With Sheets Out, There are Still Solid Options Available

July 18, 2007 @ 16:00:00

By Ryan R. Bonini
Edited by Ryan Dodson

Admit it. You knew it was coming. You just didn't know when or how. However, you just knew at some point Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Ben Sheets would be headed to the disabled list.

After starting the season piling up 10 wins with a 3.39 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 90 strikeouts Sheets lived up to his injury billing and was placed on the DL Monday, July 16. He will miss at least the next four to six weeks after suffering a partial tear in the tissue surrounding the tendon in his right middle finger.

Over the course of the next 10 to 14 days, he will require complete rest before he will be able to begin throwing with a splint. To make matters even worse, this is Sheets we are talking about so there's no guarantee fantasy owners of him will be able to depend on his services a month and a half from now. While his injury is not believed to be serious, this is the same type of injury that has kept Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joel Zumaya out for several months.

Sheets and the Injury Bug

Even if you're a casual baseball fan, chances are pretty strong you've heard the injury label with Sheets used more than once.

Entering the season, those that took a flier on Sheets could almost bank on him finding his way to the disabled list. Why? History has a way of repeating itself when it comes to injuries and Sheets had plenty of history to work with.

In 2006, he was limited to a career-low 17 starts and just 106 innings because of shoulder problems.

In 2005, he finished the season on the disabled list due to a tear to his right latissimus dorsi muscle (back).

In 2004, he had successful surgery in October to repair a lumbar disk herniation.

In 2001, his rookie campaign, he also spent time on the disabled list due to tendonitis in the rotator cuff of his right shoulder.

Replacing Sheets

With Sheets out of action, the Brewers have the luxury of moving Yovani Gallardo back into the starting rotation. Gallardo was previously working in the rotation while Chris Capuano was out of action. However, Capuano's return forced the team to put Gallardo into the bullpen.

So far this season, Gallardo has started three games with a 1-1 record. Most importantly though is his K-rate. He has taken down 27 batters in 28.2 innings pitched! Not too shabby for this former second-round pick in 2004, who has a 2.83 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. If he is still available in your league - he is available in roughly 84 percent of leagues polled currently - jump on him immediately while sliding Sheets to your bench or disabled list spot.

As mentioned, Gallardo already has spent time in the starting rotation so bouncing back in shouldn't be too big of a change for him. With the chance to land another five starts or more while Sheets is on the pine, Gallardo has another chance to prove he belongs in the Brewers' starting rotation and in your fantasy lineup.

If Gallardo has already been snared in your league by a savvy owner, another option to consider is Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Andrew Miller. With a starting spot within the Tigers' rotation solidified, Miller could help you make up for the lost strikeouts Sheets was providing.

Miller is 4-3 with a 3.35 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and he has 31 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings. Miller, available in roughly 94 percent of leagues we polled, can also help chip in some wins on the strong Tigers' team. With a decent ERA and K-rate, he provides some relief if you were previously relying on Sheets on a weekly basis.

What Fantasy Owners Should Do Moving Forward

Obviously, the first option is tucking Sheets away on your team's disabled list or bench while watching this situation play out. Provided he's able to begin throwing with the splint in about two weeks could go a long way in telling us early on whether or not this could be a long-term injury.

Even with the potential that Sheets could miss the next six weeks or longer, one should not simply part ways with him just yet. He has done too well this season and still has too much upside potential to simply abandon ship right now.

One has to consider Sheets may not have his full arsenal of pitches at his disposal once he returns; his value down the stretch should be considered somewhat murky at this time because there are simply too many unknown variables that will play a factor into this. As a result, seeing him perform well in rehab starts should be considered a must before tossing him back into your lineup immediately upon his return from the disabled list.

Have patience. Chances are high you have already received more return on your investment in Sheets than you anticipated you would going into the season. Now is the time to deal with the frustrations many used as the reason to avoid him on draft day. Provided his health returns and his pitching isn't affected, Sheets could return to provide the late season spark you'll be looking for with a fresh arm to work with.

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Ryan R. Bonini

Founding KFFL in 1996, Bonini serves as KFFL's General Manager and VP of technology for KFFL's parent company, USA TODAY SPORTS Media Group. Bonini was named the 2009 Fantasy Football Writer of the Year by the FSWA and received honors with the Best Fantasy Football Series in '10, making him the first two-time FSWA football award winner.

His work has been found in USA Today, Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports, CBS Sports, NFL.com, and many others. He has also been featured on numerous radio programs around the country. Bonini is a member of the PFWA, FSWA and FSTA.

Follow Ryan on Twitter @ryanbonini

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