Welcome back to another FAABulous Sunday! Whether our teams are in head-to-head playoff matchups/championships or the final weeks of roto leagues, the matchups and opportunities for players are amplified. As always, we’re focusing on schedules and lineups to take advantage of those matchups and opportunities. Let’s get to some names!
First Base
Carlos Santana (26% ME, 4% OC, 5% Yahoo) – The Seattle Mariners are seeking their first postseason appearance since 2001, and they’re doing it with Santana as their everyday DH. He’s been better in the batting average department from the right side of the plate vs. lefties, but 15 of his 17 homeruns have come from the left side vs. righties. He’ll see a mix of both this week as Seattle has a seven game week, three scheduled to be vs. lefthanded starters.
Albert Pujols (87% ME, 35% OC, 37% Yahoo) – This could very well be the week we see Pujols hit his 700th career home run, assuming it doesn’t happen on Sunday. I included him here a couple of weeks ago in spite of the righthanded starters the Cardinals were facing, but this week is so much better with St. Louis scheduled to face five lefty starters in six games. Pujols has hit .359 vs. lefties this season with 12 HR, 28 RBI, and 20 R in just 117 PA. He’s hit home runs in six consecutive scoring periods, multiple in four of six, and had five or more RBI in five of six.
Second Base
Ryan McMahon (65% Yahoo) – 3B – He’s universally rostered in NFBC 15 and 12-team leagues, but available in a third of Yahoo leagues as Colorado heads home for seven games this week, six vs. right-handed starters. At home this season, McMahon has hit .267 with 12 of his 17 HR, 41 RBI, and 45 R in 287 PA. Facing righthanded pitching he’s hit .257 with 14 HR, 46 RBI, and 39 R in 384 PA. He’s also contributed seven stolen bases so far.
Third Base
Rodolfo Castro (89% ME, 12% OC, 13% Yahoo) – 2B, SS – Since returning to the Pirates on Aug. 9, Castro has hit .269 with 9 HR, 17 RBI, 13 R, and 3 SB in 140 PA. He’s in the three-spot on a daily basis and is especially appealing with eligibility at three infield positions — most teams in any format could use a guy like Castro for their championship runs.
Shortstop
Luis Rengifo (100% ME, 95% OC, 36% Yahoo) – 2B, 3B – With Andrew Velazquez out for the season, Rengifo has moved to shortstop for the Angels, but more importantly for fantasy players, he has also moved into the leadoff spot. Those in the shallower leagues where he is available may be a bit surprised to see he’s hitting .273 on the season with 13 HR and 6 SB. He’s had a home run in five of the past six scoring periods — multiple in three of those five.
Outfield
Mike Yastrzemski (92% ME, 70% OC, 22% Yahoo) – Yastrzemski has had a rough second half, but the Giants head to Coors for four games, and six of seven games this week appear to be vs. right-handed starters. He’s moved into a fairly strict platoon role recently, but will hit at or near the top of the lineup in those six games vs. righties.
Yonathan Daza (17% ME, 6% OC, 5% Yahoo) – In deeper leagues where we’re looking for some batting average help and some runs, Daza has cemented himself in the two-hole in the Rockies lineup — at least against righties (six of seven games this week). He has hit .331 and scored 31 R in 45 games at Coors this season. It’s not something to count on, but both of his home runs this season have been off of right-handed pitching.
Pitcher
Drew Smyly (100% ME, 61% OC, 20% Yahoo) – On Sept. 3, Smyly was ambushed for three home runs, leading to 7 ER in 2.1 IP in St Louis. In the other seven of his past eight starts, he’s given up a total of 4 ER in 42 IP with 38 K. He gets the Marlins in Miami this week.
Wade Miley (53% ME, 1% OC, 17% Yahoo) – Miley also gets the Marlins in Miami, but gets the Pirates in Pittsburgh as well! Since returning to the Cubs’ rotation on Sept. 6, he’s thrown nine innings with 11 K while giving up 3 ER. He went 5 IP last time out, so at least one win vs. those opponents is a good bet this week.
A few of these guys are only available in shallower leagues, and others only of interest for those in deeper leagues — a pretty nice mix this week. I try to not keep listing the same players week after week, so check back to the articles of the past couple of weeks for more options that may be available. It’s crunch time! 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 Larry Placido / Icon Sportswire