Fantasy Baseball

With more than half of the 2019 MLB season behind us, we've never had a clearer view of all the best, worst and in-between fantasy performers.

Injury issues aside, it should be apparent what your team lacks, how bad it needs to address those areas and what kind of time frame you have to figure things out.

Chances are you probably aren't in a position to be patient. Whether bolstering your bench ahead of a hopefully lengthy playoff run or loading up to make your postseason push during the upcoming stretch run, you're likely in need of some sleepers.

The following three players are all worth your consideration.

                     

Tyler O'Neill, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

There will likely come a time when concerns over Tyler O'Neill's strikeouts or playing time will render him effectively worthless in anything beyond the deepest fantasy leagues.

However, fantasy owners can follow the Cardinals' lead on this. When St. Louis dumped the 24-year-old earlier this year, fantasy owners could do the same. Now that the Cards are giving him regular playing time, fantasy owners should again side with the big league club.

O'Neill has a lot of swing-and-miss in his game, but since returning to the bigs, it hasn't really hampered his big bat. At the time of his demotion, he was hitting just .263 with one home run over 21 games. He entered Tuesday hitting an even .300 with four long balls over the 18 games since his return.

When he makes contact, he usually hits the ball a long way. If this isn't a hot streak but rather the sign of improved skill, he could emerge as one of the second half's brighter stars.

                   

Jose Urquidy, SP, Houston Astros

If you need long-term help at pitching, Jose Urquidy might not be your guy.

It's tough to tell how long he'll stick in Houston, although he's at least slated for another start Friday. It's also impossible to guarantee he'll be any good as long as he's up. He wasn't a particularly celebrated prospect coming into the year, and he got torched in his first two MLB tests (seven earned runs in six innings pitched).

But the third time was such a charm for Urquidy that it's worth seeing whether there's any lightning in this bottle.

The 24-year-old flummoxed a deep Rangers lineup to the tune of nine strikeouts against only two hits and one run across seven innings pitched. The fact it came with an identifiable change in approach suggests he may have hit on something more significant than a lucky start.

"Urquidy's best pitch is the changeup, delivering a 23 percent whiff rate, and he went from throwing it about 15 percent of the time in his first two starts to 43 percent of the time in this one," CBS Sports' Scott White noted. "Just like that, we see how he had 12.0 K/9 (compared to just 1.8 BB/9) in the minors this year."

While it's possible he isn't relevant beyond that one start, good pitching is so scarce that he's worth a gamble just in case there's more to it. 

              

Oscar Mercado, OF, Cleveland Indians

When Oscar Mercado went hitless over his final four games entering the All-Star break, it was fair to question whether the league had caught up to the 24-year-old.

If nothing else, his modest ownership percentages (44 on Yahoo, 24 on ESPN) didn't jump off the page and perhaps even seemed a bit generous.

But Mercado's surge into the second half makes those same numbers now appear comically low.

He has pop. He has speed. He hits for a good average. He does everything you'd expect from a universally owned player, only he's available in more than half of fantasy leagues.

That won't be the case if he keeps this up. In 11 games out of the break, he's raking with a .368 average, four homers, 11 RBI and three stolen bases. The Indians are on fire, and Mercado is right at the center of that heat source.

Real-life changes could be coming to MLB soon, and your fantasy team might feel the impact.

Clubs have a single shot at this year's trade deadline because the August waiver-trade period has been removed. That means those teams have between now and July 31 to not only decide whether they are buyers or sellers but also to put those designations into practice and pull off transactions.

Trades can significantly change fantasy outlooks, for better or worse. When a player from a bottom-feeder heads to a contender, he might benefit from having better hitters or a more reliable defense around him. At the same time, trades can also turn closers into setup men or heart-of-the-lineup fixtures into part-time players batting out of the seventh or eighth spots.

Adjusting to trades is a reactionary process, but we're here for proactive purposes—namely, to identify potential waiver-wire players to add ahead of Week 17.

                      

Marcus Stroman, SP, Toronto Blue Jays

Marcus Stroman is never going to be a great source of strikeouts. This is sixth season in the big leagues, and he's never averaged eight punch-outs per nine innings. This season's 7.1 almost perfectly align with his career norm of 7.2.

If you need strikeouts, this recommendation isn't for you. If you need anything else, grab Stroman before his price skyrockets.

Despite having a minuscule 3.06 ERA, he's only owned in 66 percent of Yahoo leagues and just 55 percent of them on ESPN. But his stock is climbing along with his interest around the league. Potential trade suitors must have been salivating as he spun seven scoreless innings against the Detroit Tigers on Friday.

Standing Strovation 👏👏👏@MStrooo6 | #LetsGoBlueJays pic.twitter.com/sKbeK6dXiw

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 20, 2019

The biggest non-strikeout knock on Stroman's resume is a 6-10 record, which reminds you how rough things are going for the Blue Jays. But before July 31, he could have a new club that provides him run support and maybe doesn't play in baseball's best division (perhaps he could even change leagues and duck the DH). This is your last chance to buy low.

                     

Keston Hiura, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers might have finally realized Keston Hiura should be here to stay. The red-hot hitter isn't giving them a choice.

Previously demoted for the non-hitting Travis Shaw, Hiura has owned Milwaukee's keystone since getting the call back to the bigs in late June. Entering Saturday, he owned an incredible .368/.434/.662 slash line with 11 extra-base hits (including four homers) and five stolen bases across his last 18 games with the Brewers.

#OuttaHiura

Keston Hiura's 8th homer of the year went out deeeeeeep to center for the #Brewers.

Exit velocity: 106.2 mph
Launch angle: 31 degrees
Distance: 419 feet pic.twitter.com/gku1R4J0AJ

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 13, 2019

"I think the guy was just born to hit," teammate Lorenzo Cain told reporters. "He flat-out has a great swing. He just rakes."

Fantasy owners seem to still be holding Hiura's earlier demotion against him. There's no other explanation for his shockingly low ownership percentages: 58 on Yahoo and 32 on ESPN.

That figures to change sooner rather than later. Given what Hiura has done with his bat and his legs, and what he's capable of doing in an offense this explosive, his availability will only shrink as his numbers continue climbing.

                  

Liam Hendriks, RP, Oakland A's

At a certain point, it made sense to slow-play Liam Hendriks, both because of his forgettable track record and the likelihood of Blake Treinen regaining the closer's role after last season's 38-save breakout.

We're a long way past that point.

Treinen doesn't look like the same pitcher, and neither does Hendriks. While the former continues struggling to right the ship, the latter is dealing straight filth.

Among Hendriks' many career-bests are his 1.17 ERA, 0.969 WHIP and 11.4 K/9. Entering Saturday, he had gone 18 consecutive appearances without giving up a run, earned or otherwise, while striking out 33 over 19.2 innings.

His ratios alone could help more fantasy teams than his ownership rates (70 percent on Yahoo, 44 on ESPN) suggest. But the fact that he's clearly the A's closer and shows no signs of giving up the gig means he should be universally owned.

The first week of MLB play after the All-Star break ended up as a painful one for some fantasy owners. 

The catcher position was hit especially hard in the last week, with Willson Contreras and Jonathan Lucroy both going down. 

Contreras had his direct replacement acquired from Kansas City, as the Chicago Cubs traded for Martin Maldonado, but some fantasy owners do not have the luxury of calling on the new next man up. 

On the other side of Chicago, the White Sox are dealing with the absence of Eloy Jimenez, who joined Philadelphia's Jay Bruce as an impact outfielder to go on the injured list in the last week.

Luckily for some owners, the knocks picked up by Mike Trout and Matt Chapman were not as severe, but there are still some holes to be filled through the waiver wire. 

                         

Top Fantasy Baseball Injury Replacements

Jorge Alfaro, C, Miami 

Although he hasn't hit a home run in July, Miami's Jorge Alfaro has struck a rich vein of form at the plate.

The catcher has four multi-hit games since July 1, and he has reached base with a hit in eight contests. Seven of those games were in the middle of a hitting streak he put together from July 3-13.

Despite not knocking a ball out of the park this month, the former Philadelphia backstop already matched his career high in home runs with 10. 

Alfaro is also in possession of a .273 batting average, .314 on-base percentage and a .434 slugging percentage. 

Some owners may turn away from the Colombian in the next week since Miami hits the road to play the Los Angeles Dodgers and the White Sox. 

Most of Alfaro's hitting numbers are better at Marlins Park than on the road, but he does have six home runs and 17 RBI on his travels compared to four homers and 14 RBI in his home stadium.

The 26-year-old's July surge is a welcome sight for owners of Contreras and Lucroy, who are both on the injured list. 

Contreras is missing time with a right foot strain but could come back by the end of July, while Lucroy's concussion and fractured nose should keep him out until August. 

Since other catchers such as Travis d'Arnaud, who hit three home runs Monday, are being added at a faster rate in Yahoo leagues, Alfaro is a more available injury replacement and his consistency at the plate could benefit you. 

