Fernando Rodney - Fernando Rodney recorded two outs on Monday against the Red Sox en route to his fourth save of the season. The former Tiger has now tossed 4 1/3 innings and allowed just one base runner on a walk while striking out three. I can see what's going to happen in the next few days. Thousands of fantasy baseball owners will pick up Rodney in hopes of riding the hot streak only to see him give up six earned and record just one out while blowing the save in his next outing. However, the one reason to believe Rodney might be an effective reliever this year is that the Rays have apparently tweaked where he stands on the mound, which supposedly has made a difference in his delivery. If any team can find an advantage, it's the Rays. If you're brave enough to add Rodney, you should expect him to get save chances with Joel Peralta struggling and Kyle Farnsworth injured. Ride the wave while you can and Godspeed.
James Shields - Big Game James faced the Red Sox on Monday in Boston and came darn close to tossing a complete game shutout. He had to settle for 8 1/3 innings and zero earned runs to go along with five strikeouts. Shields has been a feast or famine fantasy starter the past two seasons. In 2010, he owned an ERA north of 5.00 despite an FIP of 4.24 and xFIP of 3.55. Then, last season, Shields posted a 2.82 ERA despite a 3.42 FIP and 3.25 xFIP. This season he's likely to record an ERA in the middle of those two extremes - somewhere around 3.50 (which is right in line with his 3.66 career xFIP). The biggest key for James is to limit the HRs. He gave up 1.50 HRs per nine innings in 2010 but cut that mark to just 0.94 in 2011 and excellent results followed. Shields draws the Blue Jays in his next start during the upcoming weekend.
Danny Duffy - After tossing a gem in his first start against the Athletics, Danny Duffy faced the Tigers on Monday and allowed three earned on seven hits while striking out seven and walking one over 6 2/3 innings. Duffy's been one of the better prospects for the Royals in recent years and he got his first taste of big league pitching in 2011, tossing 105 innings and posting a 5.64 ERA. In the minors, Duffy consistently recorded high strikeout rates and showed improved control at AA in 2010 and AAA in 2011. That said, he really hasn't accumulated many innings in the high minors so he's still pretty raw. Duffy's strikeout ability is real, but he will need to learn to limit the walks and HRs on a consistent basis before it's safe to play him as any more than a spot start. Last night was a promising sign for Duffy, who battled a tough lineup deep into the game.
Colby Lewis - You know it's early in the season when you look up Colby Lewis' strikeout, walk and HR rates and see the following numbers: 10.66, 0.71, 0.71. It's safe to say Lewis isn't likely to maintain those types of peripheral stats all season. Give Lewis credit, though, he's made the most of his first two starts against the likes of the White Sox and Mariners - both at home. He'll now go on the road to face two much more formidable foes in Boston this evening and Detroit next Sunday. In weekly and daily leagues, I'm sitting Lewis for both starts because of his tendency to allow HRs (1.57 HR rate in 2011) and the fact he's facing two strong lineups. After his great 2010 season when he recorded a 3.72 ERA and 196 strikeouts, Lewis struggled in 2011 to the tune of a 4.40 ERA and 4.54 FIP so he's really only had one good season in his career. He's a solid middle to back end starter in most leagues.
J.P. Arencibia - We all knew J.P. Arencibia wasn't going to win a batting title in the majors but, man, is he off to a horrific start in 2012. Through seven games, Arencibia owns a 38% strikeout rate, 3% walk rate and has just two hits in 28 ABs. Given, it's still incredibly early and the fact he owns a .067 BABIP suggests Arencibia hasn't exactly been the luckiest guy during the season's first two weeks. However, he's going to need to hit much better if he wants to keep his job for the entire season, considering Toronto has a stud prospect in Travis d'Arnaud at AAA right now. For those in leagues using batting average, it's really difficult to play Arencibia considering he hit just .219 in 2011 and his .282 OBP doesn't exactly make him a darling in leagues using OBP, either. For now, Arencibia owners have to wait out this slow start and hope the backstop can cut his strikeouts and improve his BA soon.
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