As the season winds down, one of the best prospects in the game makes his debut this week.  Michael Kopech throws hard but has always had control problems.  But over the past few weeks, the mechanics have aligned and he’s now throwing consistent strikes.  We had a chance to see his last outing in Charlotte on Thursday and he was dominant.  He’s no longer throwing 102 plus but has dialed it back a bit to sit 97 to 98 MPH but the result is he’s not overthrowing and just has better control of his stuff.  He was so in control on Thursday that he looked bored.  We tweeted out that he was ready and anyone at that game saw the same thing. The other thing we noticed was the confidence.  Cocky comes to mind, but when you have two double-plus pitches, and two other at least average pitches and can throw them for strikes, I guess it’s easy to strut around.

Enjoy the list and please click on the baseball card to visit our partner amazon.com to explore additional information on each player.

Jorge Alfaro, C, PHI (CBS: 25% owned): How many people just fill the catcher slot at the beginning of the season and pay little attention as the season unfolds? When I see Jorge Alfaro owned to the tune of 25 percent, I think the correct answer is too many.

Brett Anderson, SP, OAK (CBS: 25% owned): I know he’s old, always hurt, and doesn’t strike out enough hitters. On the other hand, two-of-his-past-three starts have been 7 and 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball and he is pitching for the hottest team in the game, the Athletics. Why not give him a shot?

Welington Castillo, C, CWS (12% owned): The 80-game PED suspension is coming to an end this week, and no longer will we be able to ask the question, “Where’s the Beef!” He hit six homers in 116 at-bats prior to the suspension and has consistently shown the ability to hit for power. It’s time to take a look, and if dropped made part of your FAAB plans for this evening.

Alex Cobb, SP, BAL (CBS: 27% owned): August has been a good month for Alex Cobb. Four starts all of which were of the quality variety certainly will buoy ones hope that a corner has been turned. We’re willing to spend a few bucks to see if that’s the case.

Austin Dean, OF, MIA (CBS: 1% owned): The 12 homers don’t really jump off the page at you, but the .410 OBP at two levels down on the farm should. The Marlins could and probably should give him a good long look down the stretch and in deeper OBP and NL-only formats, a small investment could reap some solid rewards.

Aledmys Diaz, 3B/SS, TOR (CBS: 26% owned): Eight homers in 229 at-bats in the first half. Seven homers in 84 at-bats since the All-Star break. Opportunity is knocking for those searching for cheap power.

Stephen Gonsalves, SP, MIN (CBS: 8% owned): Ervin Santana could have made his last start as a Twin, as he returns to the 10-day DL with a recurrence of the finger issues that caused him to miss the first half of the season. The Twins are finally giving Gonsalves a kick at the can, and the lanky southpaw will be making his MLB debut on Monday against the WhiteSox. He’s enjoyed a solid season down on the farm amassing 12 Wins and sporting a 2.76 ERA, but the 65 walks in 120 2/3 IP indicates that he’s far from a finished product. Bid accordingly.

Kelvin Herrera, RP, WAS (CBS: 46% owned): He’s scheduled to return to the Gnats pen early this week and should immediately return to the stopper role. The big question is will the Gnats provide him with anything to stop?

Josh James, SP, HOU (CBS: 2% owned): The only James that fired bullets like Josh, would be Jesse. The Astros are currently looking at replacing Lance McCullers in their rotation for an indefinite period. 166 strikeouts in 109 1/3 IP over two levels in the Minors is a pretty fair indication that the kid is ready for a bigger challenge. We’re betting on a promotion and Houston giving him that challenge.

Michael Kopech, SP, CWS (CBS: 47% owned): Finally, the prospect hounds have received the answer to the question, when will Michael Kopech make his MLB debut on Tuesday.  One of the top pitching prospects in the game and he has the numbers to back up that statement, especially those off-the-chart strikeouts. 22-year-old 170 strikeouts in 126 1/3 IP.

Adalberto Mondesi, 2B/SS, KC (CBS: 32% owned): We mentioned Mondesi back in Week 14, and despite the occasional struggles finding his way to first base, the 16 thefts in only 138 at-bats is a good indicator that he knows what to do once he gets there. If you’re looking to make up ground in the stolen base category, you won’t find a better option.

Daniel Poncedeleon, SP, STL (CBS: 12% owned): The Cards have tired of the inconsistent performance from Luke Weaver, and are shipping him off to the pen. Poncedeleon will be taking his spot in the Cards rotation, and has one start against the Dodgers this week, followed by a two-start week against the Pirates and Reds. If you’re looking to stream pitching, keep him on your radar.

Amed Rosario, SS, NYM (CBS: 31% owned): Since July turned to August, we’ve seen an entirely different Amed Rosario. In 67 at-bats he has scored 15 runs, swiped five bases, hit two homers and driven in ten runs. Despite the abysmal start, we’re starting to see the Rosario we envisioned heading into 2018.

Joe Ross, SP, WAS (CBS: 4% owned): Ross is currently at the rehab stage of the TJS program and is likely to return sometime in September. He’s looking good thus far, and worth a cheap pre-emptive bid in deeper formats. I find it hard to believe that he’s still just 25-years-old.

Taylor Ward, 3B/C, LAA (CBS: 37% owned): The combination of power and speed, with the ability to take a walk, bodes well for both the short and long-term success of this former 2015 First Round pick. He’s not a catcher and won’t be moving forward, but Ward is carrying that eligibility in most formats. Take advantage of that situation.