Fantasy Baseball Week 20 WW/FAAB Preview
Get ready for this weekend's FAAB with the weekly preview.
We are in the thick of the MLB Trade Deadline bonanza. Keep your head on a swivel, as many names will become FAAB-relevant. We have nine weeks of FAAB left, so It’s time to attack team needs even more than usual. Focus on racking up 2-start pitchers where you need counting stats. Start streaming more and more to maximize at-bats. It’s also time to make some stricter cuts as the season is dwindling away.
Most weeks throughout the season, I’ll bring you some FAAB previews for your weekend FAABing. It’ll be similar to my work last year, where I highlight schedules, 2-start pitchers, and bats to add/stream for the week. For players to target, I’ll use NFBC OC roster rates and mention players available in 60% or less of leagues. If you have any questions, feel free to message me.
If you want a full FAAB preview, listen to Bubba & the Bloom EP 155.
(Friendly reminder: if you are a PAID member of the substack, you’ll have full access to message me with all your fantasy team needs.)
Schedule
7 Games- ARI, CIN, CLE, MIA, MIN, NYM, PHI, SF, WAS
6 Games- ATL, BAL, BOS, COL, DET, HOU, LAA, LAD, MIL, NYY, OAK, PIT, SD, SEA, STL, TB, TEX, TOR
5 Games- CHC, CWS, KC
Schedule highlights-
The DBacks face five RHP in seven games.
The Braves face five RHP in six games. They finish the week with three in Coors.
The Red Sox face five RHP in six games.
The Reds face seven RHP in all seven road games.
The Guardians face six RHP in seven games. They play four games in the 2H of the week, thanks to a doubleheader on Friday.
The Rockies play all six games in Coors, but it’s 3 LHP and 3 RHP.
The Tigers face five RHP in six games.
The Dodgers face five RHP in six games.
The Twins face five RHP in seven games. Thanks to a doubleheader on Friday, they play four games in the second half of the week.
The Mets face five RHP in seven games. They open the week with three games in Coors.
The Yankees face five RHP in six games.
The A’s face six RHP in six games.
The Pirates face six RHP in six games.
The Rays face six RHP in six games.
The Nats face five RHP in seven games.
2-Start Pitchers (Available in most NFBC OCs) (2-Start options are subject to change)
Eduardo Rodriguez, ARI (at CLE, vs PHI) - Pass as he’s returning from a long IL stint.
James Paxton, BOS (at KC, vs HOU) - Pass
Nick Martinez, CIN (at MIA, at MIL) - Pass
Kyle Freeland, COL (vs NYM, vs ATL) - Pass
Alex Faedo, DET (at SEA, at SF) - Pass
Davis Daniel, LAA (at NYY, at WAS) - Pass
Roddery Munoz, MIA (vs CIN, vs SD) - Pass
Max Meyer, MIA (vs CIN, vs SD) - Deep league only
Colin Rea, MIL (at ATL, vs CIN) - Deep league only
David Festa, MIN (at CHC, vs CLE) - Deep league only
JP Sears, OAK (vs CWS, at TOR) - START
Bailey Falter, PIT (vs SD, at LAD) - Pass
Hayden Birdsong, SF (at WAS, vs DET) - START
Andre Pallante, STL (vs NYM, at KC) - Deep league only
Jeffrey Springs, TB (at STL, vs BAL) - Deep league only
Patrick Corbin, WAS (vs SF, vs LAA) - Pass
FAAB/WW Hitting Targets (with quick thoughts)
Austin Wells (C - NYY) - Wells has taken over the catching duties since Jose Trevino hit the IL and Wells has been great. Since the all-star break, Wells is hitting .333 with two home runs. He’s playing like a Top 12 catcher and should be rostered in most formats.
Justin Turner (1B - SEA) - Turner has been putting together another quality season. Since the all-star break, Turner is hitting .420 with two home runs and eight RBI. He plays daily for the Mariners and should be rostered in most formats.
Nolan Schanuel (1B—LAA) - Schanuel has turned into more than just a batting average or OBP asset of late. He entered Saturday riding a seven-game hitting streak in which he’s hitting .417 with two home runs and seven runs scored. He’s also walking 19.4% of the time over the seven games while striking out only 16.1%. Schanuel should be rostered in most 12-team and deeper leagues.
Max Schuemann (SS - OAK) - Schuemann has slowed down of late but is still hitting .289 since the all-star break with a home run, nine runs scored, and two stolen bases. He makes for a nice MI option in 12-team and deeper leagues.
Gavin Lux (2B,OF - LAD) - Lux has found his swing of late and that has got Lux playing daily and hitting in the middle of the Dodgers lineup. He entered Saturday on a seven-game hitting streak where he’s hitting .429 with a home run while walking 20.7% of the time. It’s time to jump on the Lux train if you haven’t yet.
Jake Fraley (OF - CIN) - Fraley is hitting .286 with two home runs since the break. The Reds face all RHP next week, and the following week it looks like he’ll face all RHP again, and those games will be in Great American Small Park. Jumping on Fraley this week for cheap before he gets all those games at home is a nice strategy.
Jorge Polanco (2B - SEA) - Polanco has been battling a knee injury, but when he’s in the lineup, he’s producing. Since the all-star break, Polanco is hititng .273 with five home runs. Polanco is swinging it well in an improving Mariners offense, making him fantasy-relevant once again.
Matt Wallner (OF - MIN) - Wallner is a streaky power bat that thrives versus RHP. The Twins face a lot of RHP this next week, making Wallner a great power stream.
Rowdy Tellez (1B - PIT) - Tellez has quieted down a bit in the power department but is still hitting for average. The Pirates have some nice matchups versus RHP next week, making Tellez a nice play once again.
