Long week of fantasy turmoil? Time to cut the crap!
Potential pickups will be separated into three buckets using Fantrax ownership statistics
20-30% owned players should be available in 12-team mixed leagues
10-20% owned players should be available in 15-team mixed leagues
0-10% owned players should be available in deep dynasty formats and AL or NL-only leagues.
This next part is crucial. You should pick up players based on how they fit your roster, not based on a preference list. “Sunk cost fallacy” can be costly in fantasy baseball, so churn your roster of those underperforming players and take a shot at one that might be having a breakout season. Also, you need to monitor your standings in specific categories to see if those stats available in the free agent pool. Often times these are stolen bases and saves, but hitters moving up the batting order can help accumulate stats, pitchers that are moving into the rotation can help accumulate innings and drive down ratios if they are performing well.
Ok time to cut the crap!
12-team mixed (20-30% owned)
Scott Barlow - RP - KCR (29% Owned)
With the Royals shipping Trevor Rosenthal off to San Diego, Scott Barlow might get a crack at save opportunities for the Royals. Barlow has converted his one save opp of the season for KC. He’s been sound in relief, with a 21% K-BB ratio. However, be wary that his xERA (3.89) is much higher than his actual ERA (1.45).
Tyler Anderson - SP - SFG (28% Owned)
Tyler Anderson got roughed up in his last outing, allowing seven runs on nine hits to the Diamondbacks. I looked at Anderson as part of my pitching matchup of the day earlier in the week, and found myself intrigued by his cutter and his ability to limit weak contact. He gets the Diamondbacks again this week, this time at home. Look for a stronger performance.
Sam Haggerty - 2B/OF - SEA (26% Owned)
Sam Haggerty will give your bench some nice position versatility, and he’s been hitting the ball pretty hard with a surprise look with the big club in 2020, flashing a 90.7 mph average EV and a 46.4% hard hit rate. He also has some wheels, posting a 94th percentile sprint speed score so far this season. Worth a flier in a bench spot.
José García - SS - CIN (26% Owned)
Since being called up on Thursday, Garcia has played short in 3 games for the Redlegs. The kid has an extremely loud profile, so you might really kick yourself for not taking a chance on him even in 12-team leagues. This is a scenario where maybe you quit playing it safe with a bench spot and take a shot on a kid that could win you your league if he takes off.
15-Team Mixed (10-20% Owned)
Richard Rodriguez - RP - PIT (18% Owned)
If you’re hurting for saves, you need to take a crack at Rodriguez in FAAB this week. I’m not overly confident that he’s going to retain the closer role after his blown save this weekend, but he has flashed periods of dominance in the past. He’s currently posting a 35% K-rate on the season. He’s leaning a little more on his slider this year, and it’s been dynamic, generating whiffs at a 68% rate.
Jacob Stallings - C - PIT (17% owned)
The guy is hot right now, posting a +137 point rolling xwOBA over his last 50 PAs. And he’s a fantastic framing catcher, which will keep him in the lineup as much as possible. Ride the hot hand, especially in two-catcher leagues.
Trevor Rogers - SP - MIA (14% Owned)
The left-handed Trevor Rogers was a 1st round selection in the 2017 draft. He turned heads in his big league debut this week with a fastball sitting 94 mph and touching 96. He worked 4 scoreless innings and struck out six batters in the process. He might not be a definite add though, as I’m not positive that the Marlins are going to keep him in the rotation this season. But the increased velocity is something that could win him a rotation spot soon.
Josh Fleming - SP - TBR (13% Owned)
Josh Fleming looked solid against the Marlins on Saturday, picking up the win in 5.1 scoreless innings. With Tampa’s pitching staff really on the ropes with injuries, Fleming seems like an arm that you will want to own regardless of his exact role with the club moving forward.
Johan Oviedo - SP - STL (13% Owned)
Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said that the rookie pitcher will remain in the starting rotation for the time being, with Ponce de Leon discovering the alternate site in a corresponding move. Oviedo was Matt Thompson’s pick for breakout prospect in the Cardinals’ system this offseason.
Deep Dynasty/Only leagues (0-10% owned)
Ljay Newsome - SP - SEA (9% Owned)
I went on a bit of a horn-tooting exhibition this week with Ljay Newsome making his big league debut. Newsome is a former 26th round pick who took a big jump up stuff-wise in the 2019 minor league season. You can see in the clip below from our own Joe Doyle that Ljay’s riding fastball is his out-pitch. He also features a curveball and changeup which work to keep hitters off balance. The profile can work if Newsome can command it all well at the Major League level. If you’re in a deep league and he’s still available, I’d snatch him up now.
Phillips Valdez - RP - BOS (3% Owned)
I’ve never heard of this guy! He came up through the Boston system as a potential starter, but he’s been moved to the bullpen with excellent results in 2020 thus far. His changeup is dirty (37% whiff rate), and he’s throwing it more than any other pitch in his arsenal (47% usage). Just ask Juan Soto about it: