Grilled meats! Fireworks! Baseball! There’s nothing more American. I hope that you and yours were able to celebrate the long weekend with a little bit of downtime, rest, relaxation and that you haven’t forgotten about waivers! Your FAAB bids this week could make the difference in the second half of the year. While your leaguemates are sleeping off a Fourth of July hangover, you could be getting the jump on them with well-informed FAAB bids and acquisitions. Let’s dive in to a handful of guys at each position that could help your team move forward in the second half of the season.
As a reminder, this column is designed to help guide those in Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB) leagues in making the best choices regarding who to target on the waiver wire. Specifically, 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).
Let’s dig in!
Investment Rating System
Ten teams close their first half with a full seven-game week, the most notable of which is the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds will host a full seven-game slate, welcoming the Marlins and Rockies to Great American Ballpark. With Colorado on the road all week, this will easily be the best hitting environment in play this stretch of games.
SEVEN GAMES: ARZ, BOS, CIN, CLE, CWS, LAA, MIA, SDP, TBR, TEX
Batters
Outfielders
Ramón Laureano ($$$): The Orioles outfield is one of the biggest log jams in baseball, and yet Laureano has planted himself in right field as the team’s starter. With the Baltimore bats beginning to heat up, it could be a good time to invest in the veteran journeyman. Once he starts slumping, he can be cast off again, but for now – with regular playing time – he’s seeing quite a bit of success.
Mike Yastrzemski ($$): Yaz continues to play every day in the Giants outfield and is voluming his way to a productive fantasy season. Batting leadoff against righties, he’s getting on base in front of Devers and company, with Matt Chapman slated to return this week as well. Even with the Giants scheduled to face two lefty starters, Yaz still gets run against them and should be productive, even if it’s from the lower half of the lineup.
Tyler Freeman ($$): Batting at the top of the Rockies’ order, Freeman has found ways to get on base and proven his chops as a base-stealer as well. With seven stolen bases across the last three weeks combined, Freeman makes for a solid rabbit that could also help in the batting average and runs scored departments.
Esteury Ruiz ($): Called up by the Dodgers this week, Ruiz is worth a flyer for teams in need of a speed boost. He won’t offer much else though.
Will Benson ($): Benson and the Red plays seven games at home this week against teams with bad pitching. He’ll face all right-handed starters and could put a couple balls in the bleachers at Great American Ballpark. The batting average will probably look bad, but if he can stroke a couple of homers, the stream will be worth it.
Infielders
Mark Vientos ($$$): Available in a handful of 15-team leagues and maybe a few more 12-teamers than that, Vientos struggled early in the season and then earned a trip to the IL. He’s back now and managers are hoping that he reverts to last season’s aggressive approach at the plate. The passive approach this season has resulted in more strikeouts and less hard contact. Just swing it, Mark.
Ha-Seong Kim ($$$): I believe that the Rays are going to find ways to put Ha-Seong Kim in their lineup. Tampa’s big offseason acquisition, Kim started the year on the injured list and has finally made his way back. He will need to pass either José Caballero or Taylor Walls to get playing time, but the Rays should find a spot for him on their infield. His first hit back from the injured list featured a 105 exit velocity. The bat is real, the speed is helpful, and he may even find some pop after hitting 11 home runs in 2024.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand ($$): Home games for the Reds mean home runs for the Reds (we hope). If anyone can leave the yard on multiple occasions this week, it’s power-hitting first baseman, CES. The matchups (MIA, COL) are great, and the timing couldn’t be better. Stream some power before the All-Star Break and maybe even keep him around if he does enough.
Hyeseong Kim ($$): Max Muncy went down with a lower-body injury earlier this week, and though he was immediately replaced with Miguel Rojas, the injury could open the door for more regular playing time for the Korean-born rookie. Kim has been great in the limited opportunities he has received this season. With more regular at-bats, he could get even better. I’m betting on talent and against the Dodgers’ stubbornness in hopes that Kim gets some regular run with Muncy on the IL.
Catchers/UT
Gary Sánchez ($$): Orioles catchers are dropping like competitors in the Hunger Games. Rutschman, Handley and now Chadwick Tromp are on the IL leaving Sánchez as the last man standing. Of course, Jacob Stallings was called up to make a spot start or two, but his bat pales in comparison to Sánchez and shouldn’t take away much playing time from the incumbent. Besides, what better guy to hit balls that land in the Splash Zone (in left-center field bleachers) than the one nicknamed ‘Kraken?’
Samuel Basallo ($): A speculative add for those in non-NFBC leagues, Basallo could make an appearance for the Orioles in the second half. I anticipate he gets the call in August if the O’s are sellers and deal away some pieces (Sanchez, O’Hearn) near the deadline. Once he gets the call, he ought to get regular at-bats – unlike most of the recent Baltimore prospects – since the Orioles like won’t be playing for the postseason at that point anyway.
Pitchers
Starting Pitchers
Emmet Sheehan ($$$): Sheehan will start on Sunday for the Dodgers, and if he performs well could stick in their rotation. He worked six perfect innings with 13 (!!!) strikeouts in his June 25 minor league start. Los Angeles is hoping he can bring that talent to the majors and have the performance translate as well. Fantasy managers will need to monitor his performance on Sunday against the Astros and adjust their bids accordingly. If he deals, he’ll be pricy.
Eric Lauer ($$$): I’ve been singing his praises for a few weeks now and he took it on the chin against Boston last week. Well, he welcomes the White Sox in his next start. If I wasn’t already excited enough to roster him, now I’m foaming at the mouth.
Dean Kremer ($$): A start against the Marlins could be just what the doctor ordered for Kremer. Besides, he’s coming off his best start of the season (7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 6 K) against the Rays, so what could possibly go wrong?
Richard Fitts ($$): Rockie Road is headed to Fenway, and who better to greet them than Fitts! Fitts was impressive last time out with his velocity back up to what we saw in the spring (97/98) with good movement on the breaking pitches. His last start was cut short due to a rain delay, so a little fresher than usual coming into this start as well. He’s a great streaming choice based on the matchup and could stick if the velocity stays high.
Janson Junk ($): With the trade deadline looming, the Marlins are likely going to get rid of one of their veteran starting pitchers, and Junk will solidify his spot in the rotation. Coming off a quality start, he’ll face Cincinnati and Baltimore, a pair of lineups that play in a hitter-friendly ballpark but seem to be more bark than bite.
Relief Pitchers
Ben Casparius ($$): I have no idea how the Dodgers are going to use Casparius moving forward, but the skills play, and I want them on my team. If he’s used as a starter, super. If he’s used as a follower, even better. Give me those three innings after Ohtani throws 60 pitches. That should give Casparius a decent shot at a win. I love that the win potential also comes with decent ratios and strikeout numbers as well. Regardless of his utilization, he’s a valuable piece.
Reid Detmers ($): Still banging the drum for Reid Detmers, the reliever. It’s now been 21 consecutive outings since Detmers has allowed an earned run. He will be included in this column every week until he gives up a run.
Bennett Sousa ($): Quietly has three saves for the Astros and seems to be an option on nights that Hader is unavailable. Desperate times call for desperate relievers.
Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire | Designed by Aaron Asbury (@aarongifs on Instagram)
