Hitters

Kyle Farmer (CIN); FAAB Bid: 1-2% - This isn’t the first time Farmer has appeared in this space, but as the season draws to close, he has pushed his way back on our radar. Aside from spending three days on the paternity list, Farmer has started in each of his last eight games and is taking a seven-game hitting streak into action on Sunday. The vast infield eligibility is also nice as Farmer is hitting .259 with 14 home runs and 57 RBI on the season. 

Jeff McNeil (NYM); FAAB Bid: 1% - Should anyone really be surprised that things got late early for the Mets and there are currently way more questions than answers in New York? To say that this year has not gone according to plan for McNeil would be an understatement, but with a .261 batting average in 23 at bats over the last seven days, the Mets are still rolling McNeil out there to evaluate what they truly have in him for next season. They are also doing this at multiple positions so he has both second base and outfield eligibility which certainly comes in handy as you look to maximize every possible at bat. After posting BABIPs of .337 and .335 in the last two years, McNeil is being hurt by a .277 mark this season as his approach is not changing based on a minimal 13.5% strikeout rate. The hard-hit rate (34.6%) is in line with his 2019 levels and the same could be said for his 88.2 mile per hour exit velocity. Depending on your league settings, there could also be some potential keeper value for next year here as well. 

Gio Urshela (NYY); FAAB Bid: 1-2% - Urshela is now fully healthy for the last two weeks of the season, but Glyber Torres’ struggles have also led to him moving over in the infield to shortstop and picking up additional eligibility. He is hitting .292 with one home run and four RBI over the last seven days as he looks to finish off what has been a down season on a high note. Strikeouts haven’t been Urshela’s friend this season as he is at the highest rate of his career, 25.4%, but he is also barreling up balls at the highest rate we have seen (8.0%). Those struggles have discounted his value, but you aren’t going to find much better on the wire at this point. 

Jeimer Candelario (DET); FAAB Bid: 1% - The Detroit corner infielder might not be the most exciting option, but I continue to roll him out on most days in one of my leagues as I fight for every available RBI. In the last week, Candelario went deep four times while driving in seven runs which gives him 16 home runs and 65 RBI for the season along with a respectable .273 average. There is some comfort in the fact that Candelario plays every day and bats in the middle of the order for Detroit and has been consistent throughout the season as looks to finish out things on a high note. 

Brandon Nimmo (NYM); FAAB Bid: 2% - I’m not sure anyone should feel good about the fact that there are two Mets on this list, but here we are. A large part of why Nimmo is on this list, is his recent hamstring injury and it was unclear when he would be back. As the Mets try to squeeze some semblance of life out of their season, they need Nimmo atop their order getting on base and scoring runs, so here we are. In his first two games back, Nimmo went three for nine with a home run and three runs scored so it doesn’t appear like there are much in the way of limitations. 

Starting Pitchers

Jon Lester (STL); FAAB Bid: 1% - When St. Louis acquired Lester at the Trading Deadline, it was a move that didn’t receive much buzz and was viewed agnostically at best. Through three starts this month the southpaw has a 2.45 ERA and opponents are hitting just .221 against him. The sample size is small, but on an overall basis, the track record of success is there. Lester’s first start of the week comes against the same Milwaukee team that he just limited to one run on 5.1 innings and then he faces a rebuilding Cubs team. 

Matt Manning (DET); FAAB Bid: 1% - If you are looking to next season, then Manning should already be owned as he is part of what should be a very exciting Detroit rotation for years to come. This season though, we have only seen that talent come through in flashes as the right-hander is struggling with a 5.75 ERA on the season. We know he is a better pitcher than that, so if you want to chase upside this week when he is slated to take the mound twice, Manning is an interesting target as he faces the White Sox and Royals. In his last start, Manning looked the best he has all season with six innings of one run ball against Milwaukee in which he struck out six while scattering two hits and three walks. 

Antonio Senzatela (COL); FAAB Bid: 1% - This isn’t for the faint of heart, but Senzatela is taking the mound twice this week. Both of those starts do come at home though, in Coors Field, against the Dodgers and the Giants. So far, I think I have started to make the case for averting our eyes, but Senzatela has been better at home (3.89) than on the road this season (4.27). Senzatela only strikes out 6.25 batters per nine innings so the advantage is minimal at best here with him taking the mound twice, but he does limit the walks (1.81 per nine innings) and it’s hard to argue with his overall performance this season (3.65 FIP). 

Relief Pitchers

Carlos Estévez (COL); FAAB Bid: 2% - Why not just stick with Colorado pitchers and get a little crazy as we close out the season? The pun was intentional as Estevez has done just that with ease for Rockies picking up three saves in the last week while not allowing an earned run and striking out three. 

Aaron Ashby (MIL); FAAB Bid: 1% - There isn’t a path to saves here but it’s hard to ignore what Ashby has done as a multi-inning threat out of the bullpen as of late. Twice in a four-game span, three off days in between, Ashby threw three shutout innings while striking out five batters in each appearance while allowing just four baserunners. In 26 innings so far this season, Ashby has 28 strikeouts with just a 2.77 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.