20 Things to Watch: Pete Crow-Armstrong, James Wood, Addison Barger (Fantasy Baseball)

It is important to look at important storylines and aspects this week to be ahead of the curve and gain an edge on your league mates.

20 Things to Watch

Week Schedule Notes

No teams have just five games this week.
The following teams have seven games this week:
- Baltimore Orioles vs. NYY, at CIN
- New York Yankees at BAL, vs. DET
- Miami Marlins vs. WAS, vs. COL, at OAK
- New York Mets vs. CHC, at TB
- Washington Nationals at MIA, at TEX, vs. TOR
- Chicago Cubs at NYM, vs. MIL

Pete Crow-Armstrong (CF – CHC)

With Cody Bellinger hitting the injured list (IL), the Cubs have called up top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong. He is a fantastic defender with decent power and a fair amount of speed but has struggled to make consistent contact in the upper levels of the minors. He did hit a home run in his season debut for his first Major League hit, but there is a fair amount of risk that he platoons or is a bench bat/defensive replacement if he strikes out too much. This week will be a really good indication of his playing time moving forward.

James Wood (OF – WAS)

Lane Thomas hit the IL and it has started the clamoring for James Wood to make his Major League debut. Wood is hitting .310/.420/.488 with two home runs and five stolen bases in AAA. While the fans and fantasy managers want him to come up, there may not be much incentive for the Nationals to promote him this early and start his clock, but the GM has said it could be an option. If he continues to hit like this, he may force Washington’s hand.

Addison Barger (3B, SS, OF – TOR)

Addison Barger has made his Major League debut for the Blue Jays after mowing down pitchers in AAA with a .314/.435/.586 triple slash and three home runs. Barger is an interesting fantasy prospect because he has power and speed. Depending on your format, he could be eligible at 3B, SS or OF, or a combination of the three. Will the Blue Jays let him play regularly, platoon him or make him a bench option?

The Marlins’ Rotation

Jesus Luzardo was scratched from his start on Friday with elbow discomfort which is always ominous because that sometimes leads to a Tommy John surgery. The Marlins are expected to get Braxton Garrett back this week which is good news, but will we see Garrett and Max Meyer return to the rotation? A.J. Puk has been put in the bullpen. A lot of questions in Miami this week.

Hunter Goodman (1B, RF – COL)

Hunter Goodman is a home run hitting prospect for the Rockies who was called up this week and went out and did what he does — hit home runs. The hard part is Goodman also tends to swing and miss a lot which hurts his value and playing time. He was only striking out at a 21% clip in AAA this year, so if he has made a real contact skill improvement, then he could be a really interesting fantasy player.

John Means (SP – BAL)

John Means is scheduled to return to the Orioles rotation after starting the year on the IL. Means was an effective pitcher last season after he returned from Tommy John surgery, but his setback in spring training was concerning. I wouldn’t start him out of the gate, but I want to see how he looks and what his velocity is at.

Nick Lodolo (SP – CIN)

Nick Lodolo has looked great since he debuted later in the season. He is coming off of a leg injury that shortened his 2023 season. However, Lodolo has a history of home run problems and gets two tough starts this week including one versus the Orioles in Great American Ball Park, one of the worst parks for homers. If Lodolo looks good this week versus the Reds and the Padres, then he could vault into the top tiers of the pitcher ranks.

Walker Buehler (SP – LAD) Returns

Walker Buehler is finally returning from Tommy John surgery after not pitching in the Majors since 2022. Buehler was supposed to return late last season but never did and then had a setback earlier this year. It is hard to know what he will be once he returns, so watching him pitch this week versus the Diamondbacks will be a good indication.

Bryan Woo (SP – SEA) Returns

Bryan Woo is returning from a brief stint on the IL with elbow soreness. This is often what leads to Tommy John surgery, but Woo has looked great in his rehab starts. He gets a real test out of the gate versus the Braves, so this is one to watch.

The Brewers’ Bullpen

The Brewer started the season with Abner Uribe as the closer. After he struggled, Joel Payamps seemingly took over. However, Trevor Megill got the save last week with Payamps pitching in the eighth inning. Is this a committee?

The Cubs’ Bullpen

The Cubs removed Adbert Alzolay from the closer role after he struggled this year. Hector Neris has gotten a few saves since then but has not looked good. Jack Leiter has been the Cubs’ best reliever but doesn’t have your typical closer stuff. I think Neris has the leg up, but this has all the makings of a committee or a job that changes hands multiple times.

13-15. Streaming Options.

Simeon Woods Richardson (SP, RP – MIN) at CHW

Simeon Woods Richardson has been a little mediocre so far for the Twins, but he just pitched well against this terrible White Sox team. There isn’t much reason to think he can’t do it twice in a row.

Ryan Weathers (SP – MIA) at OAK

Ryan Weathers has been great as of late and faces a terrible A’s team in a friendly park.

Peter Lambert (SP, RP – COL) at MIA

This is a risky one, but Peter Lambert has been pretty good on the road this season with a 3.52 ERA. He faces a bad Miami offense in a great park to pitch in.

16-20. Two-Start Options

Trevor Rogers (SP – MIA) vs. WAS, at OAK

Streaming pitchers, especially for two-start weeks, is all about matchups. Oakland is one of the worst teams in the league and the Nationals are the third-worst team in baseball versus left-handed pitching this season.

Steven Matz (SP, RP – STL) at DET, vs. CHW

This is another one where I am attacking the matchups. I like Steven Matz, but he has struggled recently. However, he gets the White Sox who have been the second-to-worst team in baseball versus left-handed pitching and the Tigers who have been the 21st. If you can’t use him here, when can you?

Jameson Taillon (SP – CHC) at NYM, vs. MIL

Jameson Taillon is a really good pitcher and he appears to finally be healthy. His first two starts went well and while the Brewers are playing well, I am not avoiding this two-step because of them.

Javier Assad (SP – CHC) at NYM, vs. MIL

Javier Assad has pitched well, though some of it has been smoke and mirrors. I am not a believer in the increased strikeouts, but I am a believer in Assad using his defense to get out of tough spots.

Ryan Feltner (SP – COL) at MIA, at PIT

Ryan Feltner would be a better-known pitcher if he wasn’t a Rockies pitcher. He gets a bad Marlins team to start the week in a good park and an up-and-down Pirates team to end the week in a good park. Some risk here, but I think it is a decent spot.

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MLB Weekly Advice Pete Crow-Armstrong Cody Bellinger James Wood Lane Thomas Addison Barger Jesus Luzardo Braxton Garrett Max Meyer A.J. Puk Hunter Goodman John Means Nick Lodolo Walker Buehler Bryan Woo Abner Uribe Joel Payamps Trevor Megill Adbert Alzolay Hector Neris Jack Leiter Simeon Woods Richardson Ryan Weathers Peter Lambert Trevor Rogers Steven Matz Jameson Taillon Javier Assad Ryan Feltner

About Author

Justin Mason

@JustinMasonFWFB

Justin Mason is the lead fantasy writer and analyst for Friendswithfantasybenefits.com. He is a writer at Fangraphs and Fantasy Pros. You can hear him on the Radio on the FWFB, TGFBI and the Sleeper and the Bust Podcasts. He also runs The Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational and the Bay Area Roto Fantasy (BARF) league.