FAAB Frenzy and Waivers Wild: Week 8
Fantasy baseball managers, brace yourselves! This week's waiver wire and free agent acquisitions are a whirlwind of activity, demanding your constant attention and strategic moves. The season's challenges intensify as real-life baseball managers juggle batting orders, players shuttle between the Major and Minor Leagues, and injuries mount. It's a relentless cycle of vigilance and action, where staying on top of league news and making smart waiver wire picks are crucial for success.
In this week's analysis, we delve into the top adds on Fantrax and the NFBC Online Championship (OC), a mid-stakes contest with 240 leagues and a six-figure grand prize. By examining the player acquisitions in both platforms, we gain a comprehensive view of the fantasy baseball marketplace.
Week 7 Recap
The Philadelphia Phillies dominated Week 7 with a 5-2 record and a league-high 39 runs, thanks to their strategic matchups (1 at MIA, 3 vs. ATH, 3 vs. COL). Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper led the charge with five and four home runs, respectively, while Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages hit four homers in a single game against the Astros. Brandon Marsh continued his hot streak, leading all hitters in hits (14 in 27 at-bats) despite only driving in three runs. Twins outfielder Byron Buxton also had a strong week, maintaining his top position in 5×5 roto over the last two weeks with impressive stats.
The Cleveland Guardians and Miami Marlins showcased their offensive prowess, with the Guardians stealing 14 bases and the Marlins stealing 12. Rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana led the way with five stolen bases, while José Ramírez and Brayan Rocchio each swiped three. The Marlins' success was fueled by Esteury Ruiz, who demonstrated his versatility as a pinch-runner, stealing six bases despite only eight plate appearances. He's a potential fantasy unicorn, offering speed without being a volume hitter or regular starter.
Fantasy Player Rater – Top Hitters YTD
The top hitters in 5×5 roto 12-team leagues, according to FanGraphs Fantasy Player Rater, include:
- Drake Baldwin (ATL C) - $39.9
- Matt Olson (ATL 1B) - $38.7
- Aaron Judge (NYY OF) - $37.2
- Ben Rice (NYY C/1B) - $37.1
- Oneil Cruz (PIT OF) - $36.6
- Jordan Walker (STL OF) - $34.4
- Shea Langeliers (ATH C) - $34.1
- Andy Pages (LAD OF) - $33.8
- Elly De La Cruz (CIN SS) - $33.1
- Liam Hicks (MIA C/1B) - $32.5
- James Wood (WSN OF) - $30.6
- Yordan Alvarez (HOU OF) - $30.6
- CJ Abrams (WSN SS) - $30.5
- Brice Turang (MIL 2B) - $26.8
- Sal Stewart (CIN 1B) - $26.0
- Mike Trout (LAA OF) - $25.6
Pitching Excellence
Among the 27 starting pitchers who pitched twice last week, four emerged victorious: Cristopher Sánchez, Eduardo Rodriguez, Michael Wacha, and Nick Martinez. Wacha and Martinez continue to excel, outperforming their peripherals despite their high SIERA and xFIP. Davis Martin, an exceptional acquisition for fantasy investors, led the league in strikeouts (19) and allowed just one earned run in 13 innings. His walk rate is down to 5.2%, tied with Nick Martinez for the 10th best among qualified starting pitchers.
Close Encounters
Cade Smith earned a league-high three saves, while Phillies Brad Keller secured two saves, despite the presence of closer Jhoan Duran. Kyle Finnegan, however, walked five batters in three appearances and blew a save chance, making him a drop candidate in all formats. Kenley Jansen, day-to-day with groin soreness, appeared in relief and earned the Tigers' lone save opportunity.
Fantrax and NFBC OC – Top Adds
Fantrax's most popular player adds include:
- Ezequiel Duran (Rangers 1B,2B,3B,SS,OF) - 40%
- JJ Bleday (Reds OF) - 50%
- Ty Madden (Tigers SP) - 32%
- Trevor McDonald (Giants SP) - 34%
- Spencer Jones (Yankees OF) - 73%
- Zack Gelof (Athletics 2B,3B,OF) - 37%
- Brooks Lee (Twins 2B,3B,SS) - 77%
- Griffin Canning (Padres SP) - 41%
- Robby Snelling (Marlins SP) - 83%
- Jesus Rodriguez (Giants C) - 21%
- Michael McGreevy (Cardinals SP) - 77%
- Casey Schmitt (Giants 1B,2B,3B) - 71%
- Sean Burke (White Sox SP) - 72%
- Jake McCarthy (Rockies OF) - 25%
- Janson Junk (Marlins SP) - 59%
- Brandon Marsh (Phillies OF) - 79%
- Ryan Waldschmidt (Diamondbacks OF) - 64%
NFBC OC's top average winning bids include:
- Robby Snelling (Marlins SP) - $135
- Ryan Waldschmidt (Diamondbacks OF) - $90
- Gregory Soto (Pirates RP) - $87
- Travis Bazzana (Guardians 2B) - $83
- Bryce Eldridge (Giants UT) - $47
- Spencer Jones (Yankees OF) - $44
- Rico Garcia (Orioles RP) - $37
- Bryce Miller (Mariners SP) - $36
- Tony Santillan (Reds RP) - $30
- Ben Brown (Cubs SP) - $30
- Caleb Kilian (Giants RP) - $29
- Pierce Johnson (Reds RP) - $29
- Michael McGreevy (Cardinals SP) - $29
- JJ Bleday (Reds OF) - $27
- Mike Burrows (Astros SP) - $27
- Carson Benge (Mets OF) - $24
- Andrew Vaughn (Brewers 1B) - $24
- Jesus Rodriguez (Giants C) - $23
Drop of the Week
It's time to bid farewell to the failed Giants closer, Ryan Walker, who was optioned to Triple-A. My FTN Fantasy Baseball podcast partner, Jason Anthony, predicts that lefty Erik Miller will soon claim a piece of the ninth-inning role. Caleb Kilian remains a top closing option in the bullpen.
Stay tuned for more fantasy baseball insights and strategic moves!
