Trevor Bauer (SP-CLE). Bauer was solid again in picking up his second win of the season against the White Sox on Wednesday afternoon. Bauer lasted 6 innings, giving up only 2 runs on 4 hits while striking out 8. One troubling aspect of Bauer's outing, though, was that he walked 4, which ran his pitch count to 103 over his six innings. This comes on the heels of his first start, in which he walked 5 over six innings. While the 14.25 K/9 rate thus far in 2015 is great, unless Bauer can rein in the corresponding 6.75 BB/9 rate, there is no way he will be able to maintain his current level of performance. Bauer did make strides with his control in 2014, by lowering his walk rate to a still unacceptably high 9.1%, but, at least in the early going, he appears to have given back some of those gains this year. Keep an eye on Bauer's walk rate going forward, because with his stuff he has the upside of a fantasy SP2 if he can stop issuing so many free passes.
Wade Miley (SP-BOS). Miley was absolutely annihilated by the previously slumbering Nationals offense on Wednesday afternoon, as he gave up 7 runs while lasting only 2.1 innings, running his ERA on the young season to a frightful 10.57. Small sample size caveats apply, and Miley has suffered from some extreme bad luck in his first two starts of 2015 (.333 BABIP and an almost unbelievable 39.7% strand rate), but I foresee today's start as confirming my resolution to stay away from Miley in 2015. Miley does possess certain intriguing peripherals (GB rates in excess of 50% the last two years, a slightly above average 21.1% K rate last year), but the one stat that sticks out above all others is the 12.5% and 13.9% HR/FB rates Miley has put up the last two years. That indicates that, when batters do make contact, they are hitting the ball a long way, and this issue is not likely to go away given that Miley now calls Fenway Park home. Miley might have some value as a streaming option when pitching on the road against weaker offenses, but for the most part, fantasy owners should stay away.
Nathan Eovaldi (SP-NYA). Eovaldi, who has been a popular sleeper in fantasy circles in 2015, lasted only 5 innings in a no-decision against the Orioles on Wednesday night. Although he gave up only 2 ER, he was fortunate to have done so, as he gave up 8 hits and 3 walks during his brief time in the game. On the bright side, he did manage to rack up 9 Ks. Although Eovaldi's performance in his two starts has been uneven, if he can maintain the strikeout ability he showed tonight, Eovaldi may be able to achieve the improved performance that many have forecast for him. The lack of strikeouts, despite his mid-90s fastball, has always been the missing link for Eovaldi as if he could up his K rate to go with his solid but not spectacular 45% GB rate, he could probably reduce his 4.37 ERA from 2014 to something more in line with his 3.78 xFIP. Although I don't recommend running out and adding Eovaldi right now, he is someoe to watch to see if he can maintain the strikeout rate he showed on Wednesday.
Hector Santiago (SP-LAA). Santiago dominated the Rangers on Wednesday afternoon, tossing 7 innings of 1 run ball while striking out 5. Despite the surprisingly solid outing against the Rangers in Arlington, however, Santiago is not a recommended add. Although he posted a surprisingly solid 3.75 ERA in 2014, that was the result of him outpitching his peripherals by a wide margin. Santiago benefited primarily from an unusually low 8.0% HR/FB rate, while rolling ground balls at only a 30.7% clip. With his fly ball tendencies, if his HR rate normalizes even to league average, Santiago's ERA is likely to skyrocket to something close to his 2014 xFIP of 4.57, which would make him a below replacement level pitcher.
Adam Eaton (OF-CHA). Eaton's early season struggles continued, as he went 0 for 5 in a loss to the Indians on Wednesday afternoon, dropping his season slash line to .118/.118/.176. It is too early to press the panic button with Eaton, as his BABIP will not continue at its current .133 rate. However, one source of concern is that Eaton has yet to draw a walk in 2015, after posting a solid 8.0% BB rate in 2014. Eaton will need to start taking some free passes in order to duplicate the .362 OBP he registered in 2014. While Eaton is not likely to duplicate his .300 BA from last year, he should be good for a .280 BA with solid R and SB totals. Once the weather warms up, so should Eaton and the rest of the White Sox offense.
Johnny Giavotella (2B-LAA). Giavotella went 2 for 5 with 2 runs and 2 RBI on Wednesday against the Rangers, raising his slash line to .296/.333/.333 on the young season. Giavotella has always posted intriguing numbers in the minors (for example, he slashed .308/.373/.440 with 7 HR and 20 SBs in AAA in 2014). Now that he's getting a full time opportunity with the Angels, Giavotellais worthy of consideration in AL-only leagues, as hit plate discipline (36:47 K:BB ratio in AAA last year) indicates that he should produce positive results in BA while also adding 10 to 15 SBs, which would make him a good MI option in AL-only leagues.
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