Fantasy Baseball Week 24 WW/FAAB Preview
Get ready for this weekend's FAAB with the weekly preview.
We have made it through another week of the season and are heading towards the stretch run. We only have a handful of weeks left, so start focusing on 2-start pitchers where you need to count stats. Start streaming more and more to maximize at-bats. It’s also time to make stricter cuts as the season is dwindling.
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 165.
(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, MIN, OAK, PIT, SEA, TB, TEX
6 Games- ATL, BAL, BOS, CHC, CIN, CLE, COL, CWS, DET, HOU, KC, LAA, LAD, MIA, MIL, NYM, NYY, PHI, SD, SF, STL, WAS
5 Games- TOR
Schedule highlights-
The Orioles face five RHP in six games.
The Reds face the Astros to start the week with three games at Great American Small Park versus three RHP.
The Guardians face five RHP in six games.
The Rockies face five RHP in six games. All on the road.
The White Sox face five RHP in six games.
The Tigers face five RHP in six games.
The Astros face five RHP in six games. The first three games are at Great American Small Park versus RHP.
The Royals face six RHP in six games.
The Twins face five RHP in seven games.
The Mets face six RHP in six games.
The A’s face five RHP in seven games.
The Phillies face six RHP in six games.
The Pirates face six LHP in seven games.
The Mariners face six RHP in seven games.
The Giants face six RHP in six games.
The Cardinals face six RHP in six games.
The Rays face seven RHP in seven games.
The Nats face five RHP in six games.
2-Start Pitchers (Available in most NFBC OCs) (2-Start options are subject to change)
Kyle Freeland, COL (at ATL, at MIL) - Deep Leagues Only
Chris Flexen, CWS (at BAL, at BOS) - SIT
Brant Hurter, DET (at SD, at OAK) - Deep Leagues Only
Max Meyer, MIA (vs WAS, vs PHI) - SIT
Osvaldo Bido, OAK (vs SEA, vs DET) - START and HOLD
J.T. Ginn, OAK (vs SEA, vs DET) - SIT
Tyler Phillips, PHI (at TOR, at MIA) - Deep Leagues Only
Zack Littell, TB (vs MIN, at BAL) - SIT
Jack Leiter, TEX (vs NYY, vs LAA) - Deep Leagues Only
Patrick Corbin, WAS (at MIA, at PIT) - START and HOLD
FAAB/WW Hitting Targets (with quick thoughts)
Orlando Arcia (SS - ATL) - Arcia has hit safely in nine of his last 11 games for a .270 batting average. He has four home runs, seven runs scored, and seven RBI. Arcia makes for a nice MI option.
Connor Norby (2B,3B - MIA) - Norby has been outstanding since joining the Marlins. He has hit safely in 11 of 12 games with three home runs. He’s leading off while Xavier Edwards is on the IL and gained 3B eligibility after Saturday’s game, making him MI and CI viable. Norby should be one of the top adds this week.
Miguel Amaya (C - CHC) - After a disappointing start to the season, Amaya has woken up at the plate. He’s hitting .500 over his last seven games with two home runs and 13 RBI. He makes for a solid C2 where needed.
Paul DeJong (SS,3B - KC) - DeJong has been quite productive for the Royals. He’s hitting .311 over his last 13 games with five home runs. He still strikes out too much 38% of the time. DeJong is worth streaming while hitting well and dropping when the train comes off the tracks.
Michael Massey (2B - KC) - Massey is back and healthy for now. He’s hitting .343 over his last 11 games with a home run. If you need 2B help, Massey should be on the waterfall.
Jasson Dominguez (OF - NYY) - Rosters expand on Sunday, and the Martian “should” get called up by the Yankees. He’s destroying baseballs at AAA and has no reason to continue wasting at-bats at AAA.
Connor Joe (1B,OF - PIT) - Joe has hit safely in three of his last five games with two home runs. The Pirates face five LHP next week, making Joe a great stream. Don’t sleep on his upside versus LHP.
Geraldo Perdomo (2B,SS - ARI) - Perdomo has been hitting for average with some power and speed since returning from the IL. He makes for a great MI option going forward. A solid replacement for the injured David Hamilton.
MJ Melendez (OF - KC) - Melendez’s bat has woken up late. He’s hitting .297 over his last 13 games with three home runs. Melendez makes for a great target this week, with the Royals facing six RHP this week.
Ramon Laureano (OF - ATL) - Laureano has taken over the OF role from Adam Duvall and is not returning it any time soon. Over his last 14 games, Laureano is hitting .327 with three home runs and two stolen bases. It’s time to stop sleeping on Laureano.
Anthony Rizzo (1B - NYY) - Rizzo has been rehabbing and is expected back with the Yankees on Sunday or Monday. If you need 1B help, Rizzo could be worth a dart.
