Fantasy Baseball

Nothing catches the eye of the fantasy baseball crowd quite like a top prospect.

He's new. He's exciting. And if you time his ascension right, he just might be the biggest reason you capture the crown this season.

But the way you value 2020's top prospects depends on your willingness to play the waiting game.

If you're practicing patience, you might prefer drafting and stashing the likes of Wander Franco or Jo Adell. But since you're a member of society in 2020, patience probably isn't your best attribute. You want instant gratification, and we're here to provide it by spotlighting the prospects ready to help your team from Opening Day.

                   

Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox

The White Sox silenced all service time concerns with Luis Robert's promotion by inking him to a six-year, $50 million deal in January. Look for the South Siders to seek an early return on that investment from this power-and-speed source.

The 22-year-old could be a fantasy juggernaut. Last season, which he played predominantly in AA and AAA, he totaled 32 home runs and 36 stolen bases in only 122 games. He also posted a .328 batting average and reached base at a 37.6 percent clip.

Should fantasy owners bank on another 30/30 season? Not at all. His game needs work, especially with plate discipline. The less appealing portion of his 2019 stat sheet showed 129 strikeouts against only 28 walks.

But his ceiling can't be seen from the ground floor. His tools are tremendous. His stolen base potential alone is almost invaluable in today's market. In other words, he is worth a major investment, even if it entails some risk.

                     

Jesus Luzardo, SP, Oakland Athletics

There's no such thing as a can't-miss pitching prospect, but Jesus Luzardo is closer to that label than most.

The 22-year-old already enjoyed a cup of coffee at the major-league level, punching out 16 batters while allowing just five hits, three walks and two runs in 12 innings last season. Granted, he lost a lot of that campaign to injury, but if you're searching for stains on his resume, that might be the only one.

"Whatever flaws Luzardo has I'm not seeing," CBS Sports' Scott White wrote. "Three-plus pitches. Excellent command. His durability may be in question after he surrendered most of 2019 to injury, but he debuted strong and already has a rotation spot to lose."

Luzardo might be Oakland's ace, even if the franchise doesn't designate him as such. He will be a critical component of this rotation, and he can already help your fantasy team with strong ratios and a ton of Ks.

                

Dylan Carlson, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

Consider this an optimistic recommendation.

Dylan Carlson's Opening Day outlook isn't as certain as Robert's and Luzardo's, but it should be. The 21-year-old Carlson has posted a .323 batting average (.432 on-base percentage) with four extra-base hits in 11 games. He also has more walks (six) than strikeouts (five).

The problem is the Cardinals might be content to start out their more expensive veterans early and then bring up Carlson when they are comfortable starting his service clock.

"What Dylan's done up to this point has been amazing," Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak said, per KMOX's Tom Ackerman. "The key will be what others do as well."

The Cardinals have other options at outfield—including Lane Thomas, Tyler O'Neill, Harrison Bader and Dexter Fowler—but none approach Carlson's ceiling. He seems ready to start his realizing his potential. Last season, he clubbed 26 homers, swiped 20 bags and posted a .372 on-base percentage across 126 games at the AA and AAA levels.

If St. Louis does its part and clears the runway, Carlson is ready to take flight.

Opening Day is just over two weeks away, which means one thing for fantasy sports players: time to start planning draft dates.

Whereas previous years have allowed for staggered starts, the 2020 season will feature all 30 teams playing on March 26. While the uniform start date to the regular season certainly makes things more convenient for lineup management in the first week, there are still plenty of tips and tricks to keep in mind when drafting.

For starters, anyone participating in a fantasy baseball league should acknowledge the obvious: The season is a long haul. While fantasy football is played on mostly a week-to-week basis, 162 games means fantasy baseball managers need to stay vigilant with respect to injuries or roster moves on a daily basis.

If you are a newcomer merely looking to test the waters, understand the kind of league you are joining and your fellow owners. Not everyone is comfortable with their players when they start slacking off come the dog days of summer.

Before diving in, here are a few things to keep in mind as drafters prepare to assemble their own boys of summer.

        

What Is the Format?

For starters, understand the very basics of the league.

Is your league based on rotisserie scoring or head-to-head matchups? How many waiver moves are you allowed per matchup or throughout the season? What about the draft format: Is it a snake draft or an auction draft? Has the draft order been randomized ahead of time?

Answering these questions can go a long way in formulating a concise draft strategy. For example, in the event of a league based on a certain set of categories, some players are going to be more valuable than others depending on the categories used by the league.

Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson looks appealing because of his American League-leading batting average, but there are other players who might better suit the demands of your league.

If your league uses on-base percentage as one of your categories, for example, someone like Josh Donaldson should be a high draft selection. Donaldson hit just .259 last season, but he walked 100 times for a .379 on-base percentage while also hitting 37 homers and driving in 94 runs.

Moreover, drafters should consider how many roster spots are allowed and how they are allocated. Are there enough spots on the injured list to stash away a marquee player who might miss some time early in the season?

A better understanding of the format will help drafters inform their decisions.

    

Be Wary of Injuries

This might sound like an obvious directive, but keep in mind injuries can also present opportunity. Perhaps we should take a closer look at the New York Yankees to better understand this notion.

No, there is no reason to draft Yankees starter Luis Severino, who will miss the entire 2020 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow.

But what about James Paxton? The left-hander, who dominated down the stretch in 2019, had back surgery in February and was initially expected to miss the first two months of the year. However, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reported Paxton could begin throwing this week.

Paxton might be a guy drafters should keep an eye on in the later rounds. There is a tendency to immediately pass on injured players, at least until the middle rounds. For a second-tier starter like Paxton, he could suddenly become a diamond in the rough toward the back end of drafts.

Perhaps we should analyze the curious case of Aaron Judge. The 2017 American League Rookie of the Year has a fractured rib, and the team will reevaluate whether he needs surgery in a few weeks.

There is a lot of risk and reward with respect to Judge. He is undoubtedly one of the best players in baseball, but health has been a consistent issue throughout his young career. The outfielder has missed at least 50 games in each of the last two seasons, and this latest setback might have an impact on his draft stock.

But Judge's sheer talent might be enough to make him an option in the high rounds because of the upside he presents.

There are plenty of other names to consider, from teammate Giancarlo Stanton to Cleveland Indians starter Mike Clevinger. Injuries can be a detriment, but there is still plenty of strategy when it comes to drafting injured players.

   

Do Not Reach on Prospects

Remember when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was dubbed the overwhelming favorite to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award last season?

The third baseman had a solid rookie season with the Toronto Blue Jays, slashing .272./339/.433 with 15 homers in 123 games. But he was hardly the world-beater many believed he would be during spring training.

The point is, do not buy into hype trains when it comes to prospects. Luis Robert might be a tempting prospect because of his tools and the fact he will start the season with the White Sox, but the outfielder has yet to play an official MLB game. That still means something.

Some of the best young players in the game still need a bit of seasoning prior to making their splash in the bigs; such was certainly the case with Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez. Often, the waiver wire can be the best place to pick up the next young star.

Is it worth it for drafters to keep an eye out for rookies that make big league clubs out of camp? Of course. But be wary of selecting the likes of Detroit Tigers star pitching prospect Casey Mize when there are more reputable and dependable options available.

     

Check Out Average Draft Position

Average draft position is a good tool for drafters who want to get a feel when some players are typically being selected. ADP is also indicative of players who might become sleeper candidates in a league.

Take Kansas City Royals utility man Whit Merrifield, for example. Merrifield is incredibly valuable in almost any fantasy league, as he has posted an OPS over .800 in each of the last two seasons while also racking up tons of hits (206 last season) and stealing a bunch of bases (at least 20 in each of the last three years).

But according to Fantasy Pros, Merrifield's current ADP in ESPN leagues is 60th, placing him behind Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu despite the fact Merrifield can impact matchups in multiple categories.

San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. is going in the second round in some leagues while nearly falling to the fourth in others. In essence, gauging ADP can help fantasy baseball players understand how their own drafts might play out. 

    

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference unless otherwise noted.

Veteran hitters could be the top difference-makers off the fantasy baseball waiver wire in the coming weeks.

The combination of low ownership percentages and recent form at the dish should have fantasy players going after the likes of Albert Pujols and Dexter Fowler.

Finding reliable hurlers might be more difficult, but there are some available if you take a deep dive into the waiver pool.

                      

Notable Waiver-Wire Pickups

Albert Pujols, 1B, Los Angeles Angels

Pujols has reached base by way of a base knock in all but one of his September games.

The 39-year-old first baseman has 11 hits in seven contests dating back to August 30. During that span, Pujols brought in eight runs, including three in each of his final two August meetings with the Boston Red Sox.

The owner of 654 career home runs has a .252 batting average and .758 OPS that combines with 21 homers and 84 RBIs.

Pujols is owned in 17 percent of ESPN leagues and 11 percent of Yahoo competitions, per Fantasy Pros, so there is a strong chance you can add him from waivers.

Some might worry about Pujols' upcoming schedule, with the Cleveland Indians and Tampa Bay Rays coming to Angel Stadium, but a handful of his recent success occurred against the Oakland A's and Boston.

                        

Dexter Fowler, OF, St. Louis

Fowler is an intriguing pickup because of his recent form and the St. Louis Cardinals' upcoming trip to Coors Field.

The outfielder has a base knock in four of his past five contests, and he recorded three multi-hit games on the road in August.

Although Fowler's overall numbers are better at Busch Stadium, the recent production on his travels should be a positive sign heading into Colorado.

Following the three-game set with the Rockies, the Cardinals return home to face the Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals.

Fowler reached base in all three of St. Louis' matchups with the Brewers in mid-August and picked up two hits at Miller Park in the most recent series between the National League Central rivals.

If the 33-year-old is able to extend that form into the weekend series versus Milwaukee, he could be a solid addition for the next week.

Just like Pujols, Fowler is available in most leagues, as he is owned in 10 percent and 8 percent of Yahoo and ESPN sides, respectively.

                      

Trevor Williams, SP, Pittsburgh

Trevor Williams has conceded five earned runs in his past three starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In his previous outing versus the Miami Marlins, Williams struck out six batters while scattering seven hits over six innings.

The 27-year-old will look for his fourth straight quality start Monday at Oracle Park, where he will oppose the San Francisco Giants' Madison Bumgarner.

Williams' ability to go deep in games, even at Coors Field, is impressive, and he is worth a look with a pair of projected starts in the next week.

Later in the week, the Pittsburgh Pirates face the Chicago Cubs, who rocked Williams for 13 earned runs in back-to-back starts in July.

Although those numbers are concerning, it is worth riding the hot hand, especially with a favorable matchup to begin the week.

Twenty-three percent of Yahoo teams and 16 percent of ESPN squads have Williams, and that figure should rise a bit if he replicates his past three outings in San Francisco.

                              

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from MLB.com.

With little margin for error at this juncture of the fantasy baseball season, even the smallest injuries can affect your squad.

George Springer and Javier Baez have not hit the 10-day injured list but have missed time lately.

Plugging in the right waiver-wire replacements could make a difference in certain matchups, which is why you should spend extra time scouring for the best available players.

The added research might land you a player on a struggling team, but it could be well worth it if the individual is in a rich vein of form.

                           

Waiver-Wire Injury Replacements

Anthony Santander, OF, Baltimore

Anthony Santander has been a bright spot in the Baltimore lineup, with 17 home runs and 48 RBIs paired with a .291 batting average and .845 OPS.

The outfielder has a 10-game hitting streak and has mashed five home runs since August 30.

Despite the recent uptick at the dish, Santander is owned by 37 percent of Yahoo teams and just over one-fifth of ESPN sides, per Fantasy Pros.

The 24-year-old is a perfect replacement for Springer, who is day-to-day with a concussion, per MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.

Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch told McTaggart that his star outfielder was progressing during a conversation Thursday.

"Until he's cleared medically, he's not going to play," Hinch said. "He's going to do a lot of pregame activity and stuff behind the scenes. He's been on the bike. He's going to play catch and stretch. He's out there joking around so I know he's feeling really good. That's a good sign. He said he slept the best he's slept in the last couple of days, which is a good sign. Just go day to day with him until he gets cleared by the doctors."

If you count the .297 hitter out for the weekend, Santander is a quality fill-in with a similar batting average.

Baltimore plays 12 of its next 16 games at Camden Yards, where Santander has a .327 average and .904 OPS.

The majority of those games come against teams under .500, starting with the Texas Rangers' three-game visit.

If Santander takes advantage of his September matchups, he could be a viable option next to Springer when he returns.

                          

Starlin Castro, 2B, Miami 

In four September games, Starlin Castro has two home runs, three RBIs and 17 total bases for the Miami Marlins.

In his past eight contests, the 29-year-old 15 base knocks, including a quartet in Wednesday's clash with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The second baseman has a 35 percent and 28 percent ownership rate on Yahoo and ESPN, respectively, and he could be worth the pickup with Baez sidelined by a wrist injury.

Baez was scratched from Thursday's game with soreness in his left wrist, but Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon insisted he could have played, per Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.

"It still bothers him a bit," Maddon said. "He's a pretty tough kid. He'll manage that."

If you have any concern that Baez's knock may linger into the weekend, Castro is one of the best middle infield options to choose from.

The Marlins infielder is not a direct positional replacement for Baez, but he has one of the hottest bats at the second base or shortstop, and he is worth picking up, especially if you can jiggle around parts of your lineup to fit him in.

With the Kansas City Royals set to head to Marlins Park for a three-game set, the former Cub should be able to make up for some of Baez's production in the short term.

If Baez does not miss much time, you could have middle infield insurance—at the bare minimum—by choosing Castro off the waiver wire.

                           

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from MLB.com.

Sean Manaea's first start of 2019 for the Oakland Athletics was a promising development for fantasy baseball owners. 

The left-handed hurler's five-inning performance against the New York Yankees made him a viable September pitching option. 

The owner of two double-digit win seasons is one of a few players on the waiver wire who can make a difference while in the middle of a playoff hunt. 

Tampa Bay's Eric Sogard fits the category of late-season help at the plate, as he is rounding into form in the thick of the American League wild-card race. 

                          

Top Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Sean Manaea, SP, Oakland

Manaea's return from a long-term shoulder injury boosted Oakland's playoff hopes and those in the fantasy postseason mix. 

The southpaw conceded one hit and struck out five in five innings versus the Yankees September 1. 

The outing triggered a wave of adds, as he is owned in 44 percent of Yahoo competitions and just over one-fifth of ESPN leagues, per Fantasy Pros. 

Although he has received some fantasy attention, Manaea still qualifies as a sleeper due to his ownership percentages and lack of trips to the mound. 

Manaea is a must-add for Week 23 since he is scheduled to face the Detroit Tigers in his next start. 

If the 27-year-old can shut down the New York order with ease, he should be able to work wonders against the last-place side in the American League Central. 

Outside of a four-game set with Houston, Oakland's closing run is fairly easy. With favorable matchups ahead versus Detroit, Texas, Kansas City and Seattle, Manaea is well worth an addition if you have not brought him aboard yet. 

                       

Eric Sogard, 2B/SS/OF, Tampa Bay 

Since the start of August, Sogard's batting average has not dipped below .300. 

The middle infielder, who was acquired by Tampa Bay before the trade deadline, put together an 11-game hitting streak at the start of his tenure.

He extended that form into September with a two-hit performance Sunday against the Cleveland Indians. 

The multi-hit game was the seventh for Sogard since landing with the Rays from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Home contests against Baltimore and Toronto make him a viable option for the rest of Week 23, and he could be poised for more success versus Texas and the Los Angeles Angels at the start of an eight-game road swing. 

The 33-year-old has a better batting average, on-base percentage and OPS on the road, where he has 36 more at-bats than at home. 

Twenty-three percent of Yahoo owners and 28 percent of ESPN teams have jumped on Sogard. If you can pick him up, he should bolster your depth at both middle infield slots. 

                        

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference

One of the best available waiver-wire pickups in fantasy baseball resides inside the lineup with the most power in Major League Baseball.

Outfielder Jake Cave is racking up hits for the Minnesota Twins, who set the record for most home runs in a single season Saturday.

Cave is one of two in-form American League batters with a low ownership percentage who's worth picking up for the next week.

The list of pitching pickups is less intriguing, but there are still some options out there capable of making a difference.

                          

Waiver-Wire Adds and Pickups

Jake Cave, OF, Minnesota 

Nine percent of players on Yahoo and ESPN have gone after Cave on the waiver wire, per Fantasy Pros.

The 26-year-old mashed five balls over the fence in the final eight days of August, as the Twins put together a six-game winning streak against the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers.

During the stretch that began August 23, Cave racked up a trio of multi-hit performances and crossed the plate on eight occasions.

The Twins have two matchups left with the Tigers at Comerica Park before their schedule gets a bit tougher, starting with a three-game set at Fenway Park.

Six games against the Cleveland Indians, three versus the Washington Nationals and a trio with Boston Red Sox could scare away some suitors.

You could counter that hesitancy with a pair of two-hit performances from early August versus the Atlanta Braves and Cleveland.

Once the Twins finish up with the Indians, they end the campaign with 13 games against the Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals and the Tigers, all favorable matchups for Cave.

                   

Brian Goodwin, OF, Los Angeles Angels

Brian Goodwin continued his run at the dish by going 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs in the Los Angeles Angels' 10-4 win over Boston on Saturday. In his past two games, the left-handed hitter is 4-for-11 with two home runs and four RBIs.

That is a continuation of the form Goodwin produced for most of August, when he hit six homers and scored 14 runs.

Unlike other southpaws, Goodwin has solid splits against both left-and-right-handed hurlers. The biggest difference in his numbers is the 0.34-point gap in OPS.

The same can be said about the 28-year-old's home and away stats, which is a positive with a six-game road swing versus the Oakland A's and the White Sox on the horizon.

Goodwin should be on the waiver wire in most leagues, as 3 percent of teams on ESPN and Yahoo have him on the roster.

                        

Anthony DeSclafani, SP, Cincinnati

Anthony DeSclafani is one victory away from reaching the 10-win mark for the first time in his career.

The 29-year-old earned his ninth win Wednesday, when he conceded two hits in seven shutout innings versus the Miami Marlins.

In his past three outings, the right-handed pitcher has struck out 16 batters while giving up two earned runs and scattering 12 hits.

It is worth noting the last two performances occurred against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami, who are in last place in their respective divisions.

DeSclafani's next start is scheduled for Monday at home versus Philadelphia, and after that, a matchup with the Arizona Diamondbacks looms.

Although the Cincinnati Reds' matchups get more difficult, it could be worth riding the hot hand, who is owned in 29 percent of Yahoo leagues and 17 percent of ESPN competitions.

If anything, DeSclafani is worth a pickup for the next week as a double starter at the back end of your rotation.

                            

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference.

Losing Jose Ramirez to the injured list hurts the playoff outlook for the Cleveland Indians and fantasy owners.

The infielder with 20 home runs and 75 RBI is sidelined for between five and seven weeks, per The Athletic's Zack Meisel, which means he will not affect fantasy teams for the rest of 2019.

However, all hope is not lost at third base, with some intriguing options available to replace Ramirez.

In the outfield, the Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta and Texas Rangers' Hunter Pence were moved to the 10-day injured list, forcing a scramble to the waiver wire in search of some under-the-radar prospects that will help as September begins.

                            

Streaming Options for Injured Players

Jon Berti, 2B/3B/SS, Miami

The Miami Marlins are not the first team most will look at for injury replacements.

However, Jon Berti's recent production makes him an intriguing option to supplement Ramirez's numbers at third base.

In the last week, the versatile infielder produced a pair of three-hit games and reached by way of a base knock in five of six contests.

Berti also possesses positional flexibility, as he is eligible at second base, shortstop and third base on Yahoo. In addition, he is available at center field on ESPN.

Twenty-nine percent of Yahoo players have caught on to the 29-year-old's run at the plate, but only 8 percent of ESPN competitors have added him, per Fantasy Pros.

Most of Berti's success in August has come at home, and the Marlins have a seven-game run versus the Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers ahead in September.

Before that spell, they visit the Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates, with the first game at Nationals Park against Anibal Sanchez. Berti has a .745 OPS, .349 on-base percentage, 23 runs and eight doubles when facing right-handers.

Although he will not replace the power of Ramirez, his consistency at the dish should do enough to help your squads.

                             

Mark Canha, OF, Oakland

Mark Canha is more popular than Berti, but he is still available in just under half of Yahoo leagues and 74 percent of ESPN competitions.

The Oakland A's slugger has a career-high 23 home runs and 48 RBI in 99 appearances.

Since August 20, the outfielder put together four two-hit outings and a three-hit performance, and he has mashed five home runs during that stretch.

