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2 days ago
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Fantasy baseball stashes: Players who could see their value increase at the MLB Trade Deadline
The MLB Trade Deadline is Thursday at 6 pm Eastern time. We've already seen a few trades over the weekend, and rumors are now beginning to swirl with more ferocity. However, while everybody is focusing on the big-name players who could change teams, like Eugenio Suarez or Joe Ryan, there's value in focusing on the "little guy." In this article, I'm going to discuss some hitters and pitchers I think will gain value after the trade deadline because they'll find themselves in more useful roles. That means we won't be discussing those big-name players who will change teams, players who may just "get hot," or players who could start but not provide fantasy football. We'll just be focusing on the ones who could be on the verge of providing you real fantasy value after the trade deadline due to a new opportunity. If you also just want to know some of the names of the players who might be moved and open up spots for their previous team, I wrote an article last week discussing the starting pitcher landscape at the trade deadline. Fantasy Baseball Hitters to Target before the MLB Trade Deadline Josh Bell - 1B, Washington Nationals Last week, I recorded a video on Josh Bell's decision to move to a more line-drive swing at the end of May. That decision has led to a .284/.361/.469 slash line in 46 games since making the shift. Yes, that has come with just even home runs and 24 RBI, but the numbers and approach will still work in deeper formats since Bell is striking out just 12% of the time and making a lot of contact. Bell is a free agent at the end of the season, so the Nationals would like to move him at the deadline, and if he winds up with regular at-bats for a team like Boston or the New York Mets, he could provide some solid value. Coby Mayo - 1B/3B, Baltimore OriolesRyan O'Hearn is almost certainly out the door in Baltimore since he's a free agent at the end of the season. That will open up first base and DH reps in Baltimore, and you'd have to think they want to get Mayo some full-time reps, especially after watching Kyle Stowers put together an All-Star season in Miami after the Orioles didn't give him consistent reps and then traded him away. Mayo is only 23 years old and has been producing of late in a limited sample size. Now could be the time for him to flourish, or Baltimore could choose to give those reps to top prospect Samuel Basallo - C/1B, Baltimore. Or, let's be honest, they could just bring Ryan Mountcastle off the IL and let him play regularly for the remainder of the season to see if he has a place on this team in 2026. Of course, if the Orioles also trade Ramon Urias, then Mayo has yet another path to full-time at-bats. Adrian Del Castillo - C/DH, Arizona Diamondbacks This one already came into focus on Thursday when the Diamondbacks traded Josh Naylor to the Mariners. Pavin Smith will likely be the regular first baseman for the Diamondbacks when he returns from the IL, and that means Del Castillo should be the DH the rest of the way. He hit .313/.368/.525 in 25 MLB games last year with four home runs and 19 RBI. Yes, there were some strikeout issues, but we love that offensive profile for a catcher and, for fantasy, we love catchers who don't catch. Jordan Lawlar - INF, Arizona Diamondbacks The Diamondbacks are also likely to move on from Eugenio Suarez, which could mean a starting third base job for Lawlar. The 22-year-old is battling a hamstring strain, but the team had indicated that he would be back in late July, so he could presumably take over for Suarez in August. Lawlar is hitting .319/.410/.583 at Triple-A with 10 home runs and 18 steals in 53 games. He has little left to prove there. Heriberto Hernandez - OF, Miami MarlinsHernandez is playing part-time for the Marlins now, but there are rumors that Jesus Sanchez could be traded at the deadline, which would free up more right field at-bats for Hernandez. The 25-year-old has defied expectations and hit .323/.377/.531 in 106 MLB plate appearances with five home runs and 17 RBI. He had a 35% strikeout rate in the minors, so this doesn't feel like it will keep up, but he also has a 91 mph average exit velocity in the big leagues and a 13.2% barrel rate, so maybe he can make enough impactful contact to help in deeper formats. Luke Keaschall - INF, Minnesota Twins We know that the Twins are interested in dealing their pending free agents like Willi Castro and Harrison Bader. If Castro were to be traded, that could open up 2B reps for Keaschall, who is in Triple-A recovering from a fractured forearm. Keaschall is not a great defender, so that might impact his overall playing time, but he hit .368/.538/.526 in his seven games before getting hurt and hit .303/.420/.483 with 15 home runs and 23 steals across 102 games at High-A and Double-A last year, so there is some upside in his bat. I still think people may overpay for his seven-game sample size, and I'd rather add him in deeper formats only. Christian Moore - 2B, Los Angeles Angels We've already seen Moore up with the Angels, but