Kerry Carpenter, OF, DET (CBS: 10% rostered, ESPN: not rostered): Carpenter was called up on Wednesday after coming out of nowhere to post 30 homers this year between Double and Triple-A. He’s off to a slow start in Detroit, but the Tigers should give the 24-year-old a long leash as they look to audition players for the 2023 campaign.
Paul DeJong, SS, STL (CBS: 28% rostered, ESPN: 9% rostered): He’s now up to four homers in 14 games since being recalled at the end of July. There’s short-term value in that power production.
Vaughn Grissom, SS, ATL (CBS: 54% rostered, ESPN: 21% rostered): The return of Ozzie Albies is still at least 2-to-3 weeks down the road so the Braves have decided to give the 21-year-old Grissom an audition. So far, it’s been an outstanding audition, as he has gone 7-for-18 with two home runs and a stolen base. Grissom slugged 14 homers and stole 27 bases at High and Double-A this year. The Braves found gold with Michael Harris. Could they repeat that success with Vaughn Grissom?
DL Hall, SP BAL (CBS: 22% rostered, ESPN: 4% rostered): Hall can be a top-of-the-rotation starter, but as we saw in his debut Saturday against the Rays, he walked three in 3 1/3 IP. Know your parameters!!
Joey Meneses, 1B, WAS (CBS: 8% rostered, ESPN: 4% rostered): In a journey that started way back in the DSL in 2011, 30-year-old Joey Meneses has finally made it to the show. Not only has he arrived, but he’s also mashing with five homers in his first 31 at-bats. This qualifies as one of the feel-good stories of the year.
Franmil Reyes, OF, CHC (CBS: 45% rostered, ESPN: 51% rostered): What’s the worst that can happen by taking a chance on the former Guardian slugger? It doesn’t work out, and you move on to the next available masher.
Austin Voth, SP, BAL (CBS: 3% rostered, ESPN: 2% rostered): I remember when we avoided all Baltimore starters, which wasn’t very long ago. I especially remember the trials and tribulations of Austin Voth when he came up with the Nationals. Voth has now tossed three consecutive solid outings, winning the last two. A small bid will get you a firsthand opportunity to see if he can bring his win-streak to three.
LaMonte Wade, OF, SFG (CBS: 4% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered): Wade has gone 5-for-13 with three homers in his past six games. If he keeps this up, my “steak and liquor” wager with Rich Wilson could be seriously jeopardized.
Mitch White, SP, TOR (CBS: 13% rostered, ESPN: 2% rostered): The Jays are tiring of Yusei Kikuchi’s ongoing struggles. Is White the answer? Only time will tell, but the Jays look prepared to allow him to be a regular in their rotation. In deeper and AL-only Leagues, he should be on the radar.
Closer Report
Matt Bush, RP, MIL (CBS: 3% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered): Taylor Rogers has struggled to stay healthy, and what once was thought of as an after-thought in the Brewers bullpen, Matt Bush has been very quietly getting the job done. With two saves in the past week, Bush is gaining the Brewers’ trust, and with Rogers currently out of the picture, they could be looking at more save opportunities in the immediate future.
Carl Edwards, Jr., RP, WAS (CBS: 1% rostered, ESPN: not rostered): Edwards Jr. has bounced from team to team over the past several years, generally in a setup capacity but in the relatively thin Nat’s bullpen and with two saves in the past week, is staking his claim as the closer-of-choice down the stretch.
Brusdar Graterol, RP, LAD (CBS: 10% rostered, ESPN: 3% rostered): Graterol was enjoying a great 2022 campaign which included three saves, all accumulated in the two weeks leading up to his stint on the IL for shoulder inflammation. He is currently on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City and should be ready to return to the Dodgers pen by the end of this coming week. Craig Kimbrel insurance is one premium we should be prepared to pay.
James Karinchak, RP, CLE (CBS: 9% rostered, ESPN: 2% rostered): A “blast from the past” has returned to the Guardians bullpen with a vengeance. Karinchak got the call at the beginning of July and allowed three runs in his first two outings before settling in and tossing a string of 12 consecutive shutout appearances. In his past 13 2/3 innings, he has struck out 25, only allowing five walks. That gaudy strikeout rate and holds potential make Karinchak a solid acquisition in all formats.
Blake Treinen, RP, LAD (CBS: 22% rostered, ESPN: 22% rostered): A nagging shoulder issue has kept Treinen on the shelf since mid-April, but he’s on the mend and currently rehabbing along with Brusdar Graterol at Triple-A. Any semblance to the reliever that has amassed 79 career saves, including 38 with the A’s back in 2018, will go a long way in solidifying the Dodgers bullpen.
Garrett Whitlock, SP/RP, BOS (CBS: 46% rostered, ESPN: 47% rostered): Poor Tanner Houck. He finally nails down the closer gig and is sent to the IL with lower back inflammation. Until his return, it appears that Garrett Whitlock is the front-runner to work the ninth inning, but don’t rule out John Schreiber from working his way into the mix for saves in Beantown.
