising promotions to the big leagues. This week, well, little has changed. One good Coors Field weekend from Colorado Rockies middle infielder Brendan Rodgers and his roster percentage will surely grow. Just don't forget about the veterans. Minnesota Twins infielder/outfielder Marwin Gonzalez is among the OPS leaders in May thanks to a .358 batting average and a .552 slugging mark. While it might seem obvious that his playing time is in danger thanks to others around him, it is dangerous to think that way in fantasy. After all, good players will play.
Welcome to the latest free-agent report, as we go position-by-position to find relevant fantasy options for you to pick up. Useful players who are eligible at multiple spots will get mentioned in the spot where it's best to utilize them, if possible -- but having options is great. Feel free to share your thoughts (as if you need prompting) with me on Twitter.
Corner infield
Barely over 50 percent, mixed-league must-add: Austin Riley, Braves; Matt Olson, Athletics
Below 50 percent must-add: Nobody at this point, but there won't be someone at each position every week, either.
Worth adding: It might not seem like great fun to roster C.J. Cron of the Twins, but everything he did last season, he is doing again. We like players who hit 30 home runs. Teammate Miguel Sano is similar at this point. I think Sano has more power, but durability and batting average concerns even the field. Seattle's Daniel Vogelbach is over 50 percent and Boston's Mitch Moreland is not there yet, but I would take the chance on these Twins first.
Mixed-league stash: Yandy Diaz of the Rays is about to fall under the 50 percent roster threshold thanks to a slump, but I think he will rebound soon. Moreland works here as well, as he will raise his batting average. Also, do not forget about Seattle's Kyle Seager, soon to make his 2019 debut. He is better than he showed in 2018.
Deep-league stash: Pablo Sandoval makes me smile, but even if he played regularly, it is hard to believe he would hit like this.
Drop 'em: Maikel Franco, Phillies; Christian Walker, Diamondbacks; Miguel Cabrera, Tigers.
Don't drop 'em: Joey Votto, Reds. I am having trouble defending the Votto one. Two more weeks? Also, do not cut Matt Carpenter! You saw what he did for St. Louis in 2018 after a slow start!
Middle infield
Barely over 50 percent, mixed-league must-add: Michael Chavis, Red Sox; Nick Senzel, Reds. Again. These could be building block players soon.
Below 50 percent must-add: Brewers rookie Keston Hiura has to hit to hold off rehabbing Travis Shaw, but then again, Hiura is hitting. Shaw did not. Do not overthink things. Add Hiura. Brendan Rodgers still has not played a home series. Coors is coming, so judge him after. Yet another rookie, the Royals' Nicky Lopez, gets lost here but his playing time is more secure than both Hiura and Rodgers -- and he runs. Do you have players on your teams that run?
Worth adding: There is something magical about this season's Twins. Marwin Gonzalez is eligible everywhere and hitting again. He might be the type of guy who ends up being on half of your league's rosters by midseason, but he's hitting this month and we know from two seasons ago he has staying power, too. The Angels' David Fletcher has the plate discipline to hit .300 all season. Batting average is an oft-overlooked category.
Mixed-league stash: Time is running out to secure the Yankees' Didi Gregorius. He will hit. I also think the Phillies' Scott Kingery is about to usurp the center field job on a daily basis from Odubel Herrera. Kingery has pop and steals bases.
Deep-league stash: I suppose crazier things than Cleveland's Jason Kipnis returning to past glories have happened. Twins rookie Luis Arraez hits for average. He also runs and just might play more than we think -- or he might be demoted this weekend. Seattle's J.P. Crawford has won a job.
Drop 'em: When Enrique Hernandez stops hitting lefties -- which he has -- you move on. You should have cut Tim Beckham a month ago. The same goes for Jose Peraza and Brian Dozier.
Don't drop 'em: Daniel Murphy and Robinson Cano have track records. Wait a bit longer with them, as with Votto.
Outfield
Barely over 50 percent, mixed-league must-add: Potential home run champ Franmil Reyes, Padres; potential steals champ Mallex Smith, Mariners
Below 50 percent must-add: What the Rangers' Hunter Pence is doing sure looks legit, and with Willie Calhoun on the IL, his playing time is secure for a while. Also, Jarrod Dyson of the Diamondbacks is, statistically, Dee Gordon. Why is Dyson available in 90 percent of leagues? However, do not bother in points formats.
Worth adding: Houston's Josh Reddick and the Dodgers' Alex Verdugo will not hurt the batting average. That matters. Clint Frazier boasts upside but it remains unclear if he can hit non-Orioles pitching.
Mixed-league stash: Pittsburgh's Gregory Polanco is disappointing again, which is not shocking. Add him, just in case he finds health and consistency at the same time. Indians rookie Oscar Mercado should play more now that the Carlos Gonzalez experiment predictably ended.