he's currently on the IL with a sprained thumb. He has begun swinging a bat, so he's nearing a return, and it's likely that the Angels will trade Yoan Moncada away at the deadline. That will allow them to shift Luis Rengifo over to third base and give Moore every day reps at second base for the remainder of the season. Moore has plenty of swing-and-miss in his approach, but his raw tools are loud. Spencer Jones - OF, New York YankeesSpeaking of loud raw tools, there is no prospect with more helium right now than Jones, who has hit .400/.457/.950 in 19 games at Triple-A with 13 home runs and six steals. There is not much negative you can say about that line; however, there are still real concerns with Jones' approach. Even in this torrid 19-game stretch, Jones has a 17.4% swinging strike rate and a 66.8% contact rate. He's just swinging nearly 53% of the time, so even though he swings at misses, he gets so many cracks at it that he eventually clobbers a baseball. That approach may work at Triple-A, but players with contact rates under 70% in the minors often struggle a lot against big league pitching. Rece Hinds, for example, has a 68.6% contact rate and 17.2% SwStr% at Triple-A this season. Those are almost identical contact metrics to Jones. The Yankees prospect obviously has more potential and is a good defender in the outfield as well, but his contact profile has some glaring red flags that might get exposed at the big league level in New York or if they move him at the deadline. Owen Caissie - OF, Chicago CubsCaissie is another top prospect who could be traded at the deadline and land in a starting spot. The 22-year-old is hitting .278/.377/.563 with 20 home runs and three steals at Triple-A Iowa this year. He has a 29.3% strikeout rate, which is a bit of a concern, but a more palatable 12.3% swinging strike rate and 72.5% contact rate. He has some swing-and-miss in his game, but he's also taking too many called strikes that get him into bad counts. If he were to be traded into full-time at-bats, his batting average would likely settle around .230-.240, at least for this season, but the power could be immediately impactful. Dylan Beavers - OF, Baltimore Orioles Beavers is yet another prospect who could see full-time reps after the trade deadline if the Orioles move on from one or both of Cedric Mullins and Ramon Laureano. The 23-year-old is hitting .284/.448/.567 in July with five home runs, 12 RBI, three steals, and a 13/18 K/BB ratio. He has 21 steals on the season to go along with a .303 average and .912 OPS while playing solid defense in the outfield. He would be an under-the-radar waiver add. Ryan Ward - OF, Los Angeles Dodgers One final outfielder to mention is Ryan Ward, who has been unreal for the Dodgers in Triple-A this season, slashing .311/.393/.607 with 28 home runs and 12 steals in 97 games. Now, Ward is a 27-year-old, so he is not a young prospect, but he has yet to make his MLB debut and has taken a big step forward this year thanks to lowering his groundball rate and looking to get to his pull-side more. The Dodgers are looking for bullpen help anywhere they can find it, and Ward could be an intriguing piece for them to send to a team like the Pirates, or the Guardians, or the Royals. C.J. Kayfus - 1B/OF, Cleveland Guardians The Guardians are not guaranteed to be sellers at the deadline, but it feels like they could at least move on from Carlos Santana, who is a free agent at the end of this season. That would open up at-bats for Kayfus, who has also been taking reps in right field as well while playing at Triple-A. The 2023 third-round pick is hitting .285/.367/.537 with 13 home runs and two steals at Triple-A Columbus this season. His 13% swinging strike rate is a bit elevated for a player without elite power, so it's unclear what kind of impact he will have immediately after being called up, but he profiles as the type of hitter who could be a solid deep-league corner infielder for now. Cam Devaney - SS, Pittsburgh Pirates The Pirates seem likely to trade Isiah Kiner-Falefa, which is likely why they acquired Devaney from the Royals earlier this month to begin with. Across 77 Triple-A games in both the Pirates and Royals' organizations, Devaney is slashing .271/.371/.535 with 18 home runs and three steals. He had a 48% hard-hit rate with Kansas City but, like many of the prospects we've covered on this list, has some contact issues, with just a 68.6% contact rate overall at Triple-A this season. That will limit him to deeper formats, even if he lands in an everyday role. Fantasy Baseball Pitchers to Target before the MLB Trade Deadline Nestor Cortes - SP, Milwaukee Brewers Cortes is coming off the IL this week after pitching to a 1.29 ERA in three rehab starts at Triple-A. We know that Cortes is a useful starter when he's healthy, and he seems destined to be in the rotation either for the Brewers or another team if Milwaukee decides to move him because of all their starting pitcher depth. He may be more of a 15-team league option, and a streamer in 12-team leagues, but given how many pitchers are banged up right now, I'm OK taking my shot on a guy like Cortes. Kyle Bradish - SP, Baltimore OriolesHave you forgotten about Kyle