2018 Fantasy Baseball Week 2 Pitching Planner: There, There

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"The strikeouts are there." "The wins are there." "All of the pitches are there."

Do you ever just read (or write) enough fantasy sports articles to where you just overlook certain phrases? I was reading an article the other day (I'm no name-dropper, so don't push me) and it was no different than normal. However, after the tenth time I read that something was simply 'there', I began wondering. I wondered just who started this nonsensical idiom in the fantasy community.

In the broad sense, it's sort of a lazy phrase that means nothing and doesn't help readers. I thought back to why I previously used that phrase so often and could only come up with one conclusion. Saying that something is 'there' (for me) usually implies an obvious attribute that a player has. For example, if we are looking at a pitcher like Dinelson Lamet, I would say something along the lines of:

"The strikeouts are there. However, he needs to find a third pitch in order to really take the next step."

When I reread this, it seems like I am either reassuring myself or the reader that I know my stuff. After thinking about it for a bit, it's a phrase that I will halt in my articles from here on out. I encourage other writers to quit using this lazy saying and to write some words that will more directly benefit our readers. In fact, for every time a reader points out a time in which I write this phrase, I want them to make note of it to me on Twitter. I'll do a shot of tequila.

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If you are new to my Pitching Planner, you will find that I enjoy using the introductions as a rambling opportunity. It's going to be a long year if you don't enjoy these, but don't let this one deter you. I will usually attempt to make these statistically-relevant and learning points for everyone. With it being Week 3, I'm trying to avoid all of that mess until we get larger sample sizes.

Secondly, it'll always be based on song titles of bands I like. "There, There" by Radiohead was a perfect choice because A) I'm rebelling against some sort of system and B) the title speaks for itself. Look out for some more random song choices. If you have any suggestions for bands as title-worthy, tweet at me, homie. I got you (unless your band sucks - don't come at me with your U2 or Bon Jovi bilge.)

Alright, now that I've warmed up my opinionations, let's dive into this thing!

2018 Fantasy Baseball Week 2 Pitching Planner

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Auto-Start

The Auto-Start tier strictly includes pitchers that should be started every week regardless of league size and matchup.

Player	Team	Opp1	Opp2
Corey Kluber	Indians	@MIA	MIL
Clayton Kershaw	Dodgers	ARI
Max Scherzer	Nationals	ATL	COL
Chris Sale	Red Sox	NYY	BAL

Promoted

• Come on, Noah Syndergaard - I'm calling you out! I want badly to put you in this tier, but I need one more elite start.

Relegated

• It would take a couple more starts like Max Scherzer had against the Braves last week for me to be worried about any of these guys. On to the next...

Auto-Stream

This tier consists of pitchers who don't quite reach the trust level of the Auto-Starts. However, due to matchup or recent performance, they are capable of having elite level production in a given week.

Player	Team	Opp1	Opp2
Noah Syndergaard	Mets	@MIA	MIL
Stephen Strasburg	Nationals	ATL
Jacob deGrom	Mets	@MIA
Chris Archer	Rays	@CWS	PHI
Carlos Carrasco	Indians	DET
Yu Darvish	Cubs	ATL
James Paxton	Mariners	@KC
Luis Severino	Yankees	@BOS	@DET
Aaron Nola	Phillies	CIN
Robbie Ray	Diamondbacks	@SF
Justin Verlander	Astros	@MIN	TEX
Zack Greinke	Dodgers	@LAD
Carlos Martinez	Cardinals	MIL	@CIN
Rich Hill	Dodgers	ARI
Alex Wood	Dodgers	ARI
Masahiro Tanaka	Yankees	@BOS
Lance McCullers	Astros	@MIN
Dallas Keuchel	Astros	@MIN

Notables

• With a two-start week on the docket, Chris Archer makes a jump in this tier. We are pretty much witnessing what we see every year from Archer through two weeks. According to plan, he's underperforming by ERA-FIP with lots of strikeouts and homers. Luckily, the way that baseball works, he won't face the Red Sox and Yankees every week.

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• Okay, Carlos Martinez, I see you. I talked poorly about him in the Week 1 Pitching Planner and he's been killing it ever since. Most recently, he almost threw a complete game shutout against the Brewers at Miller Park. I was very impressed by his composure and rhythm in this outing and my expectations have changed immensely.
• Just an FYI, the three guys at the bottom are in danger of moving to the next tier. You have been warned!

Dream Stream

The Dream Stream group more closely reflects the pitchers that you are contemplating starting or sitting. These are all worthy starters in a typical 12-team mixed league.