Deep-league stash: Calhoun should miss only a few weeks and he was hitting. I think it is going to be a while before the Astros give us either Kyle Tucker or Yordan Alvarez, and we will not know which one it will be until it happens. Tucker is the one on the 40-man roster, but everyone talks Alvarez.
Drop 'em: It is slow going on parting with A.J. Pollock, but what are you waiting for? Move on from Jason Heyward, Jay Bruce and Ender Inciarte. Washington's Adam Eaton is not, statistically, who you think he is. It's time to say goodbye.
Don't drop 'em: The Rockies come home this weekend, so cutting David Dahl seems premature. The Padres' Wil Myers is struggling, but proven. Keep Hunter Renfroe around, too. At least Myers and Renfroe are playing. The Royals' Billy Hamilton is not running as much as anyone would like, but in a roto league, the potential matters too much to cut him.
Catcher
Below 50 percent must-add: Is there ever a catcher you must add?
Worth adding: Robinson Chirinos of the Astros and Jonathan Lucroy of the Angels seem deserving at this point, but be ready to move on.
Mixed-league stash: If you want to stash a potential No. 1 amateur pick like Adley Rutschman out of Oregon State, be my guest, but he is not playing in the majors for several years. I would rather stash the Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly in case he hits now.
Drop 'em: Mitch Garver, Twins; Jorge Alfaro, Marlins
Don't drop 'em: I would wait longer on the Mets' Wilson Ramos.
Starting pitcher
Barely over 50 percent, mixed-league must-add: Brandon Woodruff, Brewers; Frankie Montas, Athletics
Below 50 percent must-add: Pittsburgh's Jordan Lyles will not finish with a 1.97 ERA, but the strikeouts are there and he looks legit. Atlanta's Julio Teheran keeps missing bats. Houston's Brad Peacock would be less intriguing on just about any other team.
Worth adding: Chicago's Lucas Giolito seems more like someone to add to the bench, but he's missing bats. He faces Corbin Martin on Thursday and I cannot definitively claim I would prefer Giolito in the matchup. I am not as interested in Oakland's Chris Bassitt, but while he is pitching well, go for it. I would still prefer veteran lefty Gio Gonzalez of the Brewers.
Mixed-league stash: I guess you can see if the Rangers' Lance Lynn will keep striking out hitters, but I doubt it. Maybe Philadelphia's Cole Irvin will start striking out hitters, but I doubt it. Miami's Sandy Alcantara and Pablo Lopez make more sense stashing. Toronto's Nate Pearson is the hot minor league pitching name now that Houston's Forrest Whitley is struggling, but I doubt Pearson comes up soon.
Deep-league stash: Pearson, Philadelphia's inconsistent minor leaguer Nick Pivetta (strikeouts!) and Whitley just in case.
Drop 'em: Too many people added Orioles lefty John Means. Too many people believed Braves right-hander Mike Foltynewicz would repeat. Why is Ross Stripling rarely pitching? Enough with Kyle Freeland and Michael Wacha. It's your call on Pittsburgh's Chris Archer, as he should improve on this mess, but he is not a top-50 fantasy starter anymore.
Don't drop 'em: Trevor Williams returns this week. Corey Kluber is too good to drop until we get clarity, though I have seen him getting dropped. You cannot cut Jon Gray or Matthew Boyd.
Relief pitcher
Barely over 50 percent, mixed-league must-add: Alex Colome, White Sox
Below 50 percent must-add: The word "must" could be too aggressive here, but Atlanta's Luke Jackson is getting save chances. I think Hector Neris of my Phillies is a better pitcher, but both will likely share their team's role.
Worth adding: Steve Cishek of the Cubs and Hansel Robles of the Angels are closers. Is that not enough? Baltimore's Mychal Givens is a closer, but it might not be enough on that team.
Mixed-league stash: Certainly the door is open for Atlanta lefty Sean Newcomb to get saves. Also, at what point does Royals rookie Scott Barlow force himself into the closing role?
Drop 'em: Ryan Brasier, Red Sox; Chris Martin, Rangers; Anthony Swarzak, Braves
Don't drop 'em: Jose Leclerc is apparently thisclose to returning to the closer role! Keep the Cubs' Pedro Strop, for I think he usurps the role from Cishek once he's healthy. Stop dropping Greg Holland because Arizona did not provide a save chance for two weeks. C'mon!
It's anyone's guess: Even if Craig Kimbrel signs as soon as the amateur draft ends (two weeks away), he is not appearing in a big league game that week. However, those in deep mixed leagues should stash him away before he signs. He is not going to the Orioles or Marlins, you know.
Takeaways from Wednesday's games
The Yankees and the beleaguered Orioles finish their series on Thursday. Then the team that has already, somehow and historically, permitted more than 100 home runs goes to Denver. The Rockies should really, really enjoy this series. Gleyber Torres and Gary Sanchez have combined for 19 home runs against Baltimore this season. Overall, New York has 33 blasts in 11 games against them! OK, so the Yankees do not see the Orioles again until August, but the Rockies, Tigers, Giants, Rangers and Astros all do over the next few weeks. The Tigers and Giants are two of the four teams that have yet to reach 50 home runs on the season. If this does not get Miguel Cabrera going, then nothing will.
