What you need to know for Wednesday's MLB games

[biggins]

• After beginning the week with two slates devoid of daytime baseball, matinees return on Wednesday. The festivities begin at 12:35 PM ET with the Colorado Rockies wrapping up a series in PNC Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Note, the Arizona Diamondbacks, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays all have a rare Wednesday off, so you'll want to find replacements for hitters from those clubs. To that end, the San Francisco Giantsoffer the best combination of players enjoying the platoon edge on a weaker pitcher and availability. Consider right-handed Wilmer Flores (59% rostered in ESPN leagues), Thairo Estrada (55%), Darin Ruf (8%), Joey Bart (7%) and Evan Longoria(1%) against New York Mets southpaw Thomas Szapucki at home on Oracle Park.
• Another option for shallower fantasy leagues is to deploy Baltimore Orioles right-handed bats on the road against New York Yankees rookie lefthander JP Sears, including Ryan Mountcastle (70%), Trey Mancini (66%), Austin Hays (66%), Anthony Santander (65%) and recent call-up Adley Rutschman (63%). While they all eclipse the usual 50% rostership used to identify hitters to stream, because there are so many between 50% and 70%, it's worth investigating if one is available. In addition, the group is an economical DFS stack.
• The first team that Reid Detmers (11%) faced after authoring a no-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays was the Texas Rangers, who hit the rookie hard, tallying three runs in just 3⅔ innings, taking Detmers deep twice in Arlington. Wednesday presents a rematch -- this time in Anaheim, where Detmers should rebound against a below-average Rangers offense, rendering the southpaw as the slate's top streamer.
  • Just behind Detmers is Dylan Bundy (26%), whose Minnesota Twins host the feeble Detroit Tigers lineup. After starting the season with three solid efforts, Bundy has struggled over his past three outings. However, the Tigers and their .260 wOBA facing righties is the perfect panacea. Rich Hill (4%) is also in play for the surging Boston Red Sox, but his road date with the Chicago White Sox is risky.
  • Although our focus here is usually daily advice, occasionally a situation warrants longer-term attention. Such is the case in the Bronx with closer Aroldis Chapmanailing because of left ankle tendinitis. Clay Holmes has emerged as the clear replacement for the Yankees and is available in just under 50% of ESPN leagues. Those searching for another solid starting pitcher should consider Aaron Ashby (6%), as he'll be filling in for the injured Freddy Peralta. Ashby has been used in a swingman capacity, which is partially responsible for his bloated 13.8% walk rate. However, he's fanning batters at a 27.6% clip. With a regular routine of starting, look for Ashby to improve his control while maintaining a high strikeout rate. Wednesday's date with the San Diego Padres in Petco Park is risky, but Ashby has the stuff to be more than a pitch-and-ditch hurler.

 

[biggins]

Jorge Polanco Twins2B, SS News Archive

WED, MAY 25, 7:25 AM Polanco isn't starting Wednesday against Detroit. Spin:After starting in all but one of the first 42 games of the season, Polanco will be out of the lineup for a second straight game after he went 1-for-4 with a run and two strikeouts in Monday's series opener against the Tigers. The Twins haven't given any indication that Polanco is dealing with an injury, but Nick Gordon will start at the keystone and bat eighth Wednesday.

 

[biggins]

Brendan Rodgers Rockies2B, SS News Archive

WED, MAY 25, 6:54 AM Rodgers is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Pittsburgh. Spin:Garrett Hampson will take over at the keystone while Rodgers receives his first day off since May 11. Rodgers is in the midst of a 12-game hitting streak, during which he's produced a .902 OPS and five extra-base knocks.

 

[biggins]

Kris Bryant RockiesOF, 1B, 3B Out: 10-day ILNews Archive

WED, MAY 25, 6:41 AM The Rockies placed Bryant on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a lower-back strain. Spin:The transaction is retroactive to Monday, so Bryant will be eligible to come off the IL as soon as June 2. The 30-year-old is being shut down for the second time in less than a month on account of back problems, as he appeared in just three games following his reinstatement last week before heading back to the IL. Yonathan Daza is expected to be the primary beneficiary of regular playing time in the outfield while Bryant is on the shelf.

