Wilyer Abreu, OF, BOS (CBS: 7% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered): Wilyer Abreu was enjoying a solid season at Triple-A Worcester with 22 home runs, 65 RBI, 8 thefts and an outstanding .391 OBP in 299 at-bats. In three games since being promoted, he has gone 6-for-13 with a home run and four RBI. Will he find a way to secure enough at-bats in a crowded Boston outfield? If he continues his current hot streak, the answer should be a resounding yes!
Gabriel Arias, 1B/SS/3B/OF, CLE (CBS: 3% rostered, ESPN: not rostered): The 23-year-old Arias will give you coverage at every position, hit the odd homer and steal a base. The roster flex is the key.
Dairon Blanco, OF, KCR (CBS: 2% rostered, ESPN: not rostered): 16 stolen bases in 92 at-bats. He’s not a full-time player but when he does play, the odds are pretty good that he’ll be trying to improve on his great stolen base totals, which are currently sitting at 16 in only 92 at-bats.
Yan Gomes, C, CHC (CBS: 20% rostered, ESPN: 5% rostered): Yan Gomes is having a solid season, slugging 9 homers with 45 RBI and a solid .273 BA. Production at this level works just fine as a #2 type catcher in two-catcher formats.
Hunter Goodman, 1B, COL (CBS: 2% rostered, ESPN: not rostered): Goodman was enjoying a solid season at Double-A but absolutely exploded with his recent promotion to Triple-A Albuquerque, slugging 9 homers and posting an insane 1.321 OPS in 62 at-bats. On the year, he has mashed to a combined 34 homers and 111 RBI. The 23-year-old slugger should see full-time at-bats between First Base and the DH slot, and a six-game homestand at Coors makes for a great opportunity to get out of the gate strong. Here’s what Rich Wilson said about him to our Patreon subscribers. He has 70-grade power and can hit home runs out of any park. He is also demonstrating an improved approach; if that proves real, he has impact value.
Jake Irvin, SP, WAS (CBS: 7% rostered, ESPN: 3% rostered): We’ve now seen three consecutive quality starts from Jake Irvin. With the Marlins next up on the schedule, the odds appear to be very good that he’ll extend that run to four consecutive quality starts.
Parker Meadows, OF, DET (CBS: 8% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered): Parker Meadows is enjoying his first week as a big leaguer. How could you not when you’ve gone 6-for-17 with a walk-off home run and a stolen base. He has gotten on base ten times in his first five games. That qualifies as a resounding success that we shouldn’t ignore. Here’s what Rich Wilson said about him to our Patreon subscribers. Parker Meadows was one of my sleepers entering the 2023 season, and while he’s had a solid season, he didn’t build upon his 2022 season. Specifically, the contact improvements did not carry over. There is average power and speed potential (15-15), but it will likely come with a .240 to .250 batting average with 70 to 80 points on top of that for OBP.
Mason Miller, SP, OAK (CBS: 31% rostered, ESPN: 4% rostered): Remember Mason Miller? The rehab stint is down to possibly one more start, and then hopefully, he returns to the A’s rotation for September. If you’re in a tight race in strikeouts, an early bid this week could prove very rewarding.
Brandon Pfaadt, SP, ARZ (CBS: 32% rostered, ESPN: 4% rostered): Not everyone succeeds first time around, but in his past two starts against Cincinnati and San Diego, Brandon Pfaadt has allowed only two earned runs, struck out ten, and got that first win under-his-belt. It’s time to revisit Brandon Pfaadt for the stretch run.
Josh Rojas, 2B/3B, SEA (CBS: 16% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered): Arizona’s struggles are quickly forgotten as he continues to tear it up in Seattle. In his past six games, Rojas has gone 12-for-27 with two homers, six RBI, 9 runs scored, and three stolen bases. He couldn’t have picked a better time to get hot!
Jordan Wicks, SP, CHC (CBS: 7% rostered, ESPN: 2% rostered): The Cubs have turned to Jordan Wicks and he responded in fine form yesterday against the Pirates allowing only two hits, one run, and striking out nine over 5 IP in earning his first big league victory. Expect him to rack up the strikeouts with the young and aggressive Reds next on the schedule.
Closer Report
Yennier Cano, RP, BAL (CBS: 39% rostered, ESPN: 37% rostered): The UCL injury to Felix Bautista has thrust Yennier Cano into the closer role in Baltimore and last night he successfully converted his first opportunity against the Rockies. The Orioles are a very good team, leading the AL East by three games heading into today’s action, and will give Cano plenty of save opportunities in September. He won’t come cheap in this evening’s Waiver Wire bidding but could earn every penny as the O’s stopper down the stretch.
Aroldis Chapman, RP, TEX (CBS: 46% rostered, ESPN: 22% rostered): Will Smith is currently struggling, allowing earned runs (8) in five-of-his-past-six outings. How much patience will Bruck Bochy display? With Aroldis Chapman having allowed only one earned run over the same time frame, and the surging Mariners now in a tie with the Rangers for first place in the AL West, my guess is there isn’t much patience left to be displayed.
Alex Lange, DET (CBS: 56% rostered, ESPN: 16% rostered): With two saves and a win in his past three appearances, Alex Lange has worked his way back into at the very least a job-share for the ninth-inning gig in Detroit. Only time will tell if he can hold onto the job, but those desperately seeking saves should look to him as an option at this time.
Two-Start Pitchers
Johan Oviedo, PIT (CBS: 53% rostered) @Zack Greinke KCR and @Adam Wainwright STL.
Brandon Williamson, CIN (CBS: 36% rostered) @TBD SFG and vs. Justin Steele CHC.
Bryan Woo, SEA (CBS: 53% rostered) vs. TBD OAK and @ David Peterson NYM.
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