The matchup between Cincinnati Reds right-hander Luis Castillo and Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Zach Davies figured to be a low-scoring one, since each pitcher brought a top-10 ERA into the game. Each hurler got his comeuppance, but both have been so good that they'll remain in the top 10. For Davies, we expected regression. He lives on the edge of the plate and does not throw hard. The strikeout rate is low. For Castillo, it was a bad day, likely aberrant. The final score was 11-9. Current pitchers in the top 10 in ERA that seem unlikely to stay there include Jake Odorizzi, Caleb Smith and Frankie Montas. I like them all, but to expect a sub-2.50 ERA for six months is ridiculous.
Those patient with Chicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez enjoyed Wednesday when the rookie hammered a pair of home runs and scored three times. It is understandable if Jimenez is on your bench this week, but those who cut him could regret it. In other news, the once-slumping Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his fifth home run Wednesday. Not all awesome hitting prospects hit like Shane Spencer over their first few weeks.
I would not worry much about Houston Astros right-hander Gerrit Cole, despite the mess of runs he served up to the White Sox. Cole has 100 strikeouts in 65 ⅔ innings. His WHIP is 1.08. The Astros are excellent. If anything, now seems a wise time to attempt to acquire him in trade. He remains a top-10 starter.
Health report
Fantasy managers have some decisions to make now that New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano, having a rough season, is on the injured list. Cano always hits, but not this year. I cannot argue if you want to move on, but I would try to wait. Definitely move on from versatile Jeff McNeil and outfielder Brandon Nimmo. They are hurt as well. Nimmo was excellent last season, but that was last season. Every Mets hitter save for Pete Alonso and J.D. Davis is currently rostered in fewer ESPN standard leagues than they were a week ago. It is telling. Add still-speedy Rajai Davis if you are desperate, for he could steal some bases the next few weeks.
I found it a bit odd just how much so many people loved Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Wilmer Flores for this season. Flores has power and second base eligibility but still, 20 home runs seemed aggressive. It still does. He has two home runs and a broken foot. Those relying on Jarrod Dyson to steal bases are not complaining. Ketel Marte is better at second base anyway.
Closing time
Rockies right-hander Scott Oberg, who has been demonstrably better than closer Wade Davis since the start of the 2018 season, will handle the saves with Davis on the injured list for an oblique strain. Perhaps the injury is, as the team claims, not serious or likely to keep Davis in check for more than 10 days, but add Oberg anyway, for he could accumulate enough saves in the interim. It seems unlikely that, even if Oberg dominates, Davis will have to fight to get the ninth-inning role back.
Texas Rangers right-hander Shawn Kelley saved another win and Jose Leclerc did not pitch. Leclerc should return to the closing role soon, Rangers sources tell the world, but is anyone else losing patience? We discuss Leclerc quite a bit and have only five saves to show for it. Kelley now has four.
Despite optimism to the contrary, San Diego Padres infielder Fernando Tatis Jr. is not likely to play in a big league game until June, so leave him outside your active rosters next week. Tatis has a hamstring injury. I thought rookie Ty France, after raking in Triple-A, would hit more in the majors, but he has not. He gets another week, though.
W2W4
The heavyweight matchup series of the weekend pits the past two World Series champs in Houston. Boston starts with Chris Sale. It is not a great matchup for him, or anyone, but you never sit Sale. The Astros lead the majors in batting average, OBP and slugging, and are even better against left-handed pitching. David Price meets Brad Peacock on Saturday. If Peacock is available in your league, add him and stash him. Again, facing the Red Sox is not easy, either. On Sunday, my No. 1 fantasy pitcher takes the mound in Justin Verlander. Sit Eduardo Rodriguez, but keep him rostered. He could still be a top-40 starter.
Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN features Julio Teheran and the Braves at Jack Flaherty and the Cardinals. The former is the No. 53 starting pitcher on the Player Rater, and a good strikeout option, but remains available in more than half of ESPN's leagues. The latter is supposed to be a top-20 starter, but is No. 58 on the Rater. I'd still take Flaherty, of course, but nothing in his numbers says he has been unlucky.
Most recent KaraBlogs
Wednesday, May 22: How to deal with Davis, Gordon absences
Tuesday, May 21: Closer report: Cubs, NL East, Red Sox
Monday, May 20: Bieber, Alcantara, Calhoun, Dyson, weekend wrap
Thursday, May 16: Austin Riley, Franmil Reyes, other free agent pickups
Wednesday, May 15: Josh Bell, Vlad Guerrero, prospects, Mitch Garver
Fantasy Focus Baseball Podcast: All shows