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MIXED LEAGUES
(Players rostered in under 50 percent of Yahoo leagues)
Note: Percentages are from the morning of Thursday, September 8
Triston Casas, 3B, Red Sox (Yahoo: 16 percent rostered)
First base has been a black hole offensively for the Red Sox this season, and this past weekend they shook things up in demoting Bobby Dalbec and promoting Casas. Arguably the team’s top prospect, Casas has batted .273/.382/.481 with 11 home runs over 317 plate appearances at Triple-A Worcester this season. The numbers were better than that since he returned from an ankle malady, with Casas posting a .907 OPS with five dingers over 36 games. Casas draws a bunch of walks and doesn’t strike out much for a guy with ample power. The left-handed hitter has struggled versus southpaws this season, but he’s capable of providing some thump and on-base skills against right-handers down the stretch.
Josh Jung, 3B, Rangers (Yahoo: 10 percent rostered)
While Casas has already arrived in the big leagues, Jung is expected to arrive to make his debut on Friday. They’re similarly thought of prospects, with Jung being ranked by MLB.com as the No. 39 prospect in the game (Casas comes in at No. 26). The No. 8 overall pick in the 2019 Draft, Jung didn’t make his season debut until late July after completing his rehab from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. The 24-year-old has showed no ill effects, posting a .846 OPS with six home runs over 23 games with Triple-A Round Rock. Jung is more hit than power, but he’s got some thump, too. The Rangers undoubtedly will play him regularly down the stretch to see if he’s ready to be their Opening Day third baseman in 2023.
Ian Kennedy, RP, Diamondbacks (Yahoo: 25 percent rostered)
The Diamondbacks have turned to Kennedy as their primary closer since jettisoning Mark Melancon from the role. Kennedy has collected six saves since returning from a calf injury back in late July and had been pitching well prior to hiccups his last couple times out. Home runs are always going to be a main concern with the flyball pitcher, but Kennedy should be fine as long as the ball stays in the yard. The D-backs have also been playing pretty well lately, which could result in more save chances down the stretch for the veteran reliever.
Blake Treinen, RP, Dodgers (Yahoo: 26 percent rostered)
Treinen suffered a torn capsule in his right shoulder back in April, an injury which would require season-ending surgery in most cases. He went the platelet-rich plasma injection and rehab route, though, and it worked, as the reliever finally made his return this past weekend following nearly a five-month absence. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has stood by closer Craig Kimbrel amidst ups and downs this season, and I wouldn’t expect Treinen to be thrown into the ninth inning after such a long layoff, anyway. However, as long as he’s healthy he should be useful in fantasy leagues down the stretch even in a non-closing role if you’re looking to stabilize some ratios.
Michael Toglia, 1B/OF, Rockies (Yahoo: 2 percent rostered)
A first-round pick in the 2019 Draft, Toglia’s calling card is his power. He’s smashed 61 home runs in two-and-a-half minor league seasons, which includes 30 bombs across 495 plate appearances between Double- and Triple-A in 2022. Toglia also has a career .240 average on the farm, as making contact is often an issue for the switch-hitter. Still, with massive raw power and an ability to draw plenty of walks, it’s a profile which could bear fantasy fruit especially when he’s playing at Coors Field. Toglia already has two homers, four doubles and seven RBI in his first nine major league games.
Jimmy Herget, RP, Angels (Yahoo: 25 percent rostered)
Herget has bounced around to three different teams over the last four seasons and has spent plenty of time in the minors during that stretch. He’s settled in as a reliable reliever for the Angels this season, though, posting a 2.56 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 56/14 K/BB ratio over 56 1/3 innings. Herget is unconventional with a herky jerky motion and sidearm delivery, but he boasts two excellent breaking balls between his slider and curveball. The right-hander has collected each of the Angels’ last three saves and has permitted just one run across 20 innings since the beginning of August.
Deeper Dandies:
(Players rostered in under 10 percent of Yahoo leagues)
Oswald Peraza, SS, Yankees (Yahoo: 6 percent rostered)
Peraza broke out in the minors last season to become one of the better infield prospects in baseball, posting a .834 OPS with 18 home runs and 38 stolen bases across three levels. He’s put up a good-not-great .778 OPS with 19 dingers and 33 steals at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2022, although his numbers since June 1 have been excellent (.875 OPS, 14 homers, 22 stolen bases). The Yankees summoned the 22-year-old this past Friday in hopes that he might provide a spark to a scuffling lineup. How much Peraza ultimately plays is in question, but he has started four of the last five games and reached base five times during Wednesday’s doubleheader sweep of the Twins.
Spencer Steer, 3B/SS, Reds (Yahoo: 3 percent rostered)
Steer broke out from a power perspective as a Twins prospect in 2021 with 24 home runs and a .833 OPS between High- and Double-A. It continued in 2022 as he slugged 23 bombs with a .879 OPS between Double- and Triple-A, landing in the Reds organization in the trade which sent Tyler Mahle to Minnesota. Steer doesn’t have a ton of raw power, but he gets the most out of it by pulling the ball in the air often. That should play well in the most homer-friendly venue in baseball at Great American Ball Park, and Steer homered there in his debut last week.
Jose Siri, OF, Rays (Yahoo: 9 percent rostered)
Siri has always oozed athleticism and tools. He’s lacked consistent production at the plate, though, in large part due to huge strikeout totals and zero patience. It’s why he’s bounced around to multiple organizations over the last few years. Siri has found a new lease on life with the Rays after being acquired at the trade deadline from the Astros, and he’s heated up at the plate lately having gone 13-for-38 with two homers and two steals over his last 14 contests. Frankly, he’s just as likely if not likelier to go into a tailspin than he is to keep this up, but in deeper leagues perhaps you can keep riding a hot streak.
Emmanuel Rivera, 3B, Diamondbacks (Yahoo: 5 percent rostered)
Speaking of hot streaks, Rivera has been on one since being acquired at the trade deadline from the Royals in a deal which sent Luke Weaver to Kansas City. In 25 games with his new club, Rivera is sporting a .812 OPS with five home runs, seven doubles and 13 RBI. He’s mostly found himself batting second or fifth for a Diamondbacks club which has been playing some good ball since the start of August. The ceiling with Rivera is pretty limited with no speed and good-not-great power, but in deeper formats he’s worth a look if still available.
Weekend Warriors:
Brayan Bello at BAL (Yahoo: 7 percent rostered)
Bello broke out in the minors between High- and Double-A in 2021 and has been even between in 2022 as he moved up to Double- and Triple-A, posting a 2.34 ERA and 129/36 K/BB ratio over 96 innings. Not only does Bello have legitimate swing-and-miss stuff, he also gets a ton of ground balls with a rate exceeding 60 percent at both stops in the minors this season. His first few major league outings were a struggle, but his last time out Bello tossed six shutout innings while striking out five Rangers batters. This weekend the young righty will take on a mediocre Orioles offense in a park favorable for pitchers.
Matt Manning at KC (Yahoo: 21 percent rostered)
In the interest of full disclosure, I initially had planned to feature Manning in the first section of this article last week but chickened out after he was blasted for seven runs over 2 1/3 innings against the Mariners. He then followed that up with another less-than-stellar start versus the same Royals that he’ll face this weekend. So why am I recommending him as a streamer now? Because he’s still taken some nice steps forward on the whole this season, having carried a 2.37 ERA into the start versus the Mariners along with four straight double-digit swinging strike efforts. There’s obviously risk here, but Manning still makes sense as a streamer in favorable matchups.
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AL ONLY
Mickey Moniak, OF, Angels (Yahoo: 0 percent rostered)
Moniak has begun a rehab assignment as he works his way back from a fractured left middle finger and has homered in back-to-back games for Triple-A Salt Lake. The 24-year-old has never much looked or played like a former No. 1 overall pick, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have some ability. Moniak has put up a .962 OPS with eight homers and five steals over 30 games during his time in the minors this season and figures to see plenty of playing time down the stretch for the Halos once activated.
Connor Wong, C, Red Sox (Yahoo: 0 percent rostered)
Acquired from the Dodgers in the Mookie Betts trade, Wong is easily the most interesting of the three catchers sharing playing time for the Red Sox right now. The 26-year-old has put up some nice numbers in the minors, including a .838 OPS with 15 bombs and seven steals this season at Triple-A. He’s also acquitted himself well during his brief chances in the big leagues with a .772 OPS and one dinger in 15 contests. It would certainly make sense for the Red Sox to give Wong more and more playing time down the stretch as they find out what kind of a role he might play in 2023. He’s got some pop and can also run a little bit for a catcher.
NL ONLY
Lewis Brinson, OF, Giants (Yahoo: 3 percent rostered)
He’s back! Brinson is one of the bigger top prospect busts in recent years, but he’s back in the majors with the Giants after posting a .930 OPS with 22 homers at Triple-A in the Astros organization. The 28-year-old has received four straight starts in the leadoff spot versus lefties and has homered three times during that span. We can be honest with each other and note that the odds of Brinson making a big impact in the final month aren’t high. Still, it’s hard to find plausible upside on the waiver wire in single-league formats, and Brinson has it.
Alfonso Rivas, 1B/OF, Cubs (Yahoo: 0 percent rostered)
The Cubs recalled Rivas in late August and they’ve been using him as their regular first baseman of late, giving him starts in six of seven games when facing right-handers. Rivas lacks power for a first baseman, but he’ll draw his fair share of walks and is a career .289 hitter in the minors. The 25-year-old could lose playing time once Patrick Wisdom (finger) returns from the injured list, but it doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen anytime soon. Rivas is usable in NL-only leagues while he’s seeing regular action.
