Fantasy Baseball Week 3 FAAB Preview
check out the schedule, 2-start pitchers, and more for this week's FAAB.
We have made it through a week and a half of the season, and it has been a doozie. Plenty of injuries have required attention on our fantasy teams. There have been some good and bad performances, which may have caused some overreaction. Most people need to take a deep breath and wait longer, while others will start dropping some solid players to pick up when they do.
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 123.
Schedule
7 Games- ATL, CIN, HOU, MIL, MIN, NYM, PHI, TEX
6 Games- ARI, BAL, BOS, CHC, CLE, COL, CWS, DET, KC, LAA, LAD, MIA, NYY, OAK, PIT, SD, SEA, SF, STL, TB, TOR, WAS
Schedule highlights-
Arizona opens with three games in Coors versus two LHP and a RHP.
The Reds have one of the better weeks. They have four at home against MIL and then three at the CWS. They’ll face five RHP and two LHP.
Cleveland opens against three RHP from the White Sox, which is a nice target.
The Brewers have a solid seven-game schedule, with four to start the week in Great American Small Park and three against the Orioles. They’ll miss Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez. They’ll face five RHP and two LHP.
The Giants open the week with three nice matchups versus the Nationals, facing two RHP and a LHP.
The Jays finish the week at home with three versus the Rockies, which always look great, no matter the ballpark. There will be two RHPs and an LHP.
2-Start Pitchers (Available in most Leagues)
Reynaldo Lopez (ATL 71% rostered) - vs NYM, @ MIA
Cole Irvin (BAL) - @ BOS, vs MIL (I wouldn’t stream)
Javier Assad (CHC)- @ SD, @ SEA (risky)
Graham Ashcraft (CIN)- vs MIL, @ CWS (risky but the CWS is nice)
Kyle Freeland (COL)- vs ARI, @ TOR (I wouldn’t stream)
Mike Soroka (CWS)- @ CLE, vs CIN (risky)
Tyler Anderson (LAA)- vs TB, @ BOS (risky)
Jakob Junis (MIL)- @ CIN, @ BAL (I wouldn’t stream)
Julio Teheran (NYM)- @ ATL, vs KC (I wouldn’t stream)
Adrian Houser (NYM)- @ ATL, vs KC (I wouldn’t stream)
Alex Wood (OAK)- @ TEX, vs WSH (I wouldn’t stream)
Spencer Turnbull (PHI)- @ STL, vs PIT (Steam away)
Trevor Williams (WSH) - @ SF, @ OAK (risky)
Overall, it is not a great week to stream 2-step pitchers. Turnbull is the clear target, but you can take a risk with a few others. The good 2-step pitchers this week are already rostered in most leagues.
FAAB Hitting Targets (with quick thoughts)
Jose Caballero (2B,SS - TB)- Caballero is hitting over .300 to start the season with four stolen bases. He’s playing every day and will add a few homers as well—a solid middle infield target where needed.
Oswaldo Cabrera (OF - NYY)- Cabrera is hitting .346 to start the season with a couple of home runs as he has been the primary third baseman with DJ LeMahieu out with his foot injury. Jon Berti did start at 3B on Friday, but it seems to be Cabrera’s job. He has played six games at 3B, so depending on your league eligibility requirements, he may have or will soon gain 3B eligibility.
Alex Kirilloff (1B,OF - MIN)- Kirilloff has hit safely over the season's first six games, suitable for a .409 batting average. He has four extra-base hits and is still waiting for that first home run. Kirilloff is hitting 2nd most days and could have a nice week ahead with the Twins facing five RHP (some aces) over the seven games. When healthy, Kirilloff has proven he can hit. For now, he’s healthy.
J.D. Davis (3B - OAK)- Davis plays daily for the A’s and has two home runs while hitting over .300 to start the year. He is a nice 3B/CI fill-in where needed.
Matt Walner (OF - MIN)- Wallner usually gets the start versus RHP and brings a lot of power upside when he plays. He’s a pure stream for the upcoming schedule with a goal of a few home runs.
Johan Rojas (OF - PHI)- Rojas has had a slow start to the season but continues to play every day in center field. He provides a little pop but a ton of speed when he gets clicking. He’ll also score many runs batting 9th as the top of the Phillies lineup is loaded. The Phillies have a great schedule this week that may help Rojas break out of his funk. He’s likely a deeper league target only.
Nolan Schanuel (1B - LAA)- Schanuel was a late-round target for me in many leagues, and this upcoming week may be a week to start him everywhere. He has excellent OBP skills, walking nearly 22% of the time this season. His hit tool was good last year, but he is starting slow this year. Schanuel has a home run that was hard to come by last season, so maybe there’s more of that to come. The Angels face six RHP next week, which could lead to plenty of Schanuel at-bats.
