Fantasy Baseball Week 9 WW/FAAB Preview
Check out some of the top options for this week's FAAB.
We have made it through another week of the season, which 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 135.
Schedule
8 Games- ATL, SD
7 Games- BAL, CWS, DET, NYY, SEA, TOR
6 Games- ARI, BOS, CHC, CIN, CLE, COL, HOU, KC, LAA, LAD, MIA, MIL, MIN, NYM, OAK, PHI, PIT, SF, STL, TB, TEX, WAS
Schedule highlights-
The Orioles face six of seven RHP.
The Red Sox face six RHP in six games.
The Reds face six RHP in six games, all in GREAT AMERICAN SMALL PARK.
The White Sox face six RHP in seven games.
The Royals face five RHP in six games.
The Dodgers face five RHP in six games. Finish the week with three in GASP.
If you can stream for bi-weekly leagues, the Brewers face three LHP to start the week and three RHP to finish the week.
The Twins finish the week with four RHP in six games. LHH is likely to sit for the first two games.
The Mets face five RHP in six games.
The Yankees face all RHP in their seven games.
The A’s face five RHP in six games.
The Phillies finish the week with three games in Coors.
The Padres play three games in GASP early in the week.
The Rays face six RHP in six games.
The Rangers face five RHP in six games.
The Jays face six RHP in seven games.
The Nats face six RHP in six games.
2-Start Pitchers (Available in most Leagues)
Slade Cecconi, ARI (at LAD, vs MIA) - coin flp in 12’s, start in 15’s
Andrew Abbott, CIN (vs SD, vs LAD) - HARD PASS
Ben Lively, CLE (vs NYM, at LAA) - stream in 12’s and deeper
Cal Quantrill, COL (at OAK, vs PHI) - HARD PASS
Michael Wacha, KC (vs DET, at TB) - stream in 12’s and deeper
Ryan Weathers, MIA (vs MIL, at ARI) - stream in deeper leagues
Joe Ross, MIL (at MIA, at BOS) - deep leagues only, but likely a pass
Aaron Brooks, OAK (vs COL, vs HOU) - HARD PASS
Martin Perez, PIT (vs SF, vs ATL) - deep leagues only, but likely a pass
Mitchell Parker, WAS (vs MIN, vs SEA) - stream in 12’s and deeper
Most 2-start options this week are highly rostered pitchers.
FAAB/WW Hitting Targets (with quick thoughts)
Wenceel Perez (2B,OF - DET)
Perez has become a regular in the Tigers outfield, playing primarily CF. In May, he hit .298 with a stolen base and has been a nice contributor to runs scored with eight. He’s hitting in the middle of the batting order and should continue to be a nice source of runs and RBI.
Ty France (1B - SEA)
It’s been a slow season for France, but he may be heating up. He’s hit safely in four of his last five games, and more importantly, he’s hit two home runs in the five games.
Masyn Winn (SS - STL)
Winn enters Sunday riding an eight-game hitting streak with a home run and two stolen bases. Winn has been a steady fantasy producer this season in terms of average and steals so some power would be a nice boost.
Trevor Larnach (OF - MIN)
Larnach is having a solid start to the season but has cooled down the last few games. He’ll sit versus the LHP to start the week but will play the final four games and could continue to give some fantasy production.
Ezequiel Duran (3B,SS,OF - TEX)
Ever since Langford went on the IL, Duran has become a regular in the Rangers lineup. In May, he hit .385 with five runs scored. Duran’s positional flexibility and average batting skills make him a nice fantasy asset while playing daily.
Michael Massey (2B - KC)
Massey is heating up. He’s hit safely in five of his last six games with a .348 batting average and a stolen base. Massey is a solid 2B/MI target.
Korey Lee (C - CWS)
Lee has had a strong season and now sees the primary catching role with the White Sox. In May, he hit .353 with two home runs and even had a stolen base. With all the catching injuries or poor performance, Lee makes for a nice C2 target.
Richie Palacios (2B,OF - TB)
Palacios continues to be a strong fantasy stream when the Rays face a lot of RHP. They are facing mainly RHP again this week. We should expect another nice week from Palacios as long as Brandon Lowe’s return does not affect Palacios. He’s even gained 2B eligibility.
Jose Miranda (3B - MIN)
Miranda is playing daily as the Twins 3B. In May, he hit .267 with ten runs scored. If he can tap into some power, he’d be a strong fantasy target; for now, he’s a nice injury replacement/stream.
Jordan Beck (OF - COL)
Don’t look now, but Beck may be getting comfortable at the big-league level. He has hit safely in six last seven games for a .296 batting average. Beck has also hit two home runs with a steal over the seven games. Beck gets a nice schedule ahead with three games against the A’s and three at home in Coors.
Eddie Rosario (OF - WAS)
Eddie the Eagle is streaking. He’s hit safely in ten of the last 12 games for a .351 average. He’s stuffing the stat sheet with four home runs, 11 runs scored, nine RBI, and four stolen bases. The Nats face six RHPs next week, which makes for a perfect streaming week for Rosario.
Joey Ortiz (2B,3B - MIL)
Ortiz is starting to see regular playing time, and he’s producing. In May, he hit .342 with four home runs. His MI and CI flexibility make Ortiz a solid target for filling some injury spots on your roster this week.
Andy Ibanez (2B,OF - DET)
Since returning from the IL a few weeks ago, Ibanez is hitting .310 with two home runs and a steal. If you need some roster flexibility, then Ibanez is an exciting target.
Luke Raley (1B,OF - SEA)
The calendar changed to May, and so did Raley’s production. He’s raking, hitting .350 with three home runs and two stolen bases. He plays daily for the Mariners and finishes the week with some excellent matchups versus the Nats.