Bradish? The 28-year-old is making his second rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday and might be another three weeks from being ready to rejoin the rotation in Baltimore. With Zach Eflin, Tomoyuki Sugano, and Charlie Morton all potentially being traded, there will be plenty of spots for Bradish when he does return. Chayce McDermott figures to get the first opportunity, but he has not been good in Triple-A this season, so it's hard to get too excited by him or Cade Povich or anybody else that Baltimore may put in the rotation. Jack Perkins, SP, Athletics The Athletics could trade any of, or all of, Luis Severino, JP Sears, and Jeffrey Springs, which would open up a few rotation spots. One of the more likely candidates to take that spot is Perkins, who has pitched to a 2.55 ERA in 17.2 innings out of the bullpen for the Athletics since being promoted. He was also having a good season in the Triple-A rotation, with a 2.86 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 38.4% strikeout rate in 44 innings. He's an intriguing arm to be stashing in fantasy leagues, as is his teammate, JT Ginn, who appears to already be in the rotation and could stay there. Ginn doesn't have the strikeout upside that Perkins does, but he has revamped his pitch mix to create better command and induce more weak contact. He looked good against the Astros on Sunday and should be an option in deeper formats. Bubba Chandler - SP, Pittsburgh Pirates It has to be now, right? The Pirates are likely to trade away Mitch Keller or Andrew Heaney and open up yet another roster spot that should have gone to Chandler months ago. Now they don't need to worry about him losing his rookie eligibility. He has long since earned a shot. Cade Cavalli - SP, Washington Nationals The Nationals could move on from MacKenzie Gore at the deadline, but it's far more likely they simply trade Michael Soroka and call it a day as far as the rotation goes. That would open up one spot, and while Cavalli is not a lock for it, he's certainly the most intriguing option. The former top prospect is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, and his Triple-A results have been inconsistent, but he has flashed that same upside we saw before the injury, so it would be nice to see what he looks like against MLB arms. Chase Silseth - SP, Los Angeles Angels The Angels may finally trade Tyler Anderson, even though they should have last season, and that could open up a rotation spot for Silseth or Caden Dana. Dana is the more intriguing option, but he is working his way back from injury, so it might be Silseth who gets the first crack. He has a 4.30 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and 23% strikeout rate at Triple-A this season, so he's not lighting the world on fire, but we've seen him produce some solid stretches in the big leagues before, so maybe he can put together a solid month over the summer. Lucas Erceg - RP, Kansas City Royals The Royals are not sellers, per se, but they may see an option to land some talent by trading away Carlos Estevez at the deadline. Estevez has a $13 million team option for next season, and that's a bit pricey for a team like the Royals to pay, especially after extending Seth Lugo. The Royals could take advantage of a hot relief pitcher market and deal Estevez and slide Erceg right into the closer's role. We've seen him do it before, so we could add him with confidence. Dennis Santana - RP, Pittsburgh Pirates It seems like a lock that David Bednar will be traded at the deadline, which would open up the closer's role in Pittsburgh. Dennis Santana would be the logical choice to fill the role and was good there earlier in the season; however, Santana is also a pending free agent and could be traded away as well. If he is, it would seem that, based on recent usage patterns, Isaac Mattson could get a chance to secure some saves as the Pirates' primary closer. Phil Maton - RP, St. Louis Cardinals It also seems like the chances of Ryan Helsley being traded away increase with each passing day. That would mean that Phil Maton would likely slide into the closer's role in St. Louis. Oli Marmol has not been the type to play matchups in the ninth inning, so there's a chance Maton gets the opportunity to be the full-time closer on a team that will still be average after the deadline. Dylan Lee - RP, Atlanta Braves Another closer likely to be dealt is Raisel Iglesias, now that he has pitched much better over the last six weeks. If he does get traded, the Braves could move to a committee at the end of games, but Lee has been their best high-leverage reliever and would get his shot at save chances over the final two months. Jason Adam - RP, San Diego PadresIt seems like a long shot that Robert Suarez gets traded, but his name has come up in rumors because he will be a free agent at the end of the season, and the Padres have a deep bullpen where they can deal from a strength to address a weakness. If Suarez is dealt, it would be Adam or Jeremiah Estrada who would step into the closer's role. Both of them have been tremendous this season, but Adam has pitched in the second-highest-leverage innings, behind Suarez, so he seems likely to get the first shot at the gig.
