(Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire)
Every Tuesday from now until the end of the season, we will be taking a look at players with under 15% ownership (ESPN) that should be on your radar in deep leagues. The majority of fantasy baseball leagues are mixed leagues with 10-12 teams, however we know many of you play in 18-20 team leagues and/or AL/NL only formats. This column is for you all.
Alright y’all, it’s playoff time. This list gives you players to target if you are in need of saves, home runs, and ERA/WHIP stabilizers. It’s crunch time, and in deeper leagues some of these players could be the final piece toward taking home the crown.
Yonny Chirinos, SP/RP, TB (2.1% owned)
Chirinos is a great add for teams who need ratio stabilizers and are running low on starts. Chirinos qualifies as a reliever but is often used in long situations, like his 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K relief outing on Sunday. Chirinos has a 18/6 K/BB ratio in his last four outings, and is worth a look for teams in need of some ‘bullpen’ help.
Yoshihisa Hirano, RP, AZ (7.5% owned)
The Diamondbacks formerly announced that Brad Boxberger is being removed from the closer role, although they did announce that their bullpen will be a committee from here on out. Hirano is the arm to own for those desperate for saves, as the Japanese right-hander sports a 1.91 ERA and a1.04 WHIP on the year with 30 holds. He’s not a huge strikeout guy, but if he’s getting saves he can help fantasy owners in the playoffs.
Jorge Lopez, SP, KC (2.9% owned)
I mean, it’s hard to ignore a guy who came into the ninth inning with a no-hitter going in his last start. Lopez isn’t a huge strikeout guy, but his ability to induce weak contact and not allow walks should make him fantasy relevant in deeper leagues for his next few starts. He squares off against the Twins again on Friday, and while he probably won’t no-hit them he is worth a stream in that contest.
Spencer Turnbull, SP, DET (0.0% owned)
This is as speculative as it gets, but the Tigers are recalling both Matt Hall and Spencer Turnbull on Tuesday. The team is planning to transition to a six-man rotation and one of them will be the new starter. My money is on Turnbull, a former second round pick who has a 130/43 K/BB ratio in 116.2 innings in the minor leagues. He is a dart throw streamer, but could provide strikeouts for a desperate team in the fantasy playoffs. At the very least, add him to your watchlist.
Christin Stewart, OF, DET (1.0% owned)
More often than not, Tigers new left fielder Christin Stewart is going to walk, strikeout or hit a home run. He’s the definition of a three true outcomes player. However, manager Ron Gardenhire said that Stewart is going to be the every day left fielder for the rest of the season, and the borderline top 100 prospect could easily hit 4 or 5 home runs per week with a solid OBP. For those in need of some power, Stewart is one of the best available on the waiver wire.
Rowdy Tellez, 1B, TOR (2.8% owned)
If you’ve played OOTP, you already know who Rowdy Tellez is. The Blue Jays slugger got off to a hot start in his big league career, with seven extra base hits in just 18 at-bats. The Blue Jays are primed to give the 23-year-old at-bats going forward, and he – like Stewart – is a great source of power in deeper formats.