The Wire Troll: Austin Bibens-Dirks Re-emerging as Ranger Rotation Candidate

Austin Bibens-Dirkx (left) is dealing at Triple-A. (theathletic.com)

Welcome back to another week of Fantasy baseball. With the All-Star break now behind us, it’s time for you to do whatever is necessary to win your title, including dominating the wire.

This week, it was revealed that Dwight Gooden‘s long battle with drugs is still an issue; Carlos Carrasco is remaining very positive through his fight with leukemia; and Alex Bregman had to leave early Thursday after taking a ball off his smug face.

And now, let’s get to this week’s Fantasy baseball waiver wire recommendations…

Austin Bibens-Dirkx, SP, Texas Rangers (ESPN: unowned; CBS: unowned): It’s been over two years since we last recommended Bibens-Dirkx, and shortly after that he imploded and lost his rotation gig. He saw even less action last year and began this season in Japan, where things didn’t go so well (see video below). Well, Bibens-Dirkx is back now, having recently re-signed with the Rangers and is looking quite good at Triple-A, hurling five innings of one-hit, shutout ball on Thursday. His walk rate is up a smidge, and that’s something to watch as he’s not really capable of overpowering hitters, so he’s got to survive with control and the ability to work the corners. Bibens-Dirkx has taken his share of shellackings in the bigs, but he has a chance to become relevant again as long as Texas is starting hurlers like Joe Palumbo.

Robel Garcia, 3B/2B, Chicago Cubs (ESPN: 9.7 per cent; CBS: 8 per cent): Just brought up to make his MLB debut, Garcia is already standing out from the crowd, spanking two homers in his first four games. It doesn’t hurt that he’s drawing walks at a higher clip than he did at Triple-A, either. Garcia piled up the walks at Double-A to begin the season, earning a promotion to Triple-A, where his power was off the charts. Not bad for a dude that before this season had been out of organized ball for five years.

Emilio Pagan, RP, Tampa Bay Rays (ESPN: 10.7 per cent; CBS: 31 per cent): While Hansel Robles is having a great season, right now, we think we might rather have Pagan. Despite some recent hiccups, Pagan looked flawless in closing out the Yankees last week for his fifth save. He emerged as an important cog in the A’s pen last year, but had never had a chance to close until this season, and he’s proving he can get it done as evidenced by that sweet 1.75 ERA.

Simeon Woods-Richardson, RP, New York Mets (ESPN: NA; CBS: 1 per cent): The Mets have another pitching prospect on the way, and Dynasty league owners should be aware of him. The team’s No. 4 prospect as per MetsMerizedOnline.com, Woods-Richardson is just 18 yet is already at Class-A. He’s currently on a serious roll — 2.20 ERA over the last seven starts — improving his hit rate after a rough go early on. Woods-Richardson’s K rate has slipped from Rookie Ball, but at 10.85/9 is still quite robust. This kid needs to be tracked.

Quick Hits

• San Francisco outfield prospect Bryce Johnson was recently promoted to Double-A, and sure hit the ground running. He’s reached base in 13 straight games, raising his BA to .295 in the process. The Giants’ sixth rounder in 2017 has some serious wheels.
• Domingo German seemed to hit a bit of a snag towards the end of May, but he’s looked really strong in his last two outings, including six shutout innings with seven punchouts and zero walks on Friday. His K rate keeps dipping, but pitching to contact is really working for him this season.
• In their first home game since the passing of Tyler Skaggs, the Angels tossed a combined no-hitter on Friday. Taylor Cole was the opener, hurling two perfect frames with two Ks, giving him four scoreless outings over the last five games. He’s been much easier to hit this year, but is trending towards a good second half.
• Behind J.T. Realmuto and Yasmani Grandal, guess which catcher has the highest WARP? How about Cleveland’s Roberto Perez? His extra-base sock has gone through the roof this season.
• Eric Sogard snapped a slump with two hits on Friday as he continues a breakout season. For a leadoff man, he’s not a major base stealing threat, but knows how to pick his spots (9-for-9 since the beginning of 2018).
• Mike Fiers is on a serious roll for the A’s, tossing six straight outings with two earned runs or fewer allowed. The veteran has stayed healthy this year, and is on pace for a career high in starts and innings. He’s emerged as the team’s ace with Frankie Montas suspended.
• Apparently, whether Odubel Herrera returns to the Phillies next season or not will solely be a baseball decision, according to team President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail. Still, it’s hard to imagine Herrera ever donning a Phillies’ uni again after his suspension for domestic abuse.
• Tommy Pham homered on Friday as part of his third straight multi-hit game. His extra-base pop is down quite a bit this season, so it’s been a great sign to see him with three extra-base knocks over the last two games.
• Mallex Smith‘s eight-game hit streak was snapped Friday. It’s nice to see him hitting his best this month, but man, could he use a few more walks in there. A .300 OBP from your leadoff hitter isn’t going to cut it.

RotoRob Tune of the Day

Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham comprised Led Zeppelin, the band that drove the sound that ultimately led to heavy metal. In 1976, the band released its first live album, which is the soundtrack to the film of the same name: The Song Remains the Same. From that album comes “Rock and Roll,” one of the few tracks that every member was involved in writing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqwZ2C5LX_E

Now it’s your turn. Let us know in the comments below who your favourite Fantasy baseball pickup of the week is.