NHL Eastern Conference Semifinal Predictions

The NHL Eastern Conference Semifinal round will begin tonight as the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Ottawa Senators in Game 1. With their Game 7 wins last night, the New York Rangers will face the Boston Bruins in the other semifinal matchup. Here are my predictions for the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

#1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #7 Ottawa Senators

The Pittsburgh Penguins struggled to defeat the #8 seeded New York Islanders in the first round while the Ottawa Senators dominated the #2 seeded Montreal Canadians. If the Penguins want to advance to the Eastern Conference Final, they must find a way to beat Ottawa goaltender Craig Anderson. He finished the first round with an impressive .95% save percentage. Pittsburgh’s goaltending situation is not as clear as Marc-Andre Fleury started the first four games of their first round series but was replaced by Tomas Vokoun for Games 5 and 6 which were both wins for the Penguins. Vokoun will start Game 1 but if he struggles, how quickly will Fleury be put back in? Evgeni Malkin led the Penguins forwards with 11 points (2 G, 9 A) in the first round while Daniel Alfredsson and Erik Karlsson tied for the Senators lead with 6 points. This series will be a classic matchup of a talented offensive team (Penguins) against a good defensive team (Senators) with one of the top goalies in the playoffs. As good as Anderson has been, the Penguins offensive depth and skill will be too much to overcome and the first round struggle against the Islanders will only make the Penguins stronger and more focused.

Prediction: Pittsburgh Penguins in 6

#4 Boston Bruins #6 New York Rangers
After an epic comeback in the third period of Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Bruins advanced to the semifinal round against another Original Six team, the New York Rangers. The Rangers rallied from a 2-0 series deficit to defeat the Washington Capitals in seven games. Henrik Lundqvist leads all goaltenders with 2 shutouts this postseason. His shutouts came with the Rangers facing elimination in Games 6 and 7. The Bruins David Krejci leads all playoff scorers with 13 points (5G, 8A) but they will need Jaromir Jagr and Brad Marchand to step up and contribute offensively against the Rangers. The Rangers offense broke out in Game 7 but struggled to put points on the board in the previous six games against the Capitals. The Bruins physical play and deeper blue line will be a stark contrast to the style of play that the Rangers saw in the first round. Look for the Bruins to put their big forwards in front of the net and utilize screens, deflections, and rebounds to put the puck past Lundqvist. This is my pick for the best series of the Semifinal round.

Prediction: Boston Bruins in 7

NHL Western Conference Semifinal Predictions

The Western Conference Semifinal round is set after the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Anaheim Ducks in Game 7 late Sunday night. Here are the matchups along with my predictions.

1. Chicago Blackhawks vs. 7. Detroit Red Wings

The Blackhawks will be well rested after defeating the Minnesota Wild in 5 games while the Red Wings are coming off a hard fought 7 game series versus the Anaheim Ducks. Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard was outstanding in the first round and he will have to continue his outstanding play if the Red Wings want to advance to the Western Conference Final. Patrick Sharp led the Blackhawks in the first round with 5 goals and 1 assist and Marian Hossa chipped in with 3 goals and 3 assists. I expect the Blackhawks potent offense to lead the charge and advance to the Western Conference Final.

Prediction: Chicago Blackhawks in 6

5. Los Angeles Kings vs. 6. San Jose Sharks

The Kings will face the Sharks in the other Western Conference Semifinal matchup. This series should be very physical and closely contested. The Sharks swept the Vancouver Canucks in the first round while the Kings won 4 straight after dropping the first two games to the St. Louis Blues. Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick was stellar in net against the Blues and Jeff Carter led the Kings offense with 3 goals. The Sharks were led by their power-play unit in their first round matchup. Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski each scored 3 power-play goals in the sweep of the Canucks. If the Kings can stay out of the box and Jonathan Quick stays hot, the Kings should return to the Western Conference Final.

Prediction: Los Angeles Kings in 7

NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Preview and Predictions

The NHL Eastern Conference playoff picture is finally clear after the Ottawa Senators defeated the Boston Bruins Sunday night. With the win, the Senators clinched the #7 seed and avoided playing the top seeded Pittsburgh Penguins. The Boston Bruins dropped from the #2 seed and is now the #4 seed and could potentially meet Pittsburgh in the second round. Here are the NHL Eastern Conference matchups along with my predictions.

#1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #8 New York Islanders

The Islanders are making their first playoff appearance since 2007 and unfortunately meet the powerful Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. The Islanders surprised many this year with their excellent play and closed the season strong to hold on to their playoff spot. John Tavares emerged as a legitimate contender for the Hart Trophy with his performance during the regular season. The biggest question surrounding the Penguins is the status of Sidney Crosby. He has been out since March 30th after suffering a broken jaw. With the additions of Jarome Iginla and Brenden Morrow at the trade deadline, the Penguins have plenty of depth with or without Crosby to overcome the upstart Islanders.

Prediction: Pittsburgh Penguins in 5

#2 Montreal Canadians vs. #7 Ottawa Senators

While many fans wanted the Toronto Maple Leafs to face the Montreal Canadians in the opening round, the Senators win in Boston Sunday night set up this matchup of evenly-matched teams. Expect a lot of close, low-scoring games during the series with the goaltenders dominating the headlines of the series. Montreal’s Carey Price started the season strong for the Canadians but struggled between the pipes at the conclusion of the regular season. Ottawa’s Craig Anderson was the top goaltender at the beginning of the year posting a 5-0-1 record in January but missed the entire month of March due to an injury. Look for Montreal winger Max Pacioretty to be the difference maker in the series.

Prediction: Montreal Canadians in 6

#3 Washington Capitals vs. #6 New York Rangers

This is a rematch of a classic 7 game series from last year’s Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Rangers and Capitals both stumbled out of the gate but finished the regular season strong. The Rangers are a team that nobody wants to face right now due mostly to the man in net, Henrik Lundqvist. The Capitals need to find scoring from anyone other than Alex Ovechkin if they have any hope in advancing to the next round. Special teams could be the difference maker in this series with a strong Washington power play matched against an equally impressive New York Rangers penalty kill.

Prediction: New York Rangers in 7

#4 Boston Bruins vs. #5 Toronto Maple Leafs

This is a terrific matchup of two Original Six teams that have a lot of history and animosity towards each other. The majority of the talk leading up to the series will focus on the trade that brought Phil Kessel to the Maple Leafs from Boston for draft picks that eventually became Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton but that will all dissipate once the series starts. Boston was my preseason pick to represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final but they have stumbled down the stretch including their loss in the final game of the regular season against the Ottawa Senators. Toronto goaltender James Reimer has been tremendous in net for the Maple Leafs but this will be a big test for him and the rest of his teammates. Boston’s playoff experience and depth on the blue line will lead them to a first round victory.

Prediction: Boston Bruins in 6

2013 NHL Western Conference Quarterfinals Preview & Predictions

The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are finally here. After a shortened season due to the lockout, the Western Conference first round matchups are all set. The Presidents’ Trophy winning Chicago Blackhawks clinched the #1 seed and home ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It will not be an easy road for Chicago as the West is very deep this year and you can make a strong case for 6 of the 8 teams in the West making it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Here are the matchups along with my predictions.

#1 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #8 Minnesota Wild

Minnesota won their final game of the regular season just to clinch a playoff berth and has the unenviable task of taking on the best team in the league. The Chicago Blackhawks have a ton of depth and too much offense for the offensively challenged Wild.

Prediction: Chicago Blackhawks in 5

#2 Anaheim Ducks vs. #7 Detroit Red Wings

The Ducks had an excellent regular season finishing with the third highest total points in the NHL (66) while the Red Wings won their final 4 games of the regular season just to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This series is going to tell us a lot about the Anaheim Ducks. Will they allow the crafty veterans of the Detroit Red Wings to get under their skin and force them to take bad penalties or will they rely on their speed and talent in their attempt to advance to the second round? Even though these teams had vastly different regular seasons, I think this series goes the distance because of the Red Wings playoff experience and advantage in goal. In the end, I think the Ducks do just enough to edge out the Wings.

Prediction: Anaheim Ducks in 7

#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 San Jose Sharks

This is a another great first round matchup that features two teams that started out the year with visions of winning the Cup. The Sharks have had a history of playoff failures and unfortunately they are facing a team that was in the Stanley Cup Finals just two seasons ago. The Canucks are deeper and more talented on offense, defense, and in goal. Look for the Sedin twins to have a big series as the Canucks add to the Sharks playoff woes.

Prediction: Vancouver Canucks in 6

#4 St. Louis Blues vs. #5 Los Angeles Kings

This is the best and most exciting first round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. These two teams could have very well met in the Western Conference Finals but are facing each other in round one. The 2012 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings stumbled out of the gate during the regular season but turned it around and had a strong finish to qualify as the #5 seed. The Blues were strong and consistent all year long and have a great mix of speed, size, and grit. This series might go down as one of the best Stanley Cup Playoff series in recent memory.  I will be tuned in for every second of it.

Prediction: St. Louis Blues in 7

Scouting the Waiver wire: Week 6 edition

Wandy Rodriguez (SP) Houston Astros

Rodriguez is showing total command of the strike zone, and throwing his changeup more. He has cut down on his walks per 9 innings, which has led to a decrease in his fly ball %. The Astros are starting to score runs, leading to a 3 start win streak for Rodriguez. He’s pitching in a weak division and should maintain a low ERA/WHIP to go along with a decent amount of wins.

 

Carlos Ruiz (C) Philadelphia Phillies

Ruiz is smoking hot at the plate possessing an 8 game hitting streak. The power numbers have been there as well (3 doubles/3HR/14RBI). His saber metrics are in line with his career statistics, so ride out this hot streak while you can.

 

Pedro Alvarez (3B) Pittsburgh Pirates

The former 2nd overall pick in the 2008 Draft is one of the hottest hitters in baseball. In the midst of a 7 game hitting streak, Alvarez has assembled 5 multi hit games. He’s amassed 8 runs/ 9RBI’s/3 doubles and has 3 homers in his last 5 games. His BABIP is a modest .286 and he’s hitting the ball all over the field. His GB% is the lowest it has ever been, which could be a sign the power is going to continue.

 

Rafael Dolis (RP) Chicago Cubs

Former closer Carlos Marmol has been removed and Dolis is reportedly the prime candidate to fill the role.  He picked up his 2nd save of the season Friday night in an effortless inning of work.

 

Cody Ransom (SS,3B) Arizona Diamondbacks

Keep an eye on Cody Ransom. Manager Kirk Gibson told reporters “he’s going to be playing more than he normally would due to the hot start”. He is just one injury away from seeing starters playing time and carries a SS designation. He is not lineup worthy right now, but deserves a spot on your watch list. In 29 AB’s he’s hitting .345AVG/1200 OPS/5 runs/3 doubles/3 HR/10RBI.

 

Luke Scott (1B,OF) Tampa Bay Rays

If you are in need of power and RBI’s Scott is your man. He is the classic platoon player because of his struggles versus lefties. However he is killing right handed pitchers and hits in a good lineup. If you have an extra spot on your bench you can’t go wrong with Scott and playing the matchups.

Are you playing in daily leagues?

Daily fantasy leagues are becoming very popular. There are different type’s 50/50, Head to Head, and top 3 are the most popular. Analyzing the matchups is critical because most games are only one day. I like to look at player’s numbers versus the pitcher they are facing, and analyzing statistics from the previous seven days to determine who is hot and who’s not. The final determining factor is the pitcher who is on the mound. If it is an ace I might stay away from that match up and focus on hitters facing a weak pitcher.

Pedro Alvarez (Pirates) is one of the hottest hitters in baseball.

Here’s my lineup today with a 35K salary cap.

P -Kyle Lohse STL@HOU $6,500

C -Yadier Molina STL@HOU $3,700

1B- Mark Teixeira NYY@KAN $3,800

2B- Howie Kendrick TOR@ANA $3,400

3B -Pedro Alvarez CIN@PIT $3,000

SS -Derek Jeter NYY@KAN $3,900

OF

Cameron Maybin MIA@SDP $3,100

Bryce Harper PHI@WAS $3,300

Justin Upton ARI@NYM $4,000

 

I like Lohse because he carries a lower salary, has been consistently good, and faces a weaker lineup. I am going with a couple of Yankees in Jeter and Teixeira because of their history versus starting pitcher Bruce Chen. Howie Kendrick has been hot at the plate recently and has a solid history versus starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez. Pedro Alvarez is one of the hottest hitters in baseball and has a very cheap salary at 3rd. Cameron Maybin is starting to produce by getting on base, scoring runs, and stealing bases. Harper has been solid and faces a favorable matchup versus starter Kyle Kendrick who is struggling; Upton’s bout is very favorable and he is currently undervalued salary wise.

 

Are the Red Sox a playoff team?

We are about 1/8 of the way through the baseball season, and the Boston Red Sox find themselves in last place in the A.L. East. The injuries are piling up as Kevin Youkilis has been placed on the D.L. with a strained back; ace Josh Beckett will miss his start on Saturday with stiffness. They are already without starters Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford, and closer Andrew Bailey which has contributed to their slow start. The real question to be asked, is this a playoff team?

Manager Bobby Valentine has had a lot to shake his head about.

In my opinion, no they are not and it is not just because of injuries. Their lineup consists of hitters who mash middle and bottom tier pitching but struggle against the upper echelon. The pitching staff is overrated with concerns of being brittle and susceptible to injury. Manager Bobby Valentine has a bullpen that consists of too many question marks, and not enough answers.

The inconsistencies of the offense and starting rotation are major problems. It is either boom or bust as the offense scores 12 runs or 2. I call it the bully syndrome, where they beat up on weak opponents but struggle against equal competition.

So who is to blame for the Red Sox problems? It starts with the front office. They have handed out millions of dollars in free agency and have received very little production. Let’s go down the list of stinkers; John Lackey, Carl Crawford, Daisuke Matsuzaka, J.D. Drew, Matt Clement, Julio Lugo, Edgar Renteria, and Mike Cameron were given huge contracts by this regime. The team that won in 2004 was essentially former GM Dan Duquette’s players. A huge chunk of their payroll is tied up to players who are not even playing.

Can they turn it around? We will see, but if the injuries keep piling up this could be a season of transition.

Scouting the Holds category

Does your league use holds? If it doesn’t then you’re probably wondering what a hold is. Holds measure the value of middle relievers pitching in the 6th, 7th, and 8th inning; it is comparable to a save for a closer. If the pitcher does not surrender the lead, then he registers a hold. Simple enough right?

Being on a good team is important, because it will give you more opportunities. There is another trick to the holds category; finding players with starting pitching and relief pitching eligibility. You will be able to use a player for holds, and not lose any of your relief pitching positions. Left handed specialists who pitch to 1 batter in key situations are valuable as well.

Here are my rankings for the Hold category broken down in tiers.

Tier 1

Kenley Jansen -L.A. Dodgers

Alexi Ogando ***-SP/RP Texas Rangers

Mitchell Boggs -St. Louis Cardinals

Mike Adams -Texas Rangers

Ryan Cook -Oakland Athletics

Jonny Venters –Atlanta Braves

 

Tier 2

Franklin Morales –Boston Red Sox

Aroldis Chapman –Cincinnati Reds

Tom Wilhelmsen –Seattle Mariners

Joaquin Benoit –Detroit Tigers

Tyler Clippard –Washington Nationals

Chad Qualls –Philadelphia Phillies

David Robertson –New York Yankees

Francisco Rodriguez –Milwaukee Brewers

David Hernandez –Arizona Diamondbacks

 

Tier 3

Phil Coke ***SP/RP –Detroit Tigers

Vinnie Pestano –Cleveland Indians

Addison Reed –Chicago White Sox

Edward Mujica –Miami Marlins

Scott Downs –L.A. Angels

Matt Thornton –Chicago White Sox

Bryan Shaw –Arizona Diamondbacks

Josh Lindblom –L.A. Dodgers

Sean Burnett –Washington Nationals

Aaron Crow –Kansas City Royals

Wade Davis ***SP/RP –Tampa Bay Rays

Sergio Romo –San Francisco Giants

Fantasy baseball report April 29, 2012

This was an interesting week; it featured the promotion of two future stars Mike Trout and Bryce Harper. They both possess immediate fantasy value. Trout is a solid all-around player with speed, while Harper is known for his tape measure power. In keeper leagues their value is even greater as they are considered can’t miss prospects.

 

Yu Darvish impressed me with his 10 strikeout zero run effort versus the Yankees. He was able to work out of tight situations; in the 3rd he loaded the bases and escaped by striking out Curtis Granderson looking then getting Alex Rodriguez to ground into a double play. He featured a 93MPH fastball with late movement, a slow curve which he spotted for strikes, and a changeup that was effective against left-handed hitters. He moves the ball up and down, in and out, and lives on the edges of the strike zone.

 

Adrian Beltre returned to the Rangers this week with no restrictions and picked up where he left off. He’s started at third base the past 4 games after suffering a minor hamstring injury and went 6-16 with 2HR/6RBI’s. Beltre is a MVP candidate for Texas.

 

It appears Carl Crawford will be out for an extended period of time. He visited with Dr. Andrews and will reportedly be out at least 3 months. He had been taking batting practice for the Red Sox, but was unable to throw the ball. It is never a good sign when a player visits Dr. Andrews and you have to seriously consider Crawford’s season is in jeopardy.

 

Marlon Byrd’s career seems to be rejuvenated after being traded to the Red Sox. He struggled mightily for Cubs but has produced as a member of the Sox. With Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury missing significant time Byrd has found a regular lineup spot and has produced at least a hit in every contest.

 

The Red Sox have two interesting starting pitching candidates in their minor-league system in Daisuke Matsuzaka and Aaron Cook. Dice K is almost back after suffering Tommy John surgery, and veteran Aaron Cook has been pitching effectively for AAA Pawtucket. Cook has a contract clause which specifies he can opt out if he is not promoted to the big leagues by May 1st. This situation needs monitoring; will the Red Sox bring up Cook and place Daniel Bard in the bullpen?

 

Jon Jay returned from injury to the Cardinals outfield and produced immediately. He has been batting 2nd in a productive lineup and merits a roster spot in deeper leagues.

 

 

Who’s Hot

Aramis Ramirez (3B) Milwaukee Brewers

Desmond Jennings (OF) Tampa Bay Rays

Carlos Gonzalez (OF) Colorado Rockies

Jarrod Saltalamacchia (C) Boston Red Sox

Luke Hochevar (SP) Kansas City Royals

Billy Butler (1B) Kansas City Royals

David Ortiz (DH) Boston Red Sox

Jay Bruce (OF) Cincinnati Reds

José Altuve (2B) Houston Astros

Brandon Morrow (SP) Toronto Blue Jays

Wandy Rodriguez (SP) Houston Astros

Alfredo Aceves (RP) Boston Red Sox

 

Who’s Not

Albert Pujols (1B) L.A. Angels

José Reyes (SS) Miami Marlins

Mark Teixeira (1B) N.Y. Yankees

Giancarlo Stanton (OF) Miami Marlins

Nelson Cruz (OF) Texas Rangers

Yovani Gallardo (SP) Milwaukee Brewers

Heath Bell (RP) Miami Marlins

Jordan Walden (RP) L.A. Angels

Shaun Marcum (SP) Milwaukee Brewers

NHL Western Conference Round 2 Preview and Predictions

After a fantastic first round of the NHL Western Conference playoffs, the second round is set to kick off on Friday as the #3 seed Phoenix Coyotes take on the #4 seed Nashville Predators. The other Western Conference series will begin on Saturday as the #2 seed St Louis Blues play the #8 seed Los Angeles Kings.  Here is my take on each series along with a forward and defenseman on each team that could play a big role in each series.

#3 Phoenix Coyotes vs.  #4 Nashville Predators

This matchup will feature two of the league’s top goaltenders as Phoenix’s Mike Smith faces Nashville’s Pekka Rinne.  Both goalies are sure to play a big part in determining their team’s success in Round 2.  I will give the slight edge in net to Nashville’s Rinne as he has been more consistent and has a longer track record of success than Phoenix’s Mike Smith.

Possible Impact Players in this Series

Phoenix Coyotes – Martin Hanzal and Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Nashville Predators – Patrick Hornqvist and Ryan Suter

Prediction

Nashville in 6.  Nashville’s depth and experience in big games will prove to be too much for Phoenix to handle.

#2 St Louis Blues vs. #8 Los Angeles Kings

Both teams will be well rested coming in to this series as both teams won their first round series in 5 games.  The #2 seeded Blues ousted the #7 seed San Jose Sharks while the #8 Kings shocked the #1 seed and Presidents’ Trophy winning Vancouver Canucks.  This could be a long series as both teams have deep and balanced rosters with a good mix of youth and experience.

Possible Impact Players in this Series

St Louis Blues – T.J. Oshie and Kevin Shattenkirk

Los Angeles Kings – Jeff Carter and Alec Martinez

Prediction

Kings in 7.  Kings goaltender, and potential Vezina Trophy winner, Jonathan Quick will prove to be the difference in this series as the Kings look to advance to the Western Conference Final for the first time since 1993.

 

Fantasy baseball news and notes April 24, 2012

Francisco Cordero has been promoted to the closer position for the Toronto Blue Jays. He replaces Sergio Romo who is expected to be out at least 3-4 weeks. He is worth a roster spot if you are looking for saves.

 

Justin Upton appears to be regaining his health after nursing a thumb injury. He drove in his 1st run of the season and added a solo homer as well. He hit the ball extremely hard in all three at bats, opening up on the ball with authority. Buy low on Upton if you can.

 

Corey Luebke is a very quiet ace for the San Diego Padres. The 27-year-old lefty shut down the Phillies Saturday night allowing 2 hits and no runs in 8 innings beating Roy Halladay. He was shaky in his first start but has only given up 2 runs in his last 20.1 innings pitched. His command was extremely impressive, able to spot his fastball on the corners and off-speed pitches for strikes.

 

I watched Tim Lincecum pitch yesterday versus the Mets and was not impressed even though he only gave up 1 run in 5 innings. His velocity was down pitching in the 88-91MPH range, and couldn’t throw his slider for strike. He walked 5 batters and averaged over 20 pitches an inning. I would sell now if you can.

 

Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas are heating up for the Kansas City Royals after getting off to a slow start. Hosmer has hit in 4 straight games clubbing 2 homeruns, including one to the opposite field last night. Moustakas is 12-33 in his last 9 games and 5-8 in his last 2 games including doubles in each contest. Moustakas may be available in your league and warrants a roster spot, while Hosmer is a buy low candidate.

 

Keep an eye on Cubs 1B/OF Brian Lahair who is a great fastball hitter with good plate discipline. He is batting .361/1.106 OPS with 2HR/9RBI’s. His 12 pitch at bat versus Cardinals closer Jason Motte Monday night was impressive leading to a come from behind win.

