Walker Buehler (SP-LAD) - Buehler's stuff is straight up filthy, as he was pumping 98 mph heat in his first major league start and demonstrating a plus curve against the Marlins. Buehler is getting the start in place of Rich Hill (finger) despite logging just 106.2 career big league innings in which he posted a 3.04 ERA and elite 12.4 K/9. Buehler scuffled to a 7.71 ERA in 9.1 innings as a reliever with the big club last year, but his future is as a starter. Monday's start factoring in the nerves that had to be there went well. Buehler allowed four hits over five shutout innings, walking three and striking out five while throwing 55 of his 89 pitches for strikes. Buehler loaded the bases in the first inning before escaping and was aided by a pair of excellent defensive plays by Kike Hernandez and a CS from Yasmani Grandal. Buehler was regularly hitting 98 mph with his four-seam fastball, touching 100 mph, though did struggle with his control at times, in particular walking the opposing pitching on four consecutive pitches. Buehler looks to be lined up for a second start this weekend, though that could also go to Rich Hill should he be ready to return from a finger issue. Regardless, Buehler should make plenty of starts for the big club this year, though he's not likely to be a fixture in the rotation until sometime this summer.
Raisel Iglesias (RP-CIN) - Iglesias recorded a four-out save Monday against the Braves, striking out one and lowering his ERA to 0.93 on the season over 9.2 innings. His 13:5 K:BB reflects his dominance and occasional loss of control, but it's also worth noting that he's allowed just two hits all year and none since April 7. With his stuff, Iglesias has the upside of a top-10 closer, and he just needs to continue to avoid getting himself in trouble with the free passes. As an additional note, I expect the Reds to entertain trade offers right up to the deadline, as rebuilding teams don't need closers, and Iglesias should bring back a nice haul given he is signed through 2020 at reasonable salaries.
Jose Bautista (OF/3B-ATL) - Many people have stashed Bautista in NL-only leagues with the hope the Braves call him up soon and play him at third base where he's currently playing in Triple-A. Bautista went 2-for-7 in a brief High-A stint before reporting to Triple-A Gwinett where he's 0-for-6 with two strikeouts as he works to shake off a fair amount of rust. I don't want to say definitively that Bautista's big league career is over at age 37, as he did hit more than 20 home runs in each of the past two years, but coming off a season in which he fell to .203/.308/.366 and considering that his third base defense doesn't seem likely to be even average, the upside of holding onto him is difficult to see depending of course on the size of the league. The Braves seem likely to rely on Johan Camargo and .344-hitting Ryan Flaherty to keep the spot warm for Austin Riley who is destroying Double-A pitching to the tune of .383/.439/.733 and could see Triple-A or even the big leagues in short order.
David Dahl (OF-COL) - Dahl got the start on Monday with Gerardo Parra serving a suspension and Carlos Gonzalez nursing a hamstring injury. He also was slotted in as the cleanup hitter, so the Rockies obviously think highly of him. Dahl was 2-for-4 (both singles) with a run scored and is 3-for-8 with a walk and four strikeouts in the very early going. Dahl of course debuted in 2016 with an excellent .315/.359/.500 effort in 63 games before a rib injury wiped out most of last season. Dahl has the most talent of any outfielder in the organization save Charlie Blackmon, and should he fare well with Parra and Gonzalez out, there's a good chance Dahl supplants Parra (.217/.280/.290) as the starting left fielder. Dahl actually hit .313 versus LHP in that 2016 season, so he doesn't need a platoon partner, but we'll have to wait and see what the Rockies decide. Hopefully his talent will translate into production and he'll make the decision an easy one.
Arodys Vizcaino (RP-ATL) - Just a couple weeks ago it seemed somewhat inevitable that Vizcaino would lose the closer job to A.J. Minter, but the hard-throwing right-hander (97.8 mph average fastball) has turned things around. After walking six batters in his first 3.2 innings, Vizcaino has walked just one in his last six innings while allowing just one run. He has just four strikeouts over that span, but perhaps Vizcaino has dialed things back and is focusing more on location rather than trying to overpower hitters. Regardless, he has a 1.86 ERA and reasonable 1.24 WHIP, so Minter's time will have to wait. Vizcaino has always had the good stuff, but a career 4.4 BB/9 has been his primary drawback. If recent results are any indication though, perhaps he's made some adjustments.
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