Adam Frazier :    Adam Frazier went 2-4 with a run scored Saturday to help the Bucs beat the Fish. Yes, it was a meaningless MLB game but not meaningless for fantasy.  In the last two weeks including Saturday, Frazier is hitting .350+ with an OPS over 1,000.  On the year, the numbers are not too shabby either: .289 with an OPS over 800.  The bottom line here is that Frazier is leading off, qualifies at 2B and OF and is providing value on a daily basis.  I bet he is available in many of your leagues.  He should not be after reading this. 

Randal Grichuk :   Randal Grichuk went yard twice Saturday giving him 21 jacks on the year in just 367 at bats.  Yes, I know his year-long batting average is under .250.  However, over the last two weeks it is over .375!  This is a 27 year-old player who is finding the next gear as he matures and inserts himself into the Blue Jays future. If you are out of it, this is keeper magic.  If you are in it, this is a guy who could help lead you to the promised land.  Buy!  [Last minute note – be sure to check his health as Grichuk reportedly was injured running into a security guard’s stool]. 

Kyle Freeland :  Kyle Freeland tossed a gem Saturday going six innings while giving up just four hits and one run.  He struck out eight over those six innings pitched.  Nice work.  Many will be afraid to start him at home next week despite the quality outing at home Saturday. Do not be.  Freeland has a sub 3.50 ERA at home and a 2.03 ERA over his last 44 IP.  I buy it.

Nomar Mazara :  Last week we wrote: “Mazara had a day Sunday going 3-5 with two runs, three RBI and two dingers.  On the year, Mazara has been solid:  .267 with 20 HR and 68 RBI in just over 400 AB.  However, in the last week, Nomar has been awesome:  four dingers, eight RBI and an OPS over 1,100.  Simply put, this is a guy to buy for now and way into the future.  Do you think that hitting the ball harder and making more contact at the same time bodes well?  I do.”  I hope you listened as he has hit .350 since Monday with five RBI. 

Sean Reid-Foley:    Last week we wrote: “Reid-Foley was brilliant Sunday going seven innings while giving up just one run, four hits and one walk while striking out 10.  The question is whether he will help fantasy teams during the September pennant race.  Well, the 3.90 AAA ERA does not scream dominant but the high swinging strike and groundball rates bode well for success.  In the end, I can support a stash in a keeper league but cannot support buying into a start against the Indians followed by one in Yankee Stadium.  Act accordingly.”  There is a reason streaming starters in deep leagues is such a widespread strategy – it makes sense.  I hope you listened here and either avoided Reid-Foley or got him out of your lineup.  Why?  Well, he got lit up for six ER and 10 baserunners in just 4.2 IP against the Tribe this week.  No way he should be in your lineup in the launching pad that is Yankee Stadium. 

And now, the moment you have been waiting for -- Schultz says: “Even though this little piece of the Fantasy Alarm is supposed to be talking about the week that was, Schultz realizes that no one stops by to see if Mel Allen's TWIB notes can be recreated in prose. (For the record, it can't). Rather, savvy roto-owners would prefer to get some bit of info that can help them for the week to come, making the title of the column a slight misnomer. Let's be honest though, The Week That Is To Be, The Week That Could Become or The Week And The Week That Could Never Be are wordy and fail to capture the alliterative awesomeness of The Week That Was.

For keeper leagues, it may be an overstatement to say that the next year's championship can be won in September, depending on your league's rules, there are ways to get a leg up for a future run. Roto-teams atop the standings should be eyeing tweaks that provide immediate results and many out of contention roto-teams are paying more attention to their fantasy football teams. Simply taking note of the Padres' promotion of Francisco Mejia and the Nationals' decision to give Victor Robles his MLB debut and acting accordingly could pay dividends in 2019. (Schultz cautions against overvaluing Mejia, a former Indians' prospect. With the exception of his Dimaggio-esque hitting streak and his first two homers of his career, he's been an underwhelming hitter and defensive liability behind the plate).

Fortune favors the bold. Regardless of where you are in the standings, keep league roto-owners will always benefit by playing out the string instead of sitting September out.”

Response:  "Alliterative awesomeness” is awesomely alliterative in its own right!  Well played.