                       

Oscar Mercado, OF, Cleveland 

With Bruce dealing with a right oblique strain and Jimenez suffering from a right ulnar nerve contusion, Cleveland's Oscar Mercado is a player who could make up for their losses.

The rookie outfielder enjoyed a recent run of home games against Detroit by hitting three home runs over a two-day span.

With six RBI and five hits during that run of games, Mercado could be the hot bat your lineup needs to pack a punch in the outfield spots. 

He also has less pressure on his shoulders than some first-year players since he is surrounded by quality bats up and down the Cleveland lineup, starting with Francisco Lindor and Carlos Santana, who batted around him Thursday against the Tigers. 

The 24-year-old has an opportunity to extend his hot streak at home in three games against Kansas City over the weekend before the Indians hit the road to face Toronto and the Royals. 

Toronto's starting pitchers have given up 5.21 runs per game, while Kansas City's rotation is averaging 5.12 runs against per contest. 

The Blue Jays also rank ninth in home runs conceded, so that could be another opportunity for Mercado to bolster his power numbers. 

Mercado was one of the five top outfield adds on Yahoo Thursday, so if you are looking to add him to your squad, the time to act is now.

                         

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference. 

Injury information obtained from MLB.com.

With the All-Star break behind us, it's bunker-down time for fantasy owners as they prepare for the stretch run.

Strong spots and weaknesses should be as clear as ever, which should make it easy to identify which areas need upgrading. Depending on the activity level of your league, though, the waiver wire could be picked clean at this point of the season.

Still, there should be value to extract if you know where to look, as the following players lead the list of Week 16 sleepers.

               

Ramon Laureano, OF, Oakland A's

At some point, the fantasy community at large will wake up to the fact that Laureano is having a monster season.

For whatever reason, that hasn't happened yet. He's somehow available in 40 percent of Yahoo leagues and 60 percent of ESPN leagues, which is absurd given what he's doing with his bat and his legs.

Entering Tuesday, he's one of only five players with at least 18 homers and 11 stolen bases. The other four are Christian Yelich, Ronald Acuna Jr., Trevor Story and Yasiel Puig. All of those players are owned in 90-plus percent of leagues on both sites.

The word will get out on Laureano, probably sooner rather than later. Over his past 26 games, he's hitting .290 with 10 homers, five steals, 28 RBI and 19 runs. Grab him while you still can.

                  

Sonny Gray, SP, Cincinnati Reds

It's possible, or maybe even probable, that Gray began the year well off your fantasy radar. After a mostly disastrous 2018 season with the New York Yankees, his outlook was grim, especially after moving to the launching pad that is Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park.

But Gray is 18 starts into his Reds career, and he looks like he's righted the ship.

He replaced Max Scherzer on the All-Star roster after pitching to a 3.59 ERA with 103 strikeouts in 90.1 innings before the break. Gray has made one start on this side of the break at the always daunting Coors Field. But there, he mostly muted the Rockies, holding them to five hits and one earned run while punching out nine across seven innings.

At this point, length might be the only concern with Gray, especially if you're in a quality starts league. Just seven of his starts have gone the requisite six-plus innings. That said, each of his last three starts have gone past the threshold, and he owns a minuscule 1.27 ERA with 27 punch-outs in 21.2 innings over this stretch.

      

Jeimer Candelario, 3B, Detroit Tigers

It's never particularly comfortable recommending anyone from the Tigers lineup, and Candelario is no exception. He didn't hit much in the first half and spent multiple stints in Triple-A.

But his bat started coming alive before the break, and it has enough pop to demand notice.

It looks like he figured something out during his most recent stretch in the minors. Entering Tuesday, he owned a .321/.387/.661 slash line with five home runs and 12 RBI over 15 games since rejoining the big-league bunch.

While he's more of a deep-league target—he's only owned in three percent of Yahoo leagues and five percent of ESPN leagues—even shallow-league owners could consider juicing the orange with whatever's left of his hot streak.  

The first major MLB trade of July could end up being beneficial to your fantasy baseball teams.

Andrew Cashner, who was traded from the Baltimore Orioles to the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, is now in a more favorable situation in a pennant race, and he comes into it off a handful of impressive pitching performances.

Before he left the Orioles, Cashner was one of a few players on the roster with strong stat lines in July.

Renato Nunez is worth looking at for the upcoming week, and he could be targeted less in some leagues because he plays for a last-place team.

There is also a streaking hitter in the National League worth going after as soon as Sunday in order to maximize the production from every position in your lineup.

