Week Ahead: Shane's Time to Shine

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Arguably no team in recent years has been better at player development than the Rays, and Shane McClanahan could be their best homegrown pitcher yet.

He’s in the thick of the AL Cy Young race, currently available for +1000 on PointsBet Sportsbook, and trailing only Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, and Shohei Ohtani. The young left-hander has been lights out through the first quarter of the season, leading MLB with 31.1% K-BB% with a resulting 2.33 ERA and 0.86 WHIP.

McClanahan’s MLB debut last season was excellent, but he’s been markedly better this year with a slight velocity increase along with greater usage of his curveball and changeup. His ERA metrics (2.69 FIP, 1.99 SIERA) are just as impressive as the early results, even as his .253 BABIP shows that some regression is likely down the line.

With the early performance, there are only a handful of alternative starting pitchers fantasy managers could put in the same tier. At age 25, it’s possible that an innings cap will come into play for McClanahan this season, but that’s of little concern now if you are lucky enough to roster him. He’s an every-week, no-brainer start and especially with a two-start week coming up, as the Rays host the Marlins and Yankees.

-Jose Berrios has been one of the most frustrating pitchers of the early season, but there are signs he’s finally turned a corner after his best start of the season, throwing seven scoreless innings against the Mariners. The biggest concern has been his lack of strikeouts with a K/9 that’s nearly three strikeouts below his career norm, but his velocity has been just fine. He has a chance to build more momentum with a two-start week at St. Louis and the Angels.

-Steven Matz has been similarly disappointing after signing a lucrative contract with the Cardinals in the offseason. The good news is that his poor results (6.03 ERA) aren’t supported by the peripherals. In fact, his control of the strike zone has been ace-like with a 10.6 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9, resulting in a 4.25 FIP and 3.02 SIERA. The home runs allowed have been a major issue, but this remains a perfect time to buy low, even with a tough two-start week ahead against the Jays and Brewers.

-The results in Blake Snell’s first start of the season weren’t great, as he had a tough time controlling his pitches. If it’s any consolation, Snell’s velocity was terrific, showing the best fastball and slider velo of his career. That’s an indication that Snell is healthy, but he still has to work out some of the kinks. Despite the rough first performance, a two-start week at home against the Brewers and Pirates is favorable enough to start him.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of Friday, May 20, and are subject to change.

American League

Strong Plays

Gerrit Cole: BAL, @TB

Shane McClanahan: MIA, NYY

Luis Garcia: CLE, @SEA

Decent Plays

Jordan Montgomery: BAL, @TB

Jose Berrios: @STL, @LAA

Dane Dunning: @LAA, @OAK

Marco Gonzales: OAK, HOU

Bruce Zimmermann: @NYY, @BOS

Nick Pivetta: @CHW, BAL

Zack Greinke: @ARI, @MIN

James Kaprielian: @SEA, TEX

Cal Quantrill: @HOU, @DET

At Your Own Risk

Jordan Lyles: @NYY, @BOS

Zach Plesac: @HOU, @DET

Chris Archer: DET, KC

Joey Wentz: @MIN, CLE

National League

Strong Plays

Corbin Burnes: @SD, @STL

Max Fried: PHI, MIA

Walker Buehler: @WAS, @ARI

Pablo Lopez: @TB, @ATL

Zack Wheeler: @STL, @NYM

Decent Plays

Tyler Mahle: CHC, SF

Alex Cobb: NYM, @CIN

Kyle Freeland: @PIT, @WAS

Blake Snell: MIL, PIT

Josiah Gray: LAD, COL

Tyler Anderson: @WAS, @ARI

Kyle Gibson: @ATL, @NYM

Drew Smyly: @CIN, @CHW

Steven Matz: TOR, MIL

Adrian Houser: @SD, @STL

At Your Own Risk

Zach Davies: KC, LAD

JT Brubaker: COL, @SD

Trevor Williams: @SF, PHI

Tucker Davidson: PHI, MIA

Joan Adon: LAD, COL

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Streamer City

The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:

American League

Thursday, May 26: Devin Smeltzer vs. KC

Smeltzer has some MLB experience to his name, and with Minnesota’s rotation injuries, has a chance to carve out a role. The “crafty” lefty faces a Royals lineup that has the fourth worst OPS in MLB and is now without Salvador Perez.

Saturday, May 28: Taylor Hearn @ OAK

Facing the A’s lineup has been a gift for pitchers, as Oakland easily ranks dead last in OPS (.587). Hearn has been inconsistent, but has a respectable 3.21 ERA in three starts this month and more than one strikeout per inning for the year.

Sunday, May 29: Johnny Cueto vs. CHC

It will be just like old times when Cueto, a long-time Cincinnati Red, takes on the Cubs. Chicago’s lineup is in the bottom half of the league with a .675 OPS, and Cueto was brilliant in his MLB debut this week.

National League

Tuesday, May 24: Mitch Keller vs. COL

Keller has been a massive disappointment in spite of increased velocity, but the Rox remain futile on the road with a .635 OPS. It’s a rare opportunity to employ Keller.

Thursday, May 26: Justin Steele @ CIN

Steele has been very inconsistent for the Cubbies thus far, as he continues to struggle with walks. He is coming off his best outing of the year, and faces a Reds lineup that has the worst OPS in baseball against lefties.

Thursday, May 26: Ryan Pepiot @ ARI

The talented Pepiot is still finding his control, but should have some time with Clayton Kershaw still on the mend. The Diamondbacks lineup doesn’t stand as a major threat, with a .644 OPS, sixth worst in MLB.

Total Games

American League

5: CHW

6: HOU, KC, LAA, SEA, TB, TEX, TOR

7: BAL, BOS, CLE, DET, MIN, NYY, OAK

National League

5: MIA

6: ARI, CHC, NYM, PIT, SD, SF, STL

7: ATL, CIN, COL, LAD, MIL, PHI, WAS

The Infirmary

Here’s some injuries to prominent players from the last week, and other players to watch for in the coming week. You can get a full listing of injured players at NBCSports Edge’s Injury Page.

Willy Adames: Placed on IL (ankle)

Nick Ahmed: Placed on IL (COVID-19)

Joe Barlow: Day-to-day (finger)

Bryan De La Cruz: Day-to-day (arm)

Chad Green: Status uncertain (forearm)

Lourdes Gurriel Jr.: Status uncertain (hamstring)

Bryce Harper: Day-to-day (elbow)

Jason Heyward: Placed on IL (COVID-19)

Cooper Hummel: Placed on IL (COVID-19)

Daulton Jefferies: Status uncertain (biceps)

Brandon Lowe: Placed on IL (back)

Jesus Luzardo: Placed on IL (elbow)

Austin Meadows: Placed on IL (vertigo)

Tylor Megill: Placed on IL (biceps)

Tyler O’Neill: Placed on IL (shoulder)

Jake Odorizzi: Placed on IL (ankle)

Salvador Perez: Placed on IL (thumb)

Michael Pineda: Placed on IL (finger)

Victor Reyes: Placed on IL (quad)

Eduardo Rodriguez: Out indefinitely (oblique)

Jordan Romano: Day-to-day (illness)

Max Scherzer: Out 6-8 weeks (oblique)

Antonio Senzatela: Placed on IL (back)

Jorge Soler: Day-to-day (back)

Edmundo Sosa: Day-to-day (leg)

Michael A. Taylor: Placed on IL (COVID-19)

LaMonte Wade: Day-to-day (knee)