First off, let me start by saying thank you to Joe Pisapia and the FantasyPros Leading Off podcast for featuring my work on Tyler Wells last week. If he’s still available in any of your leagues, I highly advise picking him up for the second half. He had a rough third inning against the Angels yesterday (giving up a home run to none other than Mike Trout), but that shouldn’t discount the immaculate roll he’s been on for the majority of the season.
Also, did any of you take the flight and add Bryce Harper‘s temporary replacement? He’s not Kyle Schwarber by any means, but my guy Darick Hall launched four home runs and two doubles over his first eight games and is sporting a fine 1.032 OPS. He’ll likely sit versus southpaws, but he’s still widely available and is extremely valuable in daily leagues.
If you missed out on those guys or they just don’t help fill your team’s needs, hopefully, one of these next 13 do. As always, I’ve broken them down into statistical categories of how they’re most likely to contribute. Also, every player listed is currently rostered in 50% or less of Yahoo leagues.
Stolen Bases
The Bo Sox’s young flash has been starting on a nearly nightly basis. He’s already accounted for five stolen bases to go along with a sterling .305 batting average. The latest leadoff hitter in the Boston lineup is lighting on the base paths and makes for a pretty obvious solution if you’re lacking steals. Even when Enrique Hernandez returns, they’ll have a tough time taking Duran’s bat and legs out of the lineup. He will sit occasionally versus lefties, but he should be a solid source for those in need of steals.
Runs
Ramon Laureano (OF – OAK): 36%
I discussed adding Laureano back when he first returned from his suspension, but it was likely to take a minute before he started producing again. Well, the soon-to-be 28-year-old has been filling up the stat sheet with ease lately. The electric outfielder has scored 10 times over his last 43 at-bats while adding in four homers and three steals.
Laureano has a 12-game on-base streak going and should be an excellent source for runs (and many other categories) all season long. I’d be surprised if he qualifies for this list again next week (under 50% rostership).
Batting Average
Nick Senzel (2B/OF – CIN): 24%
The former highly-prized prospect is finally hitting like so many believed he would. Originally awarded a 55/70 hit tool by MLB Prospects Reports (40 is average and the second number is what they believe a player will become), Senzel was always thought of as a premier bat. Plagued by injuries throughout his short career, the former second overall draft pick in 2016 has bumped his average up from .193 at the end of May to nearly .260 now. Since June 23, the Reds’ center fielder has been outstanding going 21-for-50, good for a .420 average. He’s hitting .333 in July and has drastically cut down on his strikeouts.
Senzel offers a bit of everything when he’s fully healthy. He swiped five bags in June and already has two homers this month. He still bats around seventh in the lineup, but expect that to change if Brandon Drury is traded out of town and if he keeps hitting. I also like that he qualifies at second base. Add Senzel now and ride the hot streak while it lasts. And with a bit of luck, he may hit near .290 the rest of the way.
Home Runs
Hasse hasn’t been great for the majority of the season, but since June 18, he’s ripped off five home runs and driven in 14. June 18 may seem like a while ago, but Haase was able to accomplish those feats in just 10 starts. Given the role he’s on, A.J. Hinch has found more ways of getting him into the lineup and he is now playing in roughly five to six games a week.
What makes the hot streak so interesting is that Haase was able to put together a similar performance over a two-month period last year, where he absolutely ripped the cover off the ball (16 dingers in two months). And if that’s the type of streak he’s embarking on again, then Haase is someone you definitely want on your roster, especially qualifying at catcher. He makes a great replacement for those starting Mitch Garver, who is scheduled to have season-ending surgery on Monday.
Diego Castillo (2B/3B/SS/OF – PIT): 3%
And if you’re in an extremely deep league and are low on homers, check out Diego Castillo. The near-home run leader in Spring Training takes monster hacks every time up. He rarely walks and doesn’t play every day, but in deeper daily leagues, he surely has some value.
Castillo has quietly hit eight home runs over the last 25 days and mashes lefties. He won’t help much in other categories, but if your league rosters a lot of players and allows you to tweak your lineup daily for plus matchups, then Castillo is worth a look.
RBI
Garrett Cooper (1B/OF – MIA): 43%
I never like rostering Cooper because he just doesn’t have a ton of pop and has little to no speed to speak of. That said, in standard Roto where batting average and counting stats play such a big part, I have to advise readers to take a chance on the Miami first baseman.