 

[BobbyFK]

Thanks and good luck today Biggins!

 

[Bubbles]

i'm starting to read all this information biggins and it's a great help. thanks

 

[biggins]

951 - MLB/Baseball - Colorado Rockies (R Feltner - R - Must Start) (Z Thompson - R - Must Start) Moneyline +120 for Game
Game Time: May 25, 2022 9:35 am PST

 

[biggins]

This kid has a good minor league numbers for pitching in altitude Albuquerque New Mexico

2022 Stats​

G	W-L	ERA	IP	SO	WHIP
8	4-1	3.76	38.1	48	1.17

2022 Stats​

G	W-L	ERA	IP	SO	WHIP
1	0-1	7.20	5.0	7	1.80

MiLB Career Stats​

G	W-L	ERA	IP	SO	WHIP
63	21-13	3.68	300.2	330	1.29

 

[biggins]

Keibert Ruiz NationalsC News Archive

WED, MAY 25, 10:21 AM Ruiz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports. Spin:After going 2-for-5 with a double, a run and his first stolen base of the season in Tuesday's loss, Ruiz looks to be getting a breather with the Nationals and Dodgers wrapping up their series with a day game after a night game. Riley Adams will fill in for him behind the plate, while Lane Thomas replaces Ruiz as the Nationals' No. 2 hitter.

 

[biggins]

LAST 10 GAMES: Giants: 3-7, .260 batting average, 7.98 ERA, outscored by 31 runs

Mets: 6-4, .301 batting average, 4.85 ERA, outscored opponents by 15 runs

 

[biggins]

• Thomas Mathew Szapucki
• Status: Active
• Born: 6/12/1996 in Toms River, NJ
• Draft: 2015, New York Mets, Round: 5, Overall Pick: 149
• High School: Dwyer, Palm Beach Fl.

• 2022 Stats​

  G	W-L	ERA	IP	SO	WHIP
  7	0-3	2.86	22.0	30	1.32

  MiLB Career Stats​

  G	W-L	ERA	IP	SO	WHIP
  56	6-15	2.80	208.2	259	1.24

 

[biggins]

His record doesn’t look great but they don’t ever list saves on any of these minor leaguers. The bastards but look at his KO’s to innings pitched

 

[biggins]

Mookie Betts DodgersOF News Archive

WED, MAY 25, 10:47 AM Betts is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports. Spin:The Dodgers planned to have Betts rest Tuesday, only for manager Dave Roberts to change his mind when fellow outfielder Cody Bellinger (illness) was a late scratch. The decision to keep Betts in the lineup paid dividends, as the 29-year-old continued his torrid stretch by going 3-for-4 with two home runs, a walk and four RBI in the Dodgers' 9-4 win. Even though Bellinger remains idle Wednesday, Betts will get a breather while the Dodgers roll out an outfield of Gavin Lux, Chris Taylor and Hanser Alberto.

 

[biggins]

Will Smith DodgersC News Archive

WED, MAY 25, 10:54 AM Smith isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Nationals, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports. Spin:Smith has recorded hits in his last six games, and he's hit .261 with two homers, a double, four runs and three RBI during that time. However, Austin Barnes will take over behind the plate and bat ninth Wednesday.

Cody Bellinger DodgersOF Day-To-DayNews Archive

WED, MAY 25, 10:51 AM Bellinger (illness) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Washington, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports. Spin:Bellinger will remain on the bench for the second day in a row after he was scratched ahead of Tuesday's 9-4 win with a non-COVID-19-related illness. With Mookie Betts also sitting out Wednesday in what amounts to a routine maintenance day, the Dodgers will deploy a starting outfield of Gavin Lux, Chris Taylor and Hanser Alberto.