In three matchups with the New York Yankees from August 20-22, Canha went 5-for-11 with five RBI. That is a positive sign ahead of three clashes at Yankee Stadium.

After that, six home games versus the Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers should be beneficial to the 30-year-old.

Canha could be viewed as a solid replacement for Pence or Peralta, both of whom were sidelined in the last week.

Lower back stiffness put Pence on the shelf, and Texas manager Chris Woodward did not have a positive update Tuesday, per MLB.com's Sarah Wexler: "It's pretty locked up still. I wouldn't say [he's] taken a step back from a couple days ago, it just hasn't improved."

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo revealed to 98.7 FM that Peralta is out for the season because of shoulder surgery:

"David has elected to have surgery on his right shoulder. I don't know many of the details, I don't know exactly what the diagnosis is, or what the surgical procedure will be. But we'll go ahead and make it official, that his 2019 season is over because he's elected to take care of that shoulder and get himself ready for spring training next year."

Pence put up 18 home runs and 59 RBI, while Peralta totaled 12 dingers and knocked in 57 runs, so you would be getting better value with Canha than both injured players.

                       

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference. 

In the earlier stage of his career, Evan Longoria was viewed as a top fantasy baseball target. 

The 33-year-old third baseman no longer has the overall numbers in San Francisco that he had with Tampa Bay, but he is performing well at the plate of late. 

Longoria is one of a few streaky position players worth tracking for the final weeks of the fantasy baseball season. 

On the mound, a few under-the-radar hurlers are worth looks in an attempt to create some separation between you and your playoff rivals. 

                           

Top Sleepers To Track

Position Players

1. Evan Longoria, 3B, San Francisco

It is hard to believe only 39 percent of owners in Yahoo and ESPN leagues, per Fantasy Pros, have jumped on the Longoria bandwagon. 

Since August 1, the former Rays infielder has eight multi-hit outings, half of which occurred over the last week. 

During his most-recent string of form, Longoria mashed a pair of home runs and drove in eight runs. 

In Tuesday's loss to Arizona, the 12-year veteran extended his hitting streak to four games. If you go back to August 10, he has a base knock in all but one contest. 

A four-game set at home against San Diego should keep Longoria's batting run alive, as the Padres enter Oracle Park after giving up nine runs to the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday.

In 47 plate appearances versus the Padres, the three-time All-Star has a 1.200 OPS with 15 hits, five home runs and 15 RBI. 

If he continues his current run, Longoria could hit 20 dingers for the 10th time in his career, but he might have trouble matching the RBI totals he had with the Rays. He is currently at 57 RBI, which is fewer than all but one of his years in Tampa. 

                              

2. Jason Kipnis, 2B, Cleveland

Longoria isn't the only experienced infielder getting hot in August, with 32-year-old Jason Kipnis providing a jolt to the Cleveland lineup. 

The second baseman, who is owned by 24 percent of Yahoo teams and 16 percent of ESPN squads, continued his strong month at the dish by going 1-for-5 with two runs, a home run and two RBI Tuesday. 

Kipnis' slugging percentage and OPS are up 20 points since August 1, and he hit five of his 14 home runs during that stretch. 

The increase in production is partly due to the addition of Franmil Reyes and Yasiel Puig to the Indians order, which has given Kipnis and others more pitches to look at. 

With opposing hurlers trying to avoid the damage Reyes and Puig cause with their power, they are pitching around them more and forcing the rest of the lineup to hurt them. 

Kipnis is the direct beneficiary of that strategy since he typically hits beneath them in the order. His numbers have also gone up due to the ability of the two sluggers to reach base. 

                               

3. Asdrubal Cabrera 2B/3B/SS, Washington

4. Randal Grichuk, OF, Toronto

5. Raimel Tapia, OF, Colorado 

                      

Pitchers

1. Tony Gonsolin, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Tony Gonsolin is available in most leagues, with only a 15 percent owner rate on Yahoo. 

In his last two starts, the rookie conceded two earned runs on seven hits to the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees. 

The length of those appearances—five in one and four in the other—is a bit concerning, but the 25-year-old is putting up strong enough numbers to earn fantasy consideration. 

If the rotation holds to form, Gonsolin's next appearance for the Dodgers should be Thursday at Chase Field against Arizona. 

After that, a favorable schedule that includes home series with Colorado and San Francisco and a trip to Baltimore awaits the top team in the National League West. 

It may be hard for some to throw trust behind a first-year pitcher with five MLB appearances, but Gonsolin has proved he can get the job done. 

                    

2. Jordan Lyles, SP, Milwaukee

Since joining the Milwaukee Brewers, Jordan Lyles has given up eight earned runs over 27 innings. 

The 28-year-old's most impressive outing was his last one against Arizona, when he didn't concede a hit in six innings. 

Lyles, who faces St. Louis Wednesday, is owned in just over one-fifth of Yahoo competitions and 16 percent of ESPN leagues. 

Although there could be concerns about the right-hander reverting back to his poor form from Pittsburgh, where he was 5-7 with a 5.36 ERA, there is enough of a sample size with the Brewers to trust him. 

After Wednesday, Lyles should be in line to face Houston, Miami and St. Louis before his team's schedule gets a bit easier. 

Some of those matchups could scare away potential owners, but Lyles proved by conceding one run in five innings to Oakland that he can silence the bats of contending teams. 

                     

3. Jacob Waguespack, SP/RP, Toronto

4. Adrian Houser, SP, Milwaukee

5. Homer Bailey, SP, Oakland

                     

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference.

A change of scenery has been beneficial to some of the more intriguing waiver-wire targets in fantasy baseball.

July acquisitions Tanner Roark and Corey Dickerson have performed well for their new ballclubs, while Freddy Galvis is off to a good start with the team that claimed him off waivers in August.

Each of those players should be available in a good amount of Yahoo and ESPN leagues, and if you are able to add them, your fantasy squads could experience an uptick in production.

                     

Waiver-Wire Players to Target

Tanner Roark, SP, Oakland

Since joining the Oakland Athletics, Tanner Roark has dropped his ERA from 4.24 to 3.95.

The former Cincinnati Reds hurler conceded seven earned runs in the first four starts for his new team.

In each of the four outings, Roark lasted at least five innings, and in three of them, he struck out six or more batters.

His past two appearances should stand out the most since they came against the Houston Astros and New York Yankees.

The 32-year-old retired seven Yankees on strikes over 6.1 innings to earn a win in his most recent start. Roark gave up two earned runs on five hits while sitting down three batters in a six-inning appearance versus Houston.

The common denominator in those games was home field, an advantage he has had in a trio of Oakland starts.

Despite his steady form of late, Roark is owned in 30 percent of Yahoo leagues and in one-fifth of ESPN competitions, per FantasyPros.

Oakland's upcoming series with the Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers and the Los Angeles Angels should prove beneficial to those acquiring Roark.

His next appearances are expected to come against the Royals and Angels, who are both well over 10 games out of playoff contention.

                          

Corey Dickerson, OF, Philadelphia

Corey Dickerson's move from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Philadelphia Philies flew under the radar around the trade deadline.

The deal has paid off for the Phillies and Dickerson, who has 19 hits, three home runs and 19 RBIs in 17 games.

Dickerson should gain some more attention on the waiver wire after going 4-for-5 with a quintet of RBIs in Saturday's win over the Miami Marlins.

The outfielder is owned in 42 percent of ESPN leagues, but that number dips by 15 percentage points on Yahoo.

It may be tougher to pick up Dickerson in an ESPN competition, but he is worth going after with seven hits in his past three appearances.

Since his splits are better on the road than at home, Dickerson could be poised for a nice stretch at the start of September against the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets.

The 30-year-old left-handed hitter contains a better batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and OPS on his travels than in home parks.

But batting versus southpaws could lead you away from Dickerson, who has seven hits in 43 plate appearances.

Philadelphia is scheduled to face three right-handed pitchers in the next four games, so his numbers against lefties should not be an immediate concern.

                      

Freddy Galvis, 2B/SS, Cincinnati 

Freddy Galvis' seamless transition from the Toronto Blue Jays to Cincinnati makes him an enviable fantasy prospect on a fourth-place team.

Entering Saturday, the middle infielder had 16 hits in 36 at-bats with three home runs and seven RBIs for his new squad.

Before he was waived by the Blue Jays, the 29-year-old had four multi-hit performances in August, and he built on that total with five more for the Reds.