Player	Team	Opp1	Opp2
Jose Quintana	Cubs	ATL
Shohei Ohtani	Angels	@KC
Jameson Taillon	Pirates	@MIA
Luke Weaver	Cardinals	@CIN
Luis Castillo	Reds	@PHI
Kenta Maeda	Dodgers	OAK
Jon Lester	Cubs	PIT
Johnny Cueto	Giants	ARI	@SD
David Price	Red Sox	NYY
Jake Arrieta	Phillies	@TB
Kyle Hendricks	Cubs	PIT
Gerrit Cole	Astros	TEX
Miles Mikolas	Cardinals	MIL	@CIN
Jon Gray	Rockies	SD	@WSH
Trevor Bauer	Indians	DET
Michael Wacha	Cardinals	@CIN
Garrett Richards	Angels	@TEX	@KC
Charlie Morton	Astros	TEX
Sonny Gray	Yankees	@DET
Yonny Chirinos	Rays	@CWS
Rick Porcello	Red Sox	BAL
Blake Snell	Rays	@CWS
Danny Duffy	Royals	SEA
Ivan Nova	Pirates	@CHC	@MIA
Marcus Stroman	Blue Jays	@CLE
Jose Berrios	Twins	CWS
Steven Matz	Mets	MIL
Tyler Skaggs	Angels	@TEX	@KC
Seth Lugo	Mets	@MIA
Vince Velasquez	Phillies	@TB
German Marquez	Rockies	SD
Jake Faria	Rays	PHI
Hyun-Jin Ryu	Dodgers	OAK
Joey Lucchesi	Padres	@COL	SF
Zack Godley	Diamondbacks	@SF	@LAD
Felix Hernandez	Mariners	@KC	OAK
J.A. Happ	Blue Jays	@BAL	@CLE
Jordan Montgomery	Yankees	@DET
Patrick Corbin	Diamondbacks	@SF
Nick Pivetta	Phillies	CIN
Mike Leake	Mariners	OAK
Michael Fulmer	Tigers	@CLE
Gio Gonzalez	Nationals	COL
Steven Brault	Pirates	@MIA
Sean Manaea	Athletics	@LAD
Chase Anderson	Brewers	@NYM
Taijuan Walker	Diamondbacks	@LAD
Zach Davies	Brewers	@NYM
Jakob Junis	Royals	SEA	LAA
Tyler Chatwood	Cubs	PIT	ATL
Aaron Sanchez	Blue Jays	@BAL
Ty Blach	Giants	@SD
Chris Stratton	Giants	@SD
Mike Clevinger	Indians	TOR

Notables

• My Stream of the Week goes to Yonny Chirinos, who I had not heard of before this season started. Leave it to the Rays to come up with some random starter that becomes fantasy-relevant. Anyway, I like the opportunity for him moving forward if he can take control of that fourth starter's spot in the rotation.
• I want to do a quick humble brag - I snagged Nick Pivetta super late in my dynasty league and got ridiculed for it. How about that last start, league-mates? Put some respect in my name! Pivetta was striking fools left and right against Miami last week. I know it was Miami, but it's not like the Reds have been doing well offensively thus far. Give Pivetta another shot this week.

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• Another guy I was wanting to have as my weekly streamer choice, Steven Brault is coming off a nice spot start. He should see another chance this week, but the Pirates have been weird to this point in their rotation. Against the aforementioned Marlins, Brault should have a great chance at a quality start.
• Although I'm not the largest fan of either Ty Blach or Chris Stratton, there's no denying the matchup. Facing the Padres in Petco Park without Wil Myers, they should fare fairly well.

Buyer Beware

These pitchers are better left on your bench for the week if not the waiver wire. Guys closer to the top could be on the brink of being promoted in the right matchup or with a continued hot streak. If a player is not listed in any tiers, that should be the cue to drop the said player.

Player	Team	Opp1	Opp2
Josh Tomlin	Indians	DET	TOR
Trevor Richards	Marlins	PIT
Bryan Mitchell	Padres	@COL
Tyler Anderson	Rockies	SD	@WSH
Tanner Roark	Nationals	COL
Adam Wainwright	Cardinals	MIL
Kevin Gausman	Orioles	TOR
Tyler Mahle	Reds	STL
Clayton Richard	Padres	@COL	SF
Mike Minor	Rangers	@HOU
Brandon Woodruff	Brewers	@STL
Andrew Triggs	Athletics	@SEA
Marco Estrada	Blue Jays	@BAL
Dillon Peters	Marlins	PIT
Brent Suter	Brewers	@STL
Brandon McCarthy	Braves	@WSH
Ben Lively	Phillies	CIN	@TB
Lance Lynn	Twins	CWS
Sal Romano	Reds	STL
JC Ramirez	Angels	@KC
Matt Harvey	Mets	MIL
Marco Gonzales	Mariners	OAK
Julio Teheran	Braves	@CHC
Jason Hammel	Royals	LAA
Kendall Graveman	Athletics	@SEA
Dylan Bundy	Orioles	TOR	@BOS
Eric Skoglund	Royals	SEA	LAA
Jaime Garcia	Blue Jays	@CLE
Luis Perdomo	Padres	@COL
Caleb Smith	Marlins	NYM
Chad Kuhl	Pirates	@CHC
Cole Hamels	Rangers	@HOU
Jake Odorizzi	Twins	HOU	CWS
Mike Foltynewicz	Braves	@WSH	@CHC
Trevor Williams	Pirates	@CHC
Jhoulys Chacin	Brewers	@STL	@NYM
Kyle Gibson	Twins	HOU	CWS
Daniel Gossett	Athletics	@SEA
A.J. Cole	Nationals	ATL	COL
Daniel Mengden	Athletics	@LAD
Lucas Giolito	White Sox	@MIN
Ian Kennedy	Royals	LAA
Hector Velazquez	Red Sox	BAL
Jose Urena	Marlins	NYM	PIT
Derek Holland	Giants	ARI	@SD
Jordan Zimmermann	Tigers	@CLE
Sean Newcomb	Braves	@CHC
Reynaldo Lopez	White Sox	@MIN
Mike Fiers	Tigers	NYY
Doug Fister	Rangers	LAA
Martin Perez	Rangers	LAA
Miguel Gonzalez	White Sox	TB	@MIN
Homer Bailey	Reds	@PHI	STL
Cody Reed	Reds	@PHI	STL
Matt Boyd	Tigers	@CLE	NYY
James Shields	White Sox	TB

