10-Team Leagues

Sergio Romo , TBR RP, SP (50% ownership), FAAB Bid - $14-15 - Since making the transition from “starter”, and I use that term extremely loosely, to closer has been extremely smooth. Since June 1st, he has a 1.37 ERA and his opponents have hit .174 against him. Since June 12th, he has 10 saves, one hold and has only blown two over that same timeframe. The Rays are a decent team and there should be a bunch of save opportunities for Romo going forward.

Carlos González , COL OF (39% ownership), FAAB Bid - $12-13 - Over Gonzalez’s last 37 games, he’s been the CarGo of old. During that span he’s batting .326 with a .921 OPS and a .389 wOBA. We will always benefit from him playing at Coors as well, so the chances of him racking up big time stats are very high. He should be owned in all formats going forward.

Jameson Taillon , PIT SP (75% ownership), FAAB Bid - $11 - The consistency has been key for Taillon, something we’ve been waiting for him since being called up to the league a few seasons ago. He’s had nine straight starts of three earned runs or less and has struck out six or more in six of the nine. Taillon’s up to a 23.3-percent K-rate on the year which is the biggest mark of his career and that was on full display his last time out punching out 10 Brewers. He seems poised to have a big second half.

 

12-Team Leagues

Stephen Piscotty , OAK OF (28% ownership), FAAB Bid - $8-10 - It took some time for Piscotty to settle in, but he’s been extremely good since the start of June and has carried last month’s momentum into July. Since Just 1st, he has slashed .299/.366/.567 with a .268 ISO and a .395 wOBA. He’s been productive from a fantasy standpoint over that span as well, notching eight bombs, 20 runs and 25 RBI.

Brett Gardner , NYY OF (64% ownership), FAAB Bid - $9 - Gardner has been juicing the ball of late blasting four bombs over his last seven games, which is nearly half of his homers this year. Gardner has nine homers and nine stolen bases which puts him on track for 16 of each. If that’s the type of production we’re going to get along with a potential at 100 runs, he’s worth it in all formats. I will say he’s notoriously bad in the second half of campaigns, so that’s something we need to watch for in the first couple of weeks after the All-Star break.

Albert Pujols , LAA 1B (41% ownership), FAAB Bid - $7-9 - This is probably the time to scoop up Pujols now that he’s landed on the DL and some of his owners will likely drop him. Well, I’m here to tell you to do the exact opposite thing. He’s homered four times over his last four games with four runs and six RBI over that same span. Pujols now has 16 homers and 52 RBI on the year, putting him on pace for 28 and 90, which are really, really solid numbers. As I mentioned he was placed on the DL, but it’s already been announced that he will return as soon as he’s eligible too.

 

15-Team Leagues

Felix Pena , LAA SP, RP (7% ownership), FAAB Bid - $5-6 - Pena has been forced into the Angles rotation simply out of necessity due to all of the injuries they’ve had and he’s been pretty damn good. He’s notched 13 K’s over his last 9.1 innings and now has 27 punchouts over 22.1 innings pitched. Pena’s ability to be used at both pitcher spots is very valuable and he should be someone we look at in these deeper formatted leagues.

Tony Kemp , HOU OF (1% ownership), FAAB Bid - $3-4 - Although everyone and their mother is enamored by Kyle Tucker, Kemp has been really good and should continue seeing regular playing time with how he has played. He’s hitting .297 on the year has smacked three homers and has stolen seven bases. He’s someone that can steal us 20 bags given the playing time and in 15-team leagues where stolen bases are really at a premium, he’s worth the pickup. I’d be willing to spend a few more FAAB on him depending on how desperate you are in the SB cate

Dan Straily , MIA SP (3% ownership), FAAB Bid - $2-3 - The Marlins don’t win many games, and won’t win many more this year, but Straily has been pretty solid of late. He has three straight quality starts and in two of them he’s struck out at least seven opponents. Strailey is 24-17 over the last two seasons and is a pitcher that’s proven he can be a mainstay in a Major League rotation.  He’s an SP4 at best, normally an SP5, but if he continues pitching this consistent he has fantasy value in deep formats.