Fantasy Baseball Thoughts: Takeaways From Week 19

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Chances are your trade deadlines have passed in your fantasy baseball leagues. Which means you have to sift through the waivers like a frat boy going through a sorority sister’s panty drawer. Whether you are looking to find that role player, that stop gap, that extra little sumpin sumpin…keep checking in with the Crackerjacks to help you turn over ever rock.

Here are some fantasy baseball thoughts to chew on from the last week.

Batters:

For those of you still mad at Joe Mauer for having such a horrible year, especially since you thought you could be sneaky and have a catcher play everyday with him switching to first, you may want to forgive him and get him back in your lineup. When healthy he is truly one of the best bats in the game. Next year though, when he losses catcher eligibility, you stay away from him like the plague.
Bryce Harper’s horrible year for fantasy owners should be overlooked as well. He hit two bombs this week and now has three this month. Forgive him, and get him back in your lineup, and next year, just do not draft him as high.
Rymer Liriano got the call from the Friars. In the deepest of leagues and NL formats, he is worth a look as he has some pop and some wheels.
J.D. Martinez is still producing at an acceptable clip. If you need help in the OF, he is doing well and surrounded by a lot of talent, you could do a lot worse.
Ryan Braun has 15 HRs and 11 SBs…and he just used that one time…you know during the entire season he went 41/30…
Speaking of 40 HRs, Chris Carter might get there the way he is swinging lately. 8 HRs in August so far!
I like Kole Calhoun coming down the stretch. He is leading off for a great lineup on a team that is right fighting for the division. Give him a look.
Corey Dickerson is not in the playoff picture, but we can overlook that as long as he still plays at Coors.
Ben Revere stole four more bases this week. Giving him 35 on the year. He is hitting over .300, .357 in 2nd half. Still available in too many leagues.
Jedd Gyorko, you had a good week but you are still a member of the Padres, which limits your value in so many ways, why do I still want to tell people to add you at such a weak position? I cannot do Jedd, move along people, there is nothing to see here.

Pitchers:

Mike Fiers went crazy against the Cubs striking out 14, zero earned runs, and a 0.67 WHIP. The start before that, he went 8 innings against the Dodgers and only allowed one earned. His place in the rotation is not secure, but if he is starting you should be streaming.
Jake Arrieta is owned in only 75% of Yahoo leagues. You can’t fix stupid.
Michael Pineda did all right in his return from the DL. He didn’t get kicked out for any foreign substance on his body either.
Bartolo Colon is far from sexy, I mean look at him. However, in the 2nd half so far he has a 3.40 ERA, 8.17 K/9, and a xFIO of 3.20. Sometimes you just have to throw sexy out the window and go hogging.
Marcus Stroman…forgot how to throw man.
Jeremy Hellickson had been looking fairly good in his short season thus far. Yesterday he reminded everyone what he is all about. His xFIP now sits at 4.30, and it actually went down in the non-quality starts the Yankees. His ERA and WHIP are appealing, but I do not trust it.
Jake Odorizzi on the other hand…well, I’m not sure I trust him this late in the season with such a young arm, but 146 K’s in less than 130 IP, I’ll take that.
Speaking of Rays pitchers, I have been promoting Drew Smyly a lot for next year, but he might be ready for a late season add right now.
Shane Greene hit double digit Ks his last time on the rubber. Look, the numbers he has right now, he has never had at any level in the minors before. But, zones happen, and right now, Greene is in a zone and you should be streaming him if not owning him until he comes back to earth.
James Paxton is not striking out as many as he did at the start of the season, but he is still pitching well enough to consider adding to your team.

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