                            

Notable Pickups to Target

Andrew Cashner, SP, Boston 

Cashner's arrival with the Boston Red Sox could not have come at a more perfect time for the team and player.

He enters the Red Sox rotation, which was in need of a fifth starter, off three consecutive victories for the Baltimore Orioles.

In those three starts, the right-handed hurler gave up three earned runs and struck out 13 batters.

Cashner's form on the mound stretches back to the start of June, as he has thrown at least six innings in each of his past five starts, and he has conceded five earned runs and walked just four batters.

The recent outings from the 32-year-old should help the Red Sox rotation improve their runs against per game, as they sit a bit over the league average at 4.97.

Boston is going to need all the pitching help it can get down the stretch since the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays will also be in the mix for the American League East. It will also be in contention with Cleveland, the Oakland A's and Texas Rangers for the AL wild-card spots.

Cashner's arrival two-and-a-half weeks before the July 31 trade deadline allows Boston to get him acclimated for a potential start against the Toronto Blue Jays or Baltimore before a nine-game stretch to end July against the Rays and Yankees.

He last started July 6 against Toronto, which is next up on Boston's schedule. In that appearance, he gave up three hits and one earned run over seven innings.

With that in mind, it is worth picking up Cashner right away, and if he keeps rolling like he has, he could be a valuable piece to keep as a constant fixture in your lineup.

                                

Renato Nunez, 1B/3B, Baltimore

One of Cashner's now-former teammates is heating up at the plate and deserves some looks because of his recent performance and positional versatility.

Nunez, who is listed as a first and third baseman, has brought his batting average up 12 percentage points from .231 to .243 since June 26 thanks to four multi-hit games.

His overall numbers are not exactly intriguing given he is batting .243 and has a .306 on-base percentage, but sometimes you have to ride a hot bat.

In his past nine games, Nunez has 11 hits against four teams, and he has a chance to extend his run at the dish at home against the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox in the next week.

At Camden Yards, Nunez has hit 13 of his 21 home runs and possesses a batting average 67 points better than his mark on the road.

In 10 games against the Red Sox, Nunez has 10 hits, two doubles, one home run and six RBIs.

If you combine his splits at home and recent results at the plate, Nunez is a worthy pickup in most leagues.

One of the few concerns to have about Nunez in the next week is he only plays five games because Baltimore has two off days on Monday and Thursday.

If you can't justify picking up Nunez because of Baltimore's light schedule, he is worth keeping on the radar for coming weeks, especially if he flashes more consistency.

                          

Adam Frazier, 2B/OF, Pittsburgh 

Adam Frazier is another position player worth looking at with versatility and a hot bat.

Since the start of July, Frazier has put together five multi-hit games, including a five-hit performance to kick off the month.

While it may seem odd to include Frazier on this list because of his recent success, he was dropped 1,203 times in Yahoo leagues Saturday after he was given the day off.

Frazier's day of rest could be beneficial to some owners who missed out on adding him during his initial surge at the beginning of July.

The 27-year-old has increased his batting average from .254 to .283, on-base percentage from .311 to .337 and slugging percentage from .361 to .411 in two weeks.

Those numbers, plus his ability to be lined up at second base or outfield, should make him an easy addition if he is on the waiver wire in your league.

Most of Frazier's July success came at PNC Park, and he has three games in the next week against the Philadelphia Phillies in his home stadium.

The front end of Frazier's week features a three-game away series versus the St. Louis Cardinals, who he has seven hits against in 25 plate appearances.

Four of those seven hits have been of the extra-base variety, as he has three doubles and a home run against one of the Pittsburgh Pirates' NL Central foes.

                                   

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

The MLB All-Star break gave fantasy owners a welcome relief from the threat of injury.

Given the liberal usage of the injured list around the break, baseball's return to action should see a small army of players returning. But some players are dealing with more serious ailments and still need more time to get right.

Hopefully, you've spent some of the past few days studying the waiver wire and have a good idea of who's available. If not, consider this look at potential waiver-wire replacements for injured players a valuable cheat sheet.

                    

Injury Report

Tommy La Stella, 2B/3B, Los Angeles Angels

Perhaps the most surprising breakout of the first half, Tommy La Stella's body betrayed him before he could make his first-ever All-Star appearance. He fouled a ball off his right shin last week and further testing revealed a fractured tibia that could cost him eight to 10 weeks.

While most of his fantasy owners probably plucked him from the waiver wire, they aren't likely to find another La Stella now. The 30-year-old slashed .300/.353/.495 over 78 games in the first half, and he launched 16 home runs—six more than he'd hit over his first five MLB seasons combined.

