The fantasy viability, both in the short and long term, of Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette compared to San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. was one of the featured Twitter questions (#hashbrowns) that was answered on the Sunday night Fantasy Focus Baseball podcast. Hey, Tristan H. Cockcroft and I love 'em both, but we picked Tatis, because he looks like someone who could legitimately hit 35 home runs in a full season while also hitting for average and stealing myriad bases. Bichette, however, looks to be special as well, with his .361 batting average, five home runs and four stolen bases in two weeks of games.
Today, unfortunately, you might actually have to consider dropping him from your fantasy teams.
Bichette sprained his right knee in Saturday's game and hit the injured list on Sunday. While we hope this is a minor injury and he returns to play this month, the Blue Jays, after studying the MRI results, fear Bichette will miss at least a month of games. Since a mere six weeks remain of this truncated, irregular season, well, do the math. Bichette is awesome. Everyone loves him. He might be a second-round selection in some leagues in 2021, though I'd say more like the third round. For the remainder of 2020, however, he might not help much -- if at all.
This is one of the problems of a shortened season in that we almost have to pretend that four and a half months have already been played in order to fool our minds, because there is only six weeks left. What would you do with Bichette under those circumstances? Does his hot start matter in this respect? Why would the sub-.500 Jays even bring him back at all? Of course, if you have room on your injured list, keep him around. That said, if you know you might get, at most, another fortnight of games out of him, you might move on. Try to think like that today. Do you need this roster spot? Can you win this season? Could trading him in a keeper league help those efforts?
Looking at all the players with the red "IL10" markers next to their name, taking the place of the old asterisks and denoting their injured status, I do not have Bichette among the top 10, unless kind words on his outlook arrive soon. If I had one IL spot in a fantasy league, here is how I would prioritize those players.
Ranking the injured
1. Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Braves (wrist): He can return to the lineup -- and stardom -- this week.
2. Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees (calf): He says this is no big deal. (Until his next malady.)
3. Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves (wrist): It might be another two weeks. Be patient.
4. DJ LeMahieu, IF, Yankees (thumb): If surgery is required, he drops from this list.
5. Charlie Morton, SP, Rays (shoulder): He might start a game this week. There are no significant worries.
6. Aroldis Chapman, RP, Yankees (illness): He comes back Monday, and probably right into saves.
7. Michael Brantley, OF, Astros (quad): This is a good player and a relatively minor injury. Back in a week?
8. Stephen Strasburg, SP, Nationals (hand): Nerve issues are scary, so this is problematic.
9. Giancarlo Stanton, OF, Yankees (hamstring): See you in September, but it is always something with him.
10. Mike Moustakas, 2B/3B, Reds (quad): He probably returns this week. He hit 35 homers last year.
11. Madison Bumgarner, SP, Diamondbacks (back): We hope the velocity returns soon, too.
12. Justin Verlander, SP, Astros (forearm): He says he is throwing this week. Could he be a September ace?
13. Bo Bichette, SS, Blue Jays (knee): Who knows?
Well, that is my list, subject to change any minute. It omits Twins 3B Josh Donaldson (calf), who has no timeline to return. Worry about him, or better yet, move on. It also leaves out Red Sox OF Andrew Benintendi (ribs). He is just not that good statistically. Padres closer Kirby Yates (elbow) might be done. I have no idea on Blue Jays closer Ken Giles (forearm). Anyone else? Who hits the injured list today? Stay tuned!
Random weekend thoughts
The Yankees hit Mike Tauchman third on Sunday night and Clint Frazier eighth. That in and of itself tells us what they think of these outfielders, even after Frazier homered and knocked in five on Saturday against Boston, arguably the worst pitching staff in the sport right now. I would still add Tauchman and his five-category goodness first.
I half expect another injured list stint for Astros DH Yordan Alvarez. The first one, and his delay to the season, was due to the virus. He also has problem knees that prevent him from playing the outfield and, on Sunday, from playing at all. He is 23. This is a problem. We know he can hit, but we also know Judge can hit. We want 650-PA seasons, too.
If Reds OF Jesse Winker can hit lefties on any consistent basis, sign me up. We know he can hit right-handers. Winker has five multihit games in a row. My only hesitation in adding him for this week is we just do not know if the Reds will get to play a full week, thanks to one of their constituency getting the virus.
Nobody in baseball has more RBIs than Orioles OF Anthony Santander. Yeah, he is hitting only .271, but with a .242 BABIP. So dream about Charlie Blackmon hitting .400 or whatever, but Santander might actually hit a legit .300 with run-producing qualities and remain available in leagues.
No, I do not know when Trea Turner will finally get around to stealing his first base, but I have absolutely no intention of dropping him from any fantasy teams. Give him time but acknowledge that, for projecting in a full 2021, he might not be a 40-steal option anymore, for whatever reason.
Keibert Ruiz homered in his first plate appearance in the majors after the Dodgers placed starting C Will Smith on the injured list. Of course he did. The Dodgers get it done, at least in the regular season. I added Ruiz in a league and cut Wilson Ramos, though somewhat out of boredom. Ramos is doing nothing. I might as well stream it and see what happens.
Bullpen lunacy
Where do we begin? Drew Pomeranz might vault into the top five of closers now that Yates has bone chips in his elbow. No, I am serious. I am all-in here on the left-hander.
Anthony Bass has back tightness, so Jordan Romano can steal the closer gig. There is word, however, that Ken Giles is healing. I still add Romano first.
You have got to get Trevor Gott off your roster. He allowed four home runs and nine earned runs on Friday and Saturday alone. One has to assume Tyler Rogers gets a save chance soon.
As for the more famous Taylor Rogers, the Twins used him in a setup role on Sunday so Sergio Romo could close. Inconceivable! It's also true. Keep Rogers rostered, but if he is a lesser Nick Anderson now, closing on a part-time basis, then I say, "Ugh!"
Jairo Diaz is struggling and it sure looks like Daniel Bard is now more than just a great story. He might be the Rockies' closer!