It’s Week 13 for Category Targets and as always, I’ll be using ownership percentages from ESPN leagues to give you mostly available options who can help in each of the 10 standard fantasy baseball categories. If you’re desperate for steals or saves, there’s no need to waste time, go ahead and scroll down to see my recommendations in your category of need this week.
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Batting Average
Yuli Gurriel (HOU): 42.5%
Gurriel seems like a no-brainer add for teams that need average help. After hitting .299 in 139 games last year, he’s hitting .300 in 59 games so far this season. While Gurriel isn’t a big power threat — he hit 18 home runs last season and only has two home runs so far this season — his spot in the middle of the Astros lineup keeps his runs and RBI totals healthy. So not much power and no speed, but Gurriel is a solid three-category contributor.
Home Runs
Aaron Hicks (NYY): 43.8%
I’ve recommended Hicks a few times already this year, but not for this specific category. Hicks has been going off with the big flies recently as he’s hit four home runs in his last seven games. While Hicks’ 15 home runs last year were a career-high, he put on muscle over the offseason and you can tell he’s a strong dude. On a recent Yankees telecast broadcaster Rick Sutcliffe revealed that Hicks regularly drives the ball over 300 yards when he plays golf. He also benefits from the stacked New York lineup and that he gets to bat leadoff against left-handed pitchers.
RBI
John Hicks (DET): 29.5%
Hicks had the day off for the Tigers on Wednesday as he’s mired in a small slump (0-for-12), but he will get the majority of starts at first base and bat in the middle of the order with Miguel Cabrera out for the season. Even with being a part-time player so far this season, Hicks has 23 RBI. He’s also scored 25 runs and has a .278 average on the season. That’s nothing to sneeze at. While the waiver wire in shallow mixed leagues tends to have at least some everyday players, Hicks’ playing time is now secure and that has value, especially if you’ve been hit with the injury bug and need a playing time injection.
Runs
Teoscar Hernandez (TOR): 49.7%
Hernandez has cooled off from his red-hot start to the season, but he’s still hitting .263 and has 34 runs scored. Batting at the top of the Blue Jays lineup is a nice spot for him as is the Rogers Centre for any hitter. He’s scored eight runs in his last 13 games.
Stolen Bases
Niko Goodrum (DET): 3.8%
Goodrum is also seeing close to regular playing time with Miguel Cabrera out. While he can hit (.248, seven home runs, 22 RBI), he also has six stolen bases on the season. Goodrum saw the start at first base on Wednesday, but he can play everywhere on the diamond beside catcher. That versatility should keep him in the lineup as long as he’s hitting. Last week I recommended another Tiger in this category in shortstop Jose Iglesias. New manager Ron Gardenhire seems to be utilizing his team’s speed and that bodes well for Goodrum going forward.
Wins
CC Sabathia (NYY): 41.7%
Sabathia has four wins on the season, but he’s won two of his last three starts. He’s also completed at least seven innings in two of his last three starts, which he had only done once in the seven starts before that. The Yankees started out the season 9-9, but New York is 41-13 since then and with no signs of slowing down there will be plenty of opportunities for Sabathia to win games. While the Yankees are reportedly in the market for starting pitching, Sabathia, who won 14 of his 27 starts last year, is entrenched in New York’s rotation. His next start comes Friday at Tampa Bay. He struck out 10 Rays in his last start.
Strikeouts
Domingo German (NYY): 26.2%
Jonathan Loaisiga (NYY): 21.8%
In case you haven’t heard by now (and just looking at his ownership percentage it appears most ESPN owners haven’t), German has the highest swinging strike percentage of anyone in baseball this season not named Max Scherzer. His swinging strike percentage is 17.5% compared to Scherzer’s 18.5%. German has been especially good lately as he’s struck out 28 in 19 innings while allowing seven earned runs and only two walks over his last three starts. I really don’t know what everyone is waiting for over at ESPN, German absolutely has to be owned in all leagues.
Loaisiga has made two starts for the Yankees and despite not working deep into games, he’s posted 10 strikeouts in 8.2 innings. While he’s made headlines for his difficult to pronounce last name, Loaisiga also has a devastating curveball that allows him to miss bats. If you’re comfortable with where your team is in ERA at this point, Loaisiga has some strikeout upside in his next start against the Phillies on Monday.
ERA
Rich Hill (LAD): 47.6%
Hill has a 4.99 ERA on the season, but he returned for his first start in a month after missing time with a blister and shutout the Cubs for six innings on the road. That’s a pretty good sign that he’s back and ready to go. Hill had a 3.32 ERA in 25 starts for the Dodgers last year. While his blister problems have persisted for years, he’s a reliable source for a good ERA when he takes the mound. His next start comes Sunday in New York against the Mets.
WHIP
Anibal Sanchez (ATL): 29.3%
It almost amuses me that Sanchez has a higher ownership percentage than Domingo German. While Sanchez is an established veteran and won the ERA title back in 2013, I’d certainly rather take a shot on a hot new pitcher with upside like German than a veteran whose best days are already behind him. That being said, Sanchez is pitching well as he has a 2.55 ERA and 1.06 WHIP on the season. He’s allowed five baserunners or less in three of his last four starts. His next start comes Tuesday in Atlanta against the Reds.
Saves
Sam Dyson (SFG): 16.1%
While Giants manager Bruce Bochy stated that Dyson would be the closer while Hunter Strickland is out, Mark Melancon got the ball in the ninth inning Thursday night and earned the save. This obviously complicates the situation as Dyson seemingly no longer has a clear path to the closer’s role, but he’s still worth a speculative add until we see who gets the next opportunity. Dyson was 14-for-17 in save opportunities for the Giants after they acquired him from the Rangers last year.
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Nick Shlain is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Nick, check out his archive and follow him @electricsnuff.
