Baseballs are leaving the yard at a higher rate, and that’s having a notable impact on pitching. Last year’s league average for ERA, per Baseball-Reference, was 4.15. This year, it’s up to 4.35 — despite the fact we’ve yet to reach the warm summer months when the ball travels farther. The jump in run scoring makes scraping the bottom of the barrel for pitching more challenging, but it also rewards creativity. With that in mind, two SP-eligible relievers get the nod this week. They’re joined by a couple of teammates who are extremely low owned.
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Diego Castillo (SP/RP – TB): Yahoo – 31%, ESPN – 13%
As I did by including Kyle Gibson last week, I’m skirting the rules a bit with this week’s inclusion of Castillo. His ownership rate is above the normal cut line of 25% at Yahoo, but it’s under 15% at ESPN. He’s criminally under-owned. Tampa Bay’s flame-throwing righty has racked up three saves as a result of being used interchangeably in the eighth and ninth innings with southpaw Jose Alvarado.
The save chances alone make Castillo worth rostering universally. He’s an even more valuable player in leagues that use holds (or combine holds and saves). His starting pitching eligibility is a bonus in leagues that distinguish between starters and relievers, because he opens the door to rostering an extra source of saves, ERA, WHIP, and strikeout help without clogging up a reliever spot with only a part-time closer, so to speak.
Speaking of Castillo’s work in ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts, he’s whipped up a 2.35 ERA (3.05 SIERA), 1.11 WHIP, and 30.5 K%. The 25-year-old reliever dominated in the upper minors in 2017 and 2018, made a seamless transition to the bigs last year, and is showing no signs of a sophomore slump this season. Castillo should be scooped up in any league in which he’s available.
Robert Stephenson (SP/RP – CIN): Yahoo – 9%, ESPN – 2%
Stephenson doesn’t offer occasional save potential like the aforementioned Castillo, but he’s taken like a fish to water working out of the pen for the Reds this season and can be an asset for ERA, WHIP, and strikeout help. He, too, is starting pitcher eligible. Slotting Stephenson in an SP spot won’t cut into an RP spot vital for accumulating saves, and it’s a more attractive option than streaming a below-average starter in the hopes of scrounging out strikeouts and wins while risking a blow-up start that bloats ERA and WHIP.
As for Stephenson’s credentials, he’s doing his best to become a right-handed version of Andrew Miller. Like Miller, Stephenson’s a former first-round pick who couldn’t put it together as a starter. Also like Miller, he’s thriving in the pen by leaning heavily on his slider. According to FanGraphs, Stephenson has thrown his slider a whopping 58.9% of the time this year. The pitch has generated an absurd 32.1 SwStr% and induced a chase out of the strike zone more than half of the time (50.8 O-Swing%).
In 12 relief appearances spanning 14.2 innings, Stephenson has dominated the opposition to the tune of a 2.45 ERA (2.54 SIERA) and 0.89 WHIP. He has also struck out 35.1% of the batters he’s faced while walking only 7.0% of them. Stephenson previously struggled with free passes (13.6 BB% in his career entering this season), so the huge strides he’s made cutting them back this year is promising for continued success. Stephenson is worth adding in leagues as shallow as 12-team mixers.
Lucas Giolito (SP – CHW): Yahoo – 6%, ESPN – 4%
I’ve previously touted Giolito in this piece, and it appeared he was going to make me look sharp for doing so. In his following start, he opened with 2.2 scoreless innings against the Royals. He didn’t allow a hit, walked one, and struck out five. Unfortunately, that’s when his start ended because of a hamstring strain.
The 24-year-old righty threw a bullpen session Monday, and he came out of it unscathed. He’s now expected to get the ball Thursday or Friday against the Red Sox. I wouldn’t advise starting him against Boston, but the time is now to scoop him up and game the system. By adding Giolito now, gamers can stash him in on the IL before that turn and scoop up another player to fill the open roster spot until eventually activating him. Regardless of which day he gets the ball this week, he should see the Indians for each of his two starts after facing the Red Sox. Cleveland’s lineup received a boost with the return of superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor from the IL on April 20, but it’s still a putrid lineup as a whole. According to FanGraphs, it ranks 28th in wRC+ (69), as of Wednesday. Giolito is worth stashing in 14-team mixers and has the potential to play himself into shallower league consideration.
Manny Banuelos (SP – CHW): Yahoo – 4%, ESPN – 2%
Banuelos has never delivered on his top-flight prospect billing, but he’ll have an opportunity to carve out a back-of-the-rotation role for the Pale Hose. The 28-year-old southpaw spent all of last season at the Triple-A level as a member of the Dodgers organization, and he pitched well in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He opened this season in Chicago’s bullpen with four relief appearances, but his last two appearances have been starts.
The lefty threw 71 pitches in his first start and bumped his total up to 91 in his second. Both starts came against the rebuilding Orioles, so his success (two earned runs in 9.2 innings) should be taken with a grain of salt. Banuelos’ fastballs (four-seamer and sinker) sit in the low-90s and are backed by a slider, curve, and changeup.
In theory, the depth of his arsenal should give him the goods to retire lefties and righties. In practice, however, his degree of success against each handedness of hitter will come down to the quality of his pitches. The sample of pitches to analyze this year is small, and his scouting reports are dated. From what limited information is available, I’d expect him to be at his best in same-handed matchups, and his plate discipline numbers on his changeup are a bit troubling in regards to retiring righties. It’s possible, though, he’ll avoid getting knocked around by righties by keeping them off balance with his pair of breaking balls if his changeup isn’t up to snuff. I wouldn’t start Banuelos in his next turn against the Red Sox, but two following projected starts against the Blue Jays are favorable. Toronto is 21st in wRC+ (80) against southpaws this year. Banuelos is merely an option in AL-only leagues or mixers with more than 14 teams.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.