With only a handful of FAAB runs remaining in the season, there’s not much time left to make that impact signing that could change the fate of your fantasy outcome. Analyze your team, identify the best place to gain points and attack that category with fervor, doing your best to make up ground on your opponents or extend your lead as far as possible for the stretch run. Keep in mind that ratios may be the best way to attack the standings. Ratios are the only categories that your opponents can get worse as you get better, making them that much more valuable. Let’s find the guys that will put your team over the top.
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, BOS, COL, CWS, DET, HOU, KC, MIA, PHI, SDP, STL, TOR
Batters
Outfielders
Jesse Winker ($$$): Winker mashed a walk-off home run against the Orioles earlier this week, which could wake up his bat and spur a little uptick in production. Winker has been relegated to a platoon since joining the Mets but could see an increase in playing time over Starling Marte and/or Harrison Bader if he stays hot.
Jonny DeLuca ($$): A cheap source of stolen bases, DeLuca has swiped five bags over the past 14 days. He hasn’t hit for power lately and has only knocked eight out of the park this year. When he’s on the base paths, he’s a menace, but getting there has been a question. With only a .179 batting average and .182 xAVG, DeLuca will need to improve his hitting to be fantasy-relevant.
Jhonkensy Noel ($$): Noel has hammered four home runs in his last 30 at-bats, showcasing the true raw power that the prospect possesses. His power plays in any ballpark, and it certainly helps that Progressive Field has been a markedly improved hitter’s park this season. With the Guardians slated to face two lefties this week, Noel should definitely start in those games and likely get opportunities against right-handed starters as well.
Rob Refsnyder ($): With Tyler O’Neill on the shelf with a minor injury, Refsnyder will likely take everyday reps in left field until TON returns. He mashes lefties and is okay against righties, so he’s not an ideal bat with the Red Sox only facing one left-handed starter this week, but he’ll do.
David Peralta ($): He’s still mashing the baseball for the Padres, playing as the strong side of a platoon in right field. He’s 13-for-38 from the plate in his last handful of games and even managed to swipe a bag earlier this week. He’s a veteran bat that is willing this Padres team into the playoffs and could do the same for your fantasy squad.
Infielders
Amed Rosario ($$$): Claimed by the Reds off waivers from the Dodgers, Rosario not only lines up for more playing time but will also be let loose on the base paths as Cincinnati runs much more aggressively than their National League counterparts. Assuming Rosario can maintain his .315 OBP for the rest of the season, he’ll be a great source of stolen bases in a runner-friendly lineup.
Gavin Sheets ($$): Sheets continues to hit and continues to be largely ignored in most 15-team fantasy formats. The White Sox first baseman (and outfielder) is 16-for-39 over the last two weeks, with a home run and eight RBI. Though the White Sox lineup is a gross thing to look at, Sheets is still finding ways to fill the stat sheet. Grab him for cheap in all 15-team formats.
Otto Lopez ($$): A cheap source of speed and batting average, Lopez is getting everyday playing time with the Miami Marlins and making the most of his opportunity.
Ernie Clement ($$): The journeyman infielder has seemingly found a home in the Toronto lineup where he’s getting everyday playing time for the first time in his career. Clement mashed three home runs this past week, including swatting a ball out of his eyes for a deep ball. He’s owned in most 15-team leagues, but worth rostering in most 12-team formats as well.
This pitch was at Ernie Clement's eyes.
He hit it 380 feet for a HR. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/0QJud9z18y
— MLB (@MLB) August 22, 2024
RamĂłn UrĂas ($): Urias is going to get playing time at third base for the Orioles moving forward, and with the Birds traveling to Coors Field this weekend, he’ll definitely be worth a bid. Urias has recorded a 27.6% hard contact rate and is striking out at only a 17.9% rate. If he continues to make solid, consistent contact at the bottom of the Orioles’ lineup, he’ll be worth a roster spot.
Catchers/UT
Ben Rice ($$): Rice is nearly locked into the lion’s share of at-bats at first base for the New York Yankees, and he’s catcher-eligible on most sites. DJ Lemahieu is the Yankees’ only true alternative at the position, at least at the time being. As a lefty bat in Yankee Stadium, he’s worth rostering in all two-catcher formats.
Carson Kelly ($): Now with the Texas Rangers, Kelly is a replacement-level catcher for two-catcher leagues only. He’s getting a decent split of the at-bats in Texas and  is a competent hitter. A glowing endorsement, I know, but that’s where we’re at with catchers at this point.