Notables

• In this week's version of Tyler's Simplistic Scouting Spotlight, we turn to a lesser known right-handed hurler in the Marlins rotation - Trevor Richards. He's coming off a bad start by ERA standards against Boston but look a little closer. He had a nice strikeout-to-walk ratio in tune with a 3.10 xFIP. He's dominated at every minor league level and should warrant your attention. He should be able to stabilize lefties with a great changeup and his curve definitely stifles righties. Keep a close eye on him moving forward, especially in 14-team mixed leagues.

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• Another Marlins pitcher that is relatively unknown is lefty Caleb Smith. After coming over in a trade with the Yankees, the southpaw has found new life in the Miami rotation. That's an opportunity he never would've seen in New York, so I'm sure that he will not take it for granted. He's been extremely erratic in his first couple of starts (9.72 BB/9), so he needs to gain much more control to be effective moving forward. Ultimately, he can be a nice spot streamer in deeper fantasy leagues.
• It's been a weird career for Lucas Giolito to this point. From top prospect in 2016 to bust to revamp in 2017, now he's starting to look more like his 2016 self. He's got to show me something worth a crap before I start trusting him as a streamer.

Arms Amending

This is usually where I put the players that are on the disabled list or making rehab appearances. Not only is it important to know where they are in their recovery, but knowing who will be replacing them is key as well.

Player	Team	Injury	Return
Eduardo Rodriguez	Red Sox	Knee surgery	April 8th
Jason Vargas	Mets	Hand surgery	Mid April
Brandon Finnegan	Reds	Strained biceps	Late April
Andrew Heaney	Angels	Elbow inflammation	Late April
Erasmo Ramirez	Mariners	Strained lat	Late April
Jeff Samardzija	Giants	Strained pectoral	Early May
Alex Reyes	Cardinals	Tommy John surgery	Early May
Drew Pomeranz	Red Sox	Forearm tightness	Mid May
Luiz Gohara	Braves	Sprained ankle	Mid May
Joe Musgrove	Pirates	Strained shoulder	Mid May
Ervin Santana	Twins	Finger surgery	Late May
Dan Straily	Marlins	Forearm tightness	Late May
Jerad Eickhoff	Phillies	Strained lat	Late May
Dinelson Lamet	Padres	Elbow discomfort	Late May
Matt Shoemaker	Angels	Strained forearm	Late May
Madison Bumgarner	Giants	Fractured finger	June
Carlos Rodon	White Sox	Shoulder surgery	June
Anthony DeSclafani	Reds	Strained oblique	June
Danny Salazar	Indians	Shoulder inflammation	June
Nathan Karns	Royals	Elbow inflammation	June
Wei-Yen Chen	Marlins	Elbow discomfort	June
Nathan Eovaldi	Rays	Elbow issues	June
Jimmy Nelson	Brewers	Shoulder surgery	All-Star Break
Shelby Miller	Diamondbacks	Tommy John surgery	All-Star Break
Julio Urias	Dodgers	Shoulder surgery	All-Star Break

Notables

• Eduardo Rodriguez is supposedly starting on Sunday, which was overlooked by this author. I'm too lazy to change my tiers now, so deal with it! Regardless, you've got to sit him for a couple of starts in shallow leagues. Playing Baltimore at home, it's just not worth risking it yet.
• With continuing shoulder concerns from Spring Training, Joe Musgrove worries me moving forward. Since the Pirates have a few options to replace him, don't be surprised to see him take a week or so off before returning to the mound. Even then, he will need a few bullpens and scheduled days of rest before his eventual return. My 'mid May' label may be optimistic even.

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• I may be underselling how quickly Dinelson Lamet could return. He's already in a throwing routine and could start a rehab assignment in April. That would put him closer to an early May return to the rotation. Accordingly, I will revisit his status at this time next week.
• Ervin Santana will be on a plane to New York this week to get an update on his surgically-repaired finger. With approval from the doctors, he should be back on a throwing program in a week or two. If that's the case, he's ahead of the schedule that I foresaw him having. If he's on waivers and you've got an extra DL spot, go ahead and stash him.

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