He hits in the three-hole on a nightly basis and has continued to put the ball in play all season long. He’s accumulated 38 RBIs on the season and is up to a robust .308 batting average. Cooper’s been great in the clutch as well, registering a .327 average with runners in scoring position and a .349 average with runners on base. Cooper has no problem lining the ball into right field and so far has been the Marlins’ most consistent hitter.
Daniel Vogelbach (1B – PIT): 3%
I also need to highlight Vogelbach. I’ve mentioned him before, but the dude is locked in at the moment and seems to get a hit nearly every time up. On the surface, he doesn’t seem that great with just a .242 batting average, 10 home runs, and just 27 RBIs. But considering he missed some time with injury and by examining his splits, we discover his true fantasy value.
Not only has the massive first baseman hit .409 for July, but he has also mashed righties all season long to an impressive tune of .275/.364/.544.
If you’re in a league that allows for daily roster moves, then anytime Vogelbach is facing a RHP, add him to your starting lineup and reap the rewards. He’s knocked in five over the last six games and should be in store for more with all the young and exciting talent surrounding him. (They just need to stop playing Yoshi Tsutsugo.)
Alex Kirilloff (1B/OF – MIN): 37%
I’ve discussed Kirilloff in the past as well, but the Twins’ first baseman has knocked in 13 over the last 14 days and is still available in nearly two-thirds of leagues.
WHIP
Fresh off his attention-grabbing start last week in Triple-A — where he miraculously struck out 14 batters in just six innings — Detmers already looks nasty in his Friday start against Baltimore. Through just two innings (I’m watching as I write this), the young lefty on his 23rd birthday has already struck out four hitters. His slow 12-6 curveball, coupled with fastballs up in the zone and a hard-breaking slider, have been nearly impossible to hit.
On the year, his WHIP stands at 1.10 thanks in large part to those three offerings. That trio of pitches have all resulted in an opponent’s BA of .202 or below. And his changeup has rendered a .278 wOBA.
Detmers has always had a ton of upside and while he tends to have a few blow-up innings because of homers, his outlook has more positives than negatives. He did after all start his Minor League career just last year in Double-A where he struck out 97 batters over just 54 innings. Plus, he already has a Major League no-hitter to his name.
Check back to see how he finishes the game, but my money is on fantastic. Add him now while he still has the chip on his shoulder from being sent down and help lower your WHIP and boost your strikeout totals.
ERA
Jose Quintana (SP/RP – PIT): 16%
Man, this guy just keeps on doing it. I’ve been hesitant to add Quintana all season long, but considering he’ll likely be traded to a contender, you have to take him seriously. The veteran left-hander is perhaps coming off his most impressive start of the year, defeating the Yankees, while striking out seven over just five innings. He shut down Washington before that and beat the Cubs prior to that. He hasn’t allowed more than four runs in a game all year and even his Ks aren’t that bad. Plus, he qualifies at RP, aiding those in head-to-head leagues.
Quintana’s resurgence brings Martin Perez to mind a bit as they are both lefties who have struggled but are suddenly relevant again. His value will lie in where he’s traded, but in the meantime, Quintana can help lower your ERA.
Strikeouts
Many will be warded off by Bello’s underachieving start, but what’s the old saying, buy low? It’s an opportunity to add a guy for nearly nothing when just a week ago he was going for astronomical amounts off the waiver wire.
Yes, he looked wild and uncomfortable, but I’m willing to chalk it up as nerves and give him another chance or two. He doesn’t surrender homers and was a strikeout machine in the Minor Leagues. Plus, it’s not like Boston has a ton of healthy starters right now ready to push him from the rotation. If he does stink again, then you can obviously just drop him and since you got him after the rush, he’ll likely cost you next to nothing. But the upside is there.
Wins
Civale has been pretty bad this year but looked great against Kansas City today. He continued to make hitters look overmatched while racking up whiffs on his looping curveball. The 27-year-old won 12 games last year in just 21 starts and was on the hook for another one today until the bullpen blew it. Civale has no problem pitching deep into games and some of his analytics point to some early bad luck in the season. If you avoid the tough matchups, the 6-foot-2 righty is someone who will be a difference-maker in the second half.
Saves
Tanner Scott seems to be the man in Miami at the moment, as he’s earned four saves this month alone. His strikeouts certainly fit the bill of a closer as he’s struck out 50 hitters already over just 34 innings. He doesn’t have much of a problem getting righties out either despite being a LHP. Even with his lack of track record, Scott obviously has Mattingly’s vote of confidence right now. Add the ex-Oriole if you need saves.
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Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.