With just two weeks of baseball left, we’re running out of time to reach the top of the standings in our leagues. For a fair portion of managers, time may already have run out. But for the rest of us, that just means less competition on the FAAB waiver wire! Let’s make sure to make these late season additions count and try to keep the momentum going for the final two weeks of the season.
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: ARZ, ATL, CHC, CLE, HOU, LAA, LAD, MIN, MLW, NYM, PHI, PIT, STL, WSH
Batters
Outfielders
Jake Fraley ($$$): Fraley is one of the only guys who might be available in 15-team leagues that can generate stolen bases without sacrificing batting average. Over the past two weeks, he’s swiped four bags while still hitting near .300.
Byron Buxton ($$$): Buxton is back from the IL and hit a home run in his first game back since Aug. 12. Maybe there’s a redemption arc this September for the man who has burned nearly every fantasy manager on the face of the planet. We know his ceiling, but the floor is low too. But at this point in the season, he’s a risk worth taking.
Luke Raley ($$): It’s all about catching the guy who gets hot at the right time. Well, Raley has batted .289 with three home runs, two stolen bases, and 10 RBI since August 26. Now is the time to grab him and hope he shows the same kind of hot streak down the stretch that earned him a contract in Seattle this offseason.
Grant McCray ($$): McCray has quietly had a really nice debut in San Francisco with five home runs and three swiped bags in only 85 plate appearances, and he should continue to get regular plate appearances and has the tools to contribute in all five categories.
Pavin Smith ($): I think I’m contractually bound to mention a fringe roster guy who hits three home runs in a game. Smith hasn’t produced much outside of that triple-dong game but he is getting regular at-bats with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. still on the IL.
Infielders
Tyler Soderstrom ($$): Soderstrom returned from the IL and fantasy managers are hoping he can mash the ball the same way he did back earlier in the season, stringing together a nice three-week stretch with six home runs in July. If he can replicate that success in September he could pay off in a big way.
Jared Triolo ($$): Triolo is receiving everyday at-bats with the Pirates and has enough power in his bat to contribute, as long as he is making contact. He has 11 hits, including two home runs in his last 39 at-bats, but also has 14 strikeouts. Beware the swing-and-miss.
Jose Iglesias ($$): Another unsexy old bat that just keeps hitting. Iglesias will get playing time in the absence of Francisco Lindor, and the Mets – much like fantasy managers – will need him to produce.
Mauricio Dubón ($$): The contact king is back getting semi-regular at-bats and will do enough to prop up batting average, runs, and maybe even RBI over the final stretch of the year.
Miguel Rojas ($): It’s not pretty, but he gets on base in front of the Dodgers’ big bats. Most fantasy websites don’t list the age of the player so it won’t feel so bad starting him the final two weeks of this season.
Catchers/UT
Patrick Bailey ($$$): Somehow Bailey is still only around 80% rostered in 15-team, 2-catcher leagues. Based on the alternatives on the waiver wire in those leagues, he’s a no-brainer.
Niko Kavadas ($): The Angels’ prospect has shown some pop in his major league debut, including a 9-for-24 stretch with a pair of home runs over the last two weeks.
Javier Sanoja ($): A Miami outfielder who should receive position eligibility soon, Sanoja has shown a decent hit tool in his short stint in the majors and has some speed on the basepaths as well, though he has yet to attempt a steal.
Pitchers
Starting Pitchers
Jacob deGrom ($$$): Well, this is a blast from the past. deGrom allowed four hits on 60 pitches in 3.2 innings this past week, and he’s still got swing-and-miss stuff. His slider – which he threw 50% of the time – clocked in at 89 MPH and earned seven whiffs out of 31 pitches. Not bad for a guy who has missed a ton of time over the past few years. He may not ramp up to more than 80 pitches this season and could be shut down at literally any time, but it’s JACOB FREAKING DEGROM. Get him on your team.
Kumar Rocker ($$$$): Kumar Rocker is like young deGrom. And I think I want him more than his veteran teammate. 13 whiffs on his slider? A 23.0% swinging strike rate? Seven strikeouts in just four innings? Oh man. I do want him more than his veteran teammate.
Zebby Matthews ($$): Zebby is penciled in for two starts this week, facing the Guardians and Red Sox both on the road. Matthews has gotten knocked around a little bit in his past three starts but doesn’t allow walks and tends to limit damage by inducing weak contact.
Griffin Canning ($): Canning isn’t a guy to get excited about, but he’s got a pair of starts this week including one against the White Sox. If you need volume, he’s a good one to grab this week.
Brady Basso ($): Here’s a name to watch out in Oakland. Basso has posted back-to-back solid performances against weak lineups and is scheduled to face a Cubs squad that I’m not entirely afraid of. If he does well again, he should have a two-step in the final week of the season. I’ll take a chance here and hope he can come up with another solid performance this week.
Relief Pitchers
Luke Weaver ($$$): Remember when Luke Weaver was a starting pitcher that we loaded up opposing bats against? Well, now he’s saving games in Yankee Stadium. No idea how we got here, but this is our reality and as long as he’s in the role (or at least sharing it) he’s worth a more than modest bid.
Tyler Kinley ($$): Picking up the Colorado Rockies‘ closer is playing with fire. Might we get burned? Yes. Might we get saves? Also yes. Hold your nose and cross your fingers. He’s converted his last five opportunities without allowing an earned run.
Tyler Holton ($): A part of the Tigers’ closer-by-committee four-headed monster, Holton has converted three saves over the past two weeks. He will get high-leverage opportunities for Detroit, managers just have to hope it’s in the ninth.