Welcome back to another FAABulous Sunday! We have a month to go — roughly 30 games per MLB team, four and a half weeks for roto leagues, and head-to-head playoffs are upon us! Even with the MLB rosters only expanding by two players these days, we have some exciting options this week. Let’s get to some names!
First Base
Albert Pujols (85% ME, 28% OC, 37% Yahoo) – The Cardinals are set to face seven right-handed starters this week, but Pujols has gotten double-digit at bats in five of the past six scoring periods (seven of nine) and hit at least one home run in each of them. This is a home run only and a “we play fantasy baseball because we love baseball and baseball is fun” play! Here’s to six more!
Nick Pratto (77% ME, 9% OC, 8% Yahoo) – Sunday is the fifth consecutive game that Pratto has hit in the No. 3 or 4 spot in the lineup, a move he has earned with his performance over the past couple of weeks. Yes, he strikes out a ton, but he also takes his walks and has four of his seven home runs in the past eight games. He’ll get an extra day off here and there when Vinny P returns this week, but this is one of the situations where that means the batting average doesn’t hurt as much.
Second Base
Jace Peterson (43% ME, 10% OC, 7% Yahoo) – 1B, 3B, OF – It’s a bit crowded in Milwaukee, but Peterson’s versatility and the Brewers’ eight game week (six vs. righthanded starters) will lead to enough plate appearances to roll with him this week. He’s only been back for 21 PA and has yet to have an extra base hit or attempt to steal a base, but he has 8 HR and 10 SB in 262 PA this season. Peterson is the type of player that is great to have on your bench — he can do a little bit of everything, and you can plug him in nearly anywhere your team has a need.
Third Base
Spencer Steer (0% ME/OC, 1% Yahoo) – Not everyone that had their first MLB hit be a home run in their first MLB game this week lost their helmet! Steer’s minor league numbers in 2021 and 2022 are nearly identical. At A+/AA in 2021, he had 24 HR and 82 RBI in 488 PA. At AA/AAA/1 MLB game in 2022 he’s had 24 HR and 82 RBI in 496 PA. Cincinnati has nine games next week, four at home, after visiting Chicago and Milwaukee for three games each this week. That nine games next week is a big advantage for those in head to head playoffs. It’s great to see him in the lineup of both games of a doubleheader on Sunday — he’s going to play.
Shortstop
Gunnar Henderson (0% ME, 0% OC, 53% Yahoo) – After 19 HR and 22 SB in 112 minor league games Henderson had one of each after just two games with the Orioles. Like Steer, he’s going to play — in the lineup for the fifth consecutive game, and in the five-spot in that lineup for the third time. He’ll likely have a K% close to or over 30%, limiting his batting average for roto players, but the counting stats will be there.
Outfield
Corbin Carroll (0% ME, 0% OC, 50% Yahoo) – Carroll has never gotten on base less than 40% of the time at any level in his professional career and had 23 HR and 31 SB in 91 games at double and triple A so far this season. He’ll play most days, but with Ketel Marte only DHing for now, he will get a day off now and then with five outfielders in Arizona.
Bubba Thompson (98% ME, 4254% OC, 13% Yahoo) – Thompson has multiple stolen bases in four of the five scoring periods since his call-up and is hitting .305!
Randal Grichuk (100% ME, 100% OC, 48% Yahoo) – For those in formats where he is available, especially those with head to head playoffs this week, Grichuk would be my number one target of the week. At home this season he has hit .327 with 9 HR, 44 RBI, 33 R, and 2 SB in 235 PA . This season against LHP he has hit .319 with 7 HR, 30 RBI, 27 R, and 1 SB in 151 PA. Colorado has six home games and three scheduled vs. lefty starters this week. The first game of Sunday’s doubleheader was the fourth consecutive Rockies’ game vs. a lefthanded starter that Grichuk was in the leadoff spot.
Pitcher
Bailey Falter (92% ME, 6% OC, 9% Yahoo) – This is not a good week to be in need of a starting pitcher. In most cases I’d go with a reliever with good matchups that may vulture a win or save while giving me a couple of strikeouts and good ratios. However, I am willing to gamble that Zack Wheeler does not start for the Phillies this week, and that Falter gets a nice matchup vs Washington. It’s a tough move to make in leagues where lineups lock for the week on Monday, but I’m fairly confident he’ll get the start.
Keep grinding, good luck tonight and the rest of the way, and enjoy the games!
Feature image by Michael Packard (@CollectingPack on Twitter) / Photography by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire