Travis Blankenhorn, OF, WAS (CBS/ESPN: not rostered)
Blankenhorn’s power surge in 2023 has been sustained this year, with the 28-year-old sitting second in the International League home run race with 24 long balls. The deadline trades of both Jesse Winker and Lane Thomas should guarantee plenty of at-bats down the stretch in the depleted Washington lineup. For the mere pittance, it will cost, why not give him a look?
Jonah Bride, 1B/3B, MIA (CBS/ESPN: not rostered)
The hit tool is strong (56/60 K/BB at Triple-A). The power is modest at best (11 HR in 262 AB). The Marlins are shuffling the deck as they rebuild, so a steady diet of at-bats should be Bride’s for the taking in the second half.
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, CHC (CBS: 22% rostered, ESPN: 2% rostered)
Crow-Armstrong has gone 7-for-24 in the past week with five RBI and three stolen bases. This brings the rookie to a perfect 21-for-21 on the basepaths. The power still hasn’t surfaced, but that elite speed sure has and shouldn’t be ignored.
Dylan Crews, OF, WAS (CBS: 38% rostered, ESPN: 2% rostered)
The odds are excellent that we see Crews before September. He has cut back on the strikeouts, improved the walk rate, and looks just about ready to join James Wood in the Washington outfield. Jumping in a bit early will save you a good chunk of that FAAB you saved for the end game.
Grant Holmes, SP, ATL (CBS: 10% rostered, ESPN: 6% rostered)
Could we be looking at a late bloomer? Max Fried returned today, and Reynaldo Lopez is tentatively scheduled to return next week, so Holmes’s days as a starter could be limited. However, as a bullpen arm and middle-reliever, those solid strikeout rates will hold value in single-league formats.
Coby Mayo, 3B, BAL (CBS: 67% rostered, ESPN: 12% rostered)
All the tools are there to witness long-term success, and Mayo has added 20 homers and a .961 OPS in 302 at-bats to his resume this year. The opportunity is at hand with Jordan Westburg out for an extended period.
Parker Meadows, OF, DET (CBS: 14% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered)
After a dreadful start, Meadows was demoted. He returned at the beginning of July and, three solid games later, hit the Il with a hammy strain. He returned to the lineup last night and promptly went 2-for-5 with an RBI and an RS. Would I be shocked to see a repeat of the strong 2023 stretch run? Not one bit.
Gabriel Moreno, C, ARZ (CBS: 46% rostered, ESPN: 53% rostered)
The power is yet to develop, but the strong hit tool, is on full display. Over the past three weeks Moreno has driven in nine runs, scored eight runs, posted a .377 OBP and has even swiped a couple of bags. If that power starts to surface, look out!
Geraldo Perdomo, 2B/SS, ARZ (CBS: 8% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered)
In the past week, Perdomo has gone 10-for-23 with six RBI. He’s even scored five runs, hitting at the bottom of the order. It helps when you have Ketel Marte tearing the cover off the ball!
Nolan Schanuel, 1B, LAA (CBS: 44% rostered, ESPN: 8% rostered)
The question wasn’t when the power would develop but more along the lines of whether it would ever develop. Well, the 22-year-old Schanuel is now up to 11 home runs in 359 at-bats and, combined with the solid hit tool, looks to be displaying the skills that will hold down first base in Anaheim for many years to come.
Victor Scott, OF, STL (CBS: 9% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered)
The rumor mill has Scott looking at a promotion today. There’s no doubting the speed (29 SB in 292 at-bats at Triple-A Memphis), but there are a lot of outfield mouths to feed in St. Louis, even with a potential IL stint looming for Michael Siani. Scott is best left for the deepest of Mixed Leagues and NL-only formats.
Austin Wells, C, NYY (CBS: 35% rostered, ESPN: 11% rostered)
Wells has hit two homers, driven in eight runs, and posted an outstanding 1.024 OPS over the past two weeks. In 209 at-bats, he’s now up to eight homers on the year. The makings of a solid mid-tier Catcher, possibly more, are starting to surface. In Dynasty Leagues, that makes for a solid buy (either by trade or as an FA), especially in that high-powered Yankees offense.
Jacob Young, OF, WAS (CBS: 37% rostered, ESPN: 5% rostered)
On the year, Young has stolen 26 bases, good for a tie for 7’th in all of baseball. He has six thefts in the past three weeks. If you covet the speed game, get him rostered and in your active lineup right smartly.
The Closer Report
Ryan Thompson, RP, ARZ (CBS: 8% rostered, ESPN: 3% rostered)
Paul Sewald has been struggling mightily and has been removed from the ninth-inning role in Arizona. Plenty of names are in contention to replace Sewald, notably A.J. Puk and Kevin Ginkel, but Thompson’s 2-for-2 record in his past two outings, combined with a great 1.97 ERA and 19 holds over 45 2/3 IP this season, puts him as the current front-runner for the gig.
Victor Vodnik, RP, COL (CBS:10% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered)
We mentioned Victor Vodnik last week when he was rostered at 5% in CBS leagues, and that doubled this week. I get that he’s a Rockies pitcher who pitches in Coors for half his games, but right now, he’s pitching well. He has a win and two saves in his last three outings and has allowed but one earned run in his past 16 appearances, lowering his ERA to 3.70. If you’re chasing saves, it’s time to take the plunge.
