After the slog and grind of six months sorting through statistics and information, watching days’ worth of baseball, and agonizing over the newest pitcher call-up, the long journey of the 2023 season has finally arrived at its end.
I’ll admit, this has been one of my least successful years (maybe spilling thousands of words each week here may have disseminated any secrets I had to all of my leaguemates), but it has been wildly entertaining. Trying to decipher the impact of the new rules and bouncier ball has been quite an endeavor. Navigating pitcher usage has been absolutely dizzying. The record for unique pitchers used in a season was set by the Mariners in 2019 with 42. With just over a week to go, the top four this year looks like the following: Athletics (41), Reds (40), Rays (40), Dodgers (39). One-to-four of those teams should pass Seattle’s mark, so it wasn’t just a schtick when I spent most of the summer suggesting you blow all of your FAAB bucks on the hot new arm.
For the most part, you are firmly planted in position in your roto leagues or batting our last head-to-head playoff matches. So there are only a few streaming options to look for – great matchups and category grinders.
Right away, if you need a boost in any non-speed hitting categories, the Rockies have seven home games with four versus the Dodgers and three against the Twins. There is a chance that both the Dodgers and Twins take their feet off the gas pedals a bit to rest pitchers for the playoffs, making Colorado hitters an even greater target.
You may also want to swap out bats from the following teams – Reds, Nationals, Guardians, and Rays – as each of those four only play five games next week.
Outside of those endorsements, we’ll focus on some specific category helpers or those with juicy matchups for the last week.. let’s get to it.
PS – Thanks to all for this opportunity to write here all year, especially to Grey and Truss. But especially to my good pal, Jeremy Brewer, who looped me in here at Razzball. And of course, thank you so much to all that have read and interacted all season long!
The stats and ownership percentages below are updated as of noon central time on 9/22.
As always, if you want advice on specific roster decisions you might have, feel free to leave a comment. You can also find me on twitter (X) (@mcouill7).
CATCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 38% CBS Ownership) Since I last wrote here on Sept. 9 to suggest picking up Moreno, he’s slashed .423/.467/.500 in 30 plate appearances over eight games. On top of that, he and the D-backs get three pretty favorable games at the White Sox next week. Yes, the power has been lacking on the season for Moreno (only seven homers), but it’s really hard to emphasize how much of a boon a .292 batting average from a catching spot can be. If you’ve had Moreno all season, that type of batting average can allow you to ease the burden of owning someone like Kyle Schwarber. I foresee myself owning lots of Moreno shares next year as the 23-year-old has impressed in his first full season. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Travis d’Arnaud (ATL, 43% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Alejandro Kirk (TOR, 41% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Ryan Jeffers (MIN, 9% CBS Ownership) – I couldn’t wrap the season without a sendoff to a good friend and mainstay like this. Jeffers and the Twins host the A’s for three games before heading to Coors to end the season on a three-game set. Matchups don’t get much prettier than that. If you are rostering a catcher like Keibert Ruiz, Tyler Stephenson, or Bo Naylor with only five games next week, swapping out for Jeffers and rolling the dice on a handful of last-week homers could be a deft move. (1-3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Patrick Bailey (SFG, 15% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Connor Wong (BOS, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Austin Wells (NYY, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
INFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Ryan O’Hearn (1B/OF, BAL, 23% CBS Ownership) – Just like Mike Elias and everyone slamming Natty Bohs predicted in the depths of the Baltimore rebuild, the O’s lineup is anchored by Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Cedric Mullins, Heston Kjerstad, and … Ryan O’Hearn? Yes, the 30-year-old O’Hearn has held his own all year on the resurgent Orioles and slashed .309/.337/.516 on the season, good for a 132 wRC+. There’s a little bit of luck baked in thanks to his .363 BABIP, but the batted ball indicators are strong with a 10.8% barrel-rate and 52.2% Hard-Hit-rate. That Hard-Hit is on par with Yordan Alvarez (52.0%) and ranks in the 95th percentile. The cherry on top of it all for O’Hearn down the stretch is that Baltimore has all home games slated against only one lefty (Chris Sale) in the last week. Camden rates as one of the best home run parks for lefty bats with a 113 according to RotoGrinders. (1-3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Ronny Mauricio (2B/SS, NYM, 45% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Edouard Julien (2B, MIN, 41% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Maikel Garcia (3B/SS, KCR, 37% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Noelvi Marte (3B/SS, CIN, 29% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), LaMonte Wade (1B/OF, SFG, 29% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Mauricio Dubon (2B/SS/OF, HOU, 28% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Nolan Schanuel (1B, LAA, 25% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Yoan Moncada (3B, CHW, 28% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Chris Taylor (2B/3B/SS/OF, LAD, 25% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Elehuris Montero (1B/3B, COL, 10% CBS Ownership) – Sorry, Hunter Goodman. The by-laws of the Colorado Rockies state that if any mid-20’s player shows a semblance of upside, he must bide his time in the shadows until all veteran contracts have been completed (and renewed a time or two). Since Montero has served his time in exile already, he has continued to receive starts even with Kris Bryant’s recent return. The 25-year-old has started in 18 of the last 19 Rockies games, shuffling between 1B and DH. Montero sports a .297/.348/.505 career line at Coors and is an easy target with the upcoming homestand against the Dodgers and Twins. (1-3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Michael Massey (2B, KCR, 12% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Brendan Rodgers (2B, COL, 11% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Liover Peguero (2B/SS, PIT, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jordan Diaz (1B/2B/3B, OAK, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
OUTFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Willi Castro (2B/3B/SS/OF, MIN, 32% CBS Ownership) – Willi is the best option available in plenty of shallower leagues if you need stolen bases down the stretch. Between his current 32 steals and generous eligibilities, he can be rosterable by just about every team. With both Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton out, Castro is garnering everyday at-bats either at 3B or CF. And to top it all off, Willi gets six games to swing away at pitches from the subpar Oakland and Colorado staffs, including three games in Coors. If there was one guy this week I would blow all of my remaining FAAB budget on, it would be Castro. (3 – all-of-it % FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Tommy Pham (ARI, 47% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Leody Taveras (TEX, 45% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Max Kepler (MIN, 37% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Evan Carter (TEX, 32% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Alex Kirilloff (1B/OF, MIN, 27% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Heston Kjerstad (BAL, 26% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Will Benson (CIN, 23% CBS Ownership Rate, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Nelson Velazquez (KCR, 17% CBS Ownership) – After O’Hearn (detailed above), Velazquez is my favorite choice for a power boost over the last week. Since arriving from the Cubs at the deadline, he has slashed .245/.314/.623 with 12 homers, 22 runs, and 25 RBI in 118 PAs. That paces to roughly 50 homers with 100 runs and RBI while having been totally free. And maybe I’m warped by the likes of Kyle Schwarber and Joey Gallo, but if you can get power production like that with Nelson’s .245 batting average, that is a huge boon. Oddly, it might not be surprising to see Velazquez be the next former Cub to take a run at the all-time Royals home run mark following in the footsteps of Jorge Soler. (3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Matt Wallner (MIN, 15% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Parker Meadows (DET, 11% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Oswaldo Cabrera (2B/3B/OF, NYY, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Drew Waters (KCR, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Brenton Doyle (COL, 5% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
STARTING PITCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Reese Olson (DET, 36% CBS Ownership) – Towards the end of the season, two-start weeks are fluky as pitchers are scheduled and re-scheduled due to a myriad of reasons like fatigue, weather, and overall vibes. Thankfully, one thing that can help solidify making your scheduled starts is being a young guy trying to prove his mettle on a mediocre team. Reese Olson fits that bill to a tee. You can see it when watching Olson, but his main problem is that he has a Blake Snell-like pitching approach, throwing outside the zone often. Over his last six starts, Olson hasn’t topped a 40% zone-rate and is throwing just 37.1% of his pitches in the zone on average. Thankfully his two remaining schedules opponents, the Royals and Guardians, are eager to get to their offseason beaches and hunting stands so could be willing to hack at everything Olson tosses their direction. (3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Patrick Sandoval (LAA, 46% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Kyle Harrison (SFG, 45% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Kutter Crawford (BOS, 44% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Cristopher Sanchez (PHI, 43% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), John Means (BAL, 42% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Griffin Canning (LAA, 40% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Zach Littell (TBR, 31% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Paul Blackburn (OAK, 30% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Sawyer Gipson-Long (DET, 25% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Zack Greinke (KCR, 8% CBS Ownership) – I’m not sure I’m prepared for a Greinke-less league. Although I hold out hope he will have a perpetual one-year contract on the table with the Royals until his ERA finally shoots north of six like Adam Wainwright, I’m starting to come to terms there will no longer be any future Greinke-isms beyond this year. I’ll honor him and his future HOF plaque by sending the splendid righty off with a suggestion here. Hey, a two-step visiting the Tigers and hosting the Yankees (in which, we can only pray to see a “whoops, all eephus” Greinke start) isn’t the hardest sledding out there. Sure, Greinke hasn’t been pushing his pitch counts of late, but the Royals might let him cook here a bit for the chance at two wins for old time’s sake. (1% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Tanner Houck (BOS, 18% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Adrian Houser (MIL, 16% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Tylor Megill (NYM, 15% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Zack Thompson (STL, 12% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Connor Phillips (CIN, 12% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Ryan Yarbrough (LAD, 11% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Andre Jackson (PIT, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Matt Waldron (SDP, 1% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
RELIEVERS
10/12 Team Adds
Trevor May (OAK, 30% CBS Ownership) – You came here looking for a respectable suggestion to collect a save or two in the final days of your fantasy baseball season – who do you think I am? You will accept and learn to embrace the inevitability of an Oakland A’s closer. (1-3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Matt Brash (SEA, 31% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Adam Ottavino (NYM, 27% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Bryan Abreu (HOU, 25% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Brusdar Graterol (LAD, 24% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Chris Martin (BOS, 8% CBS Ownership) – Woah, a real closer? Looks like Martin should close for the last week as it’s doubtful Kenley Jansen returns. Martin has at least rocked a 1.07 ERA and 1.05 WHIP this year, so should be safe if you are borderline on ratios. (1-3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Julian Merryweather (CHC, 15% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Justin Lawrence (COL, 14% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jose Leclerc (TEX, 11% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jason Foley (DET, 10% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Robert Stephenson (TBR, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Drew Smith (NYM, 2% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Taylor Clarke (KCR, 1% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Bryan Shaw (CHW, 1% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