Jacob Wilson (SS - OAK) - Wilson returned from the IL and hit safely in two of three games. He’s walking 15.4% of the time and showcased great hitting skills in the minors. Wilson could be a target for you if you are looking for batting average help.
Jordan Walker (OF - STL) - Walker was recalled from AAA, and the Cardinals said he’ll play nearly every day. I am still out on Walker, but he is worth monitoring.
Trevor Larnach (OF - MIN) - Larnach is hitting .351 over his last 11 games with three home runs and ten RBI. The Twins have plenty of RHP this week, making Larnach a solid stream.
Andres Chapparo (1B,3B - WAS) - Chapparo is hitting .264 since he was recalled on August 13. He hits in the middle of the Nats batting order and can cover both CI spots on your roster. He may be better for deeper leagues, but is worth monitoring if you aren’t adding now.
Derek Hill (OF - MIA) - Hill is hitting .238 with four home runs since joining the Marlins. The Marlins start the week versus three LHP, which makes Hill an intriguing stream to start the week.
Jace Jung (2B,3B - DET) - Jung plays daily and hits in the middle of the Tigers lineup. He’s hitting .263 over his last five games. Jung brings MI and CI viability. For now, he may be best suited for deeper leagues.
Jose Tena (SS,3B - WAS) - Tena joined the Nats on August 10, and over 15 games, he’s hitting .327 with two home runs and a stolen base. Tena is one of the better MI/CI targets this week, behind Connor Norby.
Dylan Crews (OF - WAS) - Crews is one of the top prospects in the game. He has brought a nice power and speed skillset to the bigs. Crews is worth emptying most of your FAAB on this week.
Kyle Manzardo (1B - CLE) - Manzardo will be recalled when rosters expand on Sunday. I am not adding him this week, but worth monitoring.
Grant McCray (OF - SF) - McCray was recalled on August 14, and he hit .245 with three home runs and two stolen bases. He brings a nice power and speed skillset for deeper leagues.
FAAB/WW Pitching Targets (with quick thoughts)
MacKenzie Gore (SP - WAS) - Gore has struggled after a great start to the season. He’s looked a little better of late, allowing two earned runs or less in three of his last four starts. Gore faces the Marlins this week and then the Braves and Marlins in a 2-step the following week. Gore is a nice stream for his upcoming schedule.
Osvaldo Bido (SP - OAK) - Bido has been great in August, allowing five earned runs over 29 innings pitched with 28 strikeouts. Bido has a great 2-step next week versus the Mariners and Tigers, with the White Sox on deck for next week. Bido is one of my top pitching targets for the week.
Martin Perez (SP - SD) - Perez allowed four earned runs in his last start, but he had allowed three earned runs or less over his previous six starts. Perez faces the Tigers this week and the Mariners next week, which is setting up for two nice streaming starts.
Calvin Faucher (RP - MIA) - Faucher picked up another save on Saturday night as he stepped into the Marlins' closing duties. If you need saves, Faucher should be near the top of your list.
Frankie Montas (SP - MIL) - Montas has allowed four earned runs in his last two starts but three earned or less in his previous three. Montas faces the Rockies this week and the Giants the following week for two decent streaming starts.
Albert Suarez (SP - BAL) - Suarez has allowed four earned runs over his last five starts with 24 strikeouts over 30.1 innings pitched. Suarez faces the White Sox this week for a great stream.
Edwin Uceta (RP - TB) - The Rays closing situation is messy. If you are desperate for saves and want to deal with the Rays' mess, then Uceta is the pitcher I would target.
Aroldis Chapman (RP - PIT) - The Pirates have removed David Bednar from closing duties for now. Chapman has been great in the backend of the Pirates bullpen, and he should be the first option for saves with Bednar out.
Reid Detmers (SP - LAA) - Detmers has looked great in his last few starts at AAA. He’ll be recalled when rosters expand and will make a start on Tuesday versus the Dodgers. It is not the best matchup, but Detmers should have some fantasy appeal as the season winds down.
Jack Leiter (SP - TEX) - Leiter is expected to be recalled and join the Rangers rotation. He’s in line for a 2-step next week versus the Yankees and the Angels. The second start alone makes Leiter an intriguing stream.
Casey Mize (SP - DET) - Mize was activated from the IL and will rejoin the Tigers’ rotation. He is scheduled to face the Padres this week and the Rockies next week in a great matchup.
Tyler Kinley (RP - COL) - Kinley has taken over closing duties for the Rockies. Kinley is a target for you if you like potential pain while you go for saves.
Brant Hurter (SP - DET) - Hurter has been getting stretched out by the Tigers, and he threw five innings at his last start. He faces the Padres and A’s this week if you need a deep league stream.
Tylor Megill (SP - NYM) - Megill rejoined the Mets rotation, taking Paul Blackburn’s spot. Megill allowed one run over 5.1 innings with six strikeouts versus the White Sox on Friday. He faces Boston this week, which may not be the best start.