We have made it through another week of action, and there continue to be endless injuries we need to account for on our rosters. Unfortunately, there have also been a lot of solid and slow starts from players that leave us wondering what to do with those roster spots.
Each week I will highlight a few players to target in your weekly FAAB process, but know there are many others available and, more importantly, others that may be better fitting for your teams. If you have any questions, please ask me on Twitter (@bdentrek).
Remember that we’ll be using Yahoo for player percentages, and we’ll keep our suggestion to players rostered in no more than 60% of leagues.
Hitters
Joey Meneses (1B, OF – WAS)
Rostered: 58%
Suggested Bid: 4%
Meneses was off to a slow start to the season, especially in the power department, but that has changed recently. Since the All-Star break, Meneses is hitting .273 with three home runs, nine runs scored, and 14 RBI. Meneses lowered his heavy ground ball rate to 45.3% while increasing his fly ball rate to 39.1%, which also aided the power department. Meneses is playing daily and hitting in the heart of the Nats lineup, which should yield some excellent counting stats.
Zack Gelof (2B – OAK)
Rostered: 13%
Suggested Bid: 8%
Gelof was called up at the All-Star break, and he has been quite productive for fantasy managers that picked him up immediately. Since the call-up, he is hitting .242, which is not great but does not hurt your team. More important than the batting average is the fact Gelof has 10 extra-base hits, five being home runs and five stolen bases. Gelof hits second for the A’s, which has also allowed Gelof to score 12 runs. The young second baseman has been quite productive, and I do not see that stopping anytime soon.
Brice Turang (2B, SS – MIL)
Rostered: 5%
Suggested Bid: 2%
Turang’s first time with the Brewers this season was not great, resulting in a bit of demotion. Since Turang’s return, he has been a much better player. Over his last nine games, Turang is hitting .407 with a home run and a stolen base while scoring seven runs. More important is the improved plate discipline, where Turang walks 12.9% of the time while only striking out 6.5% of the time. Turang is playing in a Brewers offense every day that is starting to click offensively. He is a deeper league play for now, but he may find his way into 12-team viability if the production continues.
Pitchers
Brady Singer (SP – KC)
Rostered: 45%
Suggested Bid: 11%
After a rough start to the season, Singer is starting to pitch like the stud many were drafted in the preseason. Over his last three starts, he has allowed four runs over 19 innings while striking out 23. The improved strikeouts are the biggest standout, as Singer was producing excellent ratios for the last couple of months, but the strikeouts were nowhere to be found. He has an impressive 27.4% K-BB over the three starts, with a 12.9% SwStr. Singer has altered his pitch mix, and it’s working great, making him worth an add to see if the newfound success can continue.
Seth Lugo (SP – SD)
Rostered: 46%
Suggested Bid: 7%
Lugo has quietly put together an excellent season, especially in the ratio department. The strikeouts have also been fantastic, making for a solid fantasy season. Since the All-Star break, Lugo has a 3.91 ERA with 29 strikeouts over 25.1 innings. Lugo has two starts next week versus the Dodgers and the DBacks, and he should be firmly in play on most fantasy teams.
Grayson Rodriguez (SP – BAL)
Rostered: 53%
Suggested Bid: 12%
After a rough start to the season, Rodriguez returned to AAA and found the form many expected from a top prospect. In his four starts since his recall, Rodriguez has a 3.57 ERA, 3.50 xFIP, and 20 strikeouts over 22.2 innings pitched. Walks have always been an issue for Rodriguez, but he has only walked eight since his return which is an improvement for the young pitcher. Rodriguez is a must-roster and nearly a must-start in all 12-team and deeper leagues.
Closers
Carlos Hernandez (RP – KC)
Rostered: 16%
Suggested Bid: 8%
Many were waiting for Scott Barlow to get traded so Hernandez could take over as the closer in Kansas City. That happened, and Hernandez has slid in nicely to the closer’s role. On the season, Hernandez has a 3.60 ERA and 3.58 xFIP with a 21.9% K-BB. Since the trade deadline, he has a save and a hold in his two appearances. The hold occurred as he worked in the high leverage situation, which is still expected. Hernandez is the main closer in KC and should be rostered where you need saves.
Gregory Santos (RP – CWS)
Rostered: 21%
Suggested Bid: 6%
With the White Sox trading most of their bullpen and Liam Hendricks having Tommy John surgery, Santos is the man to roster in the back end of the White Sox bullpen. He has been good this season with a 2.75 ERA and 3.14 xFIP with an 18.2% K-BB. Santos picked up a save in his first chance after the trades and should get a handful more whenever the White Sox get an opportunity for a save.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio