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Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander would have missed the start of the regular season if it began in March. Because of the coronavirus delay, Verlander will be ready to go if MLB has a season in 2020.
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Fantasy baseball: Pandemic delay has helped injured stars

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fantasy baseball: Pandemic delay has helped injured stars

So, where did we leave off?

The last we spoke of players to help our current fantasy baseball teams was more than two months ago. A pandemic can do that.

Major League Baseball owners have been trying to reach agreement with the players’ union to conduct a 2020 season, although it has been tough to watch the mitigation.

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We wonder if a 50-game season is worth the fantasy effort, but we’ll get into that another time.

Justin Smoak will get more at-bats this year because the National League will use the designated hitter during the 2020 60-game season.
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What we can talk about is how the coronavirus-induced “break” has helped some of the more highly sought after players who were injured before the season was to start in late March.

You no longer have to set these players off to the side, and rather slide them back up your draft sheet or make sure they are on your keeper list.

Former Detroit Tiger righty Justin Verlander had a lat strain in early March and underwent groin surgery soon after. He was ticketed to miss the beginning of the season, but he is now is on track to pitch from the get-go, posting a video of him pitching from a mound on Instagram. Make sure he is in the top five on your starting pitcher file, even though he’s 37 years old.

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Another ace, while much younger and with less of a track record, is Cleveland’s Mike Clevinger. The right-hander had knee surgery in mid-February and would have been out for close to two months. Clevinger went 13-4 with a 2.71 ERA in 2019, and he is slated as the Indians’ ace. He will come off the board quickly, and don’t be scared off by his injury history.

Atlanta left-hander Cole Hamels was scheduled to miss all of April because of a shoulder injury, but now he should be ready to pitch whenever the season starts. The 36-year-old still has some gas in the tank, so move him up on your list. Monitor his progress, but certainly don’t forget about him.

James Paxton of the New York Yankees was going to be out until at least mid-May because of lumbar surgery, but now should be good after getting himself stretched out. Although he is injury prone, his high strikeout rate puts him back in the top 25 starters. Pitching for the offensive-minded Yankees also enhances the southpaw’s stock.

If you get to use Shohei Ohtani on the mound in your fantasy league, don’t hesitate to get him on your team. The right-hander had Tommy John surgery in 2018, and he has been building his arm strength after rehab. He should be able to give you one start a week and be a very valuable two-way player.

Boston Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes would be a good addition to your fantasy baseball team. The right-hander gets a ton of strikeouts and could be in line for cheap victories.
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Owners with Cincinnati third baseman Eugenio Suarez on their roster were not sad to see the season delayed. The slugger had shoulder surgery in January because of a swimming pool accident and was expected to be out for the first few weeks of the season. He will now be at full strength when play begins, looking to do damage in a Reds lineup that now includes Mike Moustakas and Nick Castellanos.

Outfielder Giancarlo Stanton of the Yankees has a history of injuries, but also a history of prodigious power. He hit 59 homers in 2017 and 38 in 2018, then had only 59 at-bats last season because of various ailments. Seemingly now at full health, don’t pass up his potential to lead the league in homers and RBIs.

We can expect to see a big bounce back from Philadelphia’s Andrew McCutchen when the season gets under way, as the outfielder should be rehabbed from ACL surgery he had last June. He can help you across the board and might slip to you in the mid to late rounds. Grab him before someone else does.

Texas outfielder Willie Calhoun suffered a fractured jaw when he was hit by a pitch in spring training and was expected to miss significant time. He should be healthy when play starts and is poised for a breakout season. With Nomar Mazara dealt to the Chicago White Sox, Calhoun should thrive in the Rangers lineup.

Adalberto Mondesi had surgery in October to repair a torn labrum, and it was possible he wouldn’t be ready by Opening Day. Fast forward to now, the young, speedy Kansas City shortstop is a threat to lead the majors in stolen bases. He still has to work on his pitch selection, but he is a valuable asset to your team.

Seattle outfielder Mitch Haniger was not going to be ready to start the season, but he might be in the picture now. Haniger is recovering from surgeries on his groin and his back, but is progressing. He has a high ceiling and is worth a look in the mid rounds if he’s slated to be in the lineup. Don’t sleep on him.

First Published June 17, 2020, 10:06 p.m.

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Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander would have missed the start of the regular season if it began in March. Because of the coronavirus delay, Verlander will be ready to go if MLB has a season in 2020.  (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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