The daily transactions rundown is about to get a workout. August and into September, is a time where the minor leagues are wrapping up, major league rosters are expanding, injuries of attrition are knocking pro's to the DL, and youngsters are getting rewarded for their improving games. All of the action can leave a fantasy player exasperating ... especially, if you're trying to chase down a fantasy baseball title while simultaneously prepping for the upcoming fantasy football season.
In the coming weeks, you're going to come across some promoted names who might not be familiar. But, even though you don't know them or perhaps haven't heard much about them, these players will arrive in the bigs with proficient resumes. Many of these guys will be pitchers.
If you're in the market for any kind of pitching help over the final couple of months, there will be a slew of options headed your way. At some point, all the names run together and it seems like every new player is a 'possible asset.' For the most part (75% of the pitchers), you're not going to land a hurler that excites you with what they provide in August and September.
Understand that the 'best-of-the-best' were already summoned earlier in the season. Now, we're set to see a large portion of the field profile as guys who are the proverbial 'next man up' on the franchise's overall depth chart. It's not to say that these pitchers can't or won't provide a boost every once in a while. In the right situation and against the right team a relative unknown can post a good start. That makes them a streaming option, not a must-add.
As a word of warning, don't overbid over the coming weeks. You don't want to lock yourself into just one name out of the dozen of possibilities that are heading down the pipeline. If you don't get this week's call-up, believe me, you'll have a shot at the three guys that get recalled next week. That's how it works in these months.
Also, let Google be your friend. Do a simple search with Player X's name followed by 'Scouting Report.' This will yield a ton of information from all over the web about what the true value of a player can be. Are all of these correct? Not at all. But, they give you a good grasp of the reality of the hurler's skill set, instead of the overwhelming positivity you'll usually be hammered with anytime a guy is called up.
(Note: To make the list, I'll apply a loose definition that says you have to likely be unowned in a vast majority of 12-team mixed leagues. At the end of each player note, I'll also provide a suggested bid for those that use FAAB (Free Agent Acquisition Budget) for their waiver process (based on a $100 budget). Understand that this is only a suggestion ... if you just lost you're a starting outfielder to injury and you have an immediate need or gaping hole in your lineup, you will find it necessary to bid more in order to get that week's top available outfielder.)
Hitters
Asdrubel Cabrera, SS, Tampa Bay
Maybe just a few days off was all Cabrera needed to rediscover a measure of what he used to be able to do. Post All-Star break and post-injury, the Rays' vet has finally come alive with a remarkable 16 hits in his past eight games! That's led to all the other categories you need, such as 11 runs and six RBIs. There was a point in his career where you'd say, 'OK, he's that kind of guy and I think he can keep some of this up.' But, lately, Cabrera has just been a mess with ever-dwindling batting marks and a lack of punch from the middle infield. But, you might want to take a shot on this particular hot streak showing some sustained life. He's started to move ever-so-closer to the middle of the lineup (currently, batting 5th in Tampa) and could provide a good average moving forward. Note, though, that he did take a ball off the face in Wednesday's game on a stolen base attempt. Check his status over the upcoming weekend before making a Sunday bid.
Suggested FAAB bid - $2
Avisail Garcia, OF, White Sox
Garcia came out of the gates humming (slashing to a .332/.372/.474 mark all the way up until May 20), but he's been mostly bumming over the past two months (.216/.279/.299 (!) from May 20 through July 21). Now, he seems to have found some zest in his bat with a pair of home runs in the past week that could be a sign that he's set to come out of his tailspin. The White Sox are committed to Garcia (he was a lineup regular throughout his massive two month slump) and you can count on him for plenty of at-bats in the next 7 weeks. If he can manage a sturdy .275 average and cut down just a tad on his whiffs (99 in his first 363 ABs), I could see Garcia being a top 40 outfielder moving forward. He's totally worth an addition if you've run into an outfield injury.
