Fantasy Baseball Week 27 WW/FAAB Preview
Get ready for the final week of FAAB with the full preview.
We have made it through another week of the season and are heading into the final week. It’s time to make our last bids of the 2024 season. Be prepared for many weird lineups, players sitting, and players being shut down (al la Rafael Devers). Some 2-start pitchers won’t make two starts. Some teams may rest guys if they clinch postseason births.
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 171.
Lastly, I want to thank everyone who has been on this journey with me in 2024. It was my first year on Substack, and I loved it. Thanks even more to those who financially supported me. I'm not sure if I’ll be on Substack next year….but I guarantee I have some fun things in store for 2025. Be prepared to come along for something bigger and better.
Schedule
Everyone plays six games this week except the Reds and Guardians, who play five, with only two in the first half of the week.
2-Start Pitchers (Thoughts on all potential 2-start pitchers)
Eduardo Rodriguez, ARI (vs SF, vs SD) - Should be locked into both starts, and the Padres could be resting players on Sunday- START
Spencer Schwellenbach, ATL (vs NYM, vs KC) - One of the BEST 2-Starts this week- START
Dean Kremer, BAL (at NYY, at MIN) - Start in deeper formats
Tanner Houck, BOS (at TOR, vs TB) - Could be limited innings-wise, but strong starts - START
Justin Steele, CHC (at PHI, vs CIN) - If he makes both starts, that would be great. He could be limited in innings, and there is no reason to throw him Sunday - dicey stream
Ryan Feltner, COL (vs STL, vs LAD) - SIT
Jonathan Cannon, CWS (vs LAA, at DET) - SIT
Tarik Skubal, DET (vs TB, vs CWS) - Could sit Sunday, but starting anyways- START
Hunter Brown, HOU (vs SEA, at CLE) - Could sit or be limited on Sunday, start anyways- START
Cole Ragans, KC (at WAS, at ATL) - START
Jack Kochanowicz, LAA (at CWS, at TEX) - Has been great of late. Great matchups. Limited strikeout upside. - START
Landon Knack, LAD (vs SD, at COL) - START
Ryan Weathers, MIA (at MIN, at TOR) - SIT
Freddy Peralta, MIL (at PIT, vs NYM) - I would be shocked if he starts on Sunday.
Bailey Ober, MIN (vs MIA, vs BAL) - START
Luis Severino, NYM (at ATL, at MIL) - START
Nestor Cortes, NYY (vs BAL, vs PIT) - START
Brady Basso, OAK (vs TEX, vs SEA) - Strong Stream
Aaron Nola, PHI (vs CHC, at WAS) - Should start Sunday due to a bye, but could be limited.
Bailey Falter, PIT (vs MIL, at NYY) - SIT
Michael King, SD (at LAD, at ARI) - Sunday start could change due to the playoff situation. I am still starting.
Bryce Miller, SEA (at HOU, vs OAK) - START
Hayden Birdsong, SF (at ARI, vs STL) - It's always a dicey start, but starting anyway.
Max McGreevy, STL (at COL, at SF) - Deeper leagues start
Ryan Pepiot, TB (at DET, at BOS) - START
Nathan Eovaldi, TEX (at OAK, at LAA) - START
Bowden Francis, TOR (vs BOS, vs MIA) - START
FAAB/WW Hitting Targets (with quick thoughts)
Carlos Santana (1B - MIN) - Santana entered Saturday hitting .275 with two home runs over his last ten games. He continues to produce while being under-rostered. Nice schedule next week for the Twins.
Paul DeJong (SS,3B - KC) - DeJong has been a pleasant power source for the Royals since joining the team around the trade deadline. The Royals face plenty of LHP this week, making DeJong an intriguing stream.
Michael Conforto (OF - SF) - Conforto is hitting .275 with three home runs over his last 11 games. The Giants face five RHP next week, setting up nicely for Conforto’s previous week by the Bay.
Jordan Walker (OF - STL) - Walker has hit safely in seven of eight games with three home runs. The Cardinals start the week with three in Coors, making Walker a strong OF target this week.
Otto Lopez (2B - MIA) - Lopez has been doing it all since he returned to the Marlins. He’s hitting for average, with some power and speed. Lopez should be one of your top MI targets this week.
Ozzie Albies (2B - BOS) - Albies returned from the IL on Friday and has one hit over his first two games. He’s still not 100% but he’s hitting second for the Braves and should play most of next week I am not getting overly invested in Albies, but he’s out there if you want to take the chance.
Garrett Mitchell (OF - MIL) - Mitchell is starting to play regularly versus RHP. Over his last ten games, he’s been hitting .273 with four home runs and a steal. The Brewers face four RHPs next week, making Mitchell a viable target.
Andy Pages (OF - LAD) - Pages is playing more of late, but still not daily. He does have hits in five of his last six with a home run. The Dodgers end next week with a series in Coors, and the regulars should get some extra rest, giving Pages more at-bats.
Seth Brown (1B,OF - OAK) - Brown continues to play primarily versus RHP, and he’s producing. The A’s face five RHP next week, putting Brown in play. It's likely in deeper leagues, more than 12-team leagues.
Hunter Goodman (C,OF - COL) - Goodman is getting plenty of playing time of late and brings a ton of power. He plays the final week in Coors, making Goodman a great C add over most catchers you are currently rostering.
Kyle Manzardo (1B - CLE) - Manzardo has played every game this week, hitting safely in four of six with two home runs. The Guardians only play five games, two in the first half of the week, but Manzardo could be a nice 2H stream versus three RHP in Houston.
