Two weeks into the 2020 fantasy baseball season and I still don’t really know how I feel about it. From a managing perspective, should I approach it like any other season and be patient with my underperforming drafted players? Probably not. But at the same time, overreacting this early could be a mistake. Oh wait, it isn’t early. We are already at the point that corresponds to mid-May in a standard season, and mid-May is usually the time when I start to take the standings seriously, assess my team’s strengths and weaknesses and perhaps send out a few trade proposals. But that just seems ridiculous two weeks into a season. What a strange year.
I guess the proper way to approach this year is to have fun with it, accept it for what it is and don’t get too frustrated over in-season opt-outs (Lorenzo Cain used to be on both my Tout Wars and LABR rosters), missed games due to unanticipated Covid-related postponements or the fact that seven-inning doubleheaders aren’t a good thing when it comes to hitter counting stats. Treat the 2020 fantasy baseball season as sort of a free season that can be expunged from your permanent record if you so choose. There’s no need to get too emotionally involved.
All of this sounds great but it’s easier said than done. Saves are a problem for both my Tout Wars and LABR squads. Well, they aren’t a problem yet but they will be a problem soon if I’m unable to find adequate replacements for Roberto Osuna and Wade Davis. I’m already regretting not going the extra few dollars in FAAB for Jairo Diaz and prioritizing Jeremy Jeffress over Rowan Wick. Saves do pop up on the waiver wire throughout every season, but in 2020, there isn’t as much time to stumble upon a closer.
While saves are a looming problem, my starting pitching is already a mess. Over the years, identifying undervalued starting pitchers on draft day has been one of my strengths as a fantasy manager. Build an elite offense and try to earn as much profit as possible on the starting pitching front. That has been the draft day plan for awhile now, and it has mostly led to successful seasons. Although starting pitching is even more of a crapshoot than usual in this shortened 2020 campaign, I may need to modify my longstanding plan heading into 2021. For some reason, I decided to draft these three pitchers in multiple leagues this year.
Robbie Ray
Ray’s strikeout ability is a given. Unfortunately, he lacks the ability to consistently throw strikes. But back in March, I was willing to accept the subpar WHIP if it came along with 200-plus strikeouts and a passable ERA. Add in preseason talk of an adjustment to his delivery and the Arizona southpaw seemed like a worthy draft day gamble near the back end of the top-50 starting pitchers. It has only been three starts but all Ray has done so far is completely wreck my ratios, posting a 9.45 ERA and a 1.95 WHIP. Now that’s a steep price to pay for 17 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings. Still, I’m an optimist, so I’ll point out that two of his first three starts were against the Dodgers and the Astros. There must be some schedule relief coming, right? Rockies at Coors. Ugh.
Joey Lucchesi
Lucchesi is another guy who I deemed undervalued. Draft him as a fifth starter in a deep mixed league and enjoy watching him deliver top-50 SP production. Pitching deep into games has been a challenge for the 27-year-old lefty, but I liked what I saw from him through two big league seasons, particularly in the strikeout and WHIP departments. And then of course there’s the home ballpark. Well, two rough outings to open the 2020 campaign (one of those starts coming at Coors Field) was all it took for the Padres to option him to their alternate training site. I find it hard to believe that Lucchesi won’t return to the big club before year’s end. The impressive minor league track record and the quality major league numbers are tough to ignore. But outside of deeper NL-only leagues, he can be dropped. Roster spots have value, even more so in an abbreviated season where every win and strikeout carries added importance.
Mike Foltynewicz
So much for the idea that Folty, coming off a strong second half last season (6-1, 2.65 ERA, 1.08 WHIP in 10 starts), would keep the good times going in 2020. It wasn’t meant to be. The 28-year-old righty showed diminished velocity throughout Summer Camp and got roughed up by the Rays in his season debut, allowing six runs, including three homers, across 3 1/3 innings. The Atlanta front office wasn’t exactly in a patient mood, as they promptly designated him for assignment. The short season and the fact that the minor leagues does not exist this year certainly played a role in the club’s decision, but I was still surprised that the Braves were so quick to make this move. I was equally surprised that Folty actually cleared waivers, so he will remain in the Atlanta organization for now. Regardless, he has plenty of work to do in order to regain fantasy relevance.
And I have some work to do in order to get my pitching back on track.
Seven weeks to go.
Zach Steinhorn is the 2016 Mixed Auction Tout Wars champion. Follow him on Twitter @zachsteinhorn.
