Week 14 of the fantasy baseball season marks the beginning of July. That is another fantastic time to take inventory of your roster. Where are you struggling? What categories need improvement? Are you a playoff team? Do you need additional help? Answering those simple questions can help managers identify weaknesses and improve their rosters.
Today, my article focuses on maximizing games played in head-to-head leagues by using the schedule to our advantage. Without further ado, let us jump right into it.
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A Look at the Schedule
Nine teams (Tigers, Royals, Angels, Brewers, Pirates, Padres, Rays, Rangers, Blue Jays) have seven games this week. Conversely, five organizations (Diamondbacks, Indians, Rockies, Astros, Mets) plays just five games. The remaining 16 teams have six contests.
It is difficult to start any five-game player that ranks outside the top 100 in standard leagues. Fantasy managers want to replace those options with players who take the field seven times in Week 14. Here are the top waiver-wire adds owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo Leagues, as of Friday.
Top Pickups
Keston Hiura (2B – MIL): 32% owned
Hiura is back from the minors, and it looks to be for good this time. The Brewers optioned Travis Shaw to make room for Hiura, who had five homers in just 64 at-bats earlier this season. The 22-year-old tallied 19 home runs and seven steals in 243 Triple-A plate appearances in 2019. Add Hiura for what could be a breakout second half.
Avisail Garcia (OF – TB): 37% owned
The Rays have seven home games in Week 14. They host Baltimore, where plenty of runs should be scored, for three before the Yankee come to town. Garcia already has 11 homers and eight steals on the year. Expect him to collect plenty of hits in these matchups as well.
Yandy Diaz (1B/3B – TB): 34% owned
Diaz, who returned from another brief IL stint Thursday, continues to be a solid source of power and batting average when healthy. Seven home games this week should fuel that fire, and Diaz’s numbers will only improve as the year progresses.
David Fletcher (2B/3B/SS/OF – LAA): 32% owned
Fletcher continues to hit well for the Angels, batting .294/.350/.409 with five homers and five steals this season. He is a fantastic add given his positional flexibility as well. The production may not be game-changing, but Fletcher is a solid middle infielder.
Andrelton Simmons (SS – LAA): 32% owned
Simmons is back from the IL after recovering from an ankle sprain. He hit .292 with 11 homers and 10 steals last season, and he appears locked in to hit for a high average again. The shortstop has batted .275 against righties for his career (.255 against lefties), and the Angels face five right-handed starters this week.
Miguel Cabrera (1B – DET): 41% owned
Cabrera may not be the fantasy star he once was, but he still provides value. The first baseman is batting .290 with a .358 OBP. Although he only has four home runs while the runs (17) and RBIs (31) are nothing to brag about, he hits for a solid average. Cabrera continues to crush left-handed pitching, and the Tigers are scheduled to face three lefty starters in Week 14. Add Miggy to boost your average.
Willie Calhoun (OF – TEX): 12% owned
Calhoun has raked for the Rangers. In his 62 plate appearances, he is hitting .345/.385/.638 with four homers. The Rangers are scheduled to face six right-handed starters, and Calhoun has crushes righties (1.091 OPS) early this season. Ride the hot hand next week.
Cavan Biggio (2B/OF – TOR): 28% owned
Biggio has five homers and three steals in just 111 plate appearance since getting called up from the minors. Despite hitting .244, he owns a .373 OBP. The