Every weekend, I will be posting about the minor leaguers you should stash on your team. These rankings are done solely for prospects who could affect the 2019 season. Their ranks are predicated on when they will be called up and raw talent—we want to give you an edge in building your team throughout the year. Not all prospects need to be stashed in every league, as not all league compositions are made equally.
1. Mitch Keller, SP Pittsburgh Pirates – ETA Early Sept.
After a rough outing on July 27, Mitch Keller bounced back, for the most part, taking a no-hitter into the fourth inning while ultimately striking out 12 and issuing a single walk over six innings—he did, however, let up four runs in that span on six hits. Despite the trade of Jordan Lyles, Pittsburgh has not promoted Keller, opting instead for a starter-by-committee until Steven Brault returns from injury. Barring another injury, Keller looks to be stuck in Triple-A until rosters expand.
2. Jesus Luzardo, SP Oakland Athletics – ETA Late Aug.
Jesus Luzardo pitched two simulated innings this past week as he works back from a lat injury. Luzardo is still without a clear timetable and will need a healthy amount of rehab innings before a promotion to Oakland, but when he is ready, Oakland will debut him. Luzardo is an elite talent that should make an impact in time for fantasy playoffs.
3. Matt Manning, SP Detroit Tigers – ETA Early Sept.
Matt Manning’s threw a gem this past week, going seven scoreless innings while striking out three. Manning now sports a 2.63 ERA and 115 strikeouts over 106 innings. Beau Burrows and Kyle Funkhouser are expected to get a call later this summer ahead of Manning, but there remains an outside chance given Detroit’s lack of starting pitchers that Manning gets a run himself before spending most of 2020 in Triple-A.
4. Kyle Wright, SP Atlanta Braves – ETA Mid-August
Since his demotion, Kyle Wright has thrown two quality starts with this week’s going seven innings with only one run and eight strikeouts. Wright has yet to make the transition successfully into the Majors after a handful of attempts this season and has had mixed success in Triple-A. Atlanta did not acquire a starting pitcher at the deadline and is still struggling to fill its fifth spot in the rotation with Kevin Gausman sporting a 6.19 ERA after 16 starts this season.
5. Anthony Kay, SP Toronto Blue Jays – ETA Early Sept.
Hilariously preparing for his new life in Canada, Anthony Kay was a part of the surprise trade that sent Marcus Stroman to New York shortly before the trade deadline. Kay struggled in his debut for Buffalo, allowing seven runs in 4.2 innings with three walks and a home run (making it eight home runs in eight Triple-A games). After a dominant 1.49 ERA and 9.50 K/9 in Double-A this season, Kay has taken a major step back upon his promotion to Triple-A. Toronto has not been shy about calling up its young talent to work their kinks out in the Majors as the team competes for a top-5 draft pick—after a few starts for Buffalo, Kay should be in line for a promotion.
6. Jon Duplantier, SP Arizona Diamondbacks – ETA Mid August
Jon Duplantier was activated from the IL and sent to Triple-A to throw some more innings as he recovers from shoulder inflammation. Just prior to landing on the IL, Arizona had stretched Duplantier back into a starting role after shuttling him in relief for the first two months of the season. Arizona is preparing him to assume a starting role once again with Duplantier throwing four innings in his return to Triple-A.
7. Nabil Crismatt, SP Seattle Mariners – ETA Early Sept.
Nabil Crismatt had his strongest outing yet in Triple-A, allowing two runs over six innings with eight strikeouts. This was the performance we were expecting from Cristmatt after he dominated Double-A to the tune of a 1.94 ERA and 9.57 K/9 for the majority of this season. Unfortunately, this start still came with two home runs—something that has hit Crismatt hard since his promotion with five in just four starts after allowing only seven in his previous 17 starts.
8. James Marvel, SP Pittsburgh Pirates – ETA Early Sept.
This is hedging against Mitch Keller’s promotion, but James Marvel has been productive all season in Double-A and has taken a step forward since his promotion to Triple-A at the start of July. In Double-A Marvel threw a 3.10 ERA with 83 strikeouts and only 24 walks in 101.2 innings. Since promoted, Marvel has had four quality starts in five attempts with the other start representing five of his seven runs allowed since his promotion. Marvel demonstrates excellent command and an advanced approach that represents a stable mid-rotation arm that should have immediate success in the Majors.
9. Trey Supak, SP Milwaukee Brewers – ETA Early Sept.
Milwaukee added Jordan Lyles this past week, but he and his 5.15 ERA is unlikely to move the needle for sustained success. Milwaukee has had 11 different pitchers start this season as the team has battled injuries, a suspension, and inconsistent performances. Trey Supak was promoted to Triple-A at the end of July after throwing a 2.20 ERA in 20 starts in Double-A. Supak does not offer an elite strikeout rate but does offer an elite walk rate and a low HR/FB rate. Supak was roughed up in his first Triple-A start, allowing three home runs, but took to form in his second start throwing 6.2 scoreless innings while striking out eight.
10. Ian Anderson, SP Atlanta Braves – ETA Early Sept.
When Michael Soroka was promoted to Triple-A, he only had five starts before Atlanta gave him the call. Now in August and Ian Anderson dominating in Double-A, a quick call-up to Triple-A and Anderson could be squared away for a few starts in the Majors to close out the season. Anderson has thrown a 2.68 ERA with 147 strikeouts over 111 innings in 21 starts. Most notable in his growth has been his slashed walk rate—going from 30 in his first 10 games to 15 over his last 10 games.
Graduated
Fell Out
Alex Faedo
AJ Puk
Keegan Akin
Jumped In
Jon Duplantier
James Marvel
Trey Supak
Ian Anderson
Graphic by Michael Haas (@digitalHaas on Twitter)
You really believe that the Tigers will keep Manning in Triple-A for most of 2020?
I think they may if they’re committed to 2021 being their year to implement their rebuild. Otherwise, there is little reason to have kept Manning in Double-A this long. He could have been in Triple-A most of this year and ready for Spring Training 2020.
No Justus Sheffield?
Why did AJ Puk fall out of the list? Did he re-injure himself?
He won’t be in a position to contribute to fantasy teams in 2019, even when promoted.