Big Kid Adds (Week 24)

Gary A. Vasquez-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 Elite leagues (previously called High Stakes Leagues), and there are nine of them. With so much money on the line, these fantasy managers try to gain every 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 four or more leagues.

Batters

Victor Mesa Jr. (6): This season, the 25-year-old has 11 HR and 8 SB in 210 PA. Since returning from the IL, he has started seven of nine games with an .870 OPS (7% K%) with 1 HR and 2 SB.

Before going on the IL, he was on the strong side of a platoon, but has started against two lefties since returning. His performance doesn’t require a platoon partner — he has a career .752 OPS against lefties and .760 OPS against righties. While he was set to face five righties this week, there is only one on next week’s schedule.

If he’s playing, he looks like a great fantasy asset.

Leo Bernal (6) and Mickey Gasper (5): For any fantasy managers needing catching help, Bernal (.822 OPS, 2 HR) and Gasper (.855 OPS, 8 HR) were obvious adds. Both are starting every game and providing power and batting average. If deciding between the two, I’d lean Bernal because Gasper’s playing time will take a hit when Willson Contreras comes off the IL.

Thomas Saggese (6): Saggese was a potential solution to many problems a team might be facing. He’s qualified at three positions (OF, 2B, SS) with 4 HR, 3 SB, and a .268 AVG in 125 PA while starting in 10 straight games.

The 24-year-old is a solid volume play, and the only thing holding him back will be how much he’ll play when JJ Wetherholt comes off the IL.

Starters

Reynaldo López (7): Atlanta recalled Lopez to start against the Rays, and it didn’t go that well. He allowed 6 ER with 3 BB and 5 K over 4 IP. Going into the start, I valued Lopez as a low-4.00 talent who could be streamed against weak teams. The Rays aren’t weak.

His 3.64 ERA going into the start was deceiving, with all indicators pointing to  a 4.00-5.00 ERA. On top of the ERA, he’s always walked a ton of batters (3.6 BB/9), and his 1.34 WHIP is doing as much ratio damage in a Roto league as a 4.57 ERA.

While his AAA rehab results were decent (2.57 ERA, 2.99 FIP, 1.14 WHIP, and 7.1 K/9), his fastball velocity was down 1.5 mph. Pass.

Justin Wrobleski (6): The Dodgers are dealing with several injuries, including Wrobleski’s, so the team ended up starting Wrobleski this past Sunday (3 IP, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K). For now, he seems to be a long reliever with Sheehan (next) taking one of the rotation spots.

Emmet Sheehan (4): Sheehan (62% rostered) was promoted from AAA to start on Monday, where he went 5 IP with 10 K, 1 BB, and 1 ER. While he struggled a bit before getting demoted (e.g., velo drop), there were no noticeable arsenal changes when he returned. His biggest advantage was facing a Reds team going through the motions. It seems like he’s a solid low-4.00 ERA talent.

Even with a tentative rest-of-season schedule, Sheehan looks to line up to face the Giants in both of his next starts.

Roki Sasaki (5): Another Dodger is in demand, and there is a chance he’ll return next week. Some people projected him to start at the Reds and home against the Giants.

There seems to be a disconnect between our STUPH models, which love him (3.24 botERA, 111 Pitching+), and his result-based metrics (4.60 ERA, 4.10 xFIP, 4.41 xERA). One problem in roto leagues is his 3.6 BB/9, which leads to a 1.33 WHIP that does as much ratio damage as a 4.51 ERA.

I find it tough to roster a below-league-average pitcher if I don’t know when and for how long he’ll throw. I’m not sold he’ll make one start, let alone two. He’s a deep add.

Anthony Molina (6): After pitching from the bullpen, Molina is getting at least another chance to start at season’s end. In his three “starts” this year (one 4 IP relief appearance), he has a 1.88 ERA (3.39 xFIP), 0.70 WHIP (1.3 BB/9), and 8.2 K/9.

He has a solid four-pitch mix that starts with a 96 mph fastball (9% SwStr%). Additionally, he has a changeup (9% SwStr%), curveball (19% SwStr%), and slider (15% SwStr%). His results and our STUPH weren’t fans of his early appearances, but he cut his Ball% from 38% to 33% with his BotERA going from 5.15 to 3.72. I’ve already made a note to not lose track of him in 2027 drafts.

As for his schedule, he faces the Padres on Thursday and is lined up to face the Cardinals and Twins in the last two weeks.

Jonah Tong (5): I remain out on Tong. Even though he allowed 4 ER in 5 IP in his return to the majors, his underlying numbers (7 K, 1 BB, 3.01 xFIP) were better. Still, he continues to project to be a 5.00+ ERA pitcher (5.19 botERA for the game). Just horrible. He can’t just throw his fastball past major league hitters and will need to find the plate (career 4.5 BB/9) at some point.

Ryan Johnson (5): Johnson wasn’t on my radar this past weekend. I figured he wasn’t startable against the Red Sox (6 IP, 5 K, 1 BB, 3 ER), and I guess his possible two starts next week (vs SEA, vs MIN) could work out.

While he had a decent start against the Red Sox, he’s been horrible all season (5.17 ERA, 5.36 xFIP, 1.36 WHIP). Two starts ago, he walked five batters. While Johnson has a 1.67 ERA (99% LOB%) since the start of August, he has a 5.9 K/9, 5.0 BB/9, 5.57 xFIP, and 4.71 botERA during that time. I guess he’ll be on my bid list because of the two starts, but I hope to end up with a better option.

Reliever

Hogan Harris (4): Fantasy managers added Elvis Alvarado when he got two of the team’s Saves in a row. Then Harris got the next two, so managers added him. And then Alvarado got the next Save. It’s a frustrating situation for those managers hunting for Saves.