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No one ever wants to be the last pick for a team. No one every wants to feel they’ve been overlooked by anyone — whether it’s friends, family or prospective teammates.

But going unnoticed isn’t always a bad thing. You have a bigger chance to exceed expectations and make yourself noticed. In fantasy baseball, it’s often these neglected players who provide the biggest boosts for your squad.

Over 11 games as a reliever for Atlanta, Spencer Strider was 1-1 with a 2.22 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 13.7 strikeouts per nine and a .167 opponents’ average.

As expected, though, the Braves made him a member of the rotation.

Before dominating the Pirates over 5 ²/₃ innings Friday night (eight strikeouts, 18.5 percent swinging-strike rate), Strider hadn’t pitched deep into games in his first two starts, and his numbers (0-1, 4.32 ERA, 1.56 WHIP) were uninspiring (outside of the 13 strikeouts per nine and .194 opponents’ average). But they didn’t tell the whole story.

Strider made his first start against Arizona on May 30. Though he allowed five runs (three earned) and walked two over just 4 ¹/₃ innings, the Braves defense did him no favors by making a pair of inexcusable errors. Strider was dominant, striking out seven while registering a 13.9 percent swinging-strike rate and throwing 51 of his 72 pitches for strikes. He also threw 22 pitches that were at least 99 mph.


  Spencer Strider AP Spencer Strider AP

Strider’s second start was at Colorado, where he allowed only one earned run over four innings while striking out and walking five. He was out of control, but did strike out 26.3 percent of the batters he faced.

Despite walking 12.3 percent of the batters he has faced, the worst mark in the majors among pitchers with a minimum of 30 innings pitched, Strider leads the league with his 36.8 percent strikeout rate. He also had the seventh-lowest opponents’ average (.176), the fourth-best swinging-strike rate (15.7) and the eighth-best ERA in the National League (2.35).

Opponents are hitting .184 with a 29 percent whiff rate against his fastball, which he throws 71.2 percent of the time and averages 98.4 mph (tops out at 101 mph), and .179 with a 52.3 percent whiff rate against his slider.

His expected stats also don’t indicate any massive regression, either. He has an xERA of 3.21, and his FIP (1.99) and xFIP (2.82) actually show he has been unlucky. All of this production came from a pitcher who is more than 80 percent available in ESPN leagues.

Despite his control issues, Roto Rage believes Strider is a pitcher worth noticing.

Miami’s Edward Cabrera — who is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 9.8 strikeouts per nine and a 13.5 percent swinging strike rate — made himself the most noticed pitcher in ESPN leagues this week. After taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning in his first start at Colorado, fanning nine with a 18.1 percent swinging strike rate, he backed that up Tuesday by allowing one run over six innings against the Nationals.


  Edward Cabrera Getty Images Edward Cabrera Getty Images

Though the 24-year-old is worth adding (65 percent available), especially in dynasty leagues, there will be bumps in the road. Not only is he walking 4.5 per nine, but his 3.32 xERA, 4.31 FIP and 4.65 xFIP all indicate significant regression, and his .080 BABIP is highly unsustainable.

Tampa Bay’s Jeffrey Springs (30 percent rostered) has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his first seven starts. He is 1-2 with a 2.12 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 34-7 strikeout-walk rate and .218 opponents’ average in those starts, and has lasted 5 ²/₃ innings or more in each of his past four starts while maintaining a 1.62 ERA and .207 opponents average. What else does this guy have to do to get fantasy owners to notice him?

If you’re looking for a stash candidate, look at the Cubs’ top pitching prospect, Caleb Kilian. He made his big league debut June 4, allowing three runs over five innings while striking out six and walking two. He had a 10.8 percent swinging-strike rate, including 14.3 percent with his curveball and 13 percent with his cutter. Over three seasons in the minors, he is 9-4 with a 2.08 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 9.8 strikeouts per nine and just 1.7 walks per nine. He is back in the minors now, but it is only a matter of time until he becomes a fixture in the rotation.

Big Hits

Austin Riley 1B/3B, Braves

Entered Friday with at least one hit in 15 of his past 17 games, going 25-for-71 (.352) with seven homers, 16 RBIs, 15 runs and 1.127 OPS in that span.

Tarik Skubal SP, Tigers

No losses since April 28, going 4-0 with a 1.60 ERA, 50-7 strikeout-walk rate and .185 opponents’ average in his past seven starts. Allowed just eight earned runs over his past 45 innings.

Santiago Espinal 2B/3B, Blue Jays

Went 14-for-33 (.424) with three homers, nine RBIs, six runs and 1.260 OPS in his first eight games this month.

Graham Ashcraft SP, Reds

Struck out just 4.9 per nine over his first four big league starts, but went 3-0 with a 1.14 ERA, .177 opponents’ average and 0.85 WHIP.

Big Whiffs

Jazz Chisholm Jr. 2B/SS, Marlins

Despite hitting three homers, driving in 10 runs and stealing four bases, he had just seven hits in his previous 50 at-bats (.140) while striking out 19 times.

Johnny Cueto SP, White Sox

Allowed 11 earned runs over his past 18 ²/₃ innings (5.30 ERA) while going 0-3 with three homers allowed and a .267 opponents’ average in his past three starts.


  Mike Trout USA TODAY Sports Mike Trout USA TODAY Sports

Mike Trout OF, Angels

Average dropped from .328 on May 24 to .284 after going 7-for-46 (.152) with two homers, four RBIs and a .561 OPS in 13 games before Friday.

Blake Snell SP, Padres

Though he limited opponents to a .211 average, he is 0-3 with a 5.68 ERA and 11 walks in his first four starts since returning from the IL.

Check Swings

  • Over his first 31 games, Texas’ Marcus Semien was 19-for-123 (.155) with no homers, eight RBIs, 11 runs, two stolen bases and a .418 OPS. Over his next 24 games, he was 30-for-98 (.306) with six homers, 14 RBIs, 19 runs, eight stolen bases and a .902 OPS.
  • Chris Bassitt had a 2.34 ERA and .203 opponents average in his first five starts for the Mets, but a 7.62 ERA and .284 opponents’ average in his past five.
  • Josh Hader is human (sort of)! After not allowing a run or blowing a save since July 28, 2021 (40 consecutive games), the Brewers lefty finally did both after giving up two homers in the ninth against the Phillies on Tuesday. During that impressive stretch, which lasted 313 days, he had a 65-17 strikeout-walk rate and limited opponents to a .087 average.
  • Miami’s Sandy Alcantara has allowed more than two earned runs in one of his first 12 starts, and is 4-1 with a 0.85 ERA, 51 strikeouts and .159 opponents’ average in his past seven starts.

Team Name of the Week

Fruit Loups

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