FAAB Frenzy and Waivers Wild: Week 12

Every Monday, this column will break down the most popular waiver wire and free agent acquisitions of the weekend.

Fantasy baseball managers know that our game is the ultimate test of grit, grind, tenacity, and patience. Unlike fantasy football, where league titles can be won with minimal in-season activity, fantasy baseball leagues require incessant attention and activity. Particularly when it comes to free agent adds and drops. Real-life baseball managers are constantly adjusting batting orders, players are frequently optioned to and promoted from the Minor Leagues, and injuries occur almost daily. There’s no resting on our laurels. We must always stay vigilant with league news and notes and remain active on the waiver wire if we want to win our leagues.

Every week, I’ll dig into the top adds on the ever-popular Fantrax and in the NFBC Online Championship (OC), a national mid-stakes contest with 240 total leagues of 12 and a six-figure grand prize. Reviewing player adds between the two should provide us with a well-rounded perspective and barometer of the fantasy baseball marketplace.

Week 11 Overview

The Milwaukee Brewers had a monster week! They took advantage of their seven-game week (4 vs SF, 3 at COL) by scoring 61 runs, an average of 8.7 runs per game. No Brewer hit more than two home runs, but Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich and Brice Turang all had at least 10 hits. The gap between the Brewers and the team with the next most runs, the Giants, was massive, as the Giants produced 40. Matt Chapman led the majors in RBIs (14), with eight in a single game. Chapman, Willy Adames, and Casey Schmitt hit three homers apiece. Jung Hoo Lee extended his hitting streak to 15 games, and is batting .410 over the last 30 days. Most of those players are universally rostered and started, but Schmitt may still be sitting on some benches and Lee is still available. Get Schmitt in your lineups and take a look at Lee, especially if you need a boost in average.

The Padres struggled in Week 11, managing just 14 runs scored in their six games against some juggernaut pitching from the Phillies and Mets. Matchups don’t always matter, but they usually do.

Bobby Witt Jr. led all hitters last week with six stolen bases, though he was removed from Sunday’s contest due to right knee soreness and will undergo testing on Monday to determine the severity. Julio Rodríguez swiped four bags, all against the Detroit Tigers — two on Friday and two on Sunday. The two teams averaging more than one stolen base per game allowed to opponents are the Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins. Victor Caratini has a miniscule caught stealing rate of 11%, allowing 25-of-28 runners to snipe a base off him. The Twins play the Tigers and Cardinals this week. The Cards rank 14th (45) in stolen bases and the Tigers are 28th (23).

Of the 31 pitchers who earned two starts (including the bulk innings guys following openers), only three earned two wins — Jacob deGrom, Sandy Alcantara, and A’s rookie Gage Jump. deGrom, Joe Ryan, and Connor Prielipp struck out 14 batters each, though Royals southpaw Noah Cameron led with 15. Cameron was dominant in his two road outings against the Twins and Reds, allowing only one run and four hits. White Sox rookie pitcher David Sandlin got roasted, allowing seven walks, 11 hits and 11 earned runs over 7.1 innings. Angels righty José Soriano issued nine free passes in 10.2 innings. Ironically, seven of those walks were issued to Rockies hitters in Angel Stadium, and only two in his start at Dodger Stadium. As good as Soriano is, walks are going to continue to be a challenge.

Jacob Misiorowski currently sports a 38.4% strikeout rate. The last qualified starting pitcher to finish a season over 35% was Spencer Strider, a 36.8% rate in 2023. In 2019, Gerrit Cole boasted a 39.9% rate, while Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer were both over 35 percent. Scherzer will be activated this week and is tentatively slated to start against the Phillies on Wednesday. The only two starting pitchers (min: 11 starts) with a strikeout rate over 30 percent are Dylan Cease (35.7%) and Kyle Harrison (31.9%).

NFBC OC and Fantrax – Most Added in FAAB

What is dead may never die and so Paul Goldschmidt is here as a vital part of the Yankees offense that will be without Aaron Judge for awhile. Goldschmidt has started 16 straight games, hitting in the top third of the lineup and leading off against lefties. Goldy and company will face some tough pitchers on the road this week (at Cleveland and Toronto) before facing the White Sox and Reds at home in Week 13. Goldschmidt should be rostered in all formats, 12-team and above. Jake McCarthy was another popular acquisition on Fantrax. He has been steadily locked in the leadoff role against opposing right-handed pitchers. The Rockies will play 16 of their next 25 games at home and have a three-game series in bubbling hot Las Vegas this weekend as they take on the A’s.

Week 12 Predictions

• Michael Busch gets out of his power funk and smashes two dingers in Coors Field this series
• AL’s Pitcher of the Month in May, Spencer Arrighetti, has a rare rough start against the Angels in Anaheim on Monday
• David Hamilton hits another home run in this Vegas series
• The Athletics and Rockies will combine to score 22 or more runs on Friday, June 12
• River Ryan will be a surprise call-up to start for the Dodgers, at home against the Rays next Monday (6/15)

Drop of the Week

We easily say, “Sayonara, Sandlin”, but the bigger surprise was Rays’ veteran lefty Steven Matz getting demoted to the bullpen. Well, perhaps it wasn’t that big of a surprise. Matz had an excellent first six weeks in the rotation before a quick IL stint in early May. Upon returning, he gave up 12 earned runs over three starts before ultimately moving back to the bullpen. Mason Englert will be the beneficiary for now. He draws bulk relief duty following opener Ian Seymour on Monday. Joe Boyle continues to toil in Triple-A. He has a 9.57 ERA in 9 starts there and has recently been demoted to relief duties himself.