After surviving Air Yordan’s waiver wire free-for-all, this week’s list looks a little flat.  While the names might not be as exciting and explosive as we’ve seen over the past several weeks, it might be more stable and predictable.  JBJ is only 25% owned?  Kevin Keirmaier is only owned in 40% of leagues.

Sometimes in fantasy baseball, we get too excited about the sexy new player and forget that many established players are collecting valuable stats for their Major League teams. Take a quick look at what Josh VanMeter, Nicky Lopez, Cole Tucker, and Brendan Rodgers are doing for their respective teams.  Sometimes boring wins the day.

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

Jake Bauers, 1B/OF, CLE (CBS: 25% owned)

The first North American born player to hit for the cycle on the day after the first Japanese born player hit for the cycle. It doesn’t get any better than that, does it?

Jackie Bradley, OF, BOS (CBS: 25% owned)

We mentioned in “Week 8” that Bradley couldn’t get any worse and it might be a good plan to “toss down a buck and stash him”. His ownership level was at 22% at the time. Since the calendar rolled over to June he has hit three homers, driven in nine runs, swiped a couple of bags, and is sporting a .961 OPS. It would appear that 75% of the Leagues using CBS didn’t get the memo.

Aaron Bummer, RP, CWS (CBS: 2% owned)

Alex Colome looks to be potentially moving on at the trade deadline. That leaves both the White Sox and Fantasy players some pre-emptive options. Kelvin Herrera (5% owned) would be the logical choice, but he has pitched dreadfully this year and it’s reflected in his 6.58 ERA. Aaron Bummer, since getting the call at the end of April, has now put in 18 appearances and allowed runs in only three. He pitched a scoreless ninth Friday, earning his first save. A small bid could turn out to be anything but a bummer.

Willie Calhoun, TEX (CBS: 42% owned)

A meager six games at the beginning of May is all we saw before he wound up on the IL with a strained left quad. It was a very good six days, as he went 10-for-23, with two homers and seven RBI. Calhoun is now three games into his rehab at Triple-A Nashville and looks ready to roll, most likely coming off of the IL this week. It’s worth a quick look to see if he got dropped.

J.D. Davis, 3B/OF, NYM (CBS: 6% owned)

May wasn’t a great month, but Davis has bounced back nicely in June swatting a couple of homers and compiling an outstanding 1.106 OPS. The only thing currently missing is a few more at-bats, and hopefully, the Mets take care of that and make the player moves necessary to give Davis ample playing time in the second half.

Ian Desmond, 1B/OF, COL (CBS: 33% owned)

Just when it was safe to cut him loose and move on, he has a week in which he goes 10-for-21 with three homers, 12 RBI, and six runs scored. It’s time to either invest or re-invest.

Brad Keller, SP, KC (CBS: 45% owned)

Keller went through a rough patch in May, but he’s back on track. In three June starts (22 IP), he has allowed 17 hits, four walks and posted a 2.05 ERA. Eventually, the Royals will provide him with some run support and the wins should follow.

Carson Kelly, C, ARZ (CBS: 19% owned)

We mentioned Kelly back in Week 8 (9%) when he was starting to show signs of heating up and he hasn’t looked back. He’s now up to eight homers, 21 RBI, and a very solid .867 OPS. Just to toss a bit of perspective into the discussion, he’s a Top-20 catcher in all three of the above-mentioned metrics. Why is he owned to the tune of only 19% in Leagues using CBS as a stat service?

Merrill Kelly, SP, ARZ (CBS: 46% owned)

Kelly might be turning into the starter that I envisioned last Spring. After a dreadful start to the season, he’s turned it around in June. In three starts totally 22 2/3 innings, he has allowed only a scant two earned runs. He has also won all three starts. For those of us whose patience ran out, the rewards are most likely being reaped by our competition.

Ian Kennedy, RP, KC (CBS: 25% owned)

In his past three appearances, he has three saves to his credit. Granted, two of those games were up against the Tigers, but a save is a save is a save. If a handful of them makes a difference, and quite often it does, find a roster spot for him.

Kevin Kiermaier, OF, TAM (CBS: 40% owned)

A 40% ownership level seems a bit low for a player that has hit eight homers and is 13-for-16 on the basepaths.

Carlos Martinez, SP/RP, STL (CBS: 43% owned)

Adam Wainwright is on the IL. Michael Wacha is ineffective. Alex Reyes has allowed 14 earned runs in his past three starts at Triple-A Memphis in a total of 11 2/3 IP. He doesn’t look ready. Martinez has been building his strength in an RP role and one would have to think that at some point the Cards will stretch him out and give him an opportunity to start. I’ll pay a couple of bucks to sit back and see how this situation plays out.

Brian McCann, C, ATL (CBS: 14% owned)

How do you turn a middling season into a pretty good one in a week? Have a week like Brian McCann just did and hit three homers while driving in seven runs. There might still be a bit left in the tank.

Keynan Middleton, RP, LAA (CBS: 1% owned)

If you’re looking for a stash that could provide value in your 2020 Dynasty Leagues, look no further than Keynan Middleton. He was off to a great start last year, with six saves in April, before the elbow woes and ultimately TJS. He’s also still under the 100 IP threshold used in most Dynasty Leagues for Minor League eligibility.

A.J. Minter, RP, ATL (CBS: 15% owned)

He’s back in Atlanta, and Luke Jackson has been solid but anything but spectacular. Any semblance of what we witnessed in 2018 and Minter could work his way back into the mix for saves in Atlanta.

Roberto Perez, C, CLE (CBS: 26% owned)

In 2018, Perez hit a career-best eight homers while driving in 38 runs. This year he has hit 11 homers with 27 RBI. He’s currently tied for fifth overall in homers at his position and is a Free Agent in 74% of the Leagues at CBS. What am I missing? Better yet, what are you missing?

Taylor Rogers, RP, MIN (CBS: 36% owned)

In four appearances in June, Rogers has amassed four saves. He has allowed one earned run in those five innings pitched, while striking out seven. It appears as if Blake Parker is no longer the front-runner in the saves-by-committee situation in the Twin Cities.

Jordan Yamamoto, SP, MIA (CBS: 16% owned)

What a debut! Seven innings of three-hit shutout ball against a pretty good St. Louis Cardinals ball club and his first MLB victory. The pinpoint control and breaking stuff baffled the Cards. The news that Jose Urena has been put on the 60-day IL has created an opening in the Marlins rotation, and one that Yamamoto will get every opportunity to fill.