Reid Detmers’ no-hitter poses fantasy baseball questions

There have been 316 no-hitters thrown in Major League Baseball history. Not every single no-no has been thrown by Hall of Famers (or Hall of Famers to be) like Nolan Ryan, Sandy Koufax, or Max Scherzer.

Homer Bailey, owner of a 4.56 career ERA, threw two no-nos. Do you remember Chris Heston? Henderson Alvarez? Kent Merker? Ramon J Martinez? Gregory Maddux? Oh wait, he never threw one.

No-hitters don’t equal fame — or even fantasy utility. They are simply impressive achievements.

On Tuesday, the Angels’ Reid Detmers threw a no-hitter in the 11th start of his career. He was the youngest pitcher since Anibal Sanchez in 2006 and the youngest angel since Clyde Wright in 1970.

You’d think that kind of performance from a 22-year-old former first-round pick (10th overall in 2020) could make him a hot fantasy. Well it hasn’t. He was the 16th most-added pitcher in ESPN leagues – his share rising from 4.2 percent to 9.4 percent. It remains available in 84 percent of Yahoo’s leagues.

The lack of exercise is justified.

Detmers hit two batters on Tuesday, the lowest strikeout total in a no-hitter since Francisco Liriano also hit two in 2011. That’s not a complete shock considering Detmers is batting just 5.8 per nine innings (6.8 per nine overs) this season. his 11 career starts).

Detmers strikeout totals are shocking, especially after he hit 15.7 strikeouts per nine in his one season with the Minors and 13.4 per nine in three seasons at the University of Louisville.

Detmers also carries an unsustainable .176 BaBIP, which would be the second lowest among starters if he qualified. His .165 opponent average looks incredible, but his expected .255 batting average doesn’t look so good. Neither its 3.80 xERA or its 4.06 FIP or its 4.34 xFIP.

Those numbers look worse when you consider that Detmers had just 10 swinging strikes (9.3 percent) out of 108 pitches Tuesday. He has a swinging strike rate of 7.9 percent for the season and 9.5 percent in his career. He shows little to no ability to miss at-bats, and it doesn’t bode well that this was even the second time in his short career that he’s pitched more than five innings in a game.

Can fantasy owners pick up Detmers in hopes that his no will be the catalyst that will allow him to live up to his draft status? Sure, and no one would scoff at you for taking such a step. But Roto Rage believes there are other young pitchers worth adding instead.

Oakland’s Paul Blackburn was 4-0 with a .87 WHIP, .214 opponent average and 1.74 ERA before conquering the mound on Saturday. Despite batting just 7.5 per nine innings, he runs .87 per nine, has a 10.9 percent swinging strike rate, and his xERA (2.87), FIP (2.16), and xFIP (2 .55) suggest he should remain a viable possibility. It’s available in about 40 percent of ESPN leagues.

In his first 16 ²/₃ innings, mostly multi-inning relief throws, Atlanta’s Spencer Strider (0-1, 2.16 ERA, 1.08 WHIP) has 36.4 percent of the batters he faced with a swinging strike rate of 15.9 percent. Opponents hit .158 against him, including .174 against his high 90s fastball (with a 30.6 percent touch rate) and .100 against his slider (with a 42.9 percent touch rate). He’s listed in just 7.2 percent of ESPN leagues and has a really good chance of joining Atlanta’s rotation.

Seattle’s George Kirby, who beat the Mets on Saturday, went seven-over-six innings scoreless on his big league debut last Sunday. Most impressive was his swinging strike rate of 17.3 percent and the fact that he didn’t batter. He was the most added pitcher in the ESPN leagues this week.

Other options could include Minnesota’s Josh Winder (the second most added pitcher in ESPN leagues this week), the Dodgers’ Tony Gonsolin (despite his ugly 4.33 walks per nine), the Yankees’ Jameson Taillon, or Cleveland’s Triston McKenzie (if available). , who has kept his walks in check and is 2-1 with a 2.39 ERA, .204 opponent average and 29 strikeouts in his last five starts.

Big hits

Manuel Margot OF, Rays

Entered Friday on a nine-game winning streak and at least one RBI in seven of those games. He was 15-to-31 (.484) with three homers, 13 RBIs, eight carries, four stolen bases, and 1,418 OPS in that span.

Merrill Kelly SP, Diamondbacks

Has not allowed more than three ERs in any of his seven starts and is 3-1 in his last five starts with a 2.20 ERA and 25-7 strikeout walk rate.

Josh Naylor 1B/OF, Warden

At least one RBI in eight of his last 10 games went Friday’s 14:36 ​​(.389) with four homers, 17 RBIs and 1,203 OPS in that span.

Justin Verlander SP, Astros

After suffering defeat in his season debut, he is 4-0 in his last five starts with a 1.51 ERA, 29-3 strikeout walk rate and .145 opponent average.

Big puffs

Eugenio Suarez 3B, seamen

Batted at least once in each of his last 17 games on Friday, 10:64 (.156) with 27 strikeouts and .594 OPS.

Hunter Greene SP, Red

In his last five starts, the 22-year-old has gone 5-0 with an 8.14 ERA, a 28-13 strikeout walk rate and a .304 opponent average. He allowed nine homers in that span (21 innings).

Max Muncy 1B/2B/3B, Dodgers

Despite walking 13 times, he was 4-for-34 (.118) with one homer, two RBIs, 10 strikeouts and a .626 OPS in his last 12 games prior to Friday.

Zach Plesac SP, Guardian

Since earning his first win on April 21, he has been 0-2 with an 8.40 ERA, 10-8 strikeout walk rate, three homers allowed and a .262 opponent average.

Check Swing

– As a DH of the Mets, Peter Alonso is 11-for-35 (.314) with five home runs, 15 RBIs and 1.185 OPS. Playing first, he’s 24-for-91 (.264) with three homers, 13 RBIs and a .726 OPS. He crushes righties (.301, 7 HRs, 25 RBIs, .910 OPS) but struggles against lefties (.174, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, .601 OPS).

– In 11 appearances since April 14, Oaklands Dany Jimenez is 1-1 with six saves (in six chances) over 11 scoreless innings. He’s batting 10.4 per nine innings, has a 13.2 percent swinging strike rate, and opponents are batting .167 against him. Still available in 75 percent of ESPN leagues.

– In 17 games between April 24 and Thursday, Cincinnati Tommy Pham increased his average from .133 to .245 after going 20-to-61 (.328) with two homers, eight RBIs, 17 runs, 13 walks, a stolen base and a .938 OPS. He’s severely understaffed (41 percent on ESPN and Yahoo).

Team Name of the Week

DJ Volpehieu

Submitted by @greggweiss