FAAB Week 3: Zebby Piggy, Zebby Piggy, Zebby Piggy

Howdy there, Razzballers! Before we get into the meat of this week’s analysis, this clip from the 1988 cinematic classic Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure is required viewing in order to get the headline reference. Because, you know, every time you have to explain your references to 90-second moments of 40-year-old movies, you’re off to a great start.

Well, hope the fond memories Bill & Ted brought you some joy, because between life IRL and fantasy baseball, we probably all need it this week. On the baseball side, injuries have plowed through MLB affecting the upper-end players (Jackson Merrill, Ketel Marte) all the way down to the useful deep league pieces (Ryan Bliss, Andrew Benintendi), likely requiring just about every team in a league to hit the waiver wire to fill a roster hole or two this weekend.

Because the bidding environment is likely to change rapidly due to more injuries and pending callups between the writing of this piece and it’s publishing, make sure to stay connected to the Razzball streaming tools (the Hittertron and Streamonator) along with Latch Key Kid’s two-start piece, RotoSurgeon’s injury news, and JKJ’s reliever analysis to get all of the details before punching in those final bids. Maybe even hop in a magical phone booth to conjure Napoleon for yourself, because it’s going to be a war on those waiver wires this weekend.

The stats and Rostership percentages below are updated as of noon central time on 4/11.

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 BlueSky (@mcouill7.bsky.social).

CATCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Sean Murphy (ATL, 46% CBS Rostership) – Sean Murphy is still sitting on your wire after he was dropped post-rib injury in the spring? Get those bids in now because Murphy cracked a homer and logged four RBI in his first game back. Drake Baldwin scuffled and looked like a rookie in his time at backstop, Murphy immediately becomes a top 12 catcher given his track record and the lineup. (7% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Joey Bart (PIT, 42% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Alejandro Kirk (TOR, 32% CBS Rostership, 1%), Jonah Heim (TEX, 28% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Dillon Dingler (DET, 12% CBS Rostership) – Dingler was already starting to overtake Jake Rogers as the main catcher in Detroit thanks to a .346/.370/.692 slash line through his first 27 plate appearances. Now Rogers is shelved with an oblique injury, opening the door for Dingler to hold this job all season. He owns a great minor league track record, topping out at a 139 wRC+ buoyed by a .308/.379/.559 slash line at Triple-A in 2024. Dingler reminds me a bit of Tyler Stephenson in overall approach, but just in Detroit instead of Cincinnati. On the plus side, if you add the Tigers’ backstop, you get to say his superb name over and over. Dillon Dingler. Dillon Dingler. Dillon Dingler. It rolls off the tongue and feels like a slightly dirty word; I love it. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Miguel Amaya (CHC, 16% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Pedro Pages (STL, 12% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Mitch Garver (SEA, 5% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Matt Thaiss (CHW, 1% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Liam Hicks (MIA, 0% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

INFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Nolan Schanuel (1B, LAA, 43% CBS Rostership) – Another week, another final chance to own a first baseman off to a hot start. We’ve discussed Tyler Soderstrom and Ben Rice previously, and now, those two are snatched up everywhere. Schanuel is shaping up to be the next cold corner player to join them, opening the season with a .289/.373/.378 slash line (117 wRC+). It looks like the same old slapdick Nolan, but his bat speed increased from 65.2 mph in 2024 to 68.8 mph, which yes, is still poor, but given the 23-year-old hasn’t struck out more and is still in the 73rd percentile for Squared-Up rate, this is all gains, bro. Schanuel has already posted the hardest-hit ball of his career at 109.8 mph this season (up considerably from a previous high of 105.9). All of that adds up to a solid corner infield bat that should settle in for 15-18 homers, 8-10 steals, and a .280-ish batting average while playing every day in the middle of a surprisingly interesting Angels lineup (currently top half of the league in wRC+ and runs). (5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Colt Keith (2B, DET, 45% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Josh H. Smith (3B/SS, TEX, 40% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Jonathan Aranda (1B, TBR, 40% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Wilmer Flores (1B, SFG, 39% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2B/3B/SS, PIT, 38% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Jorge Polanco (2B/3B, SEA, 35% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Dylan Moore (2B/3B/SS/OF, SEA, 35% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Luke Raley (1B/OF, SEA, 32% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Jose Caballero (2B/3B/SS/OF, TBR, 31% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B, PIT, 31% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Carlos Santana (1B, CLE, 22% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Zach McKinstry (3B/SS/OF, DET, 16% CBS Rostership) – The rash of injuries that hit MLB this week was rough, taking out some of the best backend players from those deep leagues like Andrew Benintendi, Ryan Bliss, Jonny DeLuca, and Victor Robles among others. Enter McKinstry, who offers positional eligibilities to paper over all those roster gaps while slashing .371/.452/.571 in 42 plate appearances so far. The 29-year-old appears to have tweaked his plate approach, as he’s striking out at a career-low 11.9% clip right now after K-ing just 12.8% of the time in the Grapefruit League. With Parker Meadows, Matt Vierling, and Wenceel Perez injured, McKinstry is the everyday right fielder for the Tigers for at least the next month and possibly all year if he keeps hitting well. (3-5% FAAB)

Chase Meidroth (SS, CHW, 5% CBS Rostership) – Welcome to the big leagues, kid. Your task is to turn around a 2-10 White Sox team, good luck! (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Michael Massey (2B, KCR, 19% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Will Wagner (2B/3B, TOR, 14% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Josh Bell (1B, WSN, 13% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Ernie Clement (3B/SS, TOR, 10% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Paul DeJong (3B/SS, WSN, 10% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Ty France (1B, MIN, 8% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Matt Mervis (1B, MIA, 8% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Oswaldo Cabrera (3B, NYY, 8% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Thomas Saggese (2B/3B, STL, 6% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Gabriel Arias (2B/3B, CLE, 6% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Brooks Baldwin (2B, CHW, 5% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Lenyn Sosa (2B/3B, CHW, 3% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Gio Urshela (3B, ATH, 3% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Tim Tawa (2B/OF, ARI, 5% CBS Rostership) – Ketel Marte’s hammy injury opened the door for Tawa, who went straight into the starting lineup in Arizona over Garrett Hampson. Take his .279/.349/.519 slash line across 613 plate appearances at Triple- and Double-A last year with a grain of salt because of the hitting environments, but there is non-zero power here with a dash of speed. Expect Tawa to struggle a bit in the batting average department while being capable of a line that pumps out 10-15 homers and 6-8 steals over a full season while in the lineup. Sort of like a poor man’s Josh Rojas, but that will play in NL-Only while he has a spot in a great D-backs starting nine. (5% FAAB)

Tyler Locklear (1B, SEA, 3% CBS Rostership) – The Rowdy Tellez experience has gone about as expected in Seattle, with him slashing .050/.130/.050 over his first 23 plate appearances. Luke The Nuke Raley has also struggled and is a left-handed batter, making a perfect platoon partner for Locklear. The Mariners need some offense fast as they’ve sunk to the bottom of the AL West, and Locklear is looking too good to be in Triple-A with another solid line of .286/.359/457 (only a 110 wRC+ thanks to the PCL). Seems like only a matter of time before the 24-year-old returns to the majors to get his crack at being a cold corner that whiffs a lot but mashes homers. (3% FAAB)

OUTFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Zac Veen (COL, 49% CBS Rostership) – Many words have been spilled on this site since Veen’s promotion (see all of the articles in his player tag link at the bottom of the page). It’s easy to see the upside here; he’s a former top pick with a sexy swing, gaudy minor-league steal numbers, fantastic hair, and blazing celebration. Plus, he gets to play half his games in Coors Field. The Rockies finally woke up and gave Veen an opportunity, so he should stick for 2025 so long as he doesn’t fall flat on his face. I’m penciling him in for a .250 average, 15 homers, and 30 steals with plenty of room for upside. (7-9% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Jo Adell (LAA, 25% CBS Rostership, 3-5% FAAB), Mike Yastrzemski (SFG, 44% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Sal Frelick (MIL, 41% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Garrett Mitchell (MIL, 40% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Tommy Pham (PIT, 25% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Ryan O’Hearn (1B/OF, BAL, 25% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Max Kepler (PHI, 25% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Trevor Larnach (MIN, 23% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Pavin Smith (ARI, 11% CBS Rostership) – Hello, looks like Arizona is lining up to face all righties on their schedule next week with road series against the Marlins and Cubs. Smith, who has hit .310 (45-for-145) with nine homers and 30 RBI against right-handers since the beginning of 2024 (that paces to like 36 homers/120 RBI over a full season) could be due for a monster week.  (3-5% FAAB, streamable in 12-teamers with 1-3% FAAB bid)

QUICK HITS: Alan Roden (TOR, 16% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Harrison Bader (MIN, 16% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Alex Call (WSN, 6% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Andy Pages (LAD, 15% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Jake Fraley (CIN, 13% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Alek Thomas (ARI, 10% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Kyle Stowers (MIA, 7% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Kameron Misner (TBR, 7% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Justyn-Henry Malloy (DET, 4% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Andrew McCutchen (UTIL, PIT, 3% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Derek Hill (MIA, 2% CBS Rostership) – Big news for those of you true sickos in fantasy leagues with a “dope catch” category, as Hill offered one of the finest snags in recent memory this week. Since that is likely a niche league, one of those with like four best friends using it as a medium to chat, I suppose I should cover Hill’s actual roto fantasy merits. With the defense to keep him in the lineup, Hill has posted an 11.2% Barrel rate since the beginning of 2024, but speed is his main calling card. The 29-year-old should pace to something like 25 steals over a full season and be able to hit .250-.260. He might still be lingering in some NL-Only leagues because Marlins, but Hill is worthy of 15-team consideration now too given his role. (7% FAAB in NL-Only, 1-3% FAAB in 15-teamers)

Miguel Andujar (ATH, 4% CBS Rostership) – Again, maybe another stretch he’s actually available in AL-Only leagues, but given the roster rate for Andujar, it might be possible. So I’m going to cheat and overview another player that can be considered for 15-team leagues here again. After bouncing around plenty post-Yankees career, Andujar has produced a 103 wRC+ in 116 games since the beginning of 2023. Given how Sacramento is playing like it’s in Colorado, he is streamable at home, at minimum, while projecting for 18-ish homers and a .270 average, which is great value considering how thin outfield can be in deep leagues. (7-9% FAAB in AL-Only, 3% FAAB in 15-teamers)

STARTING PITCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Zebby Matthews (MIN, 35% CBS Rostership) – The luster on Matthews looked like it might have dulled a little bit as David Festa is in line to take Pablo Lopez’s rotation turn Friday night, despite this initial report upon Lopez’s hamstring injury (I forgot one of the tenets of baseball news ingestion, never trust a Nightengale). But wait, now Bobby Jr. is saying Zebby will start on Monday! Now is the time to capitalize on this confusion/uncertainty, which might just keep the price down. Zebby is annihilating Triple-A hitters to the tune of a 1.80 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, and 33.3% K-BB rate over his first two starts while his fastball is up two ticks from last year. That performance comes on the heels of 9.1 scoreless spring innings with a 34.4% K-BB rate while flashing improved velocity. The 24-year-old was always a control artist, so with the velo bump and Ks, Matthews could become an absolute stud. The Twins could move to a six-man rotation to keep both Fest and Zebby around but know that Woods Richardson is not long for this Minnesota rotation give his early season struggles. I expect that when Matthews is called up, he sticks rest-of-season, and could be a fantasy number two or three starter. (7-9% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Landen Roupp (SFG, 30% CBS Rostership, 5% FAAB), Shane Smith (CHW, 27% CBS Rostership, 3-5% FAAB), Tyler Mahle (TEX, 26% CBS Rostership, 3-5% FAAB), Chase Dollander (COL, 47% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Hayden Wesneski (HOU, 45% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Sean Burke (CHW, 40% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), A.J. Smith-Shawver (ATL, 39% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Griffin Canning (NYM, 35% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Richard Fitts (BOS, 35% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Will Warren (NYY, 30% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Andrew Heaney (PIT, 21% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Tony Gonsolin (LAD, 15% CBS Rostership) – In looking back over the past few years of this piece, 15-team pitching options thin out rapidly around this time of the calendar, as teams are using their 40-man rosters to maneuver around injuries. In a few weeks’ time after the minor leagues have about a month of action, rosters start to churn a little more to promote pitching breakouts and discard the arms that have become injured or faded from their spring performances. Gonsolin looks like he will need a few more rehab starts despite two sharp Triple-A outings in which he’s K-ed eight in five scoreless innings. The Dodgers’ rotation lacks Blake Snell and might become a six-man when Gonsolin’s ready, which honestly, might be sooner than three starts. Everything has looked on track for him to settle in as a mid-three ERA pitcher on a behemoth team, so stash The Cat Man now while he’s available. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Cade Povich (BAL, 18% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Jack Kochanowicz (LAA, 14% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), David Festa (MIN, 11% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Sean Newcomb (BOS, 2% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Ryan Gusto (HOU, 2% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Quinn Priester (MIL, 8% CBS Rostership) – The Brewers traded for Priester on April 7 to bolster a flailing rotation. The 24-year-old held his own during his Milwaukee debut, tossing five one-run innings at Coors Field. The upside here for Priester is something akin to Aaron Civale with his crafty sinker/cutter combo, but the downside is evident in his 99.2 career innings with a 6.23 ERA prior to joining the Brew Crew. However, I’m anticipating some upside because 1) the Brewers player development is superior to the Pirates, with whom Priester put up his worst work, and 2) for those into the psychological side of fantasy analysis, Priester hails from Cary, IL, a mere 90 minutes from Milwaukee, and might feel more at home. (3-5% FAAB)

Logan Evans (SEA, 3% CBS Rostership) – With Seattle optioning the other Luis Castillo this week, there wasn’t a corresponding move to add another pitcher in the rotation… yet. With Ryan Bliss’ gruesome biceps injury about to shelf the middle infielder for 4-5 months, there’s an easy 40-man path for Evans to debut, as Bliss could easily be placed on the 60-day IL. Evans features a four-seam fastball that sits in the mid-90s but is known for a devasting slider. Given how T-Mobile plays up stuff and the Mariners’ track record of getting the best out of pitching prospects, Evans has a good chance to be a league-average arm at the big league level with an ERA hovering around four paring with a strikeout per inning. (3-5%, but would be 7-9% if he gets called up, FAAB)

RELIEVERS

10/12 Team Adds

Lucas Erceg (KCR, 39% CBS Rostership) – The closer landscape has evened out mightily over the last week with no great direct sources of saves available in even shallower leagues now (unless you want to mess around with whatever is happening in Pittsburgh or Miami). In KC, Carlos Estevez has been teetering on a balance beam lately. This is a total spec add, but Erceg would immediately become the Royals’ closer if Estevez unravels a few times. (1-3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Kirby Yates (LAD, 43% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Chris Martin (TEX, 41% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Luke Weaver (NYY, 40% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Blake Treinen (LAD, 29% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Dennis Santana (PIT, 33% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Jason Adam (SDP, 33% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Tommy Kahnle (DET, 27% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Bryan Abreu (HOU, 24% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Emilo Pagan (CIN, 23% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Seth Halvorsen (COL, 22% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Anthony Bender (MIA, 17% CBS Rostership) – Someone has to close out the Marlins’ wins when they come, and Bender is that man. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Jeremiah Estrada (SDP, 15% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Tony Santillan (CIN, 13% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Matt Strahm (PHI, 11% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Yimi Garcia (TOR, 11% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Seranthony Dominguez (BAL, 7% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Phil Maton (STL, 2% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB)