I had to pause when I saw the news about Freddie Freeman’s son, Maximus. Three years old and suffering through Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS), one of the scariest diseases out there (until it’s diagnosed and treated). I know from experience – I battled through Guillain Barre in 2021.
GBS is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to attack the nervous system, in most cases both motor nerves (movement) and sensory nerves (feeling and sensation). In extreme cases it can temporarily paralyze or shut down autonomic function, and can be potentially fatal if not identified and treated.
The memory of going through the loss of facilities, watching powerless as my body stopped doing what I told it to, before being diagnosed is pretty triggering. It was a humbling, harrowing experience to go from being a relatively healthy mid-30’s guy one day to sitting in an observation room in the hospital, unable to stand up and walk to the bathroom, slowly losing the ability to move my fingers enough to text my wife updates, wondering if I would ever be able to pick up my young kids again just a day or two later. I can’t imagine watching a three-year old go through it. Luckily, reports have indicated that young Maximus is beginning to get better and hopefully will make a full recovery in less than a year, like I did.
My recovery in large part was due to Intravenous Immunoglobin (IVIG) infusion therapy. Doctors infused me with donated plasma to help flush out and reset my immune system to stop it from attacking my nerves. After receiving treatments, I began an almost immediate – albeit slow – recovery. I am eternally grateful to the anonymous blood and plasma donors that provided the much needed healing that I required to battle GBS.
This week, instead of introducing the column with some quippy tie-in to fantasy baseball, I am asking readers to consider donating blood or plasma. Without it, my road to recovery would have been much more strenuous and difficult. Maybe it will make the difference for someone like me, or someone like Maximus.
Okay, back to the fun stuff.
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
SEVEN GAMES: ATL, CLE, CWS, DET, LAA, LAD, HOU, MIA, NYM, SFG, TBR, TEX
Batters
Outfielders
Tommy Edman ($$$$): Tommy Edman is the perfect risk for managers in need of stolen bases, runs and batting average over the final two months of the season. Edman has been recovering EXTREMELY slowly from October wrist surgery but appears ready to make his MLB debut in the coming weeks. The twist is that he’ll do it as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. If he’s able to outperform Gavin Lux and Kiké Hernández, he could see major playing time down the stretch. If he’s hitting at the top of the Dodgers order – in front of Ohtani, Freeman, Smith, Teoscar – I want him on every team. There’s risk here, obviously, since he hasn’t taken a major league at-bat in 10 months, but Edman could provide a massive late season lift if things fall right for the utility man.
Tyler Fitzgerald ($$$): Batting .313 with 10 home runs and seven stolen bases in just 140 plate appearances, Fitzgerald has found a home as the leadoff man in San Francisco. Recording a .424 wOBA despite poor strikeout and hard contact rates, it feels as if Fitzgerald is mostly smoke and mirrors at this point, but the production has been there so far. Beware the regression that’s bound to hit him in the coming weeks.
Miguel Vargas ($$$): Finally, Vargas has been released from the depths of the Dodgers bench and will be let loose as part of a rebuilding White Sox lineup. His first hit with his new team was a home run on Friday night, though he’s also registered five strikeouts in 12 at-bats. The regular at-bats on the Southside will force Vargas to sink or swim. For fantasy managers’ sake, let’s hope he brought floaties with him to the Great Lakes.
Kyle Stowers ($$): Since being traded to the Marlins, Stowers has been featured in the heart of the Miami order, but has struck out in 8 of his first 12 at-bats with his new team. The opportunity is there for the former Orioles prospect, and the power plays but you can’t hit home runs if you don’t make contact.
Michael Toglia ($): Power and altitude are a fun combination, and with an xAVG (.249) nearly 40 points higher than his batting average (.210), Toglia might be in for some better days in the closing months of the season.
Infielders
Juan Yepez ($$$$): Another former Cardinals outfield bat that is flourishing after a move to a different team, Juan Yepez has batted an astonishing .348 with a 29.0% hard contact rate and just a 16.0% strikeout rate. He has made the Nationals feel much better about dealing away Lane Thomas and Jesse Winker by filling in the top half of the lineup with solid contributions. With CI and OF eligibility, Yepez is virtually a must-add in all 12-team leagues or larger.
Jackson Holliday ($$$): This one should be the most obvious pickup of the week. Holliday was recalled by the Orioles after a long stint in the minors and immediately smashed a grand slam to Eutaw Street in his first game back in the majors. Despite hitting well below the Mendoza Line in his first MLB stint, Holliday has the tools to make an impact through the final few months of the season. Jorge Mateo’s and Jordan Westburg’s injuries pretty much lock in Holliday’s playing time the rest of the way.
