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.
Aaron Civale – 6%
Civale was mentioned in this column last month as a pitcher who has both found success and struggled at times during his time in a Chicago White Sox uniform. And while more struggles certainly would be unideal, Civale gets a decidedly pitcher-friendly matchup for his next scheduled outing.
Assuming the White Sox’s rotation continues as is without any interruptions, the veteran will line up to face the Kansas City Royals at home on Tuesday. Kansas City has been better as of late from a run-scoring standpoint, but the Royals still rank in the bottom five in the league in runs scored. Furthermore, they also rank in the bottom third in the league in runs scored on the road, with just five teams below the American League Central club on the leaderboard.
Civale, for what it’s worth, entered play last Friday having allowed nine runs in his August 8 start. Before that, he didn’t give up a run in 16.1 combined innings from July 20 through August 2. After that? Civale limited these same Royals to eight hits, a walk, a home run, and three earned runs in six innings while striking out three batters.
The veteran should be a quality streaming option for fantasy managers in leagues with 14 or more teams for his next start.
Tanner Banks – 1%
Moving to the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen, Tanner Banks has quietly put together another strong season. Acquired by Philadelphia in 2024 at the trade deadline in a deal with the Chicago White Sox, Banks hasn’t received as many save chances as the likes of Matt Strahm, José Alvarado, Jordan Romano, or Orion Kerkering this year, not to mention Carlos Estévez and Jeff Hoffman last year. Still, he’s provided the Phillies with some quality innings.
After logging a 3.98 ERA and a 3.25 FIP in 63 appearances spanning 72.1 innings of work last season, Banks is sporting a 2.98 ERA and a 3.28 FIP in his first 54 appearances (54.1 innings) this season. So far, he’s rattled off five pitcher wins and has accumulated a save and six holds.
And while the holds numbers could certainly be better, the 33-year-old’s ability to limit walks at an elite rate, that and a lower ERA, make him a quality addition in fantasy leagues with 16 or more teams in order to help keep weekly ERA numbers down. Banks entered play Friday, allowing just 1.33 walks per nine innings and sporting a 3.8% walk rate, with the latter number ranking in the 99th percentile league-wide. Among all pitchers with at least 40 innings of work this season, just five have a lower walk rate than Banks.
David Robertson – 1%
Sticking with the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen, David Robertson is a borderline must-add in fantasy leagues where holds are part of the scoring system.
Sure, the Phillies’ bullpen is noticeably deep now with the additions of Robertson and new closer Jhoan Duran joining Banks, Strahm, Kerkering, Romano, and Alvarado.
And sure, Robertson only just made his 2025 debut on August 11 with the National League East club after recently signing with the team.
But, the veteran is more than proven from a track record standpoint and has been anywhere from above-average to elite as a high-leverage, late-inning reliever (both in real-life and in fantasy) the last few years. In 2024 with the Texas Rangers, Robertson sported an even 3.00 ERA and a 2.65 FIP in 72 innings (68 appearances), logging a 33.4% strikeout rate compared to a 9.1% walk rate.
The 40-year-old has already thrown 4.2 innings, scattering one earned run, four hits, and two walks while logging two holds in the process. All the while striking out four of the 20 batters he’s faced. It would surprise no one if he finishes the year as the Phillies’ top setup option ahead of Duran.
Graphic by Carlos Leano.
