7:30	Jeff Zimmerman:

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In the article, I cover the players using CBS’s (about 40% or less initial roster rate) and Yahoo’s ADD/DROP rates. Both hosting sites have the option for daily and weekly waiver wire adds. CBS uses a weekly change while Yahoo looks at the last 24 hours. Yahoo is a great snapshot of right now, while CBS ensures hot targets from early in the week aren’t missed. The players are ordered for redraft leagues by my rest-of-season preference, grouped by starters, relievers, and hitters. Read the rest of this entry »

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While the NFBC Main Event garners most of the attention, there are a handful of leagues with even larger entry fees ($2.5K to $15K). They are named “High Stakes Leagues,” and there are eleven of them. With so much money on the line, these fantasy managers try to gain any advantage. Most of the time, these managers will be a week or two ahead of everyone else on their adds. Here are the players and some information on the ones added in five or more leagues.

Batters

Dylan Beavers (10): A solid target for any fantasy managers needing help with batting average and/or stolen bases. The 24-year-old outfielder may not have elite power, but it’s non-zero with 15 HR last season and 18 so far this year. He has a great eye and consistently posts a .400 OBP. Being on base that much means he has a chance to steal bases (55-grade speed).

Colby Thomas (10): For fantasy teams needing power, Thomas is the long shot. In the minors, he hit 31 HR in 2024 and 18 HR this season. In the majors, he added 3 HR to the total. He’s even added 2 SB.

His downfall is his 43% K% (21% SwStr%) with a .370 BABIP, maintaining his .241 AVG. Pitchers are getting him to swing-and-miss on four-seam fastballs (17% SwStr%) while secondaries are causing additional issues (slider: 26% SwStr%, change: 35% SwStr%). He’s going to have a short career if he can’t hit fastballs.

Paul DeJong (8) and Adam Frazier (7): You know the options are limited when Frazier and DeJong join the most-added lists.

Yoán Moncada (6): Strong-side platoon bat who is batting .237/.328/.373  in the second half. And not hurt … yet.

Daylen Lile (6): The 22-year-old rookie is playing and seems to be breaking out with a .635 OPS in the first half and .784 OPS in the second half. All the gains are BABIP driven (.258 BABIP to .355 BABIP) with his strikeouts up (14% K% to 20% K%) and walks down (6% to 5%).

Miguel Andujar (5): Starting every day in the cleanup spot for a team that plays in a high school-sized field. Solid add.

Evan Carter (5): Carter gets outfield starts with Adolis Garcia on the IL. While he might not be in a platoon, he should be (.309 OPS vRHP in ’25, .262 OPS for his career). He’s not going to be a positive in power or batting average, but he does have 13 SB.

I’ve been dismissive of Carter, but he’s showing some signs of improvement with a career-low strikeout rate (19% K%) and career-high max exit velocity (111 mph).

Miguel Vargas (5): Off the IL and back on fantasy rosters.

Brett Baty (5): Started in eight of the last nine games with a 109 OPS+. It’s tough to determine who is starting at second and third base since Baty is sharing time with Mark Vientos (88 OPS+) and Ronny Mauricio (95 OPS+).

Victor Robles (5):

Gabriel Moreno (5): On a rehab assignment and should be joining the major league team soon.

Miguel Rojas (5): One of the few available Dodger options for their four games in Colorado.

Starters

Nolan McLean (11): Deserves all the love after his first start with 8 K and 0 ER over 5 IP. There are a couple of issues. The first is the excessive walks (4.0 BB/9 in the minors, 6.8 BB/9 in the majors). The STUPH models picked up on this, with both giving him below-average overall grades (high Stuff, low command).

Cristian Javier (11): During his rehab, he posted just as many walks as strikeouts (15). Over the first two starts, his 3.38 ERA looks great, but his ERA estimators point to a 4.50 ERA talent. His STUPH grades think he’s worse (4.91 bot ERA).

Monitor his groundball rate. An 18% GB% points to a 1.9 HR/9. He’s not even limiting hard contact (50% HardHit%).

With so few options, he’s worth adding, but closely monitor his production.

Taijuan Walker (6): It’s nearing the point that Walker is going to be an anchor for the postseason rotation.

Yoendrys Gómez (6): After 12 relief appearances, he’s started twice with a 3.60 ERA (4.74 xFIP), 1.00 WHIP, and 9.0 K/9. He’s thrown six different pitches this year that all grade out as average. He needs the large pitch mix to navigate a lineup.

Bryce Elder (5): The career 4.78 ERA “talent” faced the White Sox this week and rewarded his fantasy managers with 8 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, and 3 K in 4 IP. Bryce Elder and his career 4.78 ERA and 1.40 WHIP are never the answer.

Luis Morales (5): Let’s start with two stats: 1.86 ERA and 8.4 K/9. Not bad. Even add in a 3.73 FIP. Then there is the 7.5 BB/9, 1.66 WHIP, 4.67 botERA, and 5.93 xFIP. Just the 1.66 WHIP did as much ratio damage as a 6.46 ERA.

Relievers

Victor Vodnik (6): Fantasy managers with a Rockies closer …

… and after a three Save week …

Bryan Abreu (5): Great reliever who is now the closer on a good team. Added for top dollar in leagues where he was not already rostered.

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American League

Angels

• Yoán Moncada (vs RHP) and Oswald Peraza (vs LHP) are in a third base platoon.

• Bryce Teodosio (.250/.306/.364, 0 HR, 3 SB) continues to start every game in center field. Read the rest of this entry »

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American League

Astros

• Spencer Arrighetti’s fastball velocity is down 2 mph.

Here is your friendly reminder to follow Lance Brozdowski’s substack. (Editor note: SERIOUSLY, Lance is SOOO good, check out his YouTube, too!)

Astros Spencer Arrighetti has struggled since his return from a fractured right thumb (8.59 ERA, 4.57 xFIP, 10% K-BB). His velocity is down 2 mph, sitting 92.2 mph in these three post-IL starts compared to 94.2 mph last season. He started throwing a sinker to right-handed hitters since returning, perhaps as a way to mitigate the velocity drop.

Read the rest of this entry »

7:31	Jeff Zimmerman:

Read the rest of this entry »

Erik Williams-Imagn Images
In the article, I cover the players using CBS’s (about 40% or less initial roster rate) and Yahoo’s ADD/DROP rates. Both hosting sites have the option for daily and weekly waiver wire adds. CBS uses a weekly change while Yahoo looks at the last 24 hours. Yahoo is a great snapshot of right now, while CBS ensures hot targets from early in the week aren’t missed. The players are ordered for redraft leagues by my rest-of-season preference, grouped by starters, relievers, and hitters. Read the rest of this entry »

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American League

Angels

• Bryce Teodosio (.357/.379/.500 and 3 SB in 30 PA) started in 10 of 11 games.

• Christian Moore has only one start in the last five games.

Astros

• Ramón Urías started in four of the last five games at second base. With Houston, Urias is batting .320/.370/.520 with 1 HR.

Athletics

• Colby Thomas (vs LHP) and Lawrence Butler (vs RHP) are in a centerfield platoon.

Blue Jays

• Ty France started in nine of 12 games since being acquired.

• Andrés Giménez started in both games against righties and sat against a lefty.

Guardians

• Angel Martínez started only three times in the last six games.

Mariners

• No changes.

Orioles

• While batting either fourth or fifth, Ryan Mountcastle started six straight games since coming off the IL.

• The current outfield contains Dylan Carlson, Daniel Johnson, Ryan Noda, Jeremiah Jackson, and Greg Allen. Even the Royals are laughing at that sad ass group.

Rangers

• Jake Burger and Rowdy Tellez split time at first base.

Rays

• Ha-Seong Kim 김하성 (.209/.303/.343, 5 SB) with 11 starts in the last 13 games.

• Catcher Hunter Feduccia (.433 OPS) started in seven of 11 games since being promoted.

Red Sox

• Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro are splitting time at first base. It’s not true platoon.

Royals

• Against righties, Mike Yastrzemski leads off.

• Adam Frazier with 13 starts in the last 15 games.

• Nick Loftin and John Rave split time in left field.

Tigers

• Trey Sweeney started four times in the last five games since his promotion.

Twins

• Lots of bodies, but Byron Buxton might be the only fantasy-relevant bat. The only other possible option is Luke Keaschall (155 OPS+, batting in the middle of the lineup).

White Sox

• Colson Montgomery now bats third.

• Curtis Mead (.645 OPS) with eight straight starts.

Yankees

• Ben Rice with eight straight starts.

• Paul Goldschmidt (.629 OPS over the last month) with only five starts in the last 10 games.

National League

Braves

• Marcell Ozuna started in eight of the last nine games.

• Nacho Alvarez Jr. (.570 OPS) with nine third base starts in the last 11 games.

Brewers

• Anthony Seigler (vs RHP) and Caleb Durbin (vs LHP) are in a third base platoon.

• Isaac Collins now bats second.

Cardinals

• Thomas Saggese (.260 AVG, 1 HR, 1 SB in 135 PA) with six straight starts.

Cubs

• Willi Castro with only one start in the last five games.

Diamondbacks

• Steady and here are how the new starters are performing:

Name: OPS
Blaze Alexander: .821
Tyler Locklear: .579
Adrian Del Castillo: .596

Dodgers

• Since being promoted, Alex Freeland (.510 OPS) started in 11 of 13 games.

• Alex Call (.729 OPS) with three starts in the last four games. Call seems to be taking over Michael Conforto’s (.627 OPS) left field job.

Giants

• Drew Gilbert with five starts in the last six games (.118 OPS).

• Casey Schmitt (.737 OPS) with 13 starts in the last 14 games. He hit second and third in the last two games.

Marlins

• Quite a few timeshares are going on

• Heriberto Hernández with five straight starts and 7 HR in 156 PA.

• Jakob Marsee sat against two of the three lefty starters since being promoted.

Mets

• Mark Vientos (.641 OPS) has NOT started in the last four games with Brett Baty (.712 OPS) starting instead.

Nationals

• Paul DeJong with seven starts in the last nine games.

• Daylen Lile (.259/.305/.389, 2 HR, 5 SB) with 17 starts in the last 19 games.

Padres

• Gavin Sheets started in just two of the last 10 games.

• Freddy Fermin (.355/.394/.484 with SD) with seven starts at catcher in the last 10 games.

Phillies

• The outfield is a mess. In a shallow league, I’m not sure if any of them are rosterable, including Nick Castellanos (.178/.204/.289).

• Otto Kemp and Edmundo Sosa are splitting time at third base.

Pirates

• Jared Triolo (.179/.271/.274, 3 HR, 5 SB in 205 PA) with 12 starts in 13 games.

Reds

• Too many healthy regulars with Austin Hays, Gavin Lux, and Matt McLain taking playing time hits.

• Miguel Andujar (.370/.469/.778, 3 HR in 32 PA with the Reds) started six straight games, five as the cleanup hitter, including two games against lefties.

Rockies

• Catcher-qualified Braxton Fulford (.222/.239/.333) started in seven of the last 10 games.

Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

While the NFBC Main Event garners most of the attention, there are a handful of leagues with even larger entry fees ($2.5K to $15K). They are named “High Stakes Leagues,” and there are eleven of them. With so much money on the line, these fantasy managers try to gain any advantage. Most of the time, these managers will be a week or two ahead of everyone else on their adds. Here are the players and some information on the ones added in five or more leagues.

Batters

Kyle Karros (11): The further I got into my FAAB last Sunday, the more I started liking the 23-year-old third baseman. Here are his Steamer600 comps.

If given full-time plate appearances, all the players listed can be 15-team contributors.

Karros’s main trait is putting the ball in play and should post a decent batting average with the possibility of double-digit stolen bases and home runs over a full season. The home runs could even increase if he were to keep the ball off the ground (47% GB%).

C.J. Kayfus (8): Eight starts in 10 games since being promoted, while being a solid hitter (.258/.303/.452, 1 HR, 1 SB). He is struggling to make contact (30% K%), especially with normal four-seam fastballs (16% SwStr%). Of the 555 batters who have seen 25 or more four-seamers this season, it’s the 41st highest value.

JJ Bleday (8):  A .588 BABIP since his last callup makes him seem like he’s on fire (.444/.483/.741). The problem is that he started in just six of the last 10 games. He is a 20 HR hitter, while not stealing bases and dragging down a team’s batting average.

Blaze Alexander (7): Playing (14 straight starts), hitting (.264/.362/.462, 4 HR 2 SB in 91 PA), and has seven games this week with four in Colorado.

Romy Gonzalez (6): I was a little surprised to see Gonzalez on the list of adds with no lefties on the schedule. So far this week, he started against two righties, going three for eight (all singles). To be fantasy relevant, he needs to be on the field.

Brooks Baldwin (6): Baldwin is off the IL and playing (10 starts in 11 games). While not hitting for batting average (.222), he does have 7 HR and 4 SB. He makes a nice injury replacement since he’s qualified at outfield, second, third, and short.

Mike Yastrzemski (5): Strong-side platoon bat who faces five righties this week. So far with the Royals, he’s batting .188/.300/.469 with 2 HR.

Gabriel Arias (5): Back to starting with the Guardians (13 straight starts). While a .236 AVG (32% K%) is a bit of a drain, he does have 9 HR and 4 SB in 342 PA. Additionally, he’s qualified at three positions (2B, SS, 3B).

Darell Hernaiz (5): Starting while Jacob Wilson is on the IL (possibly returning next week). While struggling with a .190 BABIP, he does have 2 HR and 1 SB in 56 PA. He’s not overmatched with a 7% K% (5% SwStr%). He might be trading weak contact (52% GB%, 34% HardHit%) for the contact.

Victor Robles (5): Robles is on his way back from the IL (shoulder). My worry with Robles is that he might end up on the short side of a platoon with Dominic Canzone.

Name: Career OPS vs LHP, vs RHP
Robles: .722, .675
Canzone: .495, .732

Additionally, Canzone has been solid with a 125 wRC+ while Robles sported a 76 wRC+ before going on the IL.

Curtis Mead (5): The #9 hitter for the White Sox. With a career 81 wRC+. Who might reach double-digit steals and home runs in a full season? What does he do?

Starters

Cade Cavalli (11): Every part of his profile (8.7 K/9, 53% GB%, 3.86 ERA, 3.93 xFIP) looks great except the walks (3.9 BB/9). The walks have him with a 1.50 WHIP, which is doing as much ratio damage in a roto league as a 5.52 ERA. His 38% Ball% is the equivalent of a 4.0 BB/9. He’s always had issues with walks with a 4.4 BB/9 throughout the minors.

Cavalli is a fine addition in point leagues or for teams that don’t care about their WHIP.

Luis Gil (10): Like Cavalli, Gil struggles with walks (career 4.8 BB/9), and there are no signs of them improving this year (5.2 BB/9, 38% Ball% for equiv 4.0 B/9). If Gil hadn’t run a .237 BABIP last season, he’s likely not on anyone’s radar. In the second half, when he posted just a .262 BABIP, he had an unremarkable 1.42 WHIP and 4.20 ERA. In two starts this year, it’s a 7.27 ERA (4.63 xFIP) and 1.85 WHIP.

Additionally, his results could even get worse if his home runs regress upward. Normally, pitchers with a 35% GB% (career) have a 1.4 HR/9, not the 1.1 HR/9 that Gil has posted.

Hurston Waldrep (10): Finally, a pitcher I can get behind. The 1.54 ERA won’t last (0.0 HR/9, .226 BABIP, 80% LOB%), but so far he looks to be a high-3.00 ERA talent.

He’s got two amazing pitches. A splitter with a 27% SwStr% (STUPH models are off the charts) and a sinker with an 11% SwStr% and 50% GB%.

Shane Smith (6): Without a cupcake schedule, I was surprised to see the Shane Smith love. He’s been fine this year with a 4.01 ERA (4.41 xFIP), 1.28 WHIP, and 8.7 K/9. But just 3 Wins in 21 starts. There are worse options.

Troy Melton (6): Speculation came out late during the weekend that Melton might return to the rotation and start on Wednesday. He did start going 5 IP with 0 ER and 6 K. The only question now is if he’ll stay in the rotation or go back to the bullpen. As a starter this season, he posted a 3.18 ERA (3.04 xFIP), 9.5 K/9, and 0.88 WHIP.

Jason Alexander (6):  While a solid starter (2.83 ERA, 4.15 xFIP, 1.19 WHIP, 6.9 K/9), he could be losing his rotation spot with Luis Garcia and Cristian Javier coming off the IL.

Brandon Walter (5): On the IL with an elbow injury. He was great in his nine starts (3.35 ERA, 3.09 xFIP, 0.93 WHIP, and 8.7 K/9)

Relievers

Justin Topa (7): While Topa isn’t the most talented reliever (3.50 ERA to 3.75 ERA talent), every sign points to him being the Twins closer.

Riley O’Brien (7): The 30-year-old righty was added in the hope JoJo Romero can’t hold the closer’s job. The deal is, Romero and O’Brien have posted similar stats this season.

Name: ERA, xFIP, K%
O’Brien: 1.69, 3.68, 23%
Romero: 2.36, 3.96, 23%

David Bednar (5): Was a good closer, then became a good setup man, and now he’s a good closer again.

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American League

Athletics

• Colby Thomas is being more athletic in the batter’s box.

“Darren and I sat with [Thomas] and we made some adjustments,” Kotsay said. “I wanted him to get a little bit more athletic in the box.”

What exactly does “more athletic in the box” mean?

“Well, I’m usually really wide,” Thomas said. “I’ve skinnied up a little bit just so I can be a little more adjustable with my legs. A little more athletic.”

In addition to practicing the new stance in batting practice, Thomas said he worked with Bush one-on-one in the batting cage a few hours before Thursday’s game. Later, in his first at-bat of the game, Thomas crushed his first homer.

The only number that matters right now is finding a way to lower his 52% K%. Read the rest of this entry »