The simplest replacement option might come from the same locker room. David Fletcher boasts the same positional eligibility and a similar .295/.359/.409 slash line. While not a great source of power (five homers) or speed (five steals), he can be a minor help in both categories.

Looking beyond L.A., Philadelphia's Maikel Franco could be worth the gamble. He won't always hit or play every day, but lately, he's been doing both. He started 12 of the Phillies' final 13 games before the break, homering four times and slashing .341/.408/.636 over that stretch. He's only owned in 38 percent of ESPN leagues and just 17 percent of Yahoo leagues.

               

David Peralta, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks

A right shoulder injury landed David Peralta on the injured list for the second time this season. The first cost him 11 games, while this could last longer.

"I think what we've learned with Davis is he's such a team guy and wants to be out there that we're maybe going to slow-play it until this is all done," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters. "We're going to be a little bit more cautious."

That's not exactly what Peralta owners want to hear. The big-hitting outfielder seemed en route to another big season with the bat, tallying 35 extra-base hits (including nine homers) and 44 RBI in 73 first-half games.

Fortunately, outfield is such a deep position, finding a temporary replacement shouldn't be too difficult.

Colorado's Ian Desmond, available in 31 percent of ESPN leagues and 41 percent of Yahoo leagues, rode a hot streak into the break. Over his last 25 games (19 starts), he's hitting .352 and slugging .614 with five homers and 23 RBI. Seattle's Mallex Smith continues to be underowned (70 percent on ESPN, 57 on Yahoo). Since May 27, he's hitting .292 with 15 stolen bases and 26 runs in 39 games.

               

Jose Alvarado, RP, Tampa Bay Rays

After emerging as one of the game's most electric relievers last season, Jose Alvarado has struggled to recapture the magic. Despite continuing to fan batters at an elite rate (11.5 K/9), his ERA has more than doubled (5.06, up from 2.39) and his WHIP has similarly skyrocketed (1.69, from 1.11).

He won't be turning things around anytime soon. An oblique strain could cost him six to eight weeks, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

If owners hadn't cut bait by now, this is probably the time.

The easiest pivots would be to Alvarado's bullpen mates Diego Castillo (27 percent owned on Yahoo, 9 percent on ESPN) and Emilio Pagan (38, 10). The two combined for 12 saves in the first half while each striking out double-digit batters per nine innings. Pagan also dazzled with a 1.75 ERA and 0.83 WHIP, so he could be a ratio-booster even if he's not getting saves.

Colorado's Scott Oberg (30 percent owned on Yahoo, 10 on ESPN) could be a sneaky-good add, especially if you aren't desperate for saves. While Wade Davis still has the closer's job for now, Oberg has been the far superior pitcher this season.

Oberg has the edge in ERA (1.85 to 5.54), WHIP (0.96 to 1.69) and K/9 (9.89 to 9.35), so it might be only a matter of time before the Rockies make the switch.

The All-Star break can be a welcome period of relaxation for fantasy baseball owners.

But let's be honest, all this idle time is better spent on analyzing, overanalyzing, tinkering and retinkering, isn't it?

Hopefully, the season's first half allowed you to be flexible with your midsummer maneuvers and gave you reason to continue keeping active in the second half.

We'll help you get a head start by putting three Week 15 sleepers on your radar.

                

Jackie Bradley Jr., OF, Boston Red Sox

Jackie Bradley Jr. went from the breakout watch list to the back of a milk carton in record time. Failing to homer until late May and hitting below .200 into the middle of June can have that effect.

While some slow starts are simply the sign of more miserable things to come, that's never a certainty. But for some reason, fantasy owners are treating Bradley as though he's still the same player who hit .127 (not a typo) and slugged .155 (neither is that) in the month of April.

He isn't.

The 29-year-old started waking up in May, when he hit .247 with four homers. Come June, he reminded everyone about his breakout potential. He hit .315 with a .419 on-base percentage and .573 slugging percentage, while delivering 12 extra-base hits (including five home runs) and three stolen bases.

His glove will keep him in the lineup every day, and he has the talent to make noise with his bat, his legs or both. Because his season-long stats are dragged down by that frigid start, he's only owned in 39 percent of ESPN leagues and 28 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Snatch him up while you can, because that cold open won't keep his stats or ownership percentages down forever.

             

Emilio Pagan, RP, Tampa Bay Rays

Searching for saves? Who are we kidding—it's 2019, so the answer is obviously yes.

Emilio Pagan could prove a sneaky-good source for the foreseeable future.

