With the season starting to wind down, it is important to look at some important storylines and aspects this week to be ahead of the curve and gain an edge on your leaguemates.
Week Schedule Notes
The following team has just five games this week:
- New York Mets at WAS, at MIN
- Washington Nationals vs NYM, vs LAD
The following teams have seven games this week:
- Tampa Bay Rays vs BOS, vs SEA
- Cleveland Guardians vs MIN, at LAA
- Los Angeles Angels vs BAL, vs CLE
- Seattle Mariners at CIN, at TB
- Chicago Cubs vs SF, vs ARI
- Arizona Diamondbacks vs COL, at CHC
St. Louis Closing Chaos
With the news that Ryan Helsley is back from the IL, there is a question of who will close games for the Cardinals. Helsley seems likely to factor in the ninth inning, but JoJo Romero has been good and could share in the role. We need to see the usage over the next week to know for sure.
Cincinnati Outfield
Not only did the Reds claim both Hunter Renfroe and Harrison Bader last week, but they also activated Jake Fraley from the IL over the weekend. This creates a massive logjam in the outfield and will hurt the playing time of all the above players, as well as TJ Friedl, Will Benson, and Nick Senzel. Right now, it appears all of them are in a strict platoon, so we need to watch the lineups and see if that is true.
Jasson Dominguez (OF – NYY)
The Yankees top prospect made his Major League debut over the weekend and started with a bang, hitting a home run in his first game. Dominguez has been a highly touted prospect for a very long time but has not developed the kind of power that was expected of him. However, he has added a speed component that is really interesting, and he has a ton of raw power in the bat. He is someone to watch to see how he adjusts to the Major League level.
Austin Wells (C – NYY)
Wells has also made his debut for the Yankees over the weekend. While not as highly touted as Dominguez, he is an interesting player in fantasy in large part due to being a catcher. He has a good hit tool and power in the bat, and currently, the Yankees’ catchers are uninspiring, so Wells may have plenty of opportunity to play a ton moving forward.
Brett Baty (3B – NYM)
The first go around in the Majors did not go great for the Mets’ top prospect. However, he went back down to AAA and dominated. He has been recalled and should have every opportunity to play moving forward, and he could put up nice power numbers to finish the year.
Ronny Mauricio (SS – NYM)
There is speed and power in Mauricio’s profile, so there is a ton to like. However, he has struggled throughout his minor league time with strikeouts. He has made massive improvement this season in AAA, which is a great sign. If he can maintain the growth in contact skills in the Majors, we could be looking at a fantasy star.
Kyren Paris (SS – LAA)
Paris is another interesting prospect who has now made his debut. While there is not much power in the profile, he does have a ton of speed and has already stolen a base since getting called up. Paris does tend to strike out too much as well, but he also walks, which gives him some opportunity to swipe some bags.
Nick Loftin (SS, OF – KC)
Loftin is a less interesting prospect than a lot of the other ones we have talked about; however, he does do something that many of the others don’t: he can flat-out hit. There is not a ton of power or speed, but he makes a ton of contact. He likely profiles as a utility player, but he could be a valuable compiler if he plays every day.
Alexander Canario (OF – CHC)
Alexander Canario was called up by the Cubs and is expected to make his Major League debut soon. Canario is a former top prospect who was a key part of the Kris Bryant to the Giants deal in 2021. However, while there is pop and speed in the profile, he has struggled to make consistent contact. In spite of getting called up, did not play in the first three games the Cubs had, leading us to believe he is nothing more than a bench bat for this season. However, his upside and pedigree are worth watching.
Colton Cowser (OF – BAL)
Like Baty, Cowser’s first go around at the Major League level did not go as planned. However, he has a ton of talent and only really needs an opportunity. Unfortunately for him for this season, he is unlikely to find a ton of playing time unless someone gets hurt. We should watch the playing time because if he does get a chance, he could hit a lot of home runs. If not, he will be a nice buy low in the off-season.
12-15. Streaming Options
Mike Clevinger (CWS) at DET
Clevinger must have been shocked not to get claimed when waived, especially considering how well he has pitched since the All-Star Break. He has a nice matchup versus a bad Tigers offense, so I think this is a nice opportunity to stream him in spite of a bad last outing.
Dean Kremer (BAL) at LAA
Kremer has been up and down this season, but he has been great as of late, throwing 12 innings over his last two starts and only allowing one earned run while striking out five. He gets a nice matchup here versus a weak Angels squad, so I am rolling with him.
Jordan Wicks (CHC) vs. SF
Wicks has looked pretty good since making his Major League debut, throwing 10 innings and allowing just two earned runs while striking out 12. He has a pretty nice matchup versus a struggling San Francisco offense and should be a top priority for streaming.
Jose Quintana (NYM) at WAS
Since returning from the IL, Quintana has been pretty good, throwing 47 innings of a 3.26 ERA. There won’t be a ton of strikeouts because he does get many, and the Nationals don’t strike out a ton, but if you need ratio help, this is a nice option.
16-20. 2-Start Options
Bryan Woo (SEA) at CIN, at TB
Woo has pitched much better than the surface numbers say. He has a 3.09 xERA and over a strikeout an inning in his 65 innings pitched this season. He has a tough set of matchups versus the Reds in Cincy and the Rays in Tampa, but I think the true talent level is worth taking the gamble on.
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs COL, at CHC
Pfaadt had looked better before another bad outing versus the Dodgers. However, this is about matchups, and the Rockies in their first game on the road after a home series is just about the best matchup in baseball, and I am not super afraid of the Cubs either.
Andrew Heaney (TEX) vs. HOU, vs. OAK
Heaney has been fantastic as of late, throwing 26.1 innings with a 2.39 ERA over his six starts in August with 31 strikeouts. However, he also has a 1.33 WHIP, so this feels pretty fraudulent. He has a rough start to the two-step and a fantastic finish, so I think he is worth rolling out there if just for the matchup versus the A’s.
Bryce Miller (SEA) at CIN, at TB
Miller has struggled out of the All-Star Break, especially with home runs, but he has rebounded over his last five starts, only allowing one home run and four walks over that span while striking out 25 in 27 innings. He has two tough starts, but I think he is worth rolling with.
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