Suggested FAAB bid - $4
Ben Paulsen, 1B, Colorado
Paulsen is likely little more than a 'Coors Creation,' but that's what makes him so interesting for the upcoming week-plus. The rookie not only has a classic 'Keystone Cop'-look, but he's also earning plenty of opportunities in the Colorado batting order. He's turned in a very solid performance in his rookie year with an overall OPS of .865. And, in Denver, he's what you expect from a Rockie ... he clubs. His OPS at Coors Field jumps all the way to .981. He won't get many chances against opposing southpaws, but now is a great time to make a bid. Colorado will finish up a road trip early next week and then they return home for nine games in nine days. And, leading up through September, Paulsen will be able to don the home whites, while enjoying the high altitude that comes with it, for 27 of 43 games.
Suggested FAAB bid - $4
Yangervis Solarte, 1B/2B/3B, San Diego
I'm a little surprised that this name is on the list this week. The surprise is not because of what the player is doing, but because of what he has been doing all summer long. Solarte has been a top hitter in San Diego's lineup for some time and sharp fantasy owners added him over a month ago. But, just this morning I checked his ownership rate at one of the big providers, and it was under 20%! That's amazing when you consider his multi-positional eligibility, alongside his continued success. Since the Mid-Summer Classic, Solarte has owned the Friars' upper order with a near-.350 batting average, seven XBH's in 17 games, 10 runs, and eight RBIs. He's excellent at putting the ball in play, has the perfect spot in the order (ahead of Matt Kemp and Justin Upton), and is continually overlooked. I'm buying on a solid finish to the year.
Suggested FAAB bid - $3
Pitchers
Matt Boyd, SP, Detroit
Kudos to Detroit for giving in and realizing the inevitable at the trading deadline. By ridding themselves of stars who weren't going to help them in the future, the Tigers got an early start on their future. Boyd came over in the David Price deal with Toronto and got his first shot in the rotation on Wednesday. His outing was huge with seven innings of one-run ball against Kansas City. He's set for continued chances in the Tiger rotation for the remainder of the year and that makes him someone to follow. He's taken the slow-and-steady climb through the minors and should be ready to lock in an MLB-role. He's nothing incredible on the stuff-side (good fastball, good change) and figures to be nothing beyond a mid-rotation starter. I'm still iffy on the 'buy' for this year and wouldn't get carried away by the one start against KC.
Suggested FAAB bid - $2
Jon Gray, SP, Colorado
Everyone loves Gray's ability. But, everyone also realizes where he pitches. Quite frankly, we just haven't seen any long-term success from a Rockies' hurler. And, by 'long-term,' I'm not talking about a guy who excels for four or five years. I'm just talking about a guy who can post back-to-back full seasons that are top 40. They've never existed in Denver! I would make an addition and start him in above-average road contests. I wouldn't give him a shot at home unless he's rolling on a streak. If you have that option from day-to-day, he's a good dart throw to make.
Suggested FAAB bid - $4
Daniel Norris, SP, Detroit
Norris is the most interested name on this list. He was thoroughly dominating in Spring Training, so much so that he earned a top-5 starting gig in Toronto. But, spring training proved to be dramatically different from the regular season. Norris wasn't terrible, but his control was in doubt from pitch-to-pitch and the Blue Jays thought it better for him to figure things out at Triple-A, instead of in the bigs. That was a good decision and so was the decision by Detroit to make him a target in their Price trade talks. Norris has all the skills you're looking for, but the ability to find home plate has plagued him for the past couple of years. I think that he has to be added since he's in a fairly good spot for some starts, strikeouts, and even victories. There might be some ugly, short, walk-heavy outings, but the risk is worth paying for.
Suggested FAAB bid - $8
Henry Owens, SP, Boston
If Owens were truly a special hurler, he would have been up in Boston a long time ago. They've been struggling to field even mediocre pitching all year and there have been numerous chances for the Sox to call-up Owens. He never got it until now ... when they're mostly fork-ready to call it a year and sand bag it. His first outing was a rough spot, going against a very hot-hitting Yankee team, in Yankee Stadium. But, he handled the spotlight well with five punch-outs in five innings, one walk, and three runs allowed. The lefty has certain strikeout stuff, but he'll struggle to go deep into games. I'll slot him behind Norris for this week, but it's fairly close.
Suggested FAAB bid - $6
You can hear Kyle each weeknight on 'The SiriusXM Fantasy Drive' from 7-10 ET, Sirius 210, XM 87.
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