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AVG
Nick Gordon, 2B/SS/OF, Twins -- Available in 80 percent of Yahoo leagues
With Jorge Polanco on the injured list, Gordon has picked up every day playing time at second base. The 26-year-old has certainly earned the opportunity as he’s been excellent at the plate in the second half. Since the All-Star break, he’s hitting .298 with a pair of home runs and three steals while cutting his strikeout rate down to 21.9 percent over 105 plate appearances. Not only is he making more contact, but he’s also making better contact with a 43.2 percent hard-hit rate in that span. Teams in deeper mixed leagues looking for a versatile hitter with multi-position eligibility should consider adding Gordon in leagues where he’s available.
HR
Triston Casas, 1B, Red Sox -- Available in 89 percent of Yahoo leagues
The Red Sox made a move many have been waiting for, promoting top prospect Casas from Triple-A Worcester. The 22-year-old slugger blasted 11 homers while hitting .273/.382/.481 across 317 plate appearances. Unlike most power hitters, he’s been able to maintain a decent strikeout rate in the minors with a 21.5 percent rate in Triple-A this season. It’s unknown how that will translate in the majors, but Boston is set out to give him every opportunity over the final month. With Bobby Dalbec optioned to the minors, Casas is expected to handle everyday duties at first base down the stretch. With his raw power and propensity to hit the ball in the air with a groundball rate under 40 percent, he should be rostered in all mixed leagues, given his upside.
R
Riley Greene, OF, Tigers -- Available in 59 percent of Yahoo leagues
Things have started to click for Greene at the plate. Over the last two weeks, he’s 21-for-52 (.403) with a pair of home runs and ten runs scored as the Tigers every day leadoff hitter. While his strikeout rate has been an issue during his rookie campaign, it’s something his speed and 45 percent hard-hit rate has been able to mask over small stretches. The 21-year-old outfielder has a good chance to keep this run going with excellent pitching matchups as Detroit takes on the Angels and Royals this week.
RBI
Michael Toglia, 1B/OF, Rockies -- Available in 98 percent of Yahoo leagues
It’s Coors week for the Rockies as the team has six games at home against the Brewers and Diamondbacks. Adding the widely-available Toglia could be a great way to get some exposure to the high run-scoring environment. The 24-year-old slugger earned a promotion after blasting 30 homers with 83 RBI over 495 plate appearances across Double-A and Triple-A this season. In his five games with the Rockies so far, he’s 5-for-18 with two doubles, a home run, and three RBI while getting time at both right field and first base. Toglia has plenty of swing-and-miss in his game, so he’s likely not someone you want to start outside of Colorado. But rostered in just two percent of leagues, he makes for an intriguing streamer in deeper mixed leagues.
SB
Jose Siri, OF, Rays -- Available in 95 percent of Yahoo leagues
Siri is coming off a hot week at the plate, going 8-for-14 with a home run and a steal. While he’s hitting only .217 on the year, he’s fared much better since joining the Rays at the trade deadline with a .279 average since August 2. The 27-year-old outfielder has five steals with his new team, and 11 on the year. He’s been playing essentially every day as the team’s primary center fielder. While Tampa Bay has been quick to platoon hitters, Siri has experienced some reverse splits as the right-hander has been much better against right-handed pitching. This week, the Rays are projected to face right-handed starters in five of their six games. Teams in deep mixed leagues looking to ride the hot hand and add a bit of speed can consider Siri where he’s available.
W
José Quintana, SP, Cardinals -- Available in 68 percent of Yahoo leagues
Quintana has given up two earned runs or fewer in each of his last eight starts, giving him a 3.47 ERA over 132 1/3 innings. Six of those starts have come with the Cardinals after he was traded from the Pirates at the trade deadline. After a few down seasons, the 33-year-old southpaw is in the middle of a renaissance campaign. Part of that has come behind an improved walk rate while limiting home runs. He’ll look to keep that going with two excellent chances at wins with matchups against the Nationals and Pirates this week.
ERA
Domingo German, SP, Yankees -- Available in 62 percent of Yahoo leagues
German got off to a late start this season after missing the first three months with a shoulder impingement. He looked sharp during his minor league rehab assignment, giving up one run across 17 1/3 innings. German’s fortune has continued since his return as he’s posted a 3.12 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts across 49 innings. The numbers look even better following his first outing of the season in which he allowed five runs. Since that first start, his ERA is down to 2.35 over 46 frames. He’s allowed more than two runs just once over that span. This week, he’ll take on the Twins in New York. Minnesota has struggled a bit offensively of late, producing a below-average .654 OPS and 90 wRC+ over the last two weeks.
WHIP
Dean Kremer, SP, Orioles -- Available in 74 percent of Yahoo leagues
Kremer has been a nice surprise for the Orioles’ pitching staff this season, posting a 3.22 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 89 1/3 innings. He’s in the middle of an exceptional run since the start of August. Over his last five outings, he carries a 2.37 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across 38 frames. That includes starts against the Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Astros. A significant part of Kremer’s success has been his ability to limit baserunners with an elite 5.3 percent walk rate. He’s been slightly better at home this season, where he’ll get a matchup against the Blue Jays. Teams in deep mixed leagues could look to Kremer for possible help in the WHIP category over the final month.
K
Nick Lodolo, SP, Reds -- Available in 66 percent of Yahoo leagues
Lodolo was dominant in his early Sunday start against the Rockies, striking out nine batters over six scoreless innings while generating 14 swinging strikes. The 24-year-old left-hander has impressed with these kinds of outings all season but has had trouble with consistency. In all, he carries a 3.95 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts across 73 innings. His 3.82 FIP and 3.72 xFIP support what he’s done to this point. This week, he has a good chance to rack up the strikeouts once again as he faces a Brewers team that has the second-highest strikeout rate against southpaws in the second half at 29 percent, behind only the Marlins at 29.4 percent.
SV
Jimmy Herget, RP, Angels -- Available in 80 percent of Yahoo leagues
The Angels bullpen has been in flux since the team traded Raisel Iglesias to the Braves at the deadline. Herget has emerged as the primary ninth-inning reliever with a pair of saves this week. The 28-year-old right-hander is up to five on the year to go with an excellent 2.63 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 53 strikeouts across 54 2/3 innings. Herget produced a 5.30 ERA across 18 2/3 innings with the Rangers and Angels last season. But a 2.85 FIP and 3.66 xFIP suggest the surface stats were due to some bad luck. His fortunes have turned this year as he’s been one of the Angels’ best relievers all season.