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2 days ago
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2025 Fantasy Baseball: Top 5 waiver wire pickups for Week 18
The post 2025 Fantasy Baseball: Top 5 waiver wire pickups for Week 18 appeared first on ClutchPoints. The fantasy baseball regular season is winding down, making the waiver wire even more important. Plus, the MLB trade deadline will change the fantasy baseball landscape, with some contenders getting better. The playoffs are right around the corner, and you need the best possible team to make the dance. We've got you covered with the Week 18 waiver wire pickups. Each of these players is claimed in fewer than half of ESPN fantasy baseball leagues. That, however, could change quickly with the trade deadline approaching. You may have missed the boat with Ryan McMahon and Josh Naylor before they landed with playoff teams. But some of these guys are getting launched into pennant races in both leagues. Which players should you pick up for the week? Top fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 18 Addison Barger, Toronto 3B/OF (Rostered: 31.4%) The Toronto Blue Jays are one of the hottest teams in baseball after their recent series win over the New York Yankees. Barger has been a big reason why. In the 23 games before the All-Star Break, he had an .875 OPS with six homers and 18 RBI, helping Toronto pick up 15 wins. That has continued after the break with an .829 OPS and seven RBI in nine games. Barger also gives your fantasy baseball team some positional versatility, which is always important. Even if the Blue Jays make a big trade before the deadline, Barger will still find his way into the lineup. They are going to be in a division race for the rest of the season, making their hottest hand a player to pick up in fantasy. David Bednar, Pittsburgh RP (Rostered: 35.6%) The Pittsburgh Pirates will almost certainly sell off pieces at the MLB trade deadline, and closer David Bednar should be one of them. He has had a great season, with a 2.19 ERA and 16 saves in 41 appearances. If he gets dealt to a contender, fantasy baseball managers will flock to the waiver wire to scoop him up. If you do it now, it could help you win your league. Bednar has been connected to just about every division leader and Wild Card contender ahead of July 31. Every team needs bullpen help, and Bednar should be one of the best ones available. Picking him up now helps your team get saves and maybe holds, depending on where he goes, for the stretch run. Drake Baldwin, Atlanta C (Rostered: 10.7%) The Atlanta Braves will be selling at the MLB trade deadline thanks to a dreadful start to the season. Despite reports that catcher Sean Murphy is off the table, anything can change in the final minutes. Right now, rookie catcher Drake Baldwin is not playing every day. One good offer from a contender could change that. Pick him up in fantasy baseball, and it could work out as a league-winning move. Even if the Braves do not trade Murphy, Baldwin could help your team down the stretch. The rookie has an .857 OPS and 15 RBI in July. With Atlanta out of the playoff hunt, they should be playing the rookie more as the season winds down. Cam Schlittler, New York Yankees SP (Rostered: 6.3%) In two MLB starts, Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler has been solid. He has allowed five runs in 10.1 innings, working out of trouble on multiple occasions in a big game against the Blue Jays. He could be traded for a veteran starter at the deadline, giving him even more run with a worse team. Or, he could make two starts for the Yankees this week against the Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins. Either way, he is a solid fantasy baseball pickup. Once this week is over, it is every manager's choice what to do with Schlittler. You can dump him for next week's streamer, or you can keep him around for the stretch run. At 24 years old, he's a great choice as a keeper and could be in your rotation for years to come. Mickey Moniak, Colorado OF (Rostered: 6.4%) Among players still on the Colorado Rockies, Mickey Moniak is one of the few worth picking up in fantasy baseball. He was cut by the Angels and signed with the Rockies this offseason and has been solid. He has a career-high .273 batting average and .870 OPS. Moniak will also set his career high in RBI in the next few games. If the Rockies are committed to the teardown, Moniak could be on the way out. And if not, he should get a ton of at-bats moving forward. The former number one overall pick is not going to win your league. But he could help you get through an injury or just a tough time with your fantasy baseball outfield.