The 28-year-old spent the first half only handling closing duties a fraction of the time (33 appearances, five saves) but throwing absolute filth all of the time.

He allowed just 30 baserunners in 36 innings (21 hits, nine walks) while racking up 47 strikeouts. Every ratio you could want, he delivered: sub-2.00 ERA, sub-1.00 WHIP, plus-11 K/9.

He's probably a ratio-booster across the board, but he has a chance to be even more valuable. With Jose Alvarado (oblique) possibly shelved for the next two months, Pagan should have a much greater opportunity for saves than his ownership percentages (35 on Yahoo, nine on ESPN) would indicate.

             

A.J. Pollock, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Fantasy owners haven't yet awoken to the idea A.J. Pollock should be back in the lineup Friday and might finally make the kind of impact the Dodgers envisioned when they gave him a four-year contract with a $60 million guarantee.

Skepticism about his second-half outlook is fine. Injuries have plagued the 31-year-old throughout his career, and this has been no exception. To get an idea of the medical misfortune he's had, his surgically repaired elbow needed surgery (for an infection).

If this was the fix Pollock needed—we're knocking on wood with our fingers crossed—he could boost any lineup with a speed-plus-power profile.

In 2015, the last time he played more than 113 games, he had 39 stolen bases and 20 homers. Last season, when a fractured thumb disrupted his year, he still belted 21 long balls and swiped 13 bags in 113 games.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has already saved a spot for Pollock, who will increase the potency of what's already the NL's third-best scoring offense. The upside is too great for him to still be available in more than 40 percent of ESPN leagues and over half of Yahoo leagues.

                  

Fantasy information via FantasyPros.com.

The All-Star break may slow down the Major League Baseball schedule, but that does not mean action on the fantasy baseball waiver wire will go quiet. 

Over the next few days, fantasy owners have the opportunity to scour the waiver wire for the best pickups to get off to a strong start in the second half of the 2019 campaign. 

Some of the best options available are players who have recently struck gold at the plate and are trending in the right direction for the rest of July.

Finding the best pitching pickups is a more difficult task because most hurlers will go a week between starts because of the All-Star break. 

Since managing your rotation around starts may be tough in Week 15, it could be best to pick up a pitcher or two who have performed well of late. 

                       

Best Pickups for Week 15

Dinelson Lamet, SP, San Diego 

San Diego's Dinelson Lamet is a low-risk, high-reward option to bolster your rotation after the All-Star break. 

Lamet made his first start in two years Thursday after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and although he did not pick up a win against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he turned in a promising performance. 

Lamet struck out seven batters while conceding three hits and three earned runs in five innings in a start Padres manager Andy Green viewed as positive, per The Athletic's Dennis Lin. 

"I thought there was a lot to be encouraged by," Green said. 

Before his injury, Lamet showed promise on the mound by giving up three runs or fewer in eight of his last 10 starts in 2017. 

Lamet's past numbers combined with the performance he put together Thursday make him a solid waiver-wire option now before other owners scoop him up after a few more solid outings. 

Lamet was added over 1,000 times in Yahoo leagues Saturday, which means you might miss out on him if you do not act now. 

In the worst-case scenario, Lamet gets dropped after a few less-than-promising starts, but he is worth a shot at the moment since his health is on an upward trajectory. 

                  

Danny Jansen, C, Toronto 

Danny Jansen started July on a hot streak inside Rogers Centre with four home runs against the Boston Red Sox, including two Thursday.

In each of the three July games in which he hit a home run, Jansen also recorded two RBI, and in two of them he recorded a trio of hits. 

Although he has caught fire at the plate at home, Jansen has better overall numbers on the road with a .235 batting average, 24 hits and 14 RBI. 

Those numbers are important because the Blue Jays are about to embark on a road trip after the All-Star break that includes series against the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers. 

Jansen's recent success against the Red Sox could lead you to believe he will put up similar numbers at Fenway Park over four games from July 15-18. 

Jansen is not the only Toronto player worth taking a look at, as first baseman Justin Smoak and shortstop Freddy Galvis have performed well of late around Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio in the Blue Jays order. 

                      

Kevin Pillar, OF, San Francisco

San Francisco outfielder Kevin Pillar put himself back on the fantasy radar with a pair of recent four-hit performances. 

In addition to the eye-popping numbers from Sunday and Tuesday, Pillar has recorded a hit in six of his last seven games for the Giants. 

The recent uptick in form from the 30-year-old adds to the .256 batting average, 12 home runs and 47 RBI he already has with the team.

There is reason to believe Pillar's strong run at the plate will continue after the All-Star break since he recorded a hit in 10 of 11 games during a stretch from June 12-24. 

The home runs have been a little more sporadic for Pillar, but he has hit five of his 12 home runs since June 12. 

If you are strongly considering adding Pillar, you might want to do it now since he was picked up over 1,000 times in Yahoo leagues Saturday. 

                   

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference.

The MLB All-Star break provides players an opportunity to heal their wounds. Given the upcoming respite, fantasy baseball gamers have a new influx of injuries to manage before they can exhale.

With all 30 teams out of action from Monday to Wednesday, and most not returning until Friday, players have little reason to grind through nagging ailments this weekend. If dealing with a day-to-day issue, why not just take a trip to the 10-day injured list? 

Summer is here. The grill is sizzling, and football is ready to steal the spotlight once more. Don't let these distractions cause complacency leading into All-Star Game. Here are some injuries to address and replacements to add before the Midsummer Classic. 

       

Injury Report

Brandon Lowe, 2B/OF, Tampa Bay Rays

Right after making the All-Star team as an injury replacement, Brandon Lowe went on the injured list with a right shin bruise. The Tampa Bay Rays announced the move Thursday, retroactive to the previous day.

One of the first half's finest waiver-wire finds tallied 16 home runs, 49 RBI, five steals and an .862 OPS. While he's unlikely to sustain a .276 average with a 33.9 percent strikeout rate and MLB's second-lowest contact rate, the second baseman fended off regression by making thunderous contact.

Managers don't even need to look for a new name on another team. The Rays recalled Nate Lowe, who should spend some time in their starting lineup with Ji-Man Choi (ankle) also injured. 

While the 23-year-old first baseman didn't hit a homer in his prior 42 big league plate appearances, the highly regarded prospect batted .290/.419/.519 with a dozen long balls in Triple-A. He'll encounter two southpaws (CC Sabathia and James Paxton) this weekend, but the recent recall could feast in a four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles next week.

Some seeking a second baseman may still have time to snag Keston Hiura, who rejoined the Milwaukee Brewers last week following a promising but brief trial period earlier this season.

After a bumpy start to his career, Cavan Biggio is hitting .301 with 14 walks, five homers and three steals in his last 21 games. He wields an elite batting eye and gets three bouts against Baltimore's feeble pitching staff before the break.

      

Matt Carpenter, 1B/2B/3B, St. Louis Cardinals

Lower back spasms sent Matt Carpenter to the injured list Tuesday. He had previously sat out four consecutive games with an illness, so the timing fortified his decision to rest.

"We were in a situation where there were six games left before the All-Star break," Carpenter said, per MLB.com's Anne Rogers. "I thought I probably could be ready in a couple of days, but given the situation, I thought it would be better coming off the sickness and back to just be smart about it and be ready to go after the break."

If anything, spurned Carpenter investors now have an excuse to get his flailing bat out of the lineup. On the heels of a 36-homer breakout campaign, the St. Louis Cardinals infielder is batting just .216/.325/.381 with 10 long balls in 77 games.

Power also isn't too difficult to find. Managers who want it at all costs may still have the opportunity to add Miguel Sano, who is rostered in just 29 percent of Yahoo leagues. While still a batting-average sieve (.225), the Minnesota Twins masher has deposited 13 balls into the bleachers in 37 contests.

Renato Nunez went on a power spree in April, slowed down and then reignited the engine to close May. After going 15 consecutive games without a home run, he has found his rhythm once again. The streaky slugger counts three homers among his six hits in the last four games, upping his 2019 deep-fly tally to 19.

Despite controlling the strong side of a platoon and brandishing a .906 OPS, Eric Thames continues to fly under the radar. Before losing first-base duties to Jesus Aguilar, whom he has returned the favor to this season, Thames came back from Korea to belt 31 homers in 2017.

             

Cole Hamels, SP, Chicago Cubs

Targeted as durable veterans, J.A. Happ, Rick Porcello, Jake Arrieta and Jose Quintana have torpedoed everyone's ratios too much to appreciate the innings. Cole Hamels, on the other hand, has paid major dividends as a mid-tier target by recording a 2.98 ERA and 97 strikeouts.

The 35-year-old southpaw has made at least 30 starts in 11 of the 12 seasons. Father Time, however, doesn't skip many doors. Per the Chicago Tribune's Mark Gonzales, an oblique strain will likely sideline Hamels through July.

Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Hamels nevertheless avoided a worst-case diagnosis:

Joe Maddon describes the MRI/diagnosis of Cole Hamels’ oblique injury as “not awful.”

