Trevor Bauer was once a can’t miss pitcher prospect that I acquired in a trade proposed to me along with Mike Trout for Carlos Gonzalez in a keeper league.
Bauer, who made his debut with the Diamondbacks later that year (2012), struggled with control and other issues and was traded to Cleveland.
He’s now Cleveland’s No. 3 starter and still just 24 with loads of potential. His 2015 debut featured six no-hit innings with 11 strikeouts. But his pitch count got high as a result of five walks and he was lifted.
I dropped Bauer later that year and drafted him in round 19 this year and while I’m not shopping him, I’d take a good offer. Now may be a good sell-high time, considering that the Astros feature guys like George Springer and Evan Gattis who pile up strikeouts.
If you get offered something good for Bauer based off one performance, take it. But maybe this is the year Bauer starts to figure it out. Cleveland is a good place for young pitchers to develop, just like Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco have.
SLEEPER HITTER ADDS
This Friday section will focus on players who have a chance to add value going forward, but aren’t owned in a high percentage of leagues
Devon Travis, 2B, Toronto – It’s hard to find good second basemen if you didn’t draft one early. Travis is a rookie from Florida State who homered in the season opener and in an offensive lineup like Toronto, he has a chance to put up double-digit homer and steal number.
Jake Lamb, 3B, Arizona – Lamb has seven RBIs in his first three games and is a legit power source at the hot corner. He appears to be holding off Yasmany Tomas, who got shipped to the minors.
SLEEPER PITCHER ADDS
C.J. Wilson, LHP, Los Angeles Angels – The former high-round fantasy pick shut out Seattle over eight innings but had just two strikeouts. He has the Royals at home on Sunday if you need a spot start. He hasn’t lit it up as an Angel, but he’s worth taking a flyer on for a couple of starts.
Miguel Castro, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays – The 20-year-old is Toronto’s closer for the immediate future after Brett Cecil was demoted.
TWO-START PITCHERS
Here are a sampling of pitcher who have two starts next week, giving you a chance to double up on wins, quality starts and strikeouts and risking the ERA and WHIP as well.
I won’t focus on aces like Gerrit Cole and Adam Wainwright because they’re not available in your leagues, but feel good if you have them because they are pitching twice next week. If you like to stream two-start pitchers, here are some to think about and avoid. These are pitchers likely owned in fewer than 50 percent of leagues.
THINK ABOUT: Kansas City’s Danny Duffy (at Min, vs. Oak), Toronto’s Daniel Norris (vs. TB, vs. ATL), San Francisco’s Tim Hudson (vs. COL, vs. ARI)
DON’T WORRY ABOUT: Texas’ Ross Detwiler (vs. LAA, at Sea), Arizona’s Rubby de la Rosa (at SD, at SF), Philadelphia’s Aaron Harang (at WAS, at NYM)