 

Colby Rasmus appears to be much more patient at the plate recently. His 2 HR game Saturday night made people take note, but he had hit in 6 straight games before that. Add him now because this may be his career year.

 

Jake Peavy pitched a gem last night versus the Oakland A’s allowing 0 runs/3 hits/2 walks in 9 innings. It appeared he was getting tired in the later innings but battled for a complete game. He did give up a lot of fly balls, which could hurt him later on when the wind is blowing out in Chicago. For the time being he is a must start.

 

This is the best I have seen Alex Rodriguez play in a couple of seasons. He has been very patient at the plate and is driving the ball on a line up the middle and to the gaps. He is also a solid buy low candidate.

 

Kyle Lohse has been extremely impressive early on for the Cardinals and needs a roster spot in all leagues. He has not faced a good lineup all season, but pitches in one of the weakest divisions in all of baseball and should see plenty of win opportunities all season.

Team stat department- Hitting & Pitching

Team Hitting stats as of Sunday April 22 11:23 AM, rankings filtered by runs scored.

Team R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SB BA SLG
Rangers 63 22 2 21 61 26 4 0.290 0.522
Indians 61 15 2 16 60 49 7 0.249 0.442
Cardinals 59 19 5 16 59 36 6 0.293 0.491
Yankees 57 22 1 13 55 49 10 0.264 0.426
Red Sox 56 29 1 11 54 37 3 0.270 0.439
Blue Jays 54 16 2 14 52 36 6 0.231 0.403
Dodgers 54 21 1 11 53 43 9 0.253 0.408
Tigers 54 16 3 13 47 28 2 0.272 0.437
Orioles 53 23 1 20 48 30 5 0.260 0.478
Rockies 52 22 7 9 49 35 8 0.258 0.426
D’ Backs 52 19 1 15 51 44 11 0.237 0.414
Angels 51 20 2 10 49 27 8 0.269 0.412
Braves 51 15 3 10 47 37 11 0.229 0.37
Giants 49 21 5 9 47 35 6 0.254 0.406
Mariners 48 18 3 8 47 25 6 0.236 0.354
Brewers 48 19 3 15 47 29 9 0.233 0.43
Nationals 46 20 1 6 42 50 5 0.251 0.345
Padres 44 20 2 7 41 53 6 0.216 0.332
Astros 44 19 3 7 41 45 9 0.248 0.368
Cubs 42 15 3 5 38 32 9 0.237 0.338
Royals 42 28 3 8 40 24 6 0.255 0.405
Rays 41 19 2 10 40 43 2 0.253 0.4
Marlins 41 20 3 9 38 26 12 0.243 0.384
Mets 39 18 0 11 37 41 1 0.248 0.39
Twins 38 17 2 9 37 27 5 0.259 0.389
White Sox 38 16 5 12 36 23 7 0.234 0.418
Phillies 35 15 0 6 34 19 12 0.259 0.348
Athletics 33 15 0 10 32 29 9 0.201 0.314
Reds 32 17 2 6 31 30 2 0.205 0.309
Pirates 24 10 2 5 21 17 7 0.203 0.284
Team Pitching stats as of Sunday April 22 11:23 AM, rankings filtered by E.R.A.
Team ERA IP ER R BB SO Hits/A HR
Nationals 1.91 113 24 30 39 117 78 2
Rangers 2.36 99 26 27 21 86 90 6
Phillies 2.65 98.1 29 33 24 77 87 9
Mets 2.88 97 31 40 40 89 91 5
Cardinals 2.93 98.1 32 35 21 81 77 8
Pirates 2.97 94 31 34 30 60 85 7
Dodgers 3.17 99.1 35 38 38 99 73 8
Blue Jays 3.18 99 35 38 39 69 73 14
Orioles 3.23 103 37 46 37 70 93 13
Athletics 3.23 108.2 39 44 24 61 93 11
Tigers 3.27 99 36 37 27 98 89 7
White Sox 3.44 89 34 40 29 83 79 16
Reds 3.53 104.2 41 42 43 82 96 11
Astros 3.53 99.1 39 46 29 71 99 9
D’ Backs 3.65 98.2 40 42 38 81 88 11
Padres 3.7 109.1 45 55 57 94 87 12
Marlins 3.71 99.1 41 44 35 68 97 9
Braves 4.07 95 43 49 38 83 105 11
Giants 4.07 95 43 50 27 71 92 8
Mariners 4.16 106 49 51 26 87 101 16
Yankees 4.22 100.1 47 50 39 109 102 14
Royals 4.38 98.2 48 55 40 89 100 11
Cubs 4.41 96 47 53 35 87 84 11
Rockies 4.55 97 49 60 38 63 106 12
Angels 4.74 95 50 52 28 74 100 14
Indians 5.18 92 53 58 32 66 95 9
Twins 5.31 95 56 59 25 54 106 14
Brewers 5.4 95 57 61 40 91 105 14
Rays 5.9 93 61 64 50 64 95 13
Red Sox 6.22 97 67 68 36 79 111 17

Scouting the waiver wire

Week 4 will be upon us and trigger happy managers looking to make moves now have a larger sample size to judge players. It’s been the year of the pitcher as is usually the case in the early going; however it should start to even out soon. My advice is to ride those hot pitchers while you can.