Thirty-eight percent of Yahoo owners have picked up Galvis and that number drops to 18 percent when you look at the ESPN waiver wire.

Galvis can be used at either middle infield position in fantasy, but the bulk of his time in Cincinnati has been spent at second base.

His numbers could inflate over the next week thanks to a four-game road series against the Marlins.

Miami gave up 20 runs in its contests with the Phillies on Friday and Saturday, which could be a good sign for Galvis and the rest of the Reds lineup.

                        

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference. 

It could be hard for any fantasy baseball owner to replace Chris Sale's production with playoff rounds on the horizon.

The Boston Red Sox left-hander was placed on the injured list Saturday, and given the severity of his left elbow inflammation, he is not expected to make a fantasy impact for the rest of 2019.

Prior to shutting down for at least six weeks, Sale produced 218 strikeouts in 25 appearances and threw an eight-inning gem against the Los Angeles Angels on August 8.

Now, fantasy players have to scour the waiver wire in search of players who can replace the 30-year-old, and in some cases, multiple hurlers may end up filling the void.

There is also some concern regarding production at shortstop on some rosters after the Houston Astos' Carlos Correa went on the 10-day injured list with lower-back stiffness.

The 24-year-old suffered through a cold spell before the injury, but he had a six-game hitting streak to start August and five multi-hit games over the last 20 days.

Since the margins are getting slimmer by the week in fantasy baseball, one or two injury replacements could raise or drop your playoff seeding.

                                  

Streaming Options for Injured MLB Players

Logan Webb, SP, San Francisco 

One of the avenues to explore for a Sale replacement is younger pitchers receiving looks from teams out of playoff contention.

The San Francisco Giants' Logan Webb fits that category after he made his MLB debut Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In his first five innings with the Giants, the 22-year-old struck out seven batters and conceded a single earned run on five hits.

Webb's initial outing was convincing enough to generate some interest, as he is owned in 24 percent in Yahoo leagues, per Fantasy Pros.

However, the right-handed pitcher carries plenty of availability on ESPN, with just 3 percent of players relying on his services.

Webb impressed the San Francisco staff enough to earn a second start Sunday versus the Oakland Athletics, per KNBR's Mark W. Sanchez.

Putting trust in an inexperienced pitcher comes with a bit of risk given the small sample size, but if you believe he can replicate Saturday's trip to the mound, he's worth a chance for at least one start.

                            

Vince Velasquez, SP, Philadelphia

Vince Velasquez's overall numbers are far from intriguing to fantasy owners, but his recent performances suggest he could carry value down the stretch.

The Philadelphia hurler owned in 27 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues possesses a 5-7 record and 4.35 ERA and conceded 10 earned runs over his past five appearances.

Velasquez's consistency of giving up a minimal amount of earned runs could interest owners unwilling to go after players straight up from the minors.

During that five-game span, the 27-year-old has thrown at least five innings in each start and struck out five or more batters on three occasions, including nine punchouts versus the Detroit Tigers.

Velazquez's next start comes Friday against the Miami Marlins, who were just swept by the Atlanta Braves.

The California native also faces a favorable matchup in the projected appearance after Friday, with the Pittsburgh Pirates coming to Citizens Bank Park.

A possible matchup with the Cincinnati Reds to start September is another reason to go after Velasquez to boost pitching totals with the fantasy postseason on the horizon.

                         

Nick Ahmed, SS, Arizona 

Nick Ahmed has been trending upward for a bit, but he hasn't caught on in all fantasy leagues since he is owned in less than 40 percent on both Yahoo and ESPN.

The Diamondbacks shortstop scattered a quintet of multi-hit performances across August, as well as seven home runs.

Since his three-hit showing August 16, Ahmed is 3-for-15, a run that may have turned off some prospective owners.

Despite the struggles over the past week, the 29-year-old is worth a look as a potential Correa replacement because he reached base in 13 August games.

A five-game road swing that begins Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco could be beneficial for Ahmed, as most of his totals are better on the road than at home.

The infielder has a .298 batting average, .337 on-base percentage, .515 slugging percentage and .852 on the road compared to a .240/.328/.407/.735 split at Chase Field.

But the dip in form at home should not be a huge concern, as Ahmed picked up a hit in nine of past 13 home games entering Thursday.

                          

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference. Injury information from MLB.com.