Welcome to the final Pitching Stash for the season. Though the name is no longer apt, it is still time to roster prospects for your final push (as needed). We’re in September (close enough), so even as I write this article there will be plenty of call-ups after publication. Today’s Stash will attempt to include every pitcher you should (or shouldn’t) be on the lookout for this month (well, at least 20 of them). If you’re reading this, welcome to the playoffs.
Potential Starters
Jesus Luzardo (Oakland Athletics): Luzardo’s last three starts in Triple-A have combined for a 1.17 ERA over 15.1 innings and 19 strikeouts. His start on Friday was a gem, a one-hit, six-inning outing (his longest all season) with 10 strikeouts. Oakland may want one more start, which they could get in a Triple-A playoff game, but Luzardo is ready for a promotion now.
Anthony Kay (Toronto Blue Jays): Kay is expected to start as early as tomorrow (Sept. 1) in Toronto. Despite some incredibly shaky metrics since his trade to Toronto, Kay has found success, having allowed only two runs over his past 23.2 innings. He has not allowed a home run in his last four starts, but his walk rate has exploded as he fine-tunes his new approach.
Brendan McKay (Tampa Bay Rays):McKay is currently injured with arm fatigue and although his first few appearances in Tampa Bay were a mixed bag, he is expected back soon and once healthy, he will be on the big league club.
Justin Dunn (Seattle Mariners): I have shift a bit onDunn as he will need to be put on the team’s 40-man roster as a protection move. He could receive a few spot starts in Seattle after an occasionally-dominant season in Double-A, where he ended with a 3.55 ERA (3.36 FIP) and a 153:37 K:BB ratio over 126.2 innings, nine innings shy of his 2018 total.
Logan Allen (Cleveland Indians): Allen should be back in Cleveland shortly. He could fill out the team’s fifth rotation spot or serve as a long reliever this fall. Allen has been inconsistent all season in Triple-A. He has pitched better than his season stat line would suggest, although it does indicate how risky a spot start by Allen will be (although its the AL Central, so there could be some juicy spot starts).
Adbert Alzolay (Chicago Cubs): Chicago kept Alzolay to another 4-inning appearance on Wednesday, a hitless outing with two walks and five strikeouts. The team is keeping Alzolay stretched out after recovering from a biceps injury in July, an indication the team plans to use him as a starter or at the very least a long reliever upon his promotion this fall.
Wil Crowe (Washington Nationals): Despite his struggles since his promotion to Triple-A, Crowe is on track for a promotion when rosters expand. As with most pitchers this year, Crowe found success in Double-A before doubling his HR/9 rate in Triple-A. Washington is improvising their fifth starter spot each turn through the rotation, so Crowe could be in the mix.
Keegan Akin (Baltimore Orioles): Akin’s season has been a mixed bag, but he presents one of the most extreme strikeout rates in Triple-A baseball. His control is wild and he walks far too many batters, but he is expected to be promoted and could make for a good spot start as the season winds down.
James Marvel (Pittsburgh Pirates): Marvel is 7-for-10 since his promotion to Triple-A in quality starts. He consistently throws deep into games as a ground ball pitcher, which will limit his fantasy effectiveness. Pittsburgh will need to add him to the 40-man roster in some capacity to avoid having a team pick him off during the Rule 5 draft in December.
Trey Supak (Milwaukee Brewers): After several incredibly poor outings in Triple-A, Supak has likely ruined a chance for a fall promotion in 2019, though he has been an effective pitcher all season in Double-A with great control and a 2.20 ERA. His home run rate has quadrupled since his promotion to Triple-A, but he has managed to maintain his elite control despite his issues.
Denyi Reyes (Boston Red Sox): A bit speculative, but Boston is in need of a backend starter to fill in their fifth spot in the absence of Chris Sale and the team lacks a starter-quality player in Triple-A. Reyes would be jumping Triple-A, but remains a possibility to receive a few starts in the majors this fall. Reyes excelled in High-A with a 2.25 ERA, but ballooned to a 4.16 ERA in Double-A. He will not blow away batters, but should be effective enough to stick.
Rico Garcia (Colorado Rockies): It feels like its been 84 years since I had Garcia on the list, as after a rough promotion to Triple-A that saw his home run rate quadruple, he fell off the Stash. In the time since, the home runs kept coming in the PCL, but he did get a spot start in the MLB this past week, putting him on the 40-man roster. Garcia might not be effective in 2019, but could be in line for a few more starts this fall.
The Atlanta Braves
Kyle Wright (Atlanta Braves): After stumbling last week for the first time in months of Triple-A baseball, Wright rebounded with a five-inning scoreless outing. Already on the 40-man roster and one of the team’s top prospects, Wright is a sure-fire lock to be called up upon roster expansions. Although he has struggled mightily in four brief starts over the course of the year, he has as much upside as anyone on this list.
Ian Anderson (Atlanta Braves): Anderson may yet be called up, but after a rough start to his Triple-A career, he seems less likely for a promotion. Anderson has a 6.57 ERA in five starts and a 25:18 K:BB ratio over 24.2 innings of play. While Anderson represents the best Atlanta has to offer, Atlanta will be better off going with a known quantity in Wright or a better performing arm.
Bryse Wilson (Atlanta Braves): Wilson is another player who has excelled in Triple-A, but struggled during his few starts in the majors this season. He does not offer huge strikeout potential despite an elite fastball, as he lacks diversity in his repertoire. Wilson could be in play for an errant start, but is likely to pitch in the bullpen this fall.
Additional Comments
Nate Pearson (Toronto Blue Jays): There is zero reason to addPearson to Toronto’s roster this season. Toronto is not competing, Pearson has only three starts in Triple-A, and has already surpassed his career-high innings load.
Jon Duplantier (Arizona Diamondbacks): After getting built up midseason to become a starter, Duplantier is back in Triple-A excelling as a reliever. He is a lock for a call-up, but will likely not be worth rostering as he will not have save opportunities in Arizona this season.
Spencer Howard (Philadelphia Phillies): In only 71 innings this season, Howard has rocketed through the minors, currently dominating Double-A to the tune of a 2.35 ERA and an 11.38 K/9 ratio. He was designated to the Arizona Fall League this year, so he will be out of contention for a 2019 call-up.
Deivi Garcia (New York Yankees): New York has been preparingGarcia for a relief role for the past month and in holds leagues, he could be elite, as he has a 13.54 K/9 this season. As with most pitchers, Triple-A hit him hard as in combination with iffy control he saw his HR/9 rate sextupled from Double-A. He should get an opportunity for New York and few pitchers coming up in relief will have his strikeout ceiling.
Brusdar Graterol (Minnesota Twins): Despite missing most of the season to injury, Graterol is on the cusp of an MLB promotion after letting up three runs in only one of his last nine appearances. He has been rock solid in relief and will be playing on one of the league’s best teams.
Graphic by Michael Haas (@digitalHaas on Twitter)
with manaea getting the call and the rest of the A’s rotation pitching surprisingly well of late, are you still expecting luzardo to start if/when he gets the call?