This piece looks at players who might be available in your league and present an alternative option to a struggling or injured player in your lineup.

 

Matt Joyce (OF) Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Joyce is on a hot streak as of late; in his last 4 games he is 7-17 with 2 doubles and 3 homeruns. Hitting in a prime spot in the lineup he should score a ton of runs and see plenty of RBI opportunities. Buy now or watch him produce for someone else later.

 

Alex Rios (OF) Chicago White Sox

Rios had an awful season last year, which scared off many owners. If he can rebound you are looking at a player with 20 homerun/30 stolen bases potential. He has been hitting much better this season and is a player you should keep an eye on.

 

Mat Gamel (1B,3B) Milwaukee Brewers

Gamel is not your prototypical power hitting first baseman. However his all-around ability can bring value to any team. He started off slowly but he has 4 multiple hit games in his last 8 starts, his ability to steal bases and score runs should make up for his inability to hit 40 homers.

 

Mike Aviles (2B,SS,3B) Boston Red Sox

Aviles is a solid middle infielder, hitting in a favorable park and lineup. He should continue to see tremendous RBI and run opportunities while stealing some bases and hitting for a little power.

 

Jake Peavy (SP) Chicago White Sox

Peavy is 2-0 with a 2.75 ERA/0.81 WHIP/21 K’s in 19 innings. In his last start he threw the most pitches he has all season and reported feeling no pain. If he can stay healthy, Peavy could be a candidate for comeback player of the year.

 

Ted Lilly (SP) L.A. Dodgers

Lilly is 2-0 in 2 starts carrying a 0.69 ERA/1.00 WHIP after missing some time with a stiff neck. The Dodgers are one of the hottest teams in baseball increasing Lilly’s value. If the veteran lefty stays healthy he’s a good source for wins and K’s.

 

Jake Westbrook (SP) St. Louis Cardinals

Westbrook has given up 1 earned run in 14 innings so far for the Cardinals. He has changed his delivery to avoid tipping his pitches, which seems to have worked. Pick him up, and ride out this hot streak.

 

Five players whose stock is up

Adam Jones (OF) Baltimore Orioles

Jones has hit in all 10 games this season, and has homeruns in three of his last four games. He’s been working with Brian Roberts to become a better base stealer swiping 3 in 3 chances. Jones could be a sneaky 30-30 player this season as he develops his all around game.

 

Cody Ross (OF) Boston Red Sox

Ross appears to be a great fit for Fenway Park because of his ability to pull the ball. With Jacoby Ellsbury injured he should be a full-time player. If Ross is available pick him up before it is too late. He hit .357/2 HR/8 RBI’s in the 4 game home series versus Tampa Bay.

 

Jason Heyward (OF) Atlanta Braves

This is Heyward’s 3rd professional season and it appears the monstrous 22-year-old is ready to carry the Braves. He currently has a six-game hitting streak, while hitting for power and stealing bases. Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s just a hot start, he’s the real deal.

 

Ike Davis (1B) N.Y. Mets

Davis got off to a horrible start going 2-28 to start the season. He appears to be seeing the ball better as he is 3-8 with 2 homers and 5 RBI’s in his last two games. He is batting 4th for the Mets and should see plenty of RBI opportunities moving forward.

 

Jordan Zimmermann (SP) Washington Nationals

Even though the young right-hander has not registered a win on the season he has pitched unbelievable posting a 1.29 ERA and 0.79 WHIP through 14 innings . Finally healthy Zimmermann appears poised to have a breakout season.

 

 

Undervalued Players

Drafting undervalued players win you championships. Let’s look at Jacoby Ellsbury and Curtis Granderson for example; if you were able to draft either player last year you received incredible value based on their average draft position. There were signs that both of these players were breakout candidates.

In Ellsbury’s case an injury that wiped out his previous season diminished his value. He showed power in spring training and it lasted the whole season. Granderson is a player who put it all together last year for the Yankees. Granderson was now more comfortable playing in a great park, had an excellent lineup, and had shown signs that he was now able to hit left-handed pitching his previous Achilles’ heel.

These are the players that are being undervalued, and are intriguing options because of the value they possess based on 2012 composite rankings.

