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NL West Fantasy News: D-backs tab Brito, Owings to replace A.J. Pollock
Our divisional notes will be published on Mondays and Fridays all season.
Arizona Diamondbacks
In case you missed it, CF A.J. Pollock might be done for the season due to a fractured right elbow. But since Pollock hopes to return this year, his fantasy owners should hold onto him. Losing Pollock is a huge blow, but you can't give up on Opening Day, right?
The D-backs' plan is for Socrates Brito to play center field against righthanders, with Chris Owings complementing him versus lefties. Brito has averaged 9.5 homers with 29 stolen bases in the minors over the last two seasons, and even though he's currently a platoon guy who hasn't played above Double-A, he's worth a look (if still available, of course) in deeper mixed leagues. If Yasmany Tomas flops again - which is entirely possible - Brito would probably assume an everyday role.
Brito is owned in just 2.1 percent of FOXSports.com leagues. If you missed out on him already, don't fret. He's got some power and plenty of speed, but he's not Willie Mays.
With Owings playing center field part-time, the middle infield will feature Nick Ahmed at shortstop and leadoff hitter Jean Segura at second base. Segura isn't a great real-life option at the top of the order, but he'll score plenty of runs and steal some bases, so he's a top-15 fantasy SS.
Colorado Rockies
Jake McGee (owned in 43.3 percent of FOXSports.com leagues) is officially the Rockies' closer.
As much as we all loved Trevor Story's spring, his reign as the Rockies' starting shortstop might not last too long. Domestic violence charges against Jose Reyes have been dropped, and even though Reyes might still get suspended, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred probably won't drop the hammer on Reyes due to his clean legal status. Enjoy the Story story while it lasts, but don't be shocked if he gets demoted in a month.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers will begin the season with C Yasmani Grandal (forearm) and 2B Howie Kendrick (wrist) on the DL. Both hope to return in time for the team's April 12 home opener.
Speaking of injuries, the Dodgers have approximately 47 pitchers on the disabled list, so Ross Stripling will be the fifth starter. The 26-year-old rookie, who will start at San Francisco on Friday, will keep a seat warm for Mike Bolsinger, or Hyun-Jin, Ryu, or Julio Urias, or ...
San Diego Padres
Hulking OF Jabari Blash has made the Padres' Opening Day roster. Blash will be a reserve for now, but it's not like Melvin Upton Jr. and Jon Jay are immovable objects in the lineup. Speedy Travis Janikowski is also a reserve outfielder for the Padres, and he might be a preferable option to Blash in NL-only leagues. Janikowski stole 32 bases in 97 games as a minor leaguer last season, and swiped 71 bags in 2013.
Colin Rea won the fifth spot in the Padres' rotation.
San Francisco Giants
Here's an interesting article about the personality that Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto will add to the Giants' rotation. We're done freaking out about Samardzija's 6.00 spring ERA, right?
Buster Posey missed the spring finale due to an illness. Manager Bruce Bochy said that he hopes Posey will be ready to play Monday at Milwaukee, but those in daily lineup leagues should keep a close eye on Posey's status as the 2:10 p.m. ET first pitch approaches.
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