Categories? Where we’re going, we don’t need categories.
Some people prefer good old-fashioned points leagues where pitchers and hitters are rewarded more for their volume and discipline than the flashy stats and ratios. Well, obviously, they go hand-in-hand… but we’re digging for the players that roto leagues left behind. On the hitting side, points leagues tend to reward contact skills and plate discipline, giving points for walks and total bases while penalizing strikeouts (in most formats). Meanwhile, pitchers tend to accumulate points for innings pitched, strikeouts, quality starts, and wins.
San Diego Padres first baseman Ty France carried the hitter recommendations this week while Carter Jensen, Tommy Edman and Lane Thomas were all mediocre at beast. Trevor Rogers went six innings against Detroit but a high WHIP and four earned runs wiped away most of his value while Grant Taylor tossed 3.1 innings allowing just one base runner and one unearned run. On to this week!
Strap in as we accelerate to 88 mph (and beyond), highlighting players that have been overlooked and under-rostered in most points league formats. Scoop up these guys to make your league mates think you got your hands on Biff’s Almanac.
NOTE: Every points league has slightly different scoring settings, so bear that in mind as you read through the suggestions.
Jonah Heim, C, ATH
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (C): 18th
36.6% rostered (ESPN)
Heim steps into a starting role after the Athletics lost Shea Langeliers to a knee injury for the rest of the season. There’s nothing really special about Heim’s bat (though he did hit .300 this past week), but he gets to play half of his home games in an extremely hitter-friendly environment and will likely bat in the middle-third of an okay Athletics lineup.
Luis Rengifo, 2B/3B, SDP
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (3B): 46th
3.1% rostered (ESPN)
Eligible at two of the most scarce positions in the game, Rengifo has been providing production for the Padres since they grabbed him for free earlier this season. He’s batting 16-for-54 (.364) with eight RBI and 11 runs scored in 14 games since July 10. He has shown strong plate discipline and a tendency to put the ball in play but just hasn’t hit the ball hard for most of his career. But in points leagues, singles still matter. Walks matter. Stolen bases matter. Runs scored matter. And all of those things combined make Rengifo a solid addition at two weak positions.
Cooper Pratt, SS, MLW
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (SS): 49th
6.5% rostered (ESPN)
It’s not often that a player AND his direct replacement are both on the same list for fantasy baseball, but Pratt was elevated essentially to take over for Rengifo in the Brewers infield earlier this season. Since being called up, Pratt has displayed good contact skills, great plate discipline and speed on the base paths. With 16 RBI and 18 runs scored in just 34 games played, Pratt has been racking up the points and hasn’t seen the swing-and-miss issues that we typically see with rookies. He’s a solid addition for teams in need of a middle infielder.
Max Clark, OF, DET
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (OF): N/A
30.8% rostered (ESPN)
Clark has exploded onto the MLB scene with five hits in his first two games. Clark profiles as a toolsy player who hits the ball hard with pop, but isn’t necessarily known for game power. There’s no reason to think he won’t see a majority of the action in the outfield for the Tigers, though they could platoon him and sit him against left-handed pitching. If Clark remains available after his prolific debut, it may be your last opportunity to grab him.
Kade Anderson, SP, SEA
2026 YTD Positional Ranking: N/A
6.3% rostered (ESPN)
The time is now. With Seattle having just traded Luis Castillo, that opens up a rotation spot for the young superstar-in-the-making at the major league level. As of Sunday, the Mariners have not made the call and currently have Emerson Hancock penciled into a two-start week during their impending homestand, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see Anderson pulled up for his MLB debut this week. He’s been an unstoppable force at AA Arkansas and is clearly next in line if the Mariners do promote a pitcher.
Brandyn Garcia, RP, ARZ
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (RP): 87th
3.7% rostered (ESPN)
Garcia appears to have earned ninth-inning duties for Arizona, picking up saves in each of his past two appearances with stress-free innings in both. With a sinker-sweeper-cutter trio, Garcia has flummoxed hitters to generate a 12.0% swinging-strike rate and a 31.7% CSW. Arizona’s bullpen has always been an ever-changing landscape, but it’s clear that whoever is the closer is a fantasy value. Right now, it’s Garcia – grab him while he matters.
