Opening day 166 players between all 32 teams were placed on the injured reserve list. For fantasy baseball owners, they have to be aware of this, because if their team misses even one start that could cost you either a weekly or a daily victory. If you also want to look into the same or similar strategy for HITTERS, click here.
Here’s a fun part I want to talk about, I did briefly talk about this in an article I did on pitchers. Some, actually quite a few pitchers have SP/RP beside their name, I love this for a few reasons. The first reason and pitcher I’m going to look at is Kansas City Royals Cole Ragans SP/RP. Managers can gain an advantage in points leagues by having starting pitchers that can be used as relief pitchers. Typically, wins in a points league are worth 10 points and saves are only worth 7 points. RP can throw more often so having a good closer can be useful obviously. A top end SP/RP will nearly always outscore traditional closers. Ragans gave a small sample last year, in 71 innings struck out 89 batters, well over a K/9IP, Ragans also produced a very good ERA of 2.64 and a WHIP of 1.07. His numbers in the ERA and WHIP could increase with more innings, but staying healthy and being the strike thrower he is he will be an awesome play to plug in at RP to gain the edge.
Michael King SP/RP, similar to Ragans, King possesses strikeout stuff compiling 127 K in 104 IP, while posting a a 2.75 ERA is very good. I use the term “plug-in” a lot in this piece, but feel free to plug these two starters into the RP spots for Ks, and hopefully a W in your points leagues.
Another Kansas City pitcher I am picking here is Alec Marsh, only one start under his belt this season but 7 strong innings with 5 strikeouts and a 1.29 ERA. Lets look at 2023, not great, 3 wins in relief in 9 appearances and a dreadful 5.69 ERA. Marsh has good command plus average stuff, using his change-up more than the 4 seamer and he did away with his curveball that wasn’t that reliable last year. Marsh is also slightly above a K/9IP pitcher. This could be a recipe for success. It is only one start, so I cannot tell you what to expect. Is he an ace? Definitely not, but a number 3 starter is now possible. Even if he is just a competent 5th starter, that adds depth to a much better rotation compared to last year.
Two more pitchers for similar but opposite reason and not to get into the numbers too much here, but the results and reasons hopefully work out the same for you or I if we play these pitchers right on the right day. Michael Kopech SP, but the White Sox did announce he will be going to the bullpen and likely will get save chances, his stuff has not been stellar throughout his brief career but he has strikeout pitches and a heater that reaches triple digits. So when Kopech gains his RP eligibility I’ll sneak him into the SP spot on days I don’t have a starter pitching that day. Mason Miller of the Oakland A’s, same deal here folks, he is listed as SP, but will be in the bullpen and will most likely be the closer or even if its closer by committee Miller will be a pitcher I will be “plugging in” to the SP spot as a reliever to get me some points.
Honorable mentions: Red Sox – Garrett Whitlock SP/RP, Red Sox – Kutter Crawford SP/RP Mets- Sean Manea SP/RP, take a chance on these guys in points leagues in streaming situations and put them in the RP spot to gets some points for a W and Ks.
Marlins – Bryan Hoeing SP/RP White Sox – John Breebia SP/RP Dodgers – Dinelson Lamet SP/RP Giants – Ryan Walker SP/RP and A’s Kyle Muller SP/RP, all RP either in setup men roles or long relievers that could fill a SP spot for stats or points when you have no starter plugged in at SP that day.
Feel free to leave a comment below if you like this article, agree or disagree with any of these thoughts, reach out to me on ‘X’ @HENDO19750 or hit me up on Facebook messenger if you would like to chat sports.
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