Heliot Ramos (OF - SF)
Ramos has been a welcomed surprise to the Giants and fantasy managers. Since being called up, he’s hit safely in seven of ten games. Ramos is hitting .297 with seven RBIs and a steal while playing every day, hitting fifth or sixth.
Luis Matos (OF - SF)
Matos is locked in right now, hitting safely in five straight games. Since he was called up, Matos is hitting .385 with two home runs and 17 RBIs. Matos will be a popular ad this week, and he should be.
Tyler Soderstrom (UT - OAK)
Soderstrom is swinging it well this time around with the A’s. He’s hitting .280 over eight games with a home run. He should gain 1B eligibility early this week, adding to his fantasy appeal.
Trey Lipscomb (3B - WAS)
Lipscomb has hit safely in five of his last seven games for a .292 average. He will not provide much power, but he has five stolen bases over this recent stretch. If you need speed at CI, then Lipscomb should be on your radar.
Blake Sabol (C - SF)
If you need a catcher, Sabol is a nice option. He will sit versus LHP, so this may not be his best week. He’s hitting over .300 of late and could give a nice C2 boost.
Jake Bauers (1B,OF - MIL)
Bauers has been proving the doubters wrong of late. In May, he’s hitting .290 with three home runs, ten RBI and four stolen bases. Bauers will play a lot now with Rhys Hoskins on the IL, and he finishes the week with three RHP.
Kevin Pillar (OF - LAA)
Pillar joined the Angels on May 1, playing like a man possessed. Pillar is hitting .432 with three home runs, nine runs scored, 14 RBI, and four stolen bases. I do not expect this run to continue all year, but ride the hot bat while you can and enjoy the fantasy goodness that may follow.
Willie Calhoun (UT - LAA)
Calhoun is hitting .333 since being called up in early May. He has one home run with 11 runs scored while striking out 10% of the time. Calhoun hits cleanup in most games and provides fantasy production for some reason.
Gio Urshela (1B,3B - DET)
Urshela returned from the IL this week and provided three hits. Urshela has strong batting average skills, but the rest of the production can fluctuate. If you need BA help, then Urshela should at least be on your radar.
Otto Lopez (2B - MIA)
Lopez has become the everyday 2B for the Marlins and has begun to flourish. Lopez is hitting .290 in May with two home runs and a stolen base. Lopez should be one of your top 2B targets on the waiver wire outside of Massey.
FAAB/WW Pitching Targets (with quick thoughts)
Michael Wacha (SP - KC)
Wacha has allowed three earned runs in his last two starts, with 13 strikeouts in 12 innings. He gets a nice two-step this week versus the Tigers and Rays.
Mitchell Parker (SP - WAS)
Parker remains solid, with three earned runs or fewer in his six starts. He only has 25 strikeouts over 32 innings, but he’s solid elsewhere. Parker has a 2-step this week versus the Twins and Mariners.
Jose Soriano (SP - LAA)
Soriano has had his bad starts this year, but he is still putting together a strong season overall. In seven starts, he has a 3.58 ERA, 3.61 xFIP, and 35 strikeouts in 32.2 innings pitched. Walks can be an issue at times, but Soriano is streamable in the right matchups.
Alec Marsh (SP - KC)
Marsh has returned from the IL and has allowed two earned runs over 10.2 innings with 14 strikeouts. He has been solid this year and gets the Tigers this week before a 2-step next week. Marsh is worth an ad for the next few weeks.
Ben Lively (SP - CLE)
Lively has allowed three earned runs or less in all six starts this year, with 31 strikeouts in 32.1 innings pitched. He has a great two-step this week against the Mets and Angels and a nice matchup against the Nats next week.
Reed Garrett (RP - NYM)
Garrett continues to be a force in the back of the Mets bullpen. It's better than most SP streamers each week. With Edwin Diaz’s struggles, Garrett may also get a save chance or two.
Martin Perez (SP - PIT)
Before getting shelled in his last start, Perez has been quite streamable this year. He has a two-step versus the Giants and Braves this week, which should probably be avoided unless you are desperate for a two-step.
Alek Manoah (SP - TOR)
After a disastrous debut, Manoah was much better through seven innings in his next start. We’ll see how Manoah looks in his Sunday start, but he may be worth an add as he faces the Tigers next week and the White Sox the following week.
Jalen Beeks (RP - COL)
Beeks appears to be the current closer for the Rockies. He has four saves in his last five outings. It’s never a great feeling rostering a Rockies pitcher, but Beeks is the guy for now if you need saves.
Ryan Weathers (SP - MIA)
Weathers has allowed three earned runs or less in three straight starts, with eight shutout innings in his last start. He faces the Brewers and DBacks this week, making for a deeper league 2-step target.
Griffin Canning (SP - LAA)
Canning has improved as the season has gone along. In his last three starts, he has allowed three earned runs with 13 strikeouts over 17.2 innings pitched. He faces the Astros this week and has an interesting two-step next week.
Mason Black (SP - SF)
Black was recalled due to Keaton Winn’s injury, and he struggled in his return. His skills are great, but the babying the Giants will do may hinder his fantasy upside. He has a solid matchup versus the Pirates this week, which keeps him intriguing to start this week.
Tylor Megill (SP - NYM)
Megill is scheduled to return from the IL on Monday, so get him back in your lineups.
Slade Cecconi (SP - ARI)
Cecconi has been shelled in two of his last three starts but has been great in the others. He has a 2-step this week versus the Dodgers and Marlins, which is challenging but very intriguing because Marlins start at the end of the week.