Cameron Maybin San Diego Padres
Maybin was showing signs last year that he was ready to break out before battling injuries towards the end of the season. He is a good source for steals, who is starting to develop at the plate. There is no way he’s going to hit 30 home runs, but if he hits 15 with 50 stolen bases you’re looking at a valuable asset.

Brennan Boesch Detroit Tigers
I’m very bullish on Boesch. Injuries ruined what was a promising start in 2011, an impressive 306 AVG with 12HR 57R 44RBI was his Pre-All-Star Game stat line. He is rumored to be hitting 2nd for a very good Tigers lineup; he has 30HR potential and should score a lot of runs. Think Ryan Ludwick when he put up unbelievable numbers in the Cardinals lineup hitting second in front of Pujols and Holliday.

Alex Rodriguez New York Yankees
It seems like a lot of people are writing off Alex Rodriguez, but I’m not one of them. Rodriguez has been battling injuries the last couple of years, but for some reason I think he will stay healthy this year. He visited Peter Wehling a German doctor referred by Kobe Bryant, and is reportedly feeling better than he has in years. He will also see time at the DH spot this year to keep his bat in the order while resting. He homered off Roy Halladay on the first pitch he saw this preseason.

Michael Cuddyer Colorado Rockies
His value is as a second baseman, and a move to Colorado should inflate his numbers. He is always an injury risk which might decreases his value, but how many second baseman are going to get you 25HR with good peripheral numbers.

Erick Aybar L.A. Angels
Shortstop is one of the least attractive positions in fantasy baseball. When a player like Elvis Andrus is a top 50 pick because he steals bases, then you know it’s not a deep position. This is why Aybar is valuable, last year he cut down on his strikeouts and his power doubled. Leading off for the Angels should result in runs and don’t forget he stole 30 bases last year.

Colby Rasmus Toronto Blue Jays
Rasmus has suddenly become valuable compared to previous seasons. He has the potential to go 30/30 and is worth a shot in later rounds. Hopefully a change of scenery to the slugger’s paradise A. L. East will bring out that potential.

Ike Davis New York Mets
Davis certainly comes with a risk as he is fighting Valley fever. This is the same illness that wiped out Conor Jackson’s season when he had it. Davis said he has had no symptoms this spring. If Davis is healthy he presents a solid utility/1B option at a discount price, he will be hitting 4th for the Met’s and is a talented hitter.

Kendrys Morales L.A. Angels
Morales is fighting back from injuries, he has been rehabbing as the designated hitter in minor-league action. His injured foot has been healing but he hasn’t been running that much. He was never a threat on the base passes, but he will hit for power and average when healthy. That is why he is a player you should target in the later rounds and stash on your D.L. spot till he is ready.

Overvalued Players

Nothing derails a team quicker than spending early round picks on players who do not produce. If you drafted Adam Dunn, Hanley Ramirez, Joe Mauer, Jason Heyward, and Alex Rios you were extremely disappointed with the production versus the early selection.

Currently, I have these players overvalued based on their average draft position.

Prince Fielder Detroit Tigers
Currently Fielder is going in the top 15 picks, at a deep position. Normally I would justify taking Fielder this high, but I feel he is going to struggle a bit while getting used to the A.L. pitching. I would rather go after a less deep position maximizing value, and use a later pick on first base.

Chase Utley Philadelphia Phillies
Chase in my opinion is being drafted way too high. He is being overvalued based on reputation, and not production. He’s had a hard time staying healthy recently, and the Phillies lineup isn’t what it used to be.

Mike Napoli Texas Rangers
Do you really want to have to pay for Napoli’s career year? The power wasn’t a fluke; will his batting average continue at the same rate? I don’t believe in taking Napoli with the top 35 picks because he is a catcher who will be susceptible to injury.

David Wright New York Mets
I know that the Mets are moving in their fences, but I am not buying David Wright this year. He has been battling injuries all spring which leaves his status for opening day questionable. I don’t like the recent trends regarding Wright; which is injury prone, and depleted power.

Elvis Andrus Texas Rangers
Andrus has been going in the top 50 picks on average. Basically you are paying for one category at a scarce position. If you can’t get one of the top 3 SS then you should probably wait and not over value middle tier players.

Michael Bourn Atlanta Braves
Bourn is another player being drafted early because of his ability to steal bases. I don’t want to have to use a third round pick on Bourn, when I can get Cameron Maybin in the later rounds who might be comparable in the stolen base category.

Yu Darvish Texas Rangers
I see pitching as a deep position this year I will not be spending an early pick on Darvish. He has the size and talent to be a star, but I don’t see success right away. Therefore I would much rather target hitting and focus on pitching in the middle and later rounds.