Davis Schneider (2B,OF - TOR) - Schneider is back to seeing regular playing time. He’s hitting .300 with three home runs over his last eight games. The Jays have a great schedule next week, including three games against the Marlins to finish the season.
Andrew Benintendi (OF - CWS) - Benintendi has been among the best hitters over the past month. Yes, that is not a typo. He should be rostered in 12-team and deeper leagues for the season's final week.
Pavin Smith (1B,OF - ARI) - Smith continues to play regularly versus RHP. He provides some power and a decent batting average. The DBacks face four RHP in the final week of the season.
Ramon Laureano (OF - ATL) - Laureano is back to an everyday outfield role for the Braves, supplanting Jarred Kelenic. Laureano can be an excellent power source for the final week. It's not my top priority, but it shouldn’t be ignored.
Charlie Blackmon (OF - COL) - The Rockies play an entire week in Coors versus all RHP starting pitchers. Blackmon should see plenty of at-bats in his last games in Coors. He’s a deeper league play, but on the radar.
Mike Yastrzemski (OF - SF) - I continue to write up Yaz, and he continues to produce. He may not hit for an excellent average, but he provides multiple home runs weekly. It's another nice schedule for Yaz to finish the season.
Jared Triolo (2B,3B - PIT) - Triolo is not a world-beater, but he’s a decent batting average source with a little pop for your final week of the season. The MI/CI flexibility is nice as well.
Tyler Soderstrom (1B - OAK) - Soderstrom is back and playing 1B versus RHP. He can provide some pop over the five games versus RHP next week—deep league play.
Mauricio Dubon (1B,2B,3B,OF - HOU) - Dubon has been a batting average asset this month. He plays almost daily, but not a ton of power. He brings tons of flexibility and should see plenty of at-bats during the season's final week.
Kyle Stowers (OF - MIA) - Stowers is coming off a good week after being ice cold for a few weeks. The Marlins face all RHP this week, making Stowers a deep league play.
Dairon Blanco (OF - KC) - Blanco does not get many plate appearances but pinch runs and steals bases weekly. Blanco is in play if you are desperate for steals and don’t care about the other categories.
Victor Caratini (C - HOU) - Caratini sees plenty of late playing time. He’s hit safely in six of his last eight games with three home runs. If you are looking for a C2, don’t sleep on Caratini.
Jose Iglesias (2B,3B - NYM) - Iglesias is riding a 15-game hitting streak into Sunday, hitting over .400 during the streak. He only has one home run and one steal, but plenty of runs scored with an elite batting average.
Miguel Rojas (2B,SS,3B - LAD) - Rojas has been banged up a lot, but he's producing when he’s in the lineup. Rojas is hitting .333 over his last 11 games with two home runs and a steal. The Dodgers finish the week in Coors, and his positional flexibility makes Rojas an intriguing play.
Luisangel Acuña (SS - NYM) - Acuña has been great since getting the call. How much time Lindor misses determines his playing time, so it’s risky.
Trey Sweeney (SS - DET) - Sweeney is heating up at the plate. He does not supply a ton of power but will play every day.
Nick Yorke (UTIL - PIT) - Yorke should hit for plenty of average and add some nice speed over the season's final week.
FAAB/WW Pitching Targets (with quick thoughts)
Luke Weaver (RP - NYY) - Weaver has taken over closing duties for the Yankees, and he’s been amazing. Over his last six appearances, Weaver has a hold, three saves, two wins, and 19 strikeouts over 8.1 innings pitched. Weaver should be a top priority this week.
Zack Littell (SP - TB) - After struggling for a few starts, Littell has got back on track. He has not allowed a run over his last three starts. He will me limited to 75-80 pitches, but a matchup versus the Tigers could be a nice stream.
Hayden Birdsong (SP - SF) - Birdsong has been better of late and has a 2-step this week if you need to try an attack strikeouts and wins.
Landon Knack (SP - LAD) - Knack has been solid since rejoining the Dodgers rotation. He has a 2-step this week and would be one of my top streaming 2-start targets.
Cade Povich (SP - BAL) - Povich has allowed two earned runs or less in three of his last four starts with plenty of strikeouts. He likely won’t throw more than five innings, making a win tricky. He’ll take on a struggling Twins team if you are feeling frisky.
Casey Mize (SP - DET) - Mize is back from the IL and has been decent since his return. He’s not going deep into games but has a nice matchup versus the Rays this week.
Keider Montero (SP - DET) - Montero allowed five runs in his last start but allowed no runs over his previous two. He faces the Rays this week if you are looking for a stream.
Brant Hurter (SP - DET) - Hurter is my favorite stream out of the Tigers pitchers and one of my top streams for the week. Hurter has allowed three earned runs over less in his eight appearances this year with 37 strikeouts over 38.2 innings pitched. Hurter also has wins in each of his last five appearances. He gets the oh-so-juicy matchup versus the White Sox this week.
Joey Cantillo (SP - CIN) - Cantillo has been great over his last three starts, allowing two runs over 16.1 innings pitched with 22 strikeouts. He faces the Reds this week for one of the better streams.
Grant Holmes (SP - ATL) - Holmes is back in the Braves rotation and was stretched out to four innings in his last start. He faces the Royals this week for a nice stream.
Jack Kochanowicz (SP - LAA) - Kochanowicz has been throwing well lately and will get a friendly 2-step this week. He can help with wins but won’t help with strikeouts if that is what you need.
Brady Basso (SP - OAK) - Basso has been good in his three starts since getting called to the big club. He has allowed three runs over 16 innings with 13 strikeouts. Basso faces the Rangers and Mariners, which are two friendly matchups.