We have made it to the end of the fantasy baseball season. This week is about maximizing at-bats, finding pitchers that will surely make their starts and attacking the stats where you can gain the most ground in your fantasy leagues.
I highlight a few players to target in your weekly free agent acquisition budget (FAAB) process and fantasy baseball waiver wire. Know there are many others available and, more importantly, others who may be better fits for your teams. If you have any questions, please ask me on Twitter.
- Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Assistant
- Fantasy Baseball Trade Tools
- Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire & FAAB Targets: Week 26
Note: We use Yahoo for player percentages and recommend players rostered in no more than 60% of leagues.
Hitters
Otto Lopez (2B, SS, 3B, OF – MIA)
Rostered: 14%
Suggested Bid: 16%
Otto Lopez has been on fire lately. He entered Friday riding a six-game hitting streak while also hitting safely in 12 of his last 13 games. In those 13 games, Lopez is hitting .400 with three home runs, 10 runs scored, 10 RBI and three stolen bases. Lopez is doing it all for your ROTO leagues and being eligible all over the diamond, making him an excellent addition for the season’s final week.
Davis Schneider (2B, OF – TOR)
Rostered: 8%
Suggested Bid: 7%
Davis Schneider was a fantasy asset early in the season but went ice cold and lost his everyday role in the Jays lineup. That has changed, as Schneider is hitting and playing daily. Schneider entered Friday hitting safely in five of his last seven games for a .333 batting average. He has hit three home runs with nine RBI with a 21.1% barrel rate. If you are looking for some power over the final week of the season, Schneider could be your guy.
Rostered: 7%
Suggested Bid: 11%
Andrew Benintendi has been a surprising fantasy factor over the last few weeks. He entered Friday hitting safely in eight of his previous 11 games for a .302 batting average. He has four home runs with 11 RBI while striking out fewer than 15% of the time. He has been great with a .279 ISO, .943 OPS and 165 wRC+. We usually ignore players on the White Sox, but Benintendi is a great OF target for the year’s final week.
Pitchers
Rostered: 14%
Suggested Bid: 16%
Since he joined the Tigers’ rotation, Brant Hurter has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy managers. He has been used behind an opener, and Hurter is flourishing. He has five wins over his last five appearances while allowing six earned runs over 24.2 innings pitched. Hurter has a 2.19 ERA, 2.87 SIERA and 21.3% K:BB rate. Hurter is scheduled to face a struggling Rays, making him a great streamer.
Rostered: 14%
Suggested Bid: 22%
Landon Knack has rejoined the Dodgers’ rotation since Tyler Glasnow went on the injured list (IL). Knack has made three starts and has thrown at least five innings in two starts, giving up two earned runs or fewer in those two starts with 15 strikeouts. Knack has a nice two-step next week versus the Padres and the Rockies, making him one of the best two-start options.
Rostered:3%
Suggested Bid: 12%
Jack Kochanowicz has been very serviceable as a member of the Angels rotation. Over his last seven starts, he has allowed three earned runs or fewer in six starts. He has a 3.05 ERA and 4.78 SIERA over the seven starts but only a 5% K:BB rate as he does not strike out many. If you need ratio help with the chance at a win or two, Kochanowicz is a nice target this week as he takes on the White Sox and the Rangers.
Closers
Rostered: 41%
Suggested Bid: 15%
If you need saves, Aroldis Chapman is one of the best waiver targets this week. He has six saves over his last eight appearances. Chapman has a 7.36 ERA, but that’s due to allowing four runs in one outing. He only allowed two runs in the other seven appearances. Chapman also adds plenty of strikeout upside, with 10 strikeouts over seven innings.
Rostered: 23%
Suggested Bid: 13%
Tyler Kinley is another solid saves target for the week. He has six saves over his last nine appearances. Kinley has allowed six runs in two outings but zero runs in the other seven. He has also struck out 12 over 7.1 innings, bringing plenty of strikeout appeal. The Rockies play all week in Coors, which is not for the faint of heart, but saves are what we are looking for with Kinley, and he does that well.
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