Mark Canha (OF - DET)- Canha has been hitting in the middle of the Tigers lineup every day, which was a bit of a surprise when entering the season. He hit his second home run of the season on Friday and is now hitting .238. Canha may be better in deep leagues, but he will have some nice 12-team appeal from time to time.
Cavan Biggio (1B,2B,OF - TOR)- Biggio is not a world beater, but he does play versus RHP, and the Jays face five in six games next week, including some juicy Rockies pitching to end of the week.
Jared Triolo (3B - PIT)- Triolo made the Pirates team out of camp and has been their primary second baseman. He made his 7th start at 2B on Friday, so eligibility is coming soon. Triolo also hit his first home of the season on Friday. He’s going to be a nice MI/CI option soon.
Chris Taylor (3B,SS,OF - LAD)- When Jason Heyward was healthy, he would platoon in LF with Taylor. Well, Heyward is now on the IL with lower back tightness, and Taylor has taken over the LF job. The Dodgers did acquire Taylor Trammell, who could factor into some LF playing time, but so far, it’s been all Taylor. If this continues over the weekend, Taylor will be a nice, versatile addition while Heyward is out.
JJ Bleday (OF - OAK)- Bleday has gotten off to a solid start to the season. He plays every day in center field and hits near the top of the order while hitting .300 with one home run. Bleday is only striking out 15.2% of the time, which is also a nice improvement. Bleday had a lovely spring and has carried that into the regular season. Bleday may be best for deeper leagues, but he does have some 12-team appeal.
Trey Lipscomb (3B - WAS)- Lipscomb was called up when Nick Senzel broke his thumb on Opening Day. Lipscomb has slid into the everyday role at 3B, hitting .286 with a home run and a stolen base. He isn’t lighting the world on fire, but he’s been serviceable, and that could come into play in leagues where you may need some 3B or CI help.
Kyle Isbel (OF - KC)- Isbel is playing regularly for the Royals, hitting .250 with a home run and stolen base. He has a 15/15 upside if he continues to play daily, making Isble very relevant in deeper leagues.
Michael A. Taylor (OF - PIT)- When Taylor signed with the Pirates, most of us thought he would platoon. Well, he is not, as he plays every day, which makes Taylor very intriguing for fantasy. He’s swinging it well to start the season with a .429 average, three doubles, and a stolen base. Last season, Taylor hit 21 home runs and stole 13 bases in 129 games. He has shown double-digit power and speed throughout his career. Don’t sleep on Taylor.
FAAB Pitching Targets (with quick thoughts)
Brady Singer (SP - KC)- After an outstanding first start, Singer backed it up on Friday, throwing 6.1 innings where he allowed a solo home run and struck out four. Singer has now allowed that one run over 13.1 innings with 14 strikeouts. He has a tougher matchup versus the Astros next week and then takes on the White Sox the following week. Singer is worth an ad going forward with his new pitch mix.
Edward Cabrera (SP - MIA)- Cabrera looks to complete one more rehab outing before rejoining the Marlins. Cabrera will return late next week or early next week for a 2-step if all goes well. It’s time to grab Cabrera now before he costs too much.
Shelby Miller (RP—DET)—Jason Foley is the primary closer in Detroit, but Miller should be the next man up. He’s getting many high-leverage opportunities, which has led to two wins already. If you want to add a reliever instead of a risky starter, Miller is not a bad option that won’t cost you much.
Javier Assad (SP - CHC)- Assad was good in his first start and has a 2-step next week. He pitches to a lot of contact, so he’s always risky when starting him on your team. He faces the Padres and Mariners next week, which will not be a walk in the park but could lead to at least one win.
Spencer Turnbull (SP - PHI)- Turnbull was solid in his first start versus the Reds, where he threw five innings with zero earned runs and seven strikeouts. Turnbull has a nice 2-step next week versus the Cardinals and Pirates, making him one of the better streamers for the week.
Tyler Anderson (SP - LAA)- Anderson put together a great fantasy season two years ago. Last year was not great, but Anderson showcased some of his 2022 form in his first start. Anderson threw seven shutout innings with five strikeouts versus the Marlins. He has a 2-step this week versus the Rays and Red Sox, which won’t be a walk in the park but is not that bad for a streaming option.
Ryan Yarbrough (SP,RP - LAD)- Last year, Yarbrough was a valuable reliever once he joined the Dodgers as he’d throw after an opener or late in games and rack up wins and an occasional save. This year, he made three appearances and already had a win and a save. The Dodgers already said they will use an opener weekly, which could lead to excellent opportunities for Yarbrough. He’s valuable in 12-team and deeper leagues.