Shaw on MLB: 5 fantasy developments

The main thing for fantasy managers this early in the season is not to overreact to a small sample of games.

On the other hand, there are certain fantasy developments that with quick action fantasy managers can reap the benefits on.

The Red Sox bullpen is a mess

If there was a team that needed a hot start to the season it was the Boston Red Sox.

They suffered a historic collapse last season that led to a complete overhaul in management during the off-season.

While there were many issues that plagued Boston down the stretch, the bullpen was not a source of relief. After a solid 3.71 ERA in the sixth inning or later through the first five months of the season, it soared to 5.13 in September.

The Red Sox then made some moves this off-season, letting Jonathan Papelbon sign with the Philadelphia Phillies, and acquiring Mark Melancon from the Houston Astros and Andrew Bailey in a trade with the Oakland Athletics.

In the season opener, Melancon and Alfredo Aceves surrendered three hits while getting one out en route to a loss in the ninth inning. Then on Sunday, Aceves blew a save, surrendering three hits and three runs without recording a single out. Three innings later, Melancon surrendered three runs and three hits of his own for a blown save and his second loss of the season.

Bobby Valentine is now considering putting Daniel Bard back in the bullpen before he even received his first start. With Bailey out at least to the all-star break due to an injured thumb, there is no telling what’s in store for the Red Sox bullpen.

The Tigers’ offence is scary

So far the Prince Fielder addition is looking pretty good as the Detroit Tigers have posted 25 runs through the first three games.

While everyone focuses the attention on the sluggers in the middle of the order, consider that the Tigers lineup also has some depth with a blend of youth.

Leadoff hitter Austin Jackson is getting on base, so far scoring five runs with a .571 average. 27-year-old Brennan Boesch boasts 30 home runs over the last two seasons and offers a left-handed bat early in the order. Delmon Young bats after Miguel Cabrera and Fielder and he hit .298 with 112 RBI as recently as 2010.

Alex Avila is an all-star with two round-trippers already this season after belting 19 last year. In the lower third of the lineup, Jhonny Peralta had 21 home runs with a .299 average last season, and both Andy Dirks and Ryan Raburn carry some pop as well.

There are no easy outs in the Tigers lineup and the Red Sox found this out the hard way this weekend.

David Wright is back

You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who predicted that the New York Mets would sweep the Atlanta Braves to open the season, but the team in Flushing finally offered some positive headlines for the local tabloids.

While there are certainly some intriguing young bats in the Mets lineup including Daniel Murphy and Lucas Duda, the top dog on the team remains David Wright.

Fresh off his worst professional season, Wright recovered from a back injury in spring training and is now raking. The average now stands at .667, as Wright boasts three RBI and six hits.

Once considered an elite talent, Wright is still just 29-years-old and capable of returning to an elite level of play.

The Twins offence is atrocious

A key strategy in fantasy baseball is targeting spot starters getting the nod against bad offenses.

For several years fantasy managers have relied on this strategy by picking up an assortment of pitchers against the San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Now that the Royals are a legitimate offence and the Pirates are showing life, fantasy managers have to seek other options. Look no further than the Minnesota Twins.

The Twins mustered just five runs against three unheralded hurlers in the Baltimore Orioles rotation. Leadoff hitter Denard Span has yet to score a run this season. The 38-year-old Jamey Carroll has yet to get a hit in 11 at bats. Former MVP Joe Mauer has a single in 10 at bats.

The good news is that the team’s biggest question mark, Justin Morneau, has been the lone spot of consistency with at least a hit in all three games. On the other hand, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Twins are not an offense to fear this season.

The Cardinals offence will be fine

While the Los Angeles Angels and Albert Pujols are 1-2 this season, the St. Louis Cardinals have improved to 3-1.

Carlos Beltran seems to be rejuvenated in St. Louis. After playing the last seven seasons in pitcher’s parks, Beltran should prosper in St. Louis. So far, he has made himself at home on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers and Miami Marlins.

With three hits including his second home run of the season on Sunday, Beltran is now batting .389. He even picked up a stolen base against the Brewers after nabbing just four all of last season.

Beltran is certainly not the same five-tool talent we remember from his prime, but similar to Lance Berkman last season, a move to a hitter’s park can rejuvenate the veteran and fantasy managers could find themselves with 30 home runs and solid run production assuming Beltran can avoid the injury bug.