With the trade deadline just hours away, it’s hard to put together a waiver wire pickup that could easily change in a few hours. However, our Tim McLeod, our senior fantasy baseball writer has provided you with a list of names to consider for your fantasy teams.
Enjoy the list and please click on the baseball card to visit our partner amazon.com to explore additional information on each player.
Matt Adams, 1B, WAS (CBS: 10% owned)
Ryan Zimmerman is back on the 10-day IL with a recurrence of the plantar fasciitis that has had him sidelined for most of the season. The Nats will be looking at Matt Adams and Howie Kendrick to pick up the slack, with Adams on the better side of the platoon. When left in a lurch, there’s nothing wrong with turning to the Adams family for respite.
Nick Anderson, RP, MIA (CBS: 4% owned)
Sergio Romo is hitting the road, moving on to the Twins where he’ll provide bullpen depth and torment Taylor Rogers owners. Someone is going to be inheriting the closer role in Miami and I’ll wager that it’s Nick Anderson and those 66 strikeouts in 42 1/3 IP receiving the first shot at the gig.
Bo Bichette, SS, TOR (CBS: 45% owned)
As I was watching the Jays game on Saturday, the discussion between Pat Tabler and Dan Shulman was focused on Freddy Galvis and the expectations once Bo Bichette arrives in Toronto. Maybe I was wrong and the Jays will bring up their young phenom this year? The potential return in having an elite-level prospect on your active roster for even September makes a small bid and stash a worthwhile endeavor.
Willie Calhoun, OF, TEX (CBS: 24% owned)
A 4-to-6 week stint on the IL for Joey Gallo has opened the door for the return of Willie Calhoun. In addition to the Gallo injury, it’s well known that the Rangers will be looking to move Hunter Pence at the deadline. There will be plenty of opportunities over the balance of the season for young Mr. Calhoun to display his wares.
Adam Duvall, OF, ATL (CBS: 3% owned)
The fractured left wrist suffered by Nick Markakis has forced the Braves to turn to one-time Red, Adam Duvall. In his Braves debut he went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, two RBI, and a homer. That’s not a bad way to introduce yourself to the Braves faithful. The power is very real and could prove to be a nice boost to your Fantasy squads offense down the stretch.
Ian Happ, 3B/OF, CHC (CBS: 10% owned)
The good news is that Happ hit 16 homers, drove in 53 runs, and swiped nine bases at Triple-A Iowa. The bad news is that he struck out 113 times in 359 at-bats. Since getting the call on Friday he’s 0-for-6 with a pair of strikeouts. That’s not the start we need to see, but the power/speed combination is such that he shouldn’t be ignored when planning your FAAB spending this evening.
Pablo Lopez, SP, MIA (CBS: 35% owned)
The rehab assignment commences at Double-A Jacksonville this Sunday for the 23-year-old righty. Lopez has missed significant time and is likely to be looking at a minimum of three rehab starts, so the price will be much better this week as compared to next when he’ll be that much closer to returning to the Marlins rotation.
Seth Lugo, RP, NYM (CBS: 11% owned)
I know that Jeurys Familia is the “supposed” setup man for the Mets, but let’s face it….he’s not having a real good year. The rumour mill has the Mets potentially moving closer Edwin Diaz, and if that comes to fruition, we’ll put our money down on Seth Lugo. He’s currently sporting a great 2.84 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 50 2/3 IP. That more than qualifies him for the ninth-inning gig.
Andrew Miller, RP, STL (CBS: 22% owned)
Carlos Martinez hasn’t lost the closer job, but very quietly Andrew Miller has stepped it up lately and is looking more like the Miller of old. Since the calendar flipped to July, he’s sporting a 2.00 ERA in nine innings with 13 strikeouts, one win, two saves and six holds. There’s no coincidence that his hot streak has coincided with the surprising Cardinals march to the top of the NL Central.
Austin Nola, 1B/SS, SEA (CBS: 1% owned)
The left quad strain that has forced Dee Gordon to the 10-day IL has created an opportunity for Austin Nola. In his past seven games, he has gone 8-for-25 with a homer and six RBI. Is an everyday role in his immediate future?
Cal Quantrill, SP, SD (CBS: 15% owned)
In his past three starts (17 IP) against the Cubs, Braves, and Giants he has allowed a total of one earned-run and lowered his ERA to a very respectable 3.57. It’s high time that he started getting a bit more love in Mixed Leagues.
Anthony Santander, OF, BAL (CBS: 23% owned)
Called up at the end of the first week of June, Santander showed some potential with three homers, 12 RBI, and a respectable .274 BA in 84 June at-bats. He has now upped the ante, going 23-for-65 with four homers, 15 RBI, and 12 runs scored since the All-Star break. It’s time to believe in the young O’s outfielder.
Will Smith, C, LAD (CBS: 25% owned)
The Dodgers finally tired of the anemic bat of Austin Barnes and dispatched him to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Will Smith gets the call and announced his presence in rather spectacular fashion, going 3-for-3 in his debut with a home run and six RBI. Yeah, he’s good….real good. It’s time to spend like a drunken sailor.
Julio Urias, SP/RP, LAD (CBS: 47% owned)
Ross Stripling finds his way to the 10-day IL with a stiff neck, necessitating Julio Urias being inserted into the Dodgers starting plans. Adding Urias is recommended, but starting him next week in Coors, would be a pass. In addition to the short-term value, the Dodgers will look to Urias for further work down the stretch as they rest some of the regulars heading into the playoffs.
Gio Urshela, 3B, NYY (CBS: 26% owned)
While scrolling through the players who have heated up over the past couple of weeks, Gio Urshela was near the top of the list. The five homers, 10 RBI and 12 runs scored with a 1.033 OPS in July should have your attention. Those lesser lights in a high powered offense like the Yankees can occasionally sneak under-the-radar. Don’t let Urshela be “that guy”.
Josh VanMeter, 2B/SS/3B/OF, CIN (CBS: 3% owned)
VanMeter has now homered in back-to-back games with three homers in the past six. He’s on one serious tear, and combined with his ability to play all over the field will be caused to see him consistently penciled into the Reds lineup.
Jason Vargas, SP, NYM (CBS: 27% owned)
Vargas has now made nine starts since the beginning of June. He has only allowed more than three earned runs in only one of those starts. He has five wins in those nine starts. He’s far from an “ace”, but we do need 5-to-6 starters on our Fantasy squads. He has and will continue to get the job done in that capacity.
Asher Wojciechowski, RP, BAL (CBS: 20% owned)
Marc Rzepczynski now has a challenger for the nickname “scrabble”. Wojciechowski, the one-time Jay, Astro, Marlin, Red, Oriole, WhiteSox, Indian, and finally Oriole (again) has enjoyed his second stint in Baltimore. He’s been on quite the roll, allowing only five earned runs in his past three starts, including the shocking seven-innings one-hit ten strikeout effort against the Red Sox on July 21. In deeper formats, it’s time to spend a couple of bucks.
Alex Wood, SP CIN (CBS: 42% owned)
The much anticipated 2019 debut of Alex Wood finally will occur this Sunday when he goes up against the Rockies at home. The potential demonstrated as a Dodger in 2017 and 2018 simply can’t be ignored.
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