Congratulations to those still battling in the next round of the tournament! For the rest—whether you’re reeling from a first-round exit or still fighting for a playoff spot—things aren't over just yet. With roughly 1/5th of the season remaining, there’s still value to be found in the final 30ish games. These remaining weeks could feature breakout performances that become critical factors for the remainder of the year and important considerations for next year’s fantasy drafts. So, stay locked in.
In injury news, The Cincinnati Reds received promising news about their ace, Hunter Greene, following his recent elbow injury. Last Saturday, Greene was placed on the 15-day IL as a precaution due to right-elbow soreness. Fortunately, it appears he has avoided a serious wound, with Cincinnati’s president of baseball operations Nick Krall, calling it a “best-case” scenario. Krall mentioned, “He’s going to get checked out again, a second opinion, and we’re working through that right now. At this point, it’s minimal.” While the Reds are expected to be cautious with Greene - who has been stellar this season with a 2.83 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and a 162:53 K
ratio over 143.1 innings (24 starts) - there’s hope he’ll return to action before year end.
As always, we’re here to help cure your fantasy ails by offering some intriguing players to consider while they’re hot. To qualify for this list, a hitter must be owned in less than—or around—50% of Yahoo! Leagues. Players will only reappear if they continue their strong performance from previous weeks. Let’s dive in.
Gavin Lux, 2B/OF - Los Angeles Dodgers (58% Owned)
Dodgers 2B/OF Gavin Lux has a hit in 24-of-29 starts since July 20th and is hovering right around that point-per-at-bat indicator we like to see. To that end, he's a solid play in both category and points leagues. Consider this: since the All-Star break Lux is batting an outlandish .356 while slugging .663 with a 1.084 OPS. In just over 100 at-bats since July 19th, the Dodgers’ second-baseman has surpassed his HR (7) and double (10) totals from before the break and is just three RBI away (21) from matching his first-half total.
Lux’s 41.2% hard-hit rate is the highest of his career, and his Stat-cast xBA has climbed to .266 as he sports a solid .253 on the year. Additionally, his 22.6% chase-rate puts him in the 86th percentile amongst qualified hitters. He should also continue to be a fine RBI contributor as he’s been locked into the heart of the Dodgers’ lineup.
Michael Toglia, 1B/OF - Colorado Rockies (32% Owned)
Rockies 1B/OF Michael Toglia has been above a point-per-at-bat and very useful for fantasy managers over the last two weeks. With a batting average of just .219, he hasn’t been the most reliable, but an under-the-hood look reveals that his batted-ball metrics are those of an elite fantasy contributor. Also, his .247 xBA may climb as he continues to hit well, and he’s up to .262 in August thus far – his best month of the year to this point.
Since August 9th, Toglia has been at an 11:10 BB:K ratio, and although he’s hit just two home runs this month – compared to nine in July – he has a better OPS in August than a month ago (.891). The former first-round pick was riding a nice 11-game hit streak up until an 0-6 slump earlier this week but turned it around on Thursday with a base knock and two walks.
Ernie Clement, 2B/3B/SS - Toronto Blue Jays (16% Owned)
Jays 2B/3B/SS Ernie Clement has been steady in August and is up to a terrific .292 average (21-of-72). In 18 games this month, the Jays’ third-baseman has racked up six extra-base hits (two doubles, four homers) and knocked in 14 of Toronto’s RBIs. Clement is striking out just 8% of the time and has already matched his stolen base total from before the break (four).
The only conceivable knock on him is that he needs to hit higher in the Blue Jays order, though he does find himself hitting at the leadoff spot occasionally and the two-hole as well. It’s unclear whether or not this is against righties or lefties because he’s hitting .277 and .262 against them, respectively.
Masyn Winn, SS - St. Louis Cardinals (36% Owned)
I know SS is a deep position, but surprisingly, Cardinals SS Masyn Winn is only rostered in 36% of Yahoo! Leagues. He’s a top-75 player in points leagues right now, batting a cool .278 on the year with a 16.4K% and 61 runs scored while being the table setter for the redbirds. Also, aside from June and July, he’s hit .273 or better every other month for the year.
