Welcome back to another FAABulous Sunday! With the holiday weekend and only two weeks until the break, many will ignore or forget about their fantasy teams this weekend. Take advantage — most teams have at least 13 games, some up to 16, over the next two scoring periods. That’s a lot of counting stats and ratio help to be had in roto leagues and points up for grabs in H2H leagues. Let’s get to some names!
Catcher
Eric Haase (45% ME, 22% OC, 4% Yahoo) – OF – As I wrote last week, Tyler Stephenson, Danny Jansen, and Yasmani Grandal are all nearing returns from the IL — probably in that order over the next two to three weeks. In the meantime, Haase is a nice option for the couple of weeks heading into the break as the Tigers are scheduled to play eight games in each of the next two scoring periods. Since the beginning of June he’s gotten at least three starts most weeks, hitting .288 with a .558 SLG, 3 HR, 12 RBI and 11 R — enough production to anticipate at least four starts in each of the upcoming eight-game weeks. His 26.1 K% in 134 PA is down from his career 30.6%, which could lead to increased playing time going forward as well.
First Base
Vinny Pasquantino (0% ME, 0% OC, 31% Yahoo) – One of the obvious targets this week for those in need of production in the power categories, The Bombfather was finally called up to Kansas City this week after hitting 29 HR while posting a higher BB% than K% in 533 AA and AAA combined PA over the past two seasons. He’s already moved into the cleanup spot in the Royals’ lineup, walked more than he has struck out, and hit his first home run at nearly 113 mph off the bat in just four games (15 PA) since getting the call. The Royals have 15 games over the next two weeks.
Darick Hall (0% ME, 0% OC, 4% Yahoo) – Like Pasquantino, Hall has had impressive plate discipline, especially for the power he displays, in the minor leagues prior to his call-up this week as well — 20 HR, 67 RBI, 47 R with a 9.5 BB% and 20.0 K% in 315 PA at AAA. His first three hits as a major leaguer have all been home runs, and it appears he’ll be the primary DH vs RHP until Bryce Harper returns from his hand injury in six to eight weeks. That gives Hall plenty of time to hit his way into remaining in the lineup going forward.
Second Base
Enrique Hernández (98% ME, 51% OC, 18% Yahoo) – OF – As Hernández has begun to swing in preparation for returning from the IL, some are probably concerned about his role/playing time going forward, especially if Jarren Duran continues to produce in the leadoff spot for Boston. But let’s not forget what has made him valuable to the Red Sox and Dodgers for several seasons — his versatility — he’ll get his ABs. He began the season pretty slowly, hitting just .209 in 238 PA but with 4 HR, 27 RBI, and 24 R while maintaining his typical low K% (16.0%) and decent BB% (7.6%). He had also been much better prior to his injury, with hits in 21 of 23 games (.262 BA). He’s aiming to begin a rehab assignment next weekend, so we may not see him back until after the break, but now is the time to grab him where available if you have the roster flexibility.
Third Base
Ramón Urías (9% ME, 0% OC, 2% Yahoo) – 2B, SS – I brought up Urías here four weeks ago, and he promptly rewarded me by landing on the IL a couple of days later. “Take a look at the replays of Urías’s recent homeruns. They have not been sneaky — they’ve been monster shots. He ranks 19th in all of baseball in HC% (95+ mph EV/ PA) on the season indicating a rise in BA and more HR may be coming. The Bat X projections agree with a .248 BA and 9 HR projected the rest of the way. I’m still in.
Shortstop
Kyle Farmer (98% ME, 83% OC, 49% Yahoo) – Cincinnati has eight games this week, all at Great American Smallpark, where Farmer has hit all five of his season’s home runs; and while he hasn’t hit a home run since June 2, he has hit .310 with a .392 OBP, 11 RBI, 8 R, and a SB in 97 PA. The forecast in Cincinnati calls for temps in the 90s with chances of scattered thunderstorms (high humidity) all week, so I’m forecasting Farmer to add to his homerun total with multiple RBI and runs scored.
Outfield
Jake Meyers (83% ME, 6% OC, 1% Yahoo) – Meyers made his season debut on June 24 and promptly took over the centerfield spot in Houston. He’s already had three multi-hit games in eight starts and has a home run and 6 RBI in 29 PA. He’s also moved up a couple of spots in the lineup, hitting seventh in his past two games. He’ll get a day off here and there (like Sunday), but is the primary centerfielder in the potent Astros’ lineup.
Remember, Hernández and Haase above are outfield eligible. While Hernández won’t be back this week, Haase is viable in deep leagues as an outfielder with the 16 games the Tigers have coming up prior to the break.
Pitcher
Dean Kremer (75% ME, 10% OC, 15% Yahoo) – After suffering an oblique injury prior to making his start the first week of the season, Kremer returned to the Orioles on June 5 and has posted a 1.29 ERA in his first five starts. He’s gone at least five innings in his past four starts giving up only 1 ER in 23.2 IP (zero ER in his past three starts) with 16 K. He’ll face the Rangers and Angels at home in Baltimore this week where the weather is heating up, but the left field fence realignment should help vs. right handed pull hitters.
Johnny Cueto (100% ME, 55% OC, 22% Yahoo) – Cueto has been sneaky good (not so sneaky in 15-teamers) this season posting a 3.33 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 45 K in 54 IP. He has a two-step as well this week — Minnesota on Monday is a bit concerning, but I’ll take the risk in order to get him vs. Detroit on the weekend.
Dylan Bundy (87% ME, 13% OC, 22% Yahoo), Chris Archer (57% ME, 10% OC, 11% Yahoo) – Both of these guys will pitch at the White Sox early this week while Bundy will also pitch in Texas, and Archer will get two starts to close out the first half vs Milwaukee and the White Sox again. After a nine run blowup in May, Bundy hit the COVID-19 IL and in spite of three consecutive starts giving up 4 ER or more from May 30 to June 9, he’s posted a 4.05 ERA in eight starts since his return. Archer has been much friendlier to our ratio categories but rarely goes over four innings and hasn’t gone over five this season. I like him in spots where I would be OK with a middle reliever, as he has gone five innings in three of his last six giving him as much of a chance at snagging a win, especially in two-start weeks where we’re looking at 8-10 IP.
Don’t forget to get your bids in! As always, good luck tonight and enjoy the games!
Feature image by Michael Packard (@CollectingPack on Twitter)