Shohei Ohtani the hitter smacked a ninth-inning home run on Thursday night and two innings prior stole his first base of the season, which is a nice little feat we like to call the "combo meal" on our Fantasy Focus Baseball podcast. Ohtani the hitter has a few home runs and seven runs batted in but remains off to a rather slow start at the plate, with just a .174 batting average and nary a walk versus seven strikeouts. Still, he boasts a career .877 OPS and only four Angels have strode to the plate more than he has -- a good sign.
Of course, Ohtani the hitter produces only half of his overall value for fantasy managers, and one could argue it is not even actually close to half. We need him to pitch well. Everyone in baseball seems to hit. Aces are fewer and farther between, and Ohtani the pitcher, who entered his first outing with a career 3.31 ERA, was anything but an ace in his 2020 debut last Sunday afternoon. He retired as many Athletics hitters that day as you and I. It was 30 rough pitches with far reduced velocity and command, three hits, three walks, five earned runs, and much angst.
We look ahead with hope to the second weekend of this irregular season with Ohtani on the slate to face the Astros at home on Sunday. This outing is going to be telling. It likely will decide (fair or not) what fantasy managers will do with him, at least, for the leagues that treat Ohtani the pitcher as a distinct entity. I realize this might be confusing to some. Ohtani the player is rostered in 96.3% of ESPN standard leagues -- and for good reason. Still, while it is ridiculously early to judge, so far he has made too many outs at the plate and not nearly enough on the mound.
I think it is fair to leave Ohtani on your bench for the Sunday outing against a top Houston offense, one with discipline and power throughout, because anyone exhibiting such a drastic loss in fastball velocity (nearly 4 mph in this case) should be of some concern until they alter the narrative. Ohtani is already different, with his Sunday-only pitching schedule and no promise -- though early accounts are positive -- of plate appearances. It is dangerous for those in weekly formats, too, to leave him active. He claims his arm, repaired by Tommy John surgery, is healthy, and his pitching coach blamed lack of command for the poor outing. Perhaps. Regardless, this is the player to observe this weekend. I cannot wait.
Other random thoughts
Padres infielder Jurickson Profar actually produced the first combo meal of Thursday and the season. Profar is rostered in just 9.2% of leagues, and while we applaud both his Thursday efforts and his five walks versus two whiffs so far (great for his OBP), I would not rush to add him yet in standard formats.
I want to believe Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford is legit as well because, as with Profar, he was a top infield prospect with plate discipline. Crawford stole two bases on Thursday and has seven walks versus two strikeouts. He also leads off for a better-than-you-think offense. I would take Crawford over Profar, but remember, add Crawford now and when he drops 100-plus batting average points -- and he will -- you will be mad.
Toronto's Teoscar Hernandez boasts a pair of multihomer games this week and he should play regularly. Again, however, not only is it too early to look at batting average, but he is not going to deliver it. Be prepared. You should look at the low batting average options that will be fine. Are you really concerned about Christian Yelich, Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Ozzie Albies or Francisco Lindor? C'mon.
The White Sox claim that second-base prospect Nick Madrigal is close to promotion. He can hit for average and steal bases. I doubt he would hit near the top of the lineup for them, but still, he will hit. There's no power, though.
The Cardinals claim nothing about the eventual promotion for outfield prospect Dylan Carlson, which is odd, because defensive maven Harrison Bader cannot hit off-speed stuff and, assuming the franchise plays another game anytime soon, it desperately needs outfield pop. I would add Carlson over Madrigal right now.
Where's the relief?
Where do we begin on wrapping up a wild Thursday for the closers? I would need an entirely separate column for this, but here are five thoughts within a section of random thoughts just on closers:
I cannot see Edwin Diaz earning the next Mets save chance. He was terrible on Thursday, loading the bases with Red Sox on 35 pitches, earning only one out, walking two and hitting another, throwing only 19 of 35 pitches for strikes. Keep him rostered today, I guess, but watch Seth Lugo get the next save opportunity. Some will say no, Lugo is a multi-inning option and it will be Jeurys Familia or Dellin Betances. Fair. Lugo is pitching the best, and most teams (other than the Rays) place their best reliever in the ninth-inning role.
Cleveland lefty Brad Hand has struggled as well and young right-hander James Karinchak saved the Shane Bieber win Thursday. (Give Bieber the AL Cy Young award today.) Is Karinchak the closer? I doubt the official change has occurred yet, but it might be inevitable. Keep Hand around this weekend, but add Karinchak. Now if Cameron Hill gets the next save, all bets are off.
Three Royals relievers, three different stories. Ian Kennedy was terrific in 2019 and is rostered in 47% of leagues. Greg Holland is No. 4 in franchise history in saves and is rostered in 23.9%. He is also the most added reliever in our game. Then there is Trevor Rosenthal, saver of Thursday's win, his first save for anyone in nearly three years and he is rostered in a mere 1.7%. Yep, you guessed it. Rosenthal is the closer. Get him. Drop the others.
Drop Rangers right-hander Jose Leclerc, for his right shoulder is ruined and his season is likely over. Nick Goody saved Wednesday's win, but keep an eye on Jonathan Hernandez, their youngest reliever at 24. He throws hard and, well, they have few options. Jesse Chavez? Rafael Montero is hurt. Hernandez never closed in the minors and he is certainly a walker, but then again, so was Leclerc.
The Cubs cannot hide Craig Kimbrel forever. He pitched once, on Monday, and walked four, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and yet still earned a hold. Perhaps we should abolish saves and holds. Anyway, here are several relief pitchers rostered in more than half of ESPN's leagues I say you will be dropping by this time next week, in order of lofty ADP: Diaz, Ken Giles (injured), Hand, Nick Anderson (middle relief), Leclerc (hurt), Kimbrel (bad), Will Smith (setup for Mark Melancon). Is that not enough? Have a great weekend.
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