I’m kind of confused. Yesterday was a big day in baseball, but if my twitter feed was accurate, most people spent the day watching something called “college football.”

• Waiver trade acquisition Stephen Drew popped just his second home run in an Athletics uniform last night. He is still having a disappointing and injury plagued season, but a few weeks worth of production here in the head-to-head playoffs or stretch run of rotisserie leagues could be on his horizon. Drew has batted everywhere in the lineup from lead-off to eighth, so it’s hard to predict exactly where Melvin will plant him going forward. For now, Drew makes for a solid pickup in deep leagues or AL-only formats. He is owned in roughly 20% of both ESPN and Yahoo! formats. I’ve written about (and gotten burned by) him in the past, but fool me seven or more times, and shame on me.
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Since I know you’re all waking up early to catch some Premiere League games, why not read about your fantasy baseball team too?

• Even prior to yesterday’s 2-for-3 game, Brennan Boesch was hitting .286 over the past week. He’s been mired in a slump for most of the season, but it seems as though he’s picking it up for the stretch run. If you need a player who must have playing time, Boesch has hit fifth or sixth in the lineup 13 out of 14 times since August 23. With plenty of chances to drive in runs with Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera batting in front of him, Boesch could really rack up some counting stats in the closing weeks. His ownership rate is 20% in ESPN leagues and 24% in Yahoo! leagues.

• After hitting his third home run of the season, hopefully Domonic Brown will see some more playing time. He is sporting is usual strong plate discipline skills — 10.7% rate thus far — and his ISO is up to .129 on the season. His wRC+ is just 93 yet, but that is in sporadic playing time. I’m still mildly optimistic for him next season, and for now I’ve grabbed him in a league where I badly needed an OF. He should be free to pick up in over 95% of both Yahoo! and ESPN leagues.

• If you’re looking for help at third base (and who isn’t?) then Lonnie Chisenhall could work. He was on base three times in yesterday’s game, twice via hits and once via a walk. The walk is most significant because Chisenhall has never really been one to draw the free pass. Even in the minors, his BB% never reached above 10% at any level for any amount of time. The upside is that he rarely strikes out and he does posses solid power. Cleveland doesn’t have anything to play for other than to look ahead to next season, so expect Chisenhall to get plenty of playing time. You can pick him up in about 97% of ESPN or Yahoo! formats.

• Another option at third base is Manny Machado. He also reached base three times in his game yesterday and while his rate stats aren’t anything to brag about, his counting statistics do impress. With four homers and two steals over just 127 plate appearances bode well for his future fantasy value. Machado is owned in about 30% of Yahoo! leagues and almost 40% of ESPN formats. For the rest of this season, I’d take Machado over Chisenhall.

• Kris Medlen is good. I feel like 13 strikeouts in seven innings kind of speaks for itself.

For those of you who play daily fantasy games like FanGraphs: The Game, or just like to stream players, here are a couple matchups you may be able to exploit.

A Pitcher for Today: Shaun Marcum vs NYM
Well, Fiers got touched up for four runs in the first two innings yesterday, but I’m feeling good about playing against the Mets today. He hasn’t been great since his return from the DL, but I like him today.

A Pitcher for Tomorrow: Brandon Morrow vs BOS
I am such a sucker for Morrow. Dat career SwStr%!! Unf.

A Hitter for Today: Garrett Jones at CHC (Jason Berken)
Sure the Pirates have slid to just one game over .500, but Jones is doing his job against right-handed pitching. Jones brings his 140 wRC+ against righties into Wrigley today. I like my chances here.

• Two nights after Grant Balfour was passed over for a save situation, he was right back at it in locking down a one run game versus the also-contending Baltimore Orioles. Balfour’s season-long 4.01 xFIP isn’t fantastic, but a lot of damage was done in June/July. Since August 1st, he has a 2.63 xFIP with a K% (33.3%) which puts him within sniffing distance of baseball’s elite relievers. His fastball velocity has been climbing all season and he’s currently throwing the hardest he has since the 2008/2009 seasons. Barring multiple meltdowns, Oakland will ride him to find their playoff fate so make sure he’s active as you try to tick off the last few saves in your roto leagues.

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This week’s two-start piece is an even balance of righties and lefties, with one legend and a trio of relative unknowns. Read the rest of this entry »

He isn’t the best player and he most certainly does not play in a favorable stadium, but Michael Saunders is worth adding in mixed leagues if you need outfield help. With a wRC+ above 100 and 14 homers and 19 steals, it is rather surprising that Saunders is available in so many leagues. He is owned in just 9% of Yahoo! leagues, so picking him up and dropping a struggling outfielder or another replaceable player should be worth it as the season comes to a close.
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Today’s Roto Riteup was filmed in front of a live television audience. Just kidding. But I guess I could set up my webcam for you guys…

• Looking for a middle infielder with some pop and some speed? If so, then Kelly Johnson could be the player for you. Johnson swiped two bags yesterday, putting him at 13 on the year. He currently has 14 homers, so a 15-15 season is within his reach. Johnson’s rate states aren’t going to impress anyone, but at this point in the season counting stats are usually easier to gain points in than rate stats. If you happen to play in a Head-to-head league, then A. I’m sorry and B. tell your league to switch to rotisserie next year.
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• Sean Burnett entered in the ninth-inning of the Nationals’ contest last evening versus the Metropolitans with a save on the line. The lefty yielded two hits in two-thirds of an inning before Davey Johnson asked right-hander, and former closer, Drew Storen to get the last out with runners on first and third. Storen did just that — inducing a David Murphy fly ball out to center field to earn his second save of the season.

Despite the save from Drew Storen, Tyler Clippard’s job as closer should remain secure in the nation’s capital for the remainder of 2012. Clippard has experienced some recent hiccups — allowing five earned runs in his last five outings — but his absence may have simply been a case of the Nationals getting the “goggled one” some rest after he made appearances in four of the previous five nights. On the season, Clippard is 31-of-34 in save opportunities with a 3.18 ERA (4.03 xFIP) and a 2.89 K/BB.
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Let’s all go streaking! Streaming. Yeah, streaming. It might be useful for head-to-head playoff scramblers if we pointed out the nice matchups for the weekend. If the schedule holds, you might be able to get the jump on your competitor by picking up a good Saturday start today, for example. Good luck, and keep your clothes on, for the most part. Pants are overrated though.

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With an average of 20 games remaining for most American League teams, finding the right player (that is still available) to help you in Head-to-Head playoffs or the final weeks of the Roto season is a difficult — if not nearly impossible — find. Luckily for you, dear reader, doing the nearly impossible is what RotoGraphs thrives at. That, and being basement dwelling nerds. Take your pick.

The following is a list of scarcely owned outfield eligible players that should recieve enough playing time and accumulate enough counting numbers to be worth owning.

Jonny Gomes – Gomes is now up to 16 homeruns in less than 300 plate appearances on the year. He has 42 runs and RBI’s and if you play in an OPS league, he is now up to .866 on the season. His strikeout rate is pretty severe at over 30%, but he is hitting for enough power to make it livable. Gomes is owned in just 2% of Yahoo! leagues and all of 0.4% of ESNP leagues. He has been averaging two or three games per week throughout the season and has produced very well despite the partial playing time.
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