I’m a believer that fantasy baseball should end at the conclusion of this week, especially in head to head leagues. I don’t want a championship decided because one team had more of their starters playing than another. Just like Week 17 in the NFL, teams will rest players more liberally next week. I mean, the Yankees have been regularly resting players for at least a month now. So much so that it’s hard to trust any of their starters. In category leagues, it really doesn’t matter much, but in head to head leagues, if your championship is next week, and you’re involved in it, you had better do a few things. You had better check the playing status of all of your players as any little nagging injury could see them hit the bench. You had better check not only how many starts your pitchers have, but how many your opponents have. Finally, peruse the waiver wire. Even if your team is stacked, make sure there is no one there that your opponent needs. Sometimes the best offense is a good defense.
Risers
Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals: Wainwright is not the pitcher he once was, but since August, he is 5-2 with a 2.89 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and has 38 Ks in 46.2 IP. The Cardinals are also battling for a playoff spot so no one will be resting here. Wainwright could be prone to the blowup at this point in his career, but I would be willing to bet that the veteran at least keeps the Cardinals in the game and might be even to deliver more than just a quality start.
Sean Manaea, Oakland Athletics: I wonder right now if the Athletics make the playoffs as a wildcard team if Manaea is the starter in that game. In three starts since returning from the IL, Manaea has pitched 18 innings and only given up one run on six hits. Manaea has struck out 21 batters, that’s more than a batter per inning. If it’s not Manaea in that one-game playoff, then it’s likely Homer Bailey.
Jorge Soler, Kansas City Royals: Yeah, I know the ball is juiced or it’s made differently or whatever, but still, no one expected the kind of numbers that Soler is putting up. I mean, he might hit 50 HRs this season. Soler has already set the team record for the Royals as far as HRs in a season are concerned, he’s just tacking on now. If you’re looking for a fantasy MVP, I’m not saying Soler should be it, but he has to be top 10 in my book.
Trey Mancini, Baltimore Orioles: Mancini isn’t going to hit 50 HR like Soler, but 35 isn’t so bad for someone playing on one of the worst teams in the game if not the worst. Mancini is their best player and would be more of a household name if not for playing in this black hole. Going into drafts next spring, Mancini should be no worse than an OF3.
Eloy Jimenez, Chicago White Sox: Whether it’s Americans in general or fantasy owners as a whole, we are not a patient bunch. We want results and we want them now. A top-ranked rookie. We don’t want to hear about adjustments he needs to make, no way, just hit the ball. Jimenez has had his ups and downs this season, but it’s only now in September that he is starting to look like the star most expect him to be. This is a future 40-50 HR hitter waiting to happen. Jimenez is only now beginning to scratch the surface of his talent.
Fallers
Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs: What a huge blow for fantasy owners when it was announced that Rizzo would be out the next 5-7 days due to a sprained ankle. The news of course also isn’t good for the Cubs as they are battling with the Cardinals and Brewers for either the division title or a wildcard spot. Hopefully, you took Rizzo out of your lineup this week and all of his fantasy owners will have to hope that he can return to action during the final week of the regular season.
Starling Marte, Pittsburgh Pirates: Marte is one of those few players that provides both power and speed. That’s gold in today’s baseball, but Marte has now been out for almost 10 days due to a sprained wrist. Sure, he has pinch-run a few times, but that’s not helping us, and you can’t start him right now and you may be best moving on as there is little to no reason for the Pirates to play him. It’s not like they’re going anywhere this season.
Blake Snell, Tampa Bay Rays: I could’ve put Luis Severino of the Yankees or Brandon Woodruff of the Brewers (who also returned Tuesday) on this list as well. Yes, they are all aces. Yes, it’s good to see them back and we want to start them, but none of them are ready to throw enough pitches to qualify for a win more or less a quality start. It’s likely each player was only activated because their respective minor league team seasons’ have ended and their just isn’t any other place for them too pitch. Just be careful with your expectations here.
Jurickson Profar, Oakland Athletics: Profar is in an extended slump right now as he is only 3-32. Once again this is terrible for fantasy owners and not any good for the Athletics either. We love that he has positional eligibility to qualify all over the infield, but that doesn’t give us any help with his bat. Profar should be on your bench for the immediate future.
Manny Machado, San Diego Padres: The numbers aren’t bad for Machado, 30 HR, 82 RBI, .255 AVG, but we expected more, maybe even much more. Machado will get a pass as this was his first season in San Diego and in the National League, but those numbers can be had by just about anyone in today’s game, he needs to provide more if he wants to remain a first-round pick next season.