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4 days ago
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MLB Power Rankings: Brewers cruise to the top, Dodgers scuffling
Featured in this week's MLB Power Rankings, the Brewers climb to the top of our rankings, the Yankees can't figure out the Blue Jays, another injury for the Astros, Rich Hill is on the brink of history, and we're taking stock of the upcoming MLB trade deadline. (Please note these power rankings are a combination of current performance and long-term projected outlook) Let's get started! Fantasy baseball second-half breakouts and bouncebacks: Oneil Cruz, Zebby Matthews, more Eric Samulski breaks down hitters and pitchers he thinks will generate fantasy value in the second half. Eric Samulski , Note: Rankings are from the morning of Tuesday, July 22. 1) Milwaukee Brewers ⬆️ Last week: 5 Your eyes are not fooling you. Winners of 11 straight games, the Brewers have catapulted to the top of our rankings. Similar to Rays teams of the past, they just keep finding ways to defy preseason expectations and win baseball games. Even if they don't stay atop our rankings, they have established themselves as a serious threat to win the NL Central. 2) Detroit Tigers ⬇️ Last week: 1 The Tigers have stumbled a bit over the past two weeks, but they still possess the best record in the American League and a dominant lead in the AL Central. It will be interesting to see how they upgrade at the trade deadline, with the bullpen looking like an obvious area of need. 3) Toronto Blue Jays ⬆️ Last week: 6 The Blue Jays have won a franchise record 11 straight games at home as well as five straight games against the Yankees, powering them to a four-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East. 4) Chicago Cubs ⬇️ Last week: 3 The Cubs put Seiya Suzuki in center field on Monday with Pete Crow-Armstrong sidelined due to a bruised right knee. That's not ideal. Even if Crow-Armstrong's issue is a minor one, look for the Cubs to pursue a skilled defender for depth across their outfield. 5) Houston Astros ⬇️ Last week: 4 Do you know what the Astros really needed? Another injury. Isaac Paredes went down on Saturday with a right hamstring strain. While it's unclear how much time he'll miss, it really didn't look good. Mauricio Dubon, Zack Short, Brice Matthews (who hit his first two MLB homers on Monday), and Shay Witcomb are all options to fill in, but the trade deadline presents more opportunities. 6) Los Angeles Dodgers ⬇️ Last week: 2 The Dodgers have lost 10 out of their last 13 games, including a sweep at the hands of the Brewers over the weekend. Mookie Betts can't shake his funk at the plate, Clayton Kershaw is showing his frustration, and closer Tanner Scott is likely headed to the injured list with a forearm issue, so the vibes are shaky at the moment. 7) Philadelphia Phillies Last week: 7 Behold one of the weirdest endings to a baseball game in recent memory. Per Sarah Langs of this was just the second walk-off catcher's interference since the divisional era and the first since 1971. 8) New York Mets Last week: 8 Francisco Alvarez made his return to the Mets on Monday after mashing the ball during his promotion in Triple-A and you couldn't have asked for a better homecoming. The 23-year-old looked strong behind the plate while also drawing two walks and delivering a key double as part of a comeback victory over the Angels. The potential has always been there, so getting Alvarez right would be a game-changer for the Mets down the stretch. 9) San Diego Padres ⬆️ Last week: 11 The Padres have won six out of their last eight and find themselves just 3.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. Look for the club to address their top-heavy lineup as the trade deadline approaches. 10) New York Yankees ⬇️ Last week: 9 The Yankees can't seem to figure out the first-place Blue Jays right now and they have all sorts of needs (third base, starting pitcher, bullpen, etc.) in advance of the trade deadline. While Anthony Volpe's two-homer game against the Braves on Saturday was encouraging, his all-around regression continues to be a daily focus. 11) Boston Red Sox ⬇️ Last week: 10 Many expect the Red Sox to draw from their position player depth to upgrade in other areas, but Wilyer Abreu is showing that he's a keeper. The 26-year-old had his fourth multi-homer game of the season on Sunday to help salvage the series finale against the Cubs. He also leads the team with 20 home runs. 12) Seattle Mariners ⬆️ Last week: 13 In many ways, the Mariners have been the opposite of what we expected: Sixth in homers, tied for seventh in MLB in OPS, but in the middle of the pack in terms of ERA. Improved health should help the rotation, but bullpen appears to be a need going into next week. 13) St. Louis Cardinals ⬆️ Last week: 14 The Cardinals are 5-10 this month — including a sweep by the Diamondbacks coming out of the break — so they don't exactly look like a playoff contender. This puts John Mozeliak in an interesting position going into his final trade deadline in the big chair. Does he wield a heavy hand on his way out or focus on players who are set to become free agents? 