“We were encouraged by the results,” Maddon said. “We still don’t have any timetable, but he’s feeling a lot better more quickly than we anticipated. The results were not overtly negative.”

— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) July 2, 2019

Finding competent pitching on the waiver wire has proved quite the challenge this season. It should be too late to claim Sonny Gray following Wednesday's 12-strikeout gem against the Milwaukee Brewers, but add him immediately wherever available. Also, check to make sure the returning Caleb Smith isn't up for grabs.

Dakota Hudson will struggle to maintain a 3.40 ERA with a 1.51 WHIP and just 62 strikeouts in 87.1 innings. He's not a viable long-term solution, but regression shouldn't strike until after the break, He'll take on the San Francisco Giants, who rank 28th in weighted runs created plus (wRC+), inside the spacious Oracle Park. 

Daring gamers can roll the dice on Dylan Bundy. Before ceding nine runs in his last two turns, the volatile hurler had registered a 2.77 ERA in eight starts dating back to May 4. He has stockpiled 90 strikeouts in 84.1 frames, and the opposing Toronto Blue Jays entered Independence Day with a subpar 86 wRC+ against righties. 

        

Note: All advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs unless stated otherwise.

The real-life MLB All-Star break is almost here.

Does your fantasy baseball team need a spark ahead of the second half?

While the possibility of uncovering a hidden gem at this stage depends on the depth and strength of your league, even the deepest of leagues should have something of interest on the waiver wire.

Maybe it's one of the many hitters taking advantage of this environment and rocketing balls out of the yard with regularity. Or maybe your pitchers have been on the wrong end of too many of those home runs and you need a change there.

Either way, we'll identify three sleepers worth tracking for either temporary relief or long-term impact.

                    

Didi Gregorius, SS, New York Yankees

No one said sleepers must come from miles off the radar. Sometimes the best strategy for fantasy is keeping it simple.

Didi Gregorius' 2019 was delayed by recovery from Tommy John surgery last October. Apparently, fantasy owners haven't all realized he's back.

When he plays, he hits the ball often and usually a long distance. To that end, he enters Tuesday night with a .290 average, 12 runs, eight RBI and three homers through his first 17 games back. He's upped the ante his last four times out, totaling nine hits, eight runs, five RBI and two home runs over that stretch.

The Yankees are giving him fairly regular maintenance days, so he's most valuable in a league allowing daily roster moves. That said, if he keeps hitting like this, the team could find little reason to continue handling him with kid gloves. Either way, he has no business being available in more than 40 percent of leagues, as he is on both Yahoo and ESPN.

               

Caleb Smith, SP, Miami Marlins

The fantasy world already awakened to Caleb Smith earlier this season, when he surged out of the gate with huge strikeout numbers and small totals everywhere else.

Then, he scuffled twice in three starts and hit the injured list with hip inflammation in early June. He hasn't been seen at the major league level since, but he's nearing a return. On Sunday, he struck out eight over five innings pitching for Double-A Jacksonville.

Smith might've returned earlier had Miami's other young pitchers struggled to hold down the fort. But Zach Gallen, Elieser Hernandez and Jordan Yamamoto have been solid (or better) for the most part, allowing the Marlins to take their time with their ace.

But Smith's promotion feels imminent, which makes this the perfect time to get him on your roster. He's available in 35 percent of Yahoo leagues and 57 percent of ESPN leagues. If he looks anything like he did before the injury (3.41 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 82 strikeouts in 66 innings pitched), those percentages will rapidly shrink.

                  

Cavan Biggio, 2B, Toronto Blue Jays

One of several MLB legacies on Toronto's roster, Cavan Biggio is starting to look the part of a top prospect finding his way at the big league level.

He opened July with a 3-for-5, four-RBI effort suggesting his hot bat of late isn't cooling down any time soon.

"Since June 13, Biggio owns a .313/.400/.625 slash line with five home runs and two stolen bases," CBS Sports' Heath Cummings noted. "He's the No. 8 second baseman in fantasy over the past 28 days."

Biggio continues climbing up the Blue Jays' batting order, which might be a bigger deal than you think. This hasn't been a great offense on the season (tied for 21st in total runs entering Tuesday night), but it's trending up as its youngsters are arriving and maturing.

The fantasy world has been slow to react. Biggio is owned in just 37 percent of Yahoo leagues and only 12 percent of ESPN leagues.

Depending on your host site, he could be eligible at as many as three different positions. His ownership percentages won't stay this low for long, so you might as well climb aboard the hype train while there's still space available.

                

Fantasy information via FantasyPros.com.