Eloy JimĂ©nez ($): A utility-only addition, Jimenez started out hot after his move to Baltimore but has since cooled significantly. The Orioles only face one lefty this week, but they are headed to Coors Field for the weekend, making Jimenez’s power a consideration.
Pitchers
Starting Pitchers
MartĂn PĂ©rez ($$$): Perez has been on fire since joining the Padres but still isn’t rostered in 100% of 15-team leagues. It seems like the name and his history are scaring people away, but as I noted last week, Perez has changed his approach since joining San Diego. He’s leading hard with the curveball, leaning away from the sinker. And it’s working. Though the Twins got to him for three runs in 4.2 innings last time out, Perez will get the Rays next time who have struggled against LHP all season.
Drew Rasmussen ($$): The Tampa Bay Rays have been pitching Drew Rasmussen like a long reliever so far this season, easing him back from his injury an inning or two at a time. Eventually, they might allow him to test his limits and extend his pitch count slightly. For as good as he’s been so far this season, I want to have him on my roster when his leash gets longer.
Jon Gray ($$): Gray could potentially move into the rotation for the rest of the year if the Rangers decide to move on from Dane Dunning (and not push Jacob DeGrom in his recovery). Gray has been sneaky good, or at least serviceable, as a hybrid bullpen arm so far this season with a sub-4.00 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. With a start scheduled for Friday against the Oakland Athletics, Gray could be the kind of guy who pops in September because he just has fewer innings on his arm than he’s accustomed to at this point of the season.
Jack Leiter ($$): Leiter got touched up in his short stint in the MLB, allowing 17 earned runs in just over nine innings pitched. However, Leiter is scheduled to face the White Sox on Wednesday and he’s recorded a K/9 rate over 12.00 in AAA this year. It stands to reason that – since the White Sox roster currently looks like a AAA squad – Leiter should be able to ring up quite a few strikeouts in his return to the big leagues. Jokes aside, he’s a risk worth taking considering his pedigree, draft capital and hype coming into the season. It could be the same kind of turnaround we saw from Jackson Holliday.
Brant Hurter ($): The Tigers’ left-handed rookie will take the mound for a start on the road against the White Sox on Monday and gets a second start (assuming he holds his rotation spot) against the Red Sox Saturday. With three-straight solid appearances, I’m ready to take a chance on Hurter to pitch well against the White Sox and well enough against Boston.
Aaron Civale ($): He’s put up some solid stat lines in each of his last two appearances, but it seems like he has been more lucky than good. He hasn’t had great swing-and-miss stuff and hasn’t really changed up his approach at all. I don’t trust him to sustain the performance level, but there are worse risks to take this time of year.
Relief Pitchers
Edwin Uceta AND Manuel RodrĂguez ($$$): Let’s be real, nobody knows how Kevin Cash is going to deploy his bullpen on a nightly basis. I’m not even sure Kevin Cash knows how he will deploy his bullpen before the game begins. Uceta and Rodriguez have both been highly effective relievers, and each registered a save during the past week. Although it’s unorthodox, perhaps it’s best to snag both relief pitchers on waivers and try to pin down all of the Rays’ saves instead of playing the guessing game. Is it kind of a cop-out from an analysis standpoint? Maybe, but it could also be extremely effective if they maintain their current ratios and continue to make up a two-man closer committee in Tampa.
Porter Hodge ($$): It’s finally time to jettison HĂ©ctor Neris into the abyss and pick up Hodge in any and all formats. Hodge has managed a 31.0% strikeout rate and a 31.1% CSW so far this season and has earned his shot at the Cubs’ closer role. His only true competition for the ninth inning is Jorge LĂłpez, but Hodge should get the lion’s share of opportunities the rest of the way.
Craig Kimbrel ($): Buy the dip. Seranthony DomĂnguez just gave up walk off home runs in two out of three games against the Mets and the Orioles’ fans are clamoring for someone to actually pitch well in the ninth inning. They’ve given up on Kimbrel a few times this season, but he always seems to come crawling back into the ninth-inning role. He’s one of the best closers of all time – or at least he has a whole stinking lot of saves – and is one of the streakiest pitchers we’ve seen all season. He could get hot in September and go back to being the closer for one of the best teams in baseball.
Jason Adam ($): He’s been lights out since coming to the Padres, allowing just six baserunners in nine innings pitched since being acquired at the trade deadline. He hasn’t allowed an earned run and has rung up 13 strikeouts since moving west. He might not get saves, buried in the bullpen behind Robert Suarez and Tanner Scott, but the ratios and strikeouts are more than enough to justify a bid.
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