14) Cincinnati Reds ⬆️ Last week: 15 Oh, to be a fly on the wall (or, in this case, the mound) in conversations between Terry Francona and Elly De La Cruz. 15) San Francisco Giants ⬇️ Last week: 12 On paper, it made all the sense in the world for the Giants to trade for Rafael Devers. It might still work out in the end, but the early returns are decidedly negative. Devers has hit just .219 with two homers and a .667 OPS with the club and the Giants are 11-18 since the trade. 16) Tampa Bay Rays Last week: 16 The Rays are on the fence as a potential contender, but with Brandon Lowe on the injured list again, Ha-Seong Kim dealing with yet another injury, and Shane McClanahan hitting a speed bump in his rehab, things aren't looking promising. 17) Texas Rangers Last week: 17 The Rangers have won six out of their last eight as they sit on the bubble among playoff contenders. It was nice to see Josh Jung homer in his return to the majors on Monday against the Athletics, even if his production after his demotion to Triple-A didn't exactly jump off the page. 18) Arizona Diamondbacks Last week: 18 As we've said in previous weeks, the Diamondbacks might have the most high-impact options available via trade. Of course, there's the prodigious power of Eugenio Suárez, but also Josh Naylor, Merrill Kelly, and Zac Gallen. It should be a fascinating few days in Arizona. 19) Los Angeles Angels ⬆️ Last week: 21 The progress of Jo Adell continues to be a nice story. With a couple of homers over the weekend against the Phillies, the 26-year-old former top prospect is slashing .287/.355/.565 with eight home runs and 24 RBI over his last 28 games. 20) Cleveland Guardians ⬆️ Last week: 23 Even with some better play since their 10-game losing streak, the Guardians are way out in the AL Central and have a few teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race. The big question is if they'd actually consider dealing either Steven Kwan or Emmanuel Clase. 21) Kansas City Royals ⬇️ Last week: 20 That the Royals are turning to 45-year-old Rich Hill to make a start on Tuesday is perhaps emblematic of where the Royals find themselves in late-July, but it's historic nonetheless. The southpaw will tie Edwin Jackson's MLB record by suiting up for his 14th MLB team. And to make it truly full circle, he'll pitch at Wrigley Field, which is where it all began for him in 2005. 22) Minnesota Twins ⬇️ Last week: 19 Not only do the Twins look like logical sellers at the deadline, but MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said during the All-Star break that he's confident the team will be sold soon. 23) Miami Marlins ⬆️ Last week: 24 Even with back-to-back losses as of this writing, the Marlins have won 21 out of their last 31 games. Eury Pérez has been worth the wait while youngsters Kyle Stowers and Agustín Ramírez look like long-term building blocks. It will be interesting to see if the Marlins can turn some of their pitching into more help for the future. 24) Baltimore Orioles ⬇️ Last week: 22 Losers of five out of six, the Orioles are likely going to be forced to embrace reality as a seller. We'll surely hear about names like Cedric Mullins, Ryan O'Hearn, and Ramon Laureano, but the Orioles might be able to get their biggest haul should they decide to trade Félix Bautista. 25) Atlanta Braves Last week: 25 450-feet homers, scoring from first base on a single, amazing throws. Even in a frustrating season for the Braves, Ronald Acuña Jr. is a must-watch every time he's on the field. 26) Athletics Last week: 26 It feels weird to say this, but teams looking for starting pitching will likely be calling the A's over the next week. Luis Severino would surely welcome a deal, but pitchers like Jeffrey Springs and J.P. Sears could also draw interest. 27) Washington Nationals ⬆️ Last week: 28 While the Nationals could fetch a haul of a return for left-hander MacKenzie Gore, interim GM Mike DeBartolo has no intention of dealing from the core of the next contending iteration of the franchise. 28) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬇️ Last week: 27 There's no shortage of ways to express the excellence of Paul Skenes, but this stat was mind-blowing to me: Skenes hasn't allowed a single run in the first inning all season across 21 starts. Kudos to SNY and Gary Cohen for mentioning this on Monday's Mets broadcast. 29) Chicago White Sox Last week: 29 The White Sox became the final team to sweep a series this season by taking three games against the Pirates over the weekend. With a win over the Rays on Monday, the White Sox are 4-0 coming out of the break. That's their best mark in a season since the All-Star break since the World Series-winning club in 2005. History probably won't repeat itself, but it's still fun. 30) Colorado Rockies Last week: 30 It has been a frustrating and injury-filled year for Ezequiel Tovar, but he has a chance to finish strong after returning from an oblique injury at the start of the second half. He went 3-for-4 with a homer in Saturday's victory over the Twins.