Winn has four multi-hit games in his last seven, scoring seven runs in that span. He’s up to six long balls since the All-Star break – one more than he had the entire season prior – and is striking out just 14.8% of the time in his last 27 at-bats.
Deep League Options
Nolan Schanuel, 1B - Los Angeles Angels (11% Owned)
Angels 1B Nolan Schanuel is batting just .250 in August, but .296 since the break, and has hit .316 across July with a .949 OPS and an 18:15 BB:K ratio. He had a bit of a rough stretch from August 3-12 but has a hit in 8-of-9 games since and has added seven in a row. Schanuel has four doubles during the streak, scoring six runs while locked into a top-three spot in the Angels’ order. Curiously, he has yet to drive in a run of his own, which leads me to believe some positive regression might be coming in the RBI department if he can keep it up. Since the mid-season festivities, the Los Angeles’ first-baseman has a strong 21:24 BB:K ratio.
Ramon Urias, 1B/2B/3B - Baltimore Orioles (8% Owned)
Baltimore utility infielder Ramon Urias has matched his home run total (four) in half as many at-bats since the All-Star break as he did before it. However, he’s nearly matched his strikeout total of 23 as well (21). Despite this, he is at a .267 average, which is a stark improvement from his .233 average before the break, and that comes after a July in which he hit a robust .341 over 44 at-bats (15 hits). Urias’ 15 RBI are three more than his first-half total, too, and he stands a good chance to keep racking up tallies in that area if he continues to rise in the Orioles’ batting order.
Pitching/Streaming Options
Mitchell Parker, - Washington Nationals (17/33% Yahoo!/CBS)
Washington SP Mitchell Parker was better earlier in the year but had a rough stretch in July that saw him post a 7.89 ERA over 21.2 innings, allowing 19 earned runs. Despite his 4.08 ERA during the month, he's been better in August. That stat is bloated by an outing against the Philadelphia Phillies in which he allowed nine runs on ten hits in just three innings of work. However, in his other three outings, Parker has allowed one run or fewer while working into the sixth inning or later in all three of his starts.
The Nats lefty is not a recommended option for his first start of the week when he’ll toe the rubber against a stout New York Yankees lineup. However, his second start is much more favorable, where he’ll take on the Chicago Cubs at home. Parker also has back-to-back starts with six Ks, a feat he accomplished in that short outing against Philadelphia.
Brant Hurter - Detroit Tigers (0/2% Yahoo!/CBS)
The inverse of Parker this week: Tigers SP Brant Hurter has a much more favorable matchup against his first opponent (Chicago White Sox) than he does against the second one (Boston Red Sox). The 25-year-old has just 17.2 innings under his belt and holds a 3.57 ERA while working primarily in a bulk relief role. However, he’s slated to start next week, and he boasts some intriguing numbers to back up his strong start.
Hurter’s 0.79 WHIP indicates his strong command and 17:1 BB:K are excellent. However, Stat-cast suggests he may be underperforming, as his xERA of 2.43 and xBA of .209 against are fantastic marks. He even has a solid 24.6% strikeout rate. Additionally, his 64.7 ground-ball percentage would put him at the top of the league if he qualified.
As we approach the final stretch of the fantasy baseball season, the stakes are higher than ever. Whether you're in the thick of a playoff run or looking to finish strong, the next few weeks could make all the difference. With just over 30 games left, there are still plenty of opportunities to find breakout performances that could propel you to victory. Staying vigilant and making strategic moves now could set you up for success not only this season but also in next year's drafts.
This week’s waiver wire offers a mix of intriguing hitters and pitchers who could provide the edge you need. From the hot bats of Gavin Lux and Michael Toglia to the under-the-radar potential of players like Ernie Clement and Masyn Winn, these players are primed to make an impact. Don't overlook the deep league options and streaming pitchers either—Mitchell Parker and Brant Hurter could be the difference-makers you've been searching for. So, stay sharp, keep your eye on the prize, and finish this season on a high note!
