Fantasy baseball: 5 pitchers worth adding to replace Max Scherzer on your roster

Don’t panic!

Things were just going too well for the Mets, weren’t they?

A nice cushion atop the National League East, one of the best rotations in baseball and an offense to match. Something, inevitably, would have to give. Well, that something just happened to be Max Scherzer’s oblique.

On Thursday, New York announced Scherzer would be shelved for 6-8 weeks after he pulled himself from Wednesday’s game following an injury on the mound. Not even 24 hours later, a nightmare scenario emerged: the Mets would now be without Max for two months—all while already down Jacob deGrom and Tylor Megill.

It’s especially tough news for fantasy managers who could easily pencil in Scherzer for a quality start with 8+ strikeouts every five days. Now that the NL Cy Young favorite is going on the injured list, here’s a look at some pitchers on the waiver wires who should help in the interim.

There might not be any replacing Max, but these guys can make his absence a little easier to manager.

All roster info via FantasyPros.

Baltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Baltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox sports betting odds and lines, with MLB betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Baltimore Orioles (0-1) continue their series against the division rival Boston Red Sox (1-0) Saturday at Fenway Park for a 1:35 p.m. ET first pitch. We analyze the Orioles-Red Sox MLB betting odds and lines, with betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Orioles at Red Sox: Projected starting pitchers

RHP Alex Cobb vs. LHP Martin Perez

Cobb was limited to just three starts with the Orioles in 2019, posting an 0-2 record, 10.95 ERA and 1.86 WHIP across only 12 1/3 innings before suffering what was called a lumbar strain. He later ended up having surgery for a hip impingement.

  • Cobb didn’t face the Red Sox in 2019, but he was 1-2 with a 5.82 ERA and .361 opponent batting average across 17 innings over three starts vs. Boston in 2018.
  • Cobb is winless in his past six appearances in the month of April, last winning in the season’s opening month on April 26, 2017 as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays in Baltimore against his current team.

Perez will make his first start as a member of the Red Sox after coming over in the offseason after one year with the Minnesota Twins. His first seven seasons in the majors were with the Texas Rangers.

  • The southpaw picked up 10 victories last season in 17 decisions, posting a 5.12 ERA and subpar 1.52 WHIP across 29 starts and three relief appearances for the Twins.
  • The Venezuelan won his only start at Fenway Park last season for the Twins. He was also 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA and six strikeouts over 12 innings in two outings against the O’s.

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Orioles at Red Sox: Key injuries

(List of injuries around the league)

Orioles

  • OF Trey Mancini had a malignant tumor removed from his colon, and is expected to miss the 60-game season. He starts out on the 45-day injured list.

Red Sox

  • 2B Dustin Pedroia is on the 45-day injured list, as he had a setback during his left knee injury rehab.

Orioles at Red Sox: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Saturday at 6 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Red Sox 9, Orioles 6

Moneyline (ML)

The RED SOX (-209) are heavy chalk against the Orioles (+185), who simply cannot be trusted. Boston improved to 15-6 in its past 21 at home vs. Baltimore after Friday’s series-opening 13-2 rout. The Red Sox are 36-16 in their last 52 meetings vs. the Orioles.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Red Sox (-209) to win straight up nets a return of just $4.78.

Run line/Against the spread (ATS)

The RED SOX (-1.5, -110) are a much better value on the run line than eating all of that chalk on the moneyline. Even with OF Mookie Betts now playing his baseball in Los Angeles with the Dodgers, the Red Sox have more than enough firepower to put away the Orioles in the ultra-competitive AL East. Boston’s bats were certainly alive and well in Game 1.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 10.5 (-110) is the play here. Cobb could be rather rusty while making his first start since late April 2019, and Perez is always very hittable and yields plenty of runs. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a run total well into the double digits.

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