The first series aren’t even over but we fantasy junkies are already itching to make some moves. The seasoned fantasy daytrader knows that unlikely fantasy heroes can emerge early on in the season as long as you can justify picking them up beyond simply a good first start or productive three-game series. While it’s too early to start selling, it’s never too early to buy. Let’s take a look at 10 guys who haven’t wasted any time letting fantasy owners know that they deserve a much coveted spot on your fake baseball roster.
Buy:
Jed Lowrie: Solid Buy. Lowrie had 16 homers in just 340 at-bats for the Astros last season which translates to around 28 homers in a full 600 at-bat season. He already has a homer and three RBI in three games and is coming off a nice spring in which he hit three homers and drove in 13.
Gerardo Parra: Strong Buy. Parra is one of the most underrated outfielders in the game and has a lock on a starting job until Adam Eaton returns. He’s off to a blazing start. In his first three games he is 8-for-17 with a homer, three doubles, a triple, a steal, and four runs. He’s coming off a red hot spring in which he went 17-for-67 with three homers, three steals, and 15 RBI. He’s a career .282 hitter with good speed and should contribute substantially as long as he has a starting job.
Tyler Flowers: Strong Buy. The catching position is pretty shallow beyond the top guys and AJ Pierzynski replacement Tyler Flowers is emerging as a decent fantasy candidate. Flowers hit 15+ homers in the minors in four straight seasons, including 15 in just 65 games last year (and another seven in 52 big league games). He’s off to a similar start with two homers in as many games and should definitely put up 20+ this year if he can stay healthy.
Wandy Rodriguez: Solid Buy. Wandy has put up a sub-3.80 ERA in each of his last five seasons and is off to a great start after pitching 6.2 scoreless innings against the Cubs, surrendering just two hits and a walk while striking out six. He did hit two batters but that was the only negative of the day. The only reason not to own Wandy is his 6.1 K/9 last season but he had consistently struck out a solid 7.8-8.6 batters per nine prior to 2012. Wandy is also coming off a great spring, allowing just one run in 9.1 innings in the World Baseball Classic and just one run in five spring training innings.
Hisashi Iwakuma: Strong Buy. Hisashi owned a very nice 3.16 ERA and decent 1.28 WHIP last season but that doesn’t tell the whole story. After moving from the bullpen to the rotation, Iwakuma put up a 2.65 ERA and 1.23 WHIP while striking out 7.4/9 and improving his K:BB ratio from 1.5 to 2.8. He allowed just one run and two hits in six innings while striking out seven against Oakland on Tuesday. I don’t think he’s as low a strikeout pitcher as people make him out to be and could be a big breakout star in fantasy this year.
Mitchell Boggs: Solid Buy. Boggs blew his first save of the season on Wednesday but is a good pickup candidate with Jason Motte out for what appears to be a while. His 2.21 ERA and 1.05 WHIP last season sure looks like a good fit for that closer role.
Brandon Maurer: Speculative Buy. Maurer won a rotation spot with a great spring training in which he put up a 1.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 25 K in 24 IP. He’s coming off a solid year in AA last season in which he put up a 3.20 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 117 K in 137 IP. He definitely pitches to contact which could hurt that WHIP and his strikeout totals but it’s definitely worth checking out his first start Thursday against the Athletics.
Ubaldo Jimenez: Speculative Buy. I know, but hear me out. Yes, he led the league in losses last year and put up a 5.40 ERA and 1.61 WHIP. Yes, the previous year wasn’t much better (4.68 ERA, 1.40 WHIP). No, he will never put up a 2.88 ERA and 1.16 WHIP like he did in 2010. But isn’t there a middle ground there? Prior to last season he consistently put up 8.6 K/9 and a HR/9 around 0.5. He looked great in his first start against a potent Blue Jays lineup, allowing just one run through six innings while surrendering three hits, two walks, and striking out six. I’m not saying rush out and pick him up, I’m just saying maybe it’s worth entertaining that idea for the first time in two years.
Vernon Wells: Speculative Buy. Like Ubaldo, Wells is incredibly easy to dismiss as finished. His combined .222 BA and .667 OPS over the last two seasons are embarrassing. But it’s much easier to get your bat going as a starter than as a bench player and whether he deserves it or not, he’s a starter now. Despite decreased playing time, Wells’ HR% is 4.7% the last three seasons and his 11 HR in 243 at-bats last season translates to around 27 in a 600 at-bat season. He is only a year removed from hitting 25 homers and two years removed from hitting 31 homers and batting .273. He is off to a 3-for-7 start this season with a homer, three RBI and two runs, so who is to say we can’t see a Vernon Wells who bats .260-.270 with 25 homers this season?
Jim Henderson: Watch List. It’s no secret, John Axford is a terrible closer. Regardless what his 2011 numbers may lead you to believe, his 4.67 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 10 HR allowed, and nine blown saves last season isn’t something closers recover from. It certainly doesn’t help that he’s given up three home runs in 1.2 IP and has already blown a save. It doesn’t help that he gave up another five runs and 11 baserunners in 7.2 IP this spring. With hard throwing Jim Henderson in the wings (along with his 45 Ks in 30 IP last season), it’s hard to imagine John Axford in the closer role much longer. Or so Brewer fans hope.
