We’ve made it to the All-Star Break! Though it’s labeled as the halfway point of the season, separating the first half and second half, it’s closer to a 60% mark, with only 40% of the campaign remaining. Hopefully, at least some of your fantasy teams are in contention. Of course there will be some, like a few of mine, that have fallen completely out of the picture and have no hope of earning a championship. That doesn’t mean we quit! While others may shift their focus to fantasy football, which looms just around the corner, stay the course! After this weekend, we get a nice little mid-week break for a few days – just enough time to recharge the batteries and get after it for the remainder of the year. Let’s scour the FAAB markets to find ways to improve our squads!
As a reminder, we’re focusing on players who are between 20-25% rostered in most 12-team leagues and/or 25-50% rostered in 15-teamers. Every league is different, so we won’t be labeling player bids with any sort of recommended dollar amount but instead will use a four-tier investment rating system, ranging from a minimal spend to a potential difference-maker (or LEAGUE-WINNER, if you will).
Investment Rating System
The only schedule note for the weekend after the All-Star Break is that the Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers will get an extra day of rest on Friday before battling in a two-game series on Saturday and Sunday. Plan accordingly.
TWO GAMES: MIN, MIL
Batters
Outfielders
Lawrence Butler ($$$): We’ve been waiting for this for a while and it might finally be here – the Lawrence Butler breakout? Well, I’m optimistic. He’s got two home runs and two stolen bases in his last seven appearances and he should get all the plate appearances he can handle for the terrible Oakland A’s.
Adam Duvall ($$$): He’s one of those guys that I trust to hit the ball every time he comes to the plate. I don’t know what it is about him, but I just have this inherent sense that he’s going to demolish the baseball. Though his season average is below the Mendoza Line, he’s hit the ball extremely well on the Braves’ most recent road trip and could see increased playing time if he stays hot after the All-Star Break. Be wary though. If Atlanta makes a deadline move it will likely be for an outfielder and would cut into Duvall’s time.
MJ Melendez ($$): Melendez has gotten hot recently and is in the middle of a volatile Kansas City lineup. I’m willing to take a shot on a guy who makes some extremely hard contact, just not as often as we’d like him to.
Matt Wallner ($$): He really wants to stay with the Twins and not be optioned back to AAA, so he’s doing all he can to earn a spot. He’s gone 7-for-14 in his last few games and is hammering the ball. Jump on the train before it leaves the station.
Sam Hilliard ($): Back with the Rockies now, he’s finally getting some playing time. It would be very Colorado for Hilliard to play over the young guns out in the Rocky Mountain State for the second half of a pointless season. Regular at-bats could do Hilliard wonders. We’ll have to wait and see.
Joshua Palacios ($): He’s been an everyday player for the Pirates over the past few weeks and should get even more time moving forward, especially if the Buccos sell at the trade deadline. Batting .227 with just a .167 BABIP, Palacios is due for positive regression and could see it in the second half.
Infielders
Rece Hinds ($$$$): Are we completely sure that Aristides Aquino didn’t just change his name and come back to the majors under the pseudonym “Rece Hinds” or what? With three home runs and two stolen bases in his first five games, he’s been the hottest name in Cincinnati over the past few weeks and that’s with the Bengals getting started too! Hinds is a needle-mover for me. Over his past season and a half of minor-league ball, Hinds hit 36 home runs and stole 32 bases. I’m very in. Currently only shortstop eligible, he’ll likely gain outfield eligibility in the coming week or so.
Xavier Edwards ($$): Edwards continues to get at-bats in Miami after the Marlins DFA’d Tim Anderson. With above-average speed and a solid hit tool, Edwards should be able to stay in the top half of the Marlins’ lineup and generate decent counting stats in the second half.
Jorge Polanco ($$): Back from an injury and looking like he might be ready for a resurgence, Polanco has already raised his average 10 points since returning from the IL. We’ve seen him post All-Star caliber numbers before and his price has never been lower.
Gio Urshela ($): Boring veteran getting everyday at-bats and hitting close to .350 over the past week? He’s exactly the kind of add to keep you atop the standings in average and counting stats. Sometimes, plain vanilla is the right thing to order.
Jose Iglesias ($): Another boring veteran who is good for average and speed categories. The Mets lack hitting depth, so Iglesias will likely get at least semi-regular playing time unless they make a deadline move.
Catchers/UT
Alejandro Kirk ($): Kirk is 8-for-15 in his last seven games entering the weekend, just in time for the trade deadline. Maybe Toronto keeps him and ships out others to clear a path for him to get more at-bats at catcher or designated hitter. That would be best-case scenario for fantasy managers here.
Eric Haase ($): Haase is still getting at-bats in Milwaukee, but for how much longer? Probably not after Gary Sánchez gets back, but who knows. He has played outfield before so maybe…
Pitchers
Starting Pitchers
Jeffrey Springs ($$$): Of the pitchers coming back from injury near the All-Star Break, Springs seems like one of the closest to appearing in a game. He tossed his second consecutive rehab start of at least four innings and is scheduled to be back around late July. Though he may be built up slowly, Springs has the potential to be a top-25 pitcher the rest of the way if he’s activated soon.
Yilber Diaz ($$): Diaz will get a chance to throw innings with Jordan Montgomery and Merrill Kelly both still on the mend. Diaz looked pretty darn good in his debut and will have a second start under his belt before FAAB runs on Sunday. The only concerns I see are the limits that a two-pitch mix puts on him. He’s not likely to get a chance to go three times through a lineup on a lot of occasions because he only throws a fastball and slider. He has a show-me curveball, but only threw it 8% of the time in his debut.
Keider Montero ($): The Detroit Tigers‘ pitching staff has been astonishingly good this year, with the continued breakout of Tarik Skull and the resurgence of Jack Flaherty leading the way. Despite getting touched up by the Dodgers on Saturday, Montero has a decent chance to hang onto a starting rotation spot in the second half, especially with the way that Kenta Maeda has struggled.
Ryne Nelson ($): Nelson has gotten absolutely blown up four times this season. But his other 11 starts have been pretty good. He’s not a guy I would recommend for teams that are vying for first place because of the risk factor, but for those who are looking to make a late push he’s definitely a guy to take a chance on.
José Buttó ($): Butto is back in the majors and is now getting high leverage bullpen work instead of starting. Of his last three appearances, two have come in the eighth inning of a close game. He’s earned two wins and save in those three outings. Dumb luck? Probably. But he’s getting the job done for the Mets. Whether he retains a high leverage bullpen role or moves into the starting rotation for the second half, he’s still worthy of a roster spot.
Relief Pitchers
Kevin Ginkel ($$): Due to his contract and Arizona’s record, Paul Sewald almost has to be moved at the trade deadline, clearing the way for Ginkel to take over ninth-inning duties for the Diamondbacks. It’s speculation for now, but don’t be surprised to see Ginkel rack up double-digit saves the rest of the season. He’s allowed just 11 earned runs and posted a strikeout per inning pitched so far this season. He could be a factor in the final few months for fantasy managers.
Génesis Cabrera ($): With the Toronto Blue Jays appearing to be sellers at the trade deadline, the Blue Jays could look to deal Chad Green at the deadline and Génesis Cabrera (who earned a save this past week) could move into the ninth-inning role. This is a speculative add, but saves are scarce enough to take a cheap lottery ticket on Cabrera here.
Daniel Hudson ($$): We’ve done this song and dance before. Hudson is pitching well in the Dodgers bullpen, where he’ll always have a chance at wins and saves strictly because of how good the Dodgers are.
Ben Joyce ($): Five consecutive scoreless innings while firing 104.5 MPH? Okay, I’ll bite.