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From The Godfather: Week 7

Mon May 10 9:32am ET
By CHARLIE WIEGERT
Contributing Writer

Only three teams will be on the short five-game schedule: Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.

There are nine teams that will be playing seven games: Pittsburgh, Miami, Houston, Cincinnati, Boston, Arizona, Colorado (all seven at home), Chicago White Sox and Kansas City.  The other 18 teams will be playing six games.

With the Cincinnati at Cleveland game postponed Sunday, Cincy hurler Tyler Mahle should now be getting a two-start week, although both will be road starts at Pittsburgh and Colorado, so it’s questionable how desirable he is this week. If you’re looking for a free agent pitcher with two starts this week, the pickings are really slim. Chase Anderson should get two, but both on the road at Washington and Toronto, and Anderson hasn’t made it to the sixth inning in any of his starts this year.

If you’re a Jacob deGrom owner, you’re probably holding your breath to see what his test results show.  He had missed his last start with a right lat problem, but appeared to be fine in his Sunday start throwing five innings of one-run ball, but exited with the trainer after a couple warm up tosses to start the sixth.  If you were considering adding Blue Jay flame thrower Nate Pearson, you might want to rethink the move.  Pearson couldn’t make it out of the third inning Sunday, throwing only 28 of 64 pitches for strikes.  He walked five and gave up four hits and three runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Other players to hit the IL this week are Tigers catcher Wilson Ramos. George Springer returned to the IL after playing only four games. And Christian Yelich returned to the IL after playing just one game. 

Toronto placed closer Rafael Dolis on IL, opening the door for Jordan Romano to get some saves.  He’s probably your safest pick up if you’re looking for saves.  Giants pitcher Taylor Rogers could be sharing the end game innings with Jake McGee, who has looked really shaky since his return for the IL.  Jeffery Springs looks like the current favorite for saves in Tampa with Diego Castillo out.  And Stefan Crichton looks like the best chance to get saves in the dessert, as he’s had three saves in his last four Diamondback appearances.

Help is on the way!

Jean Segura has returned to the Phillies lineup.  Rudy Tellez has been called back up to the Blue Jays to replace George Springer at bats, so he could be a source of some power.  Shogo Akiyama made his season debut for the Reds, but don’t expect much.  He’ll be a fourth outfielder and perhaps get a few steals.  Miguel Andujar will get some starts at the hot corner for the Yankees with with Gio Urshela out, and Luke Voit is scheduled to return to the Yankees this week.  Johnny Cueto returned to the Giants rotation Sunday. He was pitching well before going on the IL.

And if you’re looking to stash a pitcher for help down the road, Noah Syndergaard is getting ready to start a rehab assignment.  It was a year ago last March he had Tommy John surgery and a return to the Mets rotation in June is not out of the question.  It will take a while for him to become “Thor” again, but if he does, he could help lead you to a fantasy championship!

Have a great week!

Charlie Wiegert was the sixth person to be inducted in the Fantasy Sports Hall Of Fame in 2001. He is a founder of CDM Fantasy Sports and Fantasy Sports Trade Association. He has been playing and winning fantasy baseball leagues since 1984. If you have any questions for Charlie, email them to cwiegert@cdmsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @GFFantasySports.

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