SAGNOF: ROad-JAuSe

I hope you’re all making a standings push as we inch toward September. Now is the time for action. Don’t wait too long and need a drastic solution. Don’t be like Patrick Swayze’s star character in Road House, bouncer extraordinaire Dalton. He kept having to up the violence ante to maintain the status quo. Look ahead at which categories could be within reach with a few wise adds this week.

• Josh Rojas has been a hot add since his trade to the Diamondbacks. His minors profile is why. Across AA/AAA in 2019 he has 23 HRs/33 SBs in 105 games. The playing time is his only hurdle. We’ve seen Arizona yank around the minors best home run hitter, Kevin “The Best” Cron plenty this season. Wilmer Flores is also heating up and can be used at second.
• The annual Travis Jankowski sighting is almost upon us. The Padres had to stash him in the minors until an OF spot became more available. That’s happened since the trade deadline and he was just called up. We’ll see what kind of timeshare he’s in but when healthy Jank is basically a lock for a 40 steals pace. If he can play somewhat regularly and net you ten or so that’s a standings catapult.
• Jon Berti is an option if you miss out on Rojas. He’s the Florida version (read: worse) of Rojas with a similar power/speed minors profile. His playing time may be a little more regular with the floundering Fish.
• Greg Allen feels like a player I will write about every year in SAGNOF. He’s hit a couple of big home runs lately and that may help get him into a spot in the order where he gets more green lights. Weirdly, he only has three steals in 176 PAs this season. It’s not from a lack of speed.
• It was a rough weekend to be a closer. Scott Oberg has been shut down for the season with a blood clot. Not something you want to mess around with, so wishing him the best. Wade Davis is still Wade Davis it turns out and blew his a save chance. No one else is pitching particularly well in that bullpen, however. Carlos Estevez has a big arm and some closing experience. Ditto on experience for Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee. Jairo Diaz could be the dark horse if they all fail.
• Sean Doolittle is making his annual IL stint. It doesn’t sound all that serious but Dr. Doo tends to wear down and can only get right with rest. Who knows how much rest will be required. The Nats have leaned on Daniel Hudson lately but also have Fernando Rodney, Hunter Strickland, Wander Suero, and Greg Holland in the mix. Oh, and Roenis Elias on the IL. Maybe Hudson can run with it and give us some clarity.

The easiest catchers to run on are as follows.