Fear the Beard. That has been Brian Wilson's trademark for a few years now, and for good reason. He had a string of 36+ saves in 4 straight years going into this year. Two of those years were 40+ saves, the best being 48 in 2010. With him on the DL, though, there is a new beard in town (well, in the closer role). SERGIO ROMO. I put this name in caps because I think it's a name that fantasy owners need to know. Put it in the ol' memory bank. This guy has quietly been one of the best FIVE relievers in baseball the last 2 years. In 110 combined innings in 2010 and 2011, he walked a combined 19 hitters (or a 1.55 BB/9). In the same span, he struck out 140 hitters. This guys career ERA and WHIP are 2.18 and 0.89. Yet for some reason, when the Wilson news came out, Bruce Bochy turned to Santiago Casilla first. Usually my strategy is to go for the best reliever on the team, and things will work themselves out. In this case, that strategy has worked because I believe Romo is pulling away with this job. Romo has been seeing save chances since Santiago Casilla went down with a knee injury. Since then he has gone 3 for 3 in save chances and has given up 0 baserunners in the 2 innings of work. Folks, I think if he is not owned in your league that you must go out and get him. He can be a top 5 closer the rest of the way if he holds onto the job.
Speaking of dominant closers: Aroldis Chapman is the best closer in baseball. Not Craig Kimbrel, not Kenley Jensen, not anyone else you can name. Aroldis Chapman is the true definition of lights out. 29 IP, 0 ER, 0.55 WHIP, 52 K. There's no reason his dominance should not continue. He is a lefty who throws 99 with a NASTY slider and has found his control. He has walked 9 batters all year. If anyone thinks your closer is better than Chapman, make a 1 for 1 trade now. If you can get Chapman by giving up a slight edge elsewhere, make the trade. This guy will help your ERA and WHIP like no other reliever, while giving you starting pitcher type strikeouts.
Other notes:
James McDonald is for real. I consider him a top 15 SP for the rest of the year. The most ER he has given up in a start this year is 3 (has done that 3x, only once since April). ERA by month: April - 2.97, May - 1.54, June -1.50. He's getting better with experience. Another very solid strikeout pitcher who just had to put it all together.
Buy Aramis Ramirez. He was just getting hot when he hurt his hamstring. The injury is minor, and he is listed as day-to-day. Make the move to get him while his value is low, because this is the time of year he heats up.
Adrian Gonzalez looks lost at the plate. If baseball teaches you anything though, it is that all things tend to even out. Pujols started off awful and then just went on a tear for his next 10 games. Sure he is 0-fer in June again, but great hitters go through cold streaks. We are not even 1/3 of the way yet. By the end of the year numbers will be there. That being said, I say go out and get Adrian Gonzalez. You will probably get another 1-3 weeks of poor hitting, but when he figures it out he will be Adrian Gonzalez once again.
Jimmy Rollins is hitting .307 in his last 7.
Scott Hairston is one of the hottest hitters in baseball? Need a boost in daily leagues? Ride it while the goings good.
James McDonald is for real. I consider him a top 15 SP for the rest of the year. The most ER he has given up in a start this year is 3 (has done that 3x, only once since April). ERA by month: April - 2.97, May - 1.54, June -1.50. He's getting better with experience. Another very solid strikeout pitcher who just had to put it all together.
Buy Aramis Ramirez. He was just getting hot when he hurt his hamstring. The injury is minor, and he is listed as day-to-day. Make the move to get him while his value is low, because this is the time of year he heats up.
Adrian Gonzalez looks lost at the plate. If baseball teaches you anything though, it is that all things tend to even out. Pujols started off awful and then just went on a tear for his next 10 games. Sure he is 0-fer in June again, but great hitters go through cold streaks. We are not even 1/3 of the way yet. By the end of the year numbers will be there. That being said, I say go out and get Adrian Gonzalez. You will probably get another 1-3 weeks of poor hitting, but when he figures it out he will be Adrian Gonzalez once again.
Jimmy Rollins is hitting .307 in his last 7.
Scott Hairston is one of the hottest hitters in baseball? Need a boost in daily leagues? Ride it while the goings good.
Ian Kinsler has 1 HR in the last 30 days. That won't continue. Get him.
Ryan Dempster is no longer winless. Cliff Lee is. Lance Lynn has 8 wins. Jason Hammel has 6. Wins are impossible to guess, don't take them into much consideration when trading for a pitcher. They are random combinations of pitching performance, defense, and relievers performance.
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