Jackson Holliday (SS - BAL) - Holliday has been recalled from AAA and plays daily at 2B. He’s one of the top offensive targets this week.
Dylan Moore (2B,SS,3B,OF - SEA) - With JP Crawford on the IL, Moore is again fantasy-relevant. He is hitting .280 over his last seven games with a home run, eight RBI, and three stolen bases. His positional flexibility is a major plus as well.
MJ Melendez (OF - KC) - Melendez was swinging it well before hitting the IL, and he’s now back. He’s only hitting .235 in July, but he does have four home runs to go with a 43% hard-hit rate. It may be time to buy back into Melendez in deeper formats.
Parker Meadows (OF - DET) - Meadows was swinging it well before hitting the IL with a hamstring injury. He was activated over the weekend and went 2-5 on Saturday with a triple, a run, and an RBI.
Austin Hays (OF - PHI) - Hays is back to being fantasy-relevant as he’s the everyday LF for the Phillies. He has hit safely in five of six games with the Phillies, including a home run.
Oswaldo Cabrera (3B,OF - NYY) - Cabrera is playing daily for the Yankees, mainly at 3B, but sprinkling in action at 2B and in the outfield. He’s hitting .276 since the break with a home run and a stolen base. He’s likely a deep league play, but worth monitoring at worse.
Seth Brown (1B,OF - OAK) - Brown brings a lot of power to the lineup when playing as he platoons and only plays versus RHP. Since the break, he’s hitting .278 with three home runs. The A’s face a lot of RHP next week which could be huge for Brown’s fantasy upside.
Joey Loperfido (OF - TOR) - Loperfido plays daily for the Jays and has hit safely in all three games since joining the Jays. He’s a deep league play for now, but worth monitoring going forward.
Miguel Vargas (2B,OF - CWS) - Vargas has been freed of his Dodgers shackles and is playing daily for the White Sox. He’s hitting at the top of the White Sox lineup and has a home run since joining the team. He’s a deep league play for now with a 12-team upside.
Coby Mayo (3B - BAL) - Mayo was promoted to take the roster spot of the injured Jordan Westburg. He has gone hitless in his first two games. I am treading lightly, but the talent is undeniable.
FAAB/WW Pitching Targets (with quick thoughts)
Hayden Birdsong (SP - SF) - With Alex Cobb getting traded to Cleveland, Birdsong finds himself locked into the Giants rotation. He has been outstanding this season, and he’s the top pitching priority this week.
Hunter Harvey (RP - KC) - With James McArthur’s struggles, Harvey may be the man to target for saves. Lucas Erceg is also a factor, but Harvey is the one the take a chance on if you want to target Royals saves.
AJ Puk (RP - ARI) - Paul Sewald has been removed from his closing duties. Ryan Thompson has been the early benefactor for saves in Arizona, but Puk has been solid out of the pen this season and he could find his way into the closer’s role sooner than later.
JP Sears (SP - OAK) - Sears has allowed three earned runs or less in five of six starts while striking out 36 over 35.1 innings pitched. Sears has added four wins in those six starts, which is outstanding. Sears has a great 2-step this week, making Sears one of the better streams this week.
Victor Vodnik (RP - COL) - It is a week to add some saves via the wire. Vodnik is one of my top targets, as he’s the current closer for the Rockies. He has four saves and a couple of wins over the past month. People avoid Rockies closers, so Vodnik could come cheap this week.
DJ Herz (SP - WAS) - I will keep being that guy who bangs the DJ Herz drum. His underlying ERA estimators, as well as a great K-BB, keep him high on my radar. He’s a bench streamer these days.
Tyler Ferguson (RP - OAK) - With Mason Miller on the IL, Freguson is the closer in Oakland. Miller is throwing bullpens and is expected back whenever the cast comes off, so Ferguson may only be the closer for another week or two.
Eduardo Rodriguez (SP - ARI) - After missing much time on the IL, ERod returns to the DBacks this week in a tough 2-step. I am all for adding ERod for the future, but I would have him on the bench to let him work off the rust.
Jose Butto (SP,RP - NYM) - Butto was a strong starter earlier this season and is now utilized out of the pen. He’s been solid out of the pen as well. Butto is worth a shot if you want good bullpen innings with a chance for Butto to rejoin the Mets rotation at some point.
David Festa (SP - MIN) - Festa struggled in his first go-round with the Twins, but this time around, he’s looking much better. He has allowed three earned runs over 9.1 innings pitched with 13 strikeouts. He has a nice 2-step this week and should be worth a roster spot as long as he’s in the Twins’ rotation.
Jeffrey Springs (SP - TB) - Springs returned to the bigs last week. There are questions about innings, which leaves me timid on adding Springs. I am all for adding him this week, but he’s likely on my bench till his workload gets stretched out.
DL Hall (SP - MIL) - Hall is working his way back from a knee injury and should be activated any day. He’s worth stashing for now.
Luis Garcia (RP - BOS) - Garcia was traded to the Red Sox, taking him out of his closing role with the Angels. I would still be interested in Garcia, as he’ll take over for Kenley Jansen if anything happens. Jansen is already dealing with a back issue.
Hunter Strickland (RP - LAA) - Strickland got the first few save chances in Anaheim, but Ben Joyce was the man on Saturday. Joyce is the guy I want, but be aware that Strickland could be a problem.
Ryan Thompson (RP - ARI) - For now, Thompson is the closer in Arizona, making him fantasy-relevant this weekend. I still expect Puk to take over the role eventually, but possession is 9/10 of the law, and Thompson has that possession.
Calvin Faucher (RP—MIA): The closing role is a mess in Miami. Faucher seems to be the guy to take those chances.