Does your fantasy baseball team have a tough time winning each week? Does your team ERA make you sad? Do you wish your team didn’t have to keep going to the bathroom in the middle of the night? Well, have we got the product for you!
It’s the new and improved Alex Reyes 2018. (Last year’s model, the Alex Reyes 2017, never made it to stores because of Tommy John surgery.)
The Alex Reyes 2016 was sold for a limited time — appearing in 12 big league games for the Cardinals (five as a starter), after going 20-21 with a 3.50 ERA in 60 minor league starts.
The Reyes 2016 performed well, going 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA, 52 strikeouts (10.2 per nine innings), a 1.217 WHIP and 4.5 walks per nine innings.
In the five starts, he was 2-0 with a 2.20 ERA, 29 strikeouts (9.9 per nine innings), 1.326 WHIP and .234 opponent average. The major downfall was control (or lack thereof). He walked 13 over 28 ²/₃ innings. In his seven relief appearances (17 ¹/₃ innings), he was 2-1 with a 0.52 ERA, 23 strikeouts (11.9 per nine), a 1.038 WHIP and .140 opponent average. He also walked 10 batters.
The Alex Reyes 2018 is available for presale, but won’t be delivered until Tuesday — when he likely will take John Gant’s spot in the Cardinals’ rotation and face Milwaukee.
But, is the Alex Reyes 2018 ready? Well, if the focus group research (four minor league starts) is any indication, Roto Rage hopes you already purchased your Alex Reyes 2018, because they will go fast.
(This is the part of the infomercial when you would see how the Alex Reyes 2018 slices, dices, chops and even cuts through steel doors. There would also be some “everyday people” robotically reading quotes from a cue card, saying things like, “The Alex Reyes 2018 changed my life. Oh my gosh, I don’t even buy paper towels any more.”)
Not only did the new and improved Alex Reyes 2018 not allow a run over 23 innings, he allowed just seven hits. That isn’t even the amazing part, though. The 23-year-old struck out 44 of the 82 batters he faced (17.2 per nine innings) and walked just 2.7 per nine innings.
He had three straight double-digit strikeout performances, including Thursday’s 13-K effort for Triple-A Memphis, which was his second straight 13-K outing.
(This would be the part of the infomercial when a phone number would appear across the bottom of the screen and your hand would be on the phone, ready to dial, before you hear those magical words: “But wait, there’s more!”)
In Thursday’s outing, Reyes became the first pitcher in the 116-year history of the Pacific Coast League to strike out nine consecutive batters (four others had whiffed eight consecutive). He also set down the final 15 batters he faced. Opponents hit .048 against him during this rehab stint.
In 2016, Reyes’ fastball averaged 98 mph (his sinker reached 96 mph). He has reportedly been in the 95-98 mph range since returning, even hitting as high as 99 mph.
If you still are sitting there, with the phone in your hand and wondering if you should buy, there is a good chance the Alex Reyes 2018 already is out of stock. This is not another shoddy “As Seen on TV” product. This is something you will use over and over again. As of Friday, Reyes was owned in 44 percent of ESPN leagues and 55 percent of Yahoo.
Don’t waste time! Act now !
Big hits
Gleyber Torres 2B/SS, Yankees
Had at least one hit in 15 of his first 18 games this month, going 20-for-62 (.323) with eight homers, 20 RBIs, 11 runs and a 1.095 OPS. He homered in four of his past five games.
Nick Pivetta SP, Phillies
Since taking a loss on May 4, he has gone 3-0 with a 0.47 ERA, 25 strikeouts, just two walks and .149 opponent average over three starts.
Brandon Crawford SS, Giants
Entered Friday with a 10-game hit streak, going 19-for-35 (.543) with two homers, nine RBIs, a stolen base, seven runs and a 1.436 OPS in that span.
Miles Mikolas SP, Cardinals
Has not suffered a loss in his first nine starts this season, and also has allowed two runs or fewer over his past seven. He is 3-0 with a 0.99 ERA, 19:4 strikeout-to-walk rate and .230 opponent average in four starts this month.
Big whiffs
Zack Godley SP, D’backs
It has been a rough month for the 28-year-old — he is 0-3 with a 5.27 ERA, 24:18 strikeout-to-walk rate, .269 opponent average and a .845 OPS in five starts.
Nick Ahmed SS, D’backs
He hit .262 in April, but is now hitting .204 after going 9-for-68 (.132) with a homer, two RBIs, three runs, 18 strikeouts and a .376 OPS in his first 21 games this month.
Billy Hamilton OF, Reds
Since stealing three bases on May 13 (the only bases he has stolen since April 23), he is 4-for-30 (.133) with 12 strikeouts, two RBIs, one run scored, no stolen bases, a .161 on-base percentage and a .328 OPS.
Jeff Samardzija SP, Giants
After collecting a win in his first start, he has gone 0-3 with a 7.28 ERA and a 21:19 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his past six starts. He has allowed 24 earned runs and six home runs in that span.
Check swings
— Remember when Kenley Jensen had blown as many saves in his first seven games as he did in all of 2017 and had a 8.10 ERA? Well, that is a distant memory. The Dodgers closer is 8-for-8 in save chances since while maintaining a 0.60 ERA, 16:3 strikeout-to-walk rate and .175 opponent average in his past 14 appearances.
— If Travis Jankowski can remain the Padres’ leadoff hitter, there is reason to look his way. In 17 games as the guy on top of the order, he has hit .354 (23-for-65) with a homer, two RBIs, 11 runs scored and seven stolen bases.
— Juan Soto, who made his big league debut this week at the age of 19, was born Oct. 25, 1998. What happened 16 days before the Nationals’ outfielder was born? Bartolo Colon, who turned 45 this week, pitched a complete game gem for the Indians in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Yankees. FYI: On his 1998 Upper Deck baseball card, Colon was listed at 185 pounds. Guess he has been on the seafood diet since. He saw food and he ate it.
Team Name of the Week
Orphan Blackmon