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5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Drake Baldwin, Ryan McMahon and Kyle Bradish
FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS Drake Baldwin (C Braves): Rostered in 20% of Yahoo leagues Even for those who weren't fortunate enough to land Cal Raleigh, it's been pretty easy to get solid production from the catcher spot in one-backstop leagues this year, easy enough that most seem too content to make a change at this point. For that reason, Baldwin remains available in 80 percent of Yahoo leagues, even after the Braves turned him into a full-time player by putting Marcell Ozuna on the bench last weekend. He's since started seven straight games, four at catcher and three at DH. With Ozuna seemingly likely to be moved at the deadline, Baldwin should get all of the playing time he can handle the rest of the way, making him the NL Rookie of the Year favorite. He's certainly looked the part thus far in batting .284/.353/.479 with 11 homers. The league as a whole this year has 27% more hard-hit balls than strikeouts. Baldwin has 123% more (89 hard-hit balls, 40 strikeouts). His 50.9% hard-hit rate places him 31st of the 268 batters with 200 plate appearances. Will Smith and Hunter Goodwin are the only catchers hitting at least .280 with at least 10 homers. Maybe Baldwin will wear down some, but all of the DH time will help. If the Braves pivot and trade Sean Murphy instead of Ozuna, I would drop Baldwin in my rankings some. Right now, though, I have him eighth among catchers, and I'd be willing to move on from guys like J.T. Realmuto, Alejandro Kirk, Shea Langeliers, Logan O'Hoppe and Agustin Ramírez in order to add him. Ryan McMahon (3B Yankees): Rostered in 35% of Yahoo leagues It's hard to spin being traded out of Coors Field as a good thing, but getting away from the disaster of an organization that is the Colorado Rockies might pay off for McMahon, an eternally disappointing offensive player who nevertheless possesses excellent exit velocity numbers. Those numbers are actually better than usual this season. McMahon, who was dealt to the Yankees for two pitching prospects on Friday, is currently averaging 94.0 mph off the bat, seventh best in the majors. His top-end numbers aren't as great -- for instance, he's just 46th when it comes to 90th percentile exit velocity -- but that's still a lot of hard contact. He's also hitting more flyballs and pulling the ball more than usual this year. It seems like a recipe for success, but there have been a lot of shots to the warning track thus far. He's also probably been unlucky; Statcast has him with a .466 xSLG, compared to .403 in reality. He's never experienced any sort of gap like that previously. Obviously, the strikeouts really hold McMahon back. He was leading the NL with 127 this season, which is remarkable for a guy playing in the league's preeminent strikeout-suppressing ballpark. The Yankees probably have some ideas on how to help him there, but one can't really expect him to improve much in the near future. If McMahon's value does come up in the short term, it will be a product of hitting in a far better lineup and sneaking balls over the right field wall in Yankee Stadium. It's a far worse offensive ballpark, but it's one that yields more homers to left-handers than Coors does. Unless the Yankees platoon him against southpaws -- they probably ought to, but I'm guessing he'll be a full-timer initially -- he's probably a better rest-of-season bet today than he was yesterday. Kyle Bradish (SP Orioles): Rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues Bradish pitched in a game Thursday for the first time since Tommy John surgery, throwing two innings and allowing one run for High-A Aberdeen. The stadium gun had him at 94-96 mph, said Jake Rill, putting right back where he was before getting hurt. That bodes well for a right-hander who had emerged as one of the AL's best pitchers at the time of his injury. A subpar pitcher as a rookie in 2022, Bradish busted out about a month into the 2023 season and wound up posting a 2.42 ERA and a 150/35 K/BB in his final 25 starts that year. Last season, he was just as effective, and his strikeout rate jumped from 25 percent to 33 percent in the eight starts before he got hurt. The league had a hard-hit rate of just 29 percent against his arsenal of two fastballs, a slider and a curve. That's not to say Bradish is going to experience the same sort of success right away after returning next month. He might even have a setback before then, and given that the Orioles are out of contention, any sort of setback would probably get him shut down until 2026. However, if his rehab continues to progress smoothly, he could be quite an asset over the final six weeks of the season. Those who look to wait until his rehab is complete to pick him up will probably find they missed out. Waiver Wire Quick Hits - I'm not going to write about rotation-bound Joe Boyle again so soon after featuring him recently, but he ought to be picked up everywhere after the Rays' demotion of Taj Bradley. Instead, he's only 15 percent rostered now. - The Astros' Cristian Javier doesn't need to be picked up just yet as he works his way back from Tommy John, but it was really encouraging that he averaged 93.6 mph with his fastball in his first Triple-A start. That's back where he was in 2021 and '22 before falling off in 2023 (92.8 mph) and 2024 (91.7). I doubt we'll ever again see the Javier of 2022 (2.54 ERA, 33% K rate in 149 IP), but on a fine Houston team, he doesn't need to be that good to offer some value.
