Week 6 fantasy baseball FAAB check-in

This is going to be a massive week in FAAB for fantasy baseball, with more top prospect promotions and new closers emerging along with viable starters and hitters. With only five weeks left, you need to start loosening up your wallet if you notice your budget being higher than others. You can’t take the FAAB money with you. 

COVID-19 is still bringing uncertainties to the game as the Mets and Yankees series was postponed over the weekend. It remains to be seen how much more of an impact the Mets’ positive tests will have on them and their upcoming opponents. 

We have already seen trades occur with the trade deadline looming Aug. 31. The Phillies and Red Sox completed a deal that sent reliever Brandon Workman to Philadelphia. Workman was previously closing for the Red Sox and was immediately thrust into the ninth inning for the Phillies Saturday night against the Braves. Workman and Héctor Neris could end up splitting time, making the entire situation a disaster for fantasy. That trade is an example of the impact a deal can have for fantasy purposes. Other closers like Workman could very well end up getting traded to another team, leaving the closer role wide open for the next man up. You can strike gold if you can successfully speculate who the next man up would be if a trade did happen. If you wait until after a trade to occur the profit is already gone with the FAAB costing much more.

Schedule

Note: the amount of games played can change due to COVID-19. MLB has been shuffling the schedule around.

• The New York Mets and New York Yankees series this weekend was postponed due to multiple people in the Mets’ organization testing positive.
• If the Mets miss more time, this would also impact the Marlins and Yankees this week. 

Five games

• Braves, *Yankees, White Sox

Six games

• Dodgers, Giants, Indians, Mariners, *Mets, Padres, Phillies, Orioles, Red Sox, Royals

Seven games

• Angels, A’s, Astros, Blue Jays, Brewers, Cubs, Diamondbacks, *Marlins, Nationals, Pirates, Rangers, Rays, Rockies, Tigers, Twins

Eight games

• Cardinals, Reds

Now, let’s take a look at the waiver wire options to target this week. Hitters and pitchers are broken down into tiers based on their projected budget allocation for Aug. 23. Budget allocation and ownership percentages come from NFBC — players mentioned will all have an NFBC ownership around 50% or lower.

15-team (sub-50% TGFBI ownership)

Hitters

$1-$9: Abraham Toro, Adam Duvall, Adam Frazier, Austin Barnes, Ben Gamel, Brandon Crawford, Brandon Drury, Brian Goodwin, Cristian Pache, Danny Mendick, David Bote, Ender Inciarte, Erik González, Evan Longoria, Jeimer Candelario, Jake Cave, Jake Fraley, Jarred Kelenic, Johan Camargo, Jorge Alfaro, Josh Reddick, Matt Adams, Miguel Rojas, Mike Brosseau, Nicky Lopez, Phil Gosselin, Tim Lopes, Tyler Naquin, Willi Castro, Yan Gomes 
1-5%: Brendan Rodgers, Chance Sisco, Joey Wendle, Raimel Tapia, Ryan Mountcastle
6-9%: Ryan Mountcastle, Will Smith
10-15%: Joey Bart

Pitchers

$1-$9: A.J. Puk, Alex Reyes, Cal Quantrill, Greg Holland, Gregory Soto, Jonathan Loaisiga, Josh Staumont, Josh Tomlin, Reynaldo López, Ryan Helsley, Tyler Duffey, Daniel Bard, Carlos Estévez
1-5%: Asher Wojciechowski, Chad Kuhl, Rafael Dolis, Tanner Roark, Tommy Milone, Tyler Rogers
6-9%: Alex Young, Andrew Miller, Jordan Romano
10-15%: Brad Keller, Tarik Skubal, Triston McKenzie
16-19%: Sixto Sánchez
20-25%: Emilio Pagán, Matt Barnes
26-29%: Casey Mize

12-team (sub-50% NFBC RotoWire Online Championship ownership)

