Welcome back to another FAABulous Sunday! My goal this week is filling holes, both positionally and categorically, with players that have been performing well recently, are getting a good share of plate appearances, and have at least six games scheduled this week. Let’s get to it!
Catcher
Luis Torrens (85% TGFBI, 4% Yahoo) – With a six-game week ahead, Torrens can be a nice RBI boost from the catcher position even in single-catcher leagues. He’s driven in 14 with a couple of home runs over the past three scoring periods while going 14 for 49 (.286 BA). He hasn’t actually been behind the plate since July 10, getting most of his starts at DH and a handful at 1B.
First Base
Bobby Dalbec (85% TGFBI, 16% Yahoo) – Dalbec is 14 for 36 (.360 BA) with 5 HR, 18 RBI, and 10 R over the past three weeks. He doesn’t play every day, but it doesn’t appear to be a straight platoon situation either. The Red Sox have a seven-game week upcoming with a couple of lefty starters on tap in Tampa to help ensure he’ll get enough plate appearances this week to warrant being in our starting lineups.
Second Base
Andy Ibáñez (5% TGFBI, 7% Yahoo) – 3B – For the season Ibáñez’s numbers are nice enough – a .260 BA with 6 HR, 19 RBI and 21 R in 215 PA. But over the past two weeks, he’s really turned it on, going 20 for 42 (.476 BA) with 2 HR, 6 RBI, and 6 R while playing 1B, 2B, 3B, DH, and LF – all within the past seven games – making his presence in the lineup secure. UPDATE – monitor closely as Ibáñez left Saturday’s game with a hamstring issue and is undergoing tests on Sunday.
Third Base
Aledmys Díaz (81% TGFBI, 23% Yahoo) – 2B, OF – The worry here is playing time with Alex Bregman’s return to the Astros’ lineup, but including today Díaz has started three of four games since that occurred. Since his own return on July 27, he’s hit .318 with 4 HR, 20 RBI, and 11 R in 116 PA. As long as he continues to get playing time as a super-utility-type, he’s a nice possibility to roster someone from the Astros’ potent lineup.
Shortstop
Owen Miller (0% TGFBI, 0% Yahoo) – 1B, 2B – If you can handle a .214 BA over the past four weeks Miller has added 2 HR, 9 RBI, 9 R, and 2 SB in that time. It’s not sexy, but he’s the type of guy that can help deeper leagues.
Brendan Rodgers (100% TGFBI, 20% Yahoo) – 2B – At the other end of the rostership spectrum, Rodgers is definitely a viable option in the shallower leagues where he is available. He’s cooled off a bit this week, but the previous four he hit .333 with 4 HR, 9 RBI, and 16 R. The Rockies return home for four of their seven games this week, so he’s a nice add to help boost the runs category.
Outfield
Connor Joe (73% TGFBI, 22% Yahoo) – 1B – Since cementing himself in the Rockies’ lineup at the end of July, Joe is 31 for 99 (.313 BA) with 7 HR, 26 RBI, and 15 R. He’s been leading off since August 8 for a team that is 43-22 at home this season. The Rockies have homestands of seven and nine games in September.
Odúbel Herrera (49 % TGFBI, 8% Yahoo) – Like Brendan Rodgers, Herrera has cooled off this week but had been 25 for 74 (.338) with 5 HR, 13 RBI, and 9 R the previous four. He leads off vs righties and is a nice four-category contributor.
Pitcher
Carlos Hernández (88% TGFBI, 24% Yahoo) – I brought up Hernández here recently, but I just want to clarify what occurred on Friday in Seattle. The Royals’ bullpen was gassed, and Kris Bubic didn’t make it through five innings. The Royals had been using a six-man rotation, so Saturday’s scheduled starter was brought in for 5 2/3 innings of one-hit ball with 6 K. With Brad Keller heading to the IL, it now appears the Royals will revert to a five-man rotation after some discussion that Jacob Junis may return to keep it at six. Hernández will start this week vs Cleveland. Grab him if he’s available.
Glenn Otto (0% TGFBI, 0% Yahoo) – Otto made his MLB debut on Friday and threw five innings of two-hit ball with 7 K and 0 BB vs the Astros. I was hoping we’d see him on regular rest vs the Rockies in Texas on Wednesday, but it appears his next start will be on the road vs the Angels. Since heading to Texas in the Joey Gallo trade, he had 20 IP in four starts with a 2.70 ERA and 19 K. I’m taking a shot here where I need a starter.
As always, good luck tonight and enjoy the games!
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