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: The red-hot Brewers are ripe for both offense and steals this weekend
With less than a week to go until the MLB trade deadline, many mid-level clubs will be doing everything in their power to move up the standings this weekend. Fantasy baseball managers who need offense this weekend would be wise to grab multiple players from the Orioles and Brewers. On the pitching side, Ryne Nelson and Dean Kremer are the players to add, although there are several other hurlers listed at the bottom of this article who could make useful contributions. Matchups to Target Orioles vs. Rockies After improving during June, Baltimore's offense ranks 29th in runs scored this month. They could get back on track this weekend, when they face a Rockies pitching staff with a 5.50 ERA. Ramón Laureano (16%) has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball, making him a must-add player in any league for this series. Ryan O'Hearn (29%) and Cedric Mullins (51%) are also solid options. Brewers vs. Marlins The red-hot Brewers could start off their weekend series on a high note when they face Cal Quantrill (5.24 ERA) on Friday and Jansen Junk (6.3 K/9 rate) on Saturday. Their Sunday matchup with Eury Pérez is challenging but not intimidating. Isaac Collins (4%) remains widely available despite becoming a five-category contributor, making him the player to target. Managers can also consider Caleb Durbin (22%), Andrew Vaughn (9%) and Joey Ortiz (6%). Phillies @ Yankees The Phillies could feast on Will Warren and Marcus Stroman on Friday and Saturday before engaging in a tougher matchup with Carlos Rodón on Sunday. The key members of this lineup are widely rostered, but Otto Kemp (2%) is someone to consider while he fills in for Alec Bohm at third base. Brandon Marsh (3%) could also have success against righties in the initial two games. Mariners @ Angels Although Seattle's run total may be good rather than great, they should have plenty of baserunners against José Soriano (1.43 WHIP), Tyler Anderson (1.41 WHIP), Kyle Hendricks (1.29 WHIP) and a bullpen with a 1.48 WHIP. Jorge Polanco (31%) has recently broken out of a slump, and rookie Cole Young (2%) has fared well in July. J.P. Crawford (21%) has a low ceiling but is typically effective out of the leadoff spot. Rangers vs. Braves Atlanta is running out of starting pitchers, which leaves the hot-hitting Rangers to face Joey Wentz (5.71 ERA) on Friday and Bryce Elder (5.63 ERA) on Sunday. Josh Smith (35%) could score a few runs out of the leadoff spot, and Josh Jung (27%) may be ready to turn around a forgettable season after recently being recalled from the Minors. Matchups to Avoid Athletics @ Astros The Athletics could struggle on Friday and Sunday, when they face Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez. Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker and Tyler Soderstrom are the three lineup members who should stay active everywhere. [Smarter waivers, better trades, optimized lineups — Yahoo Fantasy Plus unlocks it all] Angels vs. Mariners The Angels will face the toughest part of the Mariners elite rotation when they draw Bryan Woo, George Kirby and Logan Gilbert this weekend. Zach Neto and Mike Trout are the two must-start Angels, and Taylor Ward will remain active in some leagues. Seeking Saves Kevin Ginkel, D-backs (10% Rostered) Cubs closer Danny Palencia (53%) is the saves source to add in shallow leagues, but he has been mentioned often enough in this space. Instead, I'll go with Ginkel, who is working the ninth inning in a depleted Arizona bullpen. Ginkel has logged a 2.31 ERA since June 20, and he could get multiple save chances when the D-backs face the 42-61 Pirates. Seeking Steals Isaac Collins, OF, Brewers (4% Rostered) Collins has been a revelation for the red-hot Brewers, hitting .299 with an .873 OPS since June 1. He has also flashed speed by swiping 11 bases in 217 at-bats this year. The outfielder could add to his swipes total when he faces a Marlins team that has allowed 14 more steals than any other club. Caleb Durbin (22%) is another good candidate to swipe a base. Streaming starters In order, here are the best streamers for the weekend, with their start date and Yahoo! roster rate in brackets. Ryne Nelson @ PIT (Friday, 42%) Dean Kremer vs. COL (Friday, 33%) José Soriano vs. SEA (Friday, 37%) Cade Horton @ CWS (Saturday, 14%) Jacob Lopez @ HOU (Saturday, 19%) Jose Quintana vs. MIA (Saturday, 21%) Tomoyuki Sugano vs. COL (Sunday, 12%) Zebby Matthews vs. WSH (Saturday, 17%) Jeffrey Springs @ HOU (Friday, 35%)
