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Astros in Fantasy: What to Watch for in Week One
What should fantasy owners be on the lookout for from Astros players in the first week of the season?
Now that fantasy drafts are all done (hopefully), we can finally begin the long-awaited season. Since there are no fantasy stats to analyze yet, it may help to take a look at some first-week storylines. How these topics play out could shed light on how the season will go for these players.
Josh Reddick‘s Start
Reddick started slowly in Spring Training but came on strong late, finishing with a .268/.328/.375 batting line. How he hits to start the year — especially against lefties — could determine how often manager A.J. Hinch rests him.
If he struggles, he could sit against most lefties to give Evan Gattis and Jake Marisnick more at-bats. Reddick’s fantasy value is contingent on him being an everyday player, so those who drafted him are counting on it.
Ken Giles‘ Usage
For Giles, the question is mostly how Hinch uses him. He had a solid, though unspectacular spring, but he pitched in the fifth inning against the Cubs on Friday. Granted, that was an exhibition game, but Giles’ fantasy value hinges on saves. If he doesn’t get the vast majority of the team’s save opportunities, his stock plummets.
With a deep bullpen, Hinch may exercise more flexibility in regards to when he brings a certain pitcher into the game. If Giles gets the save opportunities, he will be fine. If those chances are shared, Giles moves into the draft bust territory.
Brian McCann and Evan Gattis’ playing time
In most leagues, Gattis was drafted higher than McCann, but McCann should get more time behind the plate. Gattis’ fantasy value is contingent on him getting at least semi-regular DH at-bats when McCann catches. McCann needs to catch the majority of games while mixing in an occasional start at DH or first base.
Other players’ performances could factor into this as well. If Yulieski Gurriel struggles, McCann could see more time at first. If Reddick struggles, Carlos Beltran could see more starts in left field, giving Gattis more DH time. This may be slow to develop but could have a big fantasy impact.
The battle between Joe Musgrove and Mike Fiers
What was to be a Spring Training battle for the last rotation spot, now drags into the regular season. With Collin McHugh on the shelf, Musgrove and Fiers get one or two regular season starts to lay claim to that spot. Once McHugh returns, one of them is likely out.
Next: Astros in Fantasy: Overvalued and Undervalued Players
Fiers has minimal fantasy value right now, but Musgrove has real upside. If he struggles, he could get sent back to Triple-A. Also worth watching is how McHugh looks when he returns, as he has had some fantasy value in the past.
***Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference and MLB.com***