Hitters

$1-$9: Austin Riley, Brendan Rodgers, Chance Sisco, Joey Wendle, Jorge Alfaro, Jurickson Profar, Jeimer Candelario, Justin Smoak, Khris Davis, Miguel Rojas, Mitch Moreland, Nomar Mazara, Raimel Tapia, Rio Ruiz, Shogo Akiyama, Stephen Piscotty, Tim Lopes, Travis Shaw, Yan Gomes, Yoshi Tsutsugo
1-5%: Andrelton Simmons, Domingo Santana, Gregory Polanco, Luis Urías, Matt Carpenter, Robbie Grossman, Ryan Mountcastle, Will Smith, Wilmer Flores, Yadier Molina 
6-9%: Jake Cronenworth, Joey Bart

Pitchers

$1-$9: A.J. Puk, Asher Wojciechowski, Cal Quantrill, Chad Kuhl, Craig Kimbrel, Daniel Bard, Greg Holland, Gregory Soto, Josh Staumont, Rafael Dolis, Ryan Helsley, Sergio Romo, Tanner Roark, Tommy Milone, Tyler Duffey, Tyler Rogers 
1-5%: Alex Young, Andrew Miller, Danny Duffy, Jordan Romano
6-9%: Brad Keller, Taijuan Walker
10-15%: Justus Sheffield, Tarik Skubal, Triston McKenzie 
16-19%: Emilio Pagán, Matt Barnes, Sixto Sánchez
20-25%: Casey Mize

Two-start pitchers

(Note: The players marked with an asterisk have heavy question marks surrounding their schedule this week.)

Aaron Civale (vs. MIN, @STL)
Adam Wainwright (vs. KC, vs. CLE)
Alec Mills (@DET, @CIN)
Alex Young (vs. COL, vs. SF)
Brad Keller (@STL, @CWS)
Brandon Woodruff (vs. CIN, vs. PIT)
Brett Anderson (vs. CIN, vs. PIT)
Casey Mize (vs. CHC, vs. MIN)
Chase Anderson (vs. BOS, vs. BAL)
Chris Paddack (vs. SEA, @COL)
Cristian Javier (vs. LAA, vs. OAK)
*Elieser Hernandez (@NYM, vs. TB)
Erick Fedde (vs. PHI, @BOS)
Framber Valdez (vs. LAA, vs. OAK)
Germán Márquez (@AZ, vs. SD)
Jack Flaherty (vs. KC, vs. CLE)
*Jacob deGrom (vs. MIA, @NYY)
Jake Arrieta (@WAS, vs. ATL)
Jesús Luzardo (@TEX, @HOU)
Johnny Cueto (vs. LAD, @AZ)
José Berríos (@CLE, @DET)
Kyle Gibson (vs. OAK, vs. LAD)
Julio Urías (@SF, @TEX)
Lance Lynn (vs. OAK, vs. LAD)
Lucas Giolito (vs. PIT, vs. KC)
Luis Castillo (@MIL, vs. CHC)
Marco Gonzales (@SD, @LAA)
Merrill Kelly (vs. COL, vs. SF)
Pablo López (@WAS, vs. TB)
Patrick Corbin (vs. PHI, @BOS)
Patrick Sandoval (@HOU, vs. SEA)
Ryan Castellani (@AZ, vs. SD)
Sean Manaea (@TEX, @HOU)
Shane Bieber (vs. MIN, @STL)
Sonny Gray (@MIL, vs. CHC)
Spencer Turnbull (vs. CHC, vs. MIN)
Steven Brault (@CWS, @MIL)
Tanner Roark (@TB, vs. BAL)
Tommy Milone (@TB, @TOR)
Trevor Bauer (@MIL, vs. CHC)
Tyler Glasnow (vs. TOR, @MIA)

Yet another week with bids above 30% with top hitting and pitching prospects being promoted. Anytime there is a closer available, the market is open to spending whatever it takes to secure him. Be cautious when it comes to streaming a starter and especially a two-start pitcher who is a fringe option any other week. This week we saw Jordan Lyles destroy fantasy owners who took the risk on starting him for his two-step. Tread with caution as they seem to hurt more times than not.

Please feel free to tweet or DM me on Twitter (@_mattywood_) if you ever have any questions about the current FAAB week or any specific player.