MLB Week 20 FAAB Insights

Welcome back to another FAABulous Sunday!  I feel like there is more power available than it seemed there was a few weeks ago, there’s speed with the typical lack of power and playing time, and starting pitching is as barren as ever — a pretty typical FAAB period these days! Categories are always important, but it’s really time to attack those where we have the most points to gain and least to lose — be realistic! For head to head leagues the postseason is rapidly approaching, so plate appearances and innings are as important as ever. Let’s get to some names!

 

Catcher

 

Cal Raleigh (100% ME, 99% OC, 12% Yahoo) – When a catcher is universally rostered in two-catcher leagues but widely available in single-catcher formats the question is, “Can this guy be top 10 at the position?” In Raleigh’s case, I believe so. For a player with a .208 BA he’s been remarkably consistent  — not including the shortened all star break week, he’s hit at least one homerun in 13 consecutive scoring periods!

Victor Caratini (55% ME, 8% OC, 1% Yahoo) – It’s tough out there in two-catcher leagues, especially 15-teamers, as 26 catcher-eligible players are 92% or higher rostered in the NFBC Main Event. With Omar Narváez out for at least another week Caratini will get a majority of the starts behind the plate for the Brewers’ seven-game week — four at home vs. the Dodgers and three at Wrigley.

 

First Base

 

Darick Hall (100% ME, 77% OC, 6% Yahoo) – Hall continues to be the primary DH for the Phillies in Bryce Harper’s absence, and continues to produce for fantasy managers in spite of a quiet week so far — Philadelphia did face Jacob deGrom an Max Scherzer the past two days. They travel to Great American Smallpark for three games followed by another four games vs the Mets — but they miss both Scherzer and deGrom.

Joey Meneses (0% ME, 0% OC, 11% Yahoo) – After his first plate appearance Sunday, the 30-year-old Meneses has now hit in nine of his first 10 MLB games including five home runs (four so far this week). While this will most likely be his most productive fantasy week of the season (career!?), he was slugging .489 with 20 HR in 414 PA at Triple-A this season, and Washington has a seven-game week on tap including four vs. left-handed starters.

 

Second Base

 

Vaughn Grissom (0% ME, 0% OC, 25% Yahoo) – From a 30-year-old rookie to a 21-year-old — baseball! Grissom is an exciting young player who was hitting .324 for the minor league season with 14 HR and 27 SB before getting the call and having one of each in his first MLB game. The problem is it appears Ozzie Albies will be returning soon — by the end of the month — and there just won’t be full-time at bats available in the Atlanta lineup. He can be valuable for a week or two, but I’m not bidding the amounts I would if I expected him to be the starter for the rest of the season.

Adam Frazier (100% ME, 42% OC, 27% Yahoo) – OF – The return of Julio Rodríguez to the Seattle lineup has moved Frazier out of the leadoff spot and to the bottom half of the order. He won’t provide much power — just 3 HR and 28 RBI on the season — but at a time of year when we’re looking for specific category contributions he could contribute some stolen bases vs. the Angels and Athletics this week. He’s been caught four times this season but has converted five consecutive attempts over the past month.

 

Third Base

 

Emmanuel Rivera (2% ME, 1% OC, 1% Yahoo) – Rivera has quietly hit .253 with 10 HR, 28 RBI, and 32 R in just 237 PA this season. Now in a near-everyday role with Arizona he’s hit in six straight including four homeruns. He’s in the two-hole for the third consecutive game on Sunday and the Diamondbacks have a seven-game week on tap.

 

Shortstop

 

Ha-Seong Kim (100% ME, 37% OC, 13% Yahoo) – The Tatis Jr. news appears to make Kim’s playing time safe for the rest of the season. In spite of the additions the Padres made at the deadline he is sitting Sunday after 21 consecutive starts. He has raised his season average to .249 by hitting .276 since the break and has three of his eight stolen bases in that time. The Bat X projects him for 4 HR, 18 RBI, 20 R, and 4 SB the rest of the way — not overwhelming, but nice five-category production for a middle infielder down the stretch.

 

Outfield

 

Tyler Naquin (94% ME, 48% OC, 18% Yahoo) – We all know Naquin has streaky power, and it’s already been on display with the Mets — seven extra base hits in just 34 PA. In 187 PA vs. RHP this season, he’s hit .281 with 8 HR, 35 RBI, 31 R, and all four of his stolen bases. The Mets have an eight-game week including six slated to be against right handed starters.

Trayce Thompson (28% ME, 5% OC, 2% Yahoo) – Since returning to the Dodgers, Thompson has slashed .300/.391/.560 with 5 HR, 20 RBI, 18 R, and 2 SB in 115 PA. He’ll most likely get most of his playing time vs. lefties, and the Dodgers are set to face four of them this week — three vs. the Marlins over the weekend.

 

Pitcher

 

Dustin May (0% ME, 1% OC, 55% Yahoo) – May has a 1.69 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 26 K in 16 IP during his rehab at AAA. He stretched out to 5 IP on August 9, giving up 1 ER on 3 H with 1 BB and 8 K. The only question I have is when he’ll be available for FAAB bids in NFBC leagues. It won’t be tonight, and depending on what the Dodgers do this week, he may not be next Sunday either. He’s still listed as the starter for Oklahoma City tonight. If he makes that start we won’t see him until the weekend, possibly Sunday which delays it another week. In non-NFBC formats he should be added immediately.

José Quintana (100% ME, 82% OC, 39% Yahoo) – I’ve mentioned Quintana multiple times this season but always with the caveat that the wins haven’t been there — it’s the Pirates. Now with the St. Louis defense behind him and Cardinal lineup (second to the Dodgers in team OPS over past month) supporting him, he has a two-start week vs. the Rockies in their first road game after a homestand and the Arizona Diamondbacks. I’m counting on at least one win this week.

 

Keep grinding, good luck tonight, and enjoy the games!

 

Feature image by Michael Packard (@CollectingPack on Twitter) / Photography by Ric Tapia / Icon Sportswire