Each week, we’ll look at a handful of players who fantasy managers should consider picking up in deeper fantasy baseball leagues. Many of these players will have the most value in larger leagues where waiver wire options aren’t as plentiful. Still, they could also occasionally be useful additions in other, more standard-sized leagues, depending on your options at each position.
All roster percentages mentioned in this column are via FantasyPros as of Friday afternoon.
Bryce Elder – 3%
Bryce Elder’s 5.89 ERA and 5.08 FIP on the season (in 20 starts spanning 107 innings of work for Atlanta) probably take him out of the running to be a long-term fantasy option for those in search of rotation reinforcements, at least should those run-prevention numbers remain reasonably high.
However, the right-hander has been better as of late, with two quality starts and a pitcher win in his last three outings, a stretch that (since the start of August) has seen him pitch to a 4.12 ERA and a 3.92 FIP in 19.2 innings of work.
During that span, Elder has scattered 16 hits, six walks and nine earned runs while striking out 14 batters.
All told, he could be worth a look for fantasy managers in the short term as a streaming option.
Assuming Atlanta’s rotation continues as is without any interruptions, the 26-year-old will next start on Tuesday at home against a struggling Chicago White Sox team, with his next projected outing after that against the Miami Marlins.
And while the Marlins have played much better on the whole in the second half, they’ve also lost six of their last eight games as of the start of play on Friday, including four of five to Atlanta.
Admittedly, Elder did lose the one game Miami won during that stretch, but the right-hander should be a solid streaming option in the next few weeks for fantasy managers in leagues with 14 or more teams.
Shane Smith – 7%
Smith was mentioned in this column back in April as a starter enjoying a solid season for the Chicago White Sox.
Fast forward to mid-August, and that’s still pretty much the case.
The 25-year-old right-hander has pitched to a 4.01 ERA and a 4.25 FIP in 21 starts and 101 innings this season for the American League Central club, logging three pitcher wins and four quality starts while registering a 22.5% strikeout rate and a 10.3% walk rate.
So far, he’s given up 0.98 home runs per nine innings.
And while Smith’s walk rate could certainly be lower, he’s given up two earned runs or fewer in each of his last four starts. Most notably, he’s held two decidedly above-average lineups in Detroit and Seattle to a combined two earned runs in a cumulative 10 innings of work, striking out 13 batters compared to four walks and one home run allowed.
Assuming Chicago’s rotation continues as is, the hurler’s next outing in Atlanta might be one to avoid fantasy-wise, but after that, the right-hander should be a quality streaming option against the Kansas City Royals.
Eduardo Rodriguez – 12%
Rodriguez, like Elder, probably isn’t a long-term option for fantasy managers for the rest of the season, given his elevated run-prevention numbers.
Entering play on Friday, the left-hander had pitched to a 5.40 ERA and a 4.65 FIP in 21 starts and 110 innings pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks this season. He’s particularly struggled with the home run ball so far, surrendering 1.64 per nine frames for Arizona this year, a number that would be a career-high for the veteran.
However, with 111 strikeouts in 110 innings, Rodriguez can provide solid fantasy production in the right matchups. He limited the Colorado Rockies to one earned run (which came via a home run) on six total hits and a walk in seven innings while striking out six in his last outing.
Assuming Arizona’s rotation continues as is without any interruptions, the starter will next take the mound at home against Cleveland next week in a potentially fantasy-friendly matchup.
The Guardians have been better as of late in terms of scoring runs, but they still rank in the bottom five in the league in runs scored on the road this season, outscoring only the White Sox, Orioles, Rockies and Pirates.
Furthermore, Rodriguez should have plenty of run support in that outing. Since the start of August, only the Milwaukee Brewers have outscored the Diamondbacks.
Graphic by Carlos Leano.