Coby Mayo ($$$): Mayo looked confident at the plate in his debut, drawing a pair of walks but failed to record a hit. His ceiling is Austin Riley, but his floor might be higher than most realize. He batted .301 across 341 AAA plate appearances this season and posted a .285 ISO and .411 wOBA. He may be the best pure hitter that the Orioles have brought up this season, but the question surrounding him will be his ability to stick at the major league level. If Westburg or Mateo return this season, Baltimore may opt to send Mayo back down to Norfolk.
Josh Bell ($): With Christian Walker out for a significant time, the Diamondbacks wasted no time in finding a potential replacement by scooping up Josh Bell from the Miami Marlins, acquiring him for next to nothing. Bell rewarded the Snakes immediately, bashing home runs from each side of the plate in his team debut. Bell could benefit from a change of scenery, with a more dynamic lineup surrounding him he may end up with more counting stats and could be worth a pickup late in the year.
Catchers/UT
Dillon Dingler ($): For fantasy managers looking for at-bats over everything, Dingler might be the guy to scoop. Dingler could be the primary catcher in Detroit the rest of the season. Jake Rogers has not inspired anybody and Carson Kelly is gone.
Jose Herrera ($): Starter Gabriel Moreno missed one game with a minor injury earlier this week. He’s played over 80 games already this season, fifth among National League catchers, and with the Diamondbacks in the thick of the NL Wild Card chase, the Diamondbacks could potentially manage his workload in August, clearing some opportunity for Herrera.
Pitchers
Starting Pitchers
Hayden Birdsong ($$$$): I’m finally ready to commit to Birdsong after his last two starts were outstanding. A combined 20 strikeouts over his last 11 innings pitched have me convinced that he’s the next great pitcher in San Francisco. Though his fastball isn’t amazing, all three of his offspeed and breaking pitches have a swinging strike rate of at least 19.8% and CSW rates over 30%. He’s my top pitching add and if he’s available in my leagues, I’m ponying up.
Tyler Phillips ($$$): Phillips got roughed up by the Mariners on Friday, which might help deter bidders and lower his price in FAAB runs this weekend. He’s still worth a bid, after he displayed a massive ceiling in his complete game winner over Cleveland last week. Phillips doesn’t have massive strikeout numbers, but over 26.2 innings his sinker/sweeper combination has limited baserunners and induced soft contact at a strong rate. Pitching for the MLB-best Phillies doesn’t hurt his win potential either.
River Ryan ($$$): The highly-touted Dodgers’ pitching prospect looked excellent in his second career start against the Houston Astros and will pitch again Sunday against the Oakland Athletics where he’ll have another chance to ring up a bunch of strikeouts. With six different offerings, Ryan has massive appeal and will be a top waiver priority as long as he remains in the Dodgers’ rotation. With Beuhler and Yamamoto still in question for the coming weeks, he should have ample opportunity to earn a place in the rotation for the stretch run of the season.
Cody Bradford ($$): The Rangers are welcoming back Bradford to the rotation after an excellent start to the season and an extended IL stint. They jettisoned Michael Lorenzen to clear space for the young lefty and should provide plenty of opportunity for Bradford to shine the rest of the way.
Trevor Rogers ($): He looked awful in his first start with the Orioles, but he goes from one of the worst lineups in the league to one of the best behind him. If nothing else, his increased win potential gives him some appeal.
Relief Pitchers
Lucas Erceg ($$): Acquired by the Royals at the trade deadline, it’s quite possible that Erceg becomes the Royals’ closer down the stretch. Though James McArthur holds the ninth-inning duties at the moment, he hasn’t exactly been rock solid. If Erceg remains consistent in high-leverage situations in KC, he might take over in the ninth, making him the best speculative save add this week.
Ben Joyce ($): Are the Angels really going to turn over the closer duties to Hunter Strickland? And is that really going to work? Ben Joyce and his 175-mph fastball – okay, that’s a slight exaggeration, but still – are sitting right there ready to earn saves. He just needs a chance.
John Brebbia ($): If the White Sox ever win a game again, it will likely be Brebbia that gets a shot at closing the game out and earning the save. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Victor Vodnik ($): The Rockies are more likely to win games than the White Sox are… but Vodnik isn’t that much more appealing than Brebbia. If you’ve got a strong stomach and a need for saves, cook up a plate a pasta and pour on the Vodnik sauce.
I’m going to give plasma this week because of that opening. I’m touched by it.