Jacob Stallings DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Colorado Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings and outfielder Nick Martini will take a seat in Game 1 of their doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday afternoon. Fantasy managers should expect Stallings to return to the lineup for Game 2. Instead, Hunter Goodman will be behind the dish in the early game. Martini has typically taken a seat against left-handed pitching this season, and will follow suit in Game 1 as the Royals will send out Cole Ragans. As a result, Mickey Moniak will cover right field. However, Martini will return to the lineup for the second game this evening, as the Royals are scheduled to send right-hander Michael Lorenzen to the bump. The Rockies are best to fade in Game 1, facing Ragans, as he has struck out 42 batters and held a 3.58 ERA in 27 2/3 innings of work this season.

Colorado Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings and shortstop Kyle Farmer are not in the starting nine on Wednesday evening when they continue a series against the Kansas City Royals. Stallings has started in each of the previous two games and gone 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Instead, Hunter Goodman will move behind the dish, which will open the DH spot for Nick Martini. Farmer has been an everyday option for the Rockies through the early part of the campaign. Through 21 games, Farmer has posted a strong .284/.319/.418 slash line with nine doubles. However, this evening, Aaron Schunk will cover shortstop, and Adael Amador will cover the keystone. Both Stallings and Farmer will likely return to the starting nine on Thursday. The Rockies are worth targeting in DFS this evening as they will face Kansas City right-hander Michael Lorenzen, who carries a high 4.57 ERA.

Colorado Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings is expected to be given the "bulk" of the starts behind the dish. Patrick Lyons of Just BB Media noted that Drew Romo, Hunter Goodman, and Austin Nola will compete for the No. 2 role during camp. The 35-year-old enjoyed a career season during his debut campaign in Colorado last summer. Across 82 contests, the backstop held a .263/.357/.457 line and hit 17 doubles and nine home runs. However, he generated a weak .235 xBA and a .381 xSLG, which could suggest he may face some regression during the upcoming season. He also showed a strong eye at the plate with an above-average 9.8 percent walk rate. Given that Stallings will see most of the starts, he will have streaming appeal in deeper two-catcher formats playing in a favorable hitting park.