The Wire Troll: Brandon Marsh is Bashing
Brandon Marsh is better with a bat than a razor. (Matt York, Associated Press)
Welcome back to another week of Fantasy baseball. September is just around the corner, so we are now truly in the home stretch. Find a late-season gem on the wire, peeps!
This week, Trevor Bauer‘s leave was extended for yet another week; Chris Sale did something that only Sandy Koufax had done — pitch a third career immaculate inning; and Rhys Hoskins tore his abdomen, ending his season (see below for a replacement option).
And now, let’s get to this week’s…
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Picks
Brandon Marsh, OF, Los Angeles Angels (ESPN: 6.5 per cent; CBS: 24 per cent): No. 54 on our Top 100 Prospects list this year, Marsh has been doing a great job of establishing himself as a big leaguer in Mike Trout‘s absence. And with still no timetable for Trout’s return, Marsh makes for a fine addition after smacking his first career homer this week. That was part of a three-hit effort for Marsh coming a day after a four-hit assault as he’s now batting .296 with a .360 OBP this month. His best skills are his hit tool, his running, his arm and his fielding, with power lagging slightly. If Trout ever leaves the Halos (or when he retires or switches positions), this is his replacement in centre field. We think it’s highly premature to compare Marsh to Trout, but that hasn’t stopped some people (see video below).
Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Detroit Tigers (ESPN: 7.5 per cent; CBS: 20 per cent): Earlier this week, Miggy spanked his 500th career homer, becoming just the 28th player ever to reach these heights. Last year, he had a bit of a power bounce back, which we accurately predicted in August, but he hasn’t been quite as effective this season despite much more action. Still, Cabrera is riding a modest four-game hit streak as part of a solid month (821 OPS), so perhaps he deserves some extra attention down the stretch.
Chad Green, RP, New York Yankees (ESPN: 30.4 per cent; CBS: 32 per cent): We noticed Green was really rolling early last month, although he had a rough go in the second half of July. However, he sure has righted the ship this month, and looks even more attractive now with Zack Britton landing on the IL and possibly done for the season. Green has career highs in saves and holds this year and with Aroldis Chapman having mechanical issues, who knows how useful Green may be down the stretch?
Nestor Cortes, RP/SP, New York Yankees (ESPN: 29 per cent; CBS: 41 per cent): The emergence of Cortes (2-1 with a 3.26 ERA over his last eight games, including seven starts) has been huge as the Yanks have turned their season around. Given much more action this season, he’s now become a very viable streaming option. How Cortes has managed this breakout is worth exploring.
J.A. Happ, SP, St. Louis Cardinals (ESPN: 28.9 per cent; CBS: 36 per cent): Having recently topped 125 career wins, Happ has managed to really turn around an awful season thanks to a huge August. He gave up two or fewer runs in all five starts this month, going 3-0 while shaving over a run off his bloated ERA. Happ bagged another win Friday by holding the Pirates to two runs and three hits over 5 2/3 IP.
Brad Miller, 3B/1B/2B/OF, Philadelphia Phillies (ESPN: 3.5 per cent; CBS: 8 per cent): Five years ago Miller gained consideration as a Wire Troll All-Star, but other than in 2019, he really hasn’t managed to match that level of play. And while he had a two-run dinger on Friday, he hasn’t done much lately (three weeks without a multi-hit game). Still, the PT should be there now that Hoskins is done for the season (although Alec Bohm could also see time at first base).
Others to Consider
Nicky Lopez, 2B/SS, Kansas City Royals (ESPN: 26.4 per cent; CBS: 34 per cent): We underestimated Lopez’s role in mid-June, but won’t make the same mistake again. He’s seen plenty of action this season and has been more or less an average player overall, however, he’s really turned it on lately in the speed department (10 swipes over the last three weeks).
Connor Joe, OF/1B, Colorado Rockies (ESPN: 19.3 per cent; CBS: 25 per cent): A dude we last looked at back in early May 2017, Joe’s best tool is his raw power, but he has little speed, is not a great fielder and doesn’t seem to have a lot of future potential. Yet, with Raimel Tapia out, Joe has thrived as the leadoff hitter in Colorado, hitting a grand slam on Wednesday and adding a hit, run and walk on Friday. Joe is putting up some decent counting cats for a dude that bombed as the Giants’ Opening Day left fielder last year.
Carlos Hernandez, RP/SP, Kansas City Royals (ESPN: 23.3 per cent; CBS: 45 per cent): Hernandez has seen much more action this year, and while his control has regressed, his bottom line results have improved (even if luck is at play here somewhat). His Saturday start was scratched because he was called on to hurl 5 2/3 IP of relief on Friday, and he was filthy good. Hernandez is having a dynamite August.
Edward Cabrera, SP, Miami Marlins (ESPN: 17.9 per cent; CBS: 37 per cent): Cabrera dealt with injury issues this year, forcing him back to Class-A, where he was flawless, before a move to Double-A, where he had five strong outings. He was a bit wild at Triple-A, but looked decent in his MLB debut on Wednesday, qualifying for a quality start. Major dynasty asset alert here.
RotoRob Tune of the Day
Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet is best known for penning the theme music for Kids in the Hall. Here’s “Egypt Texas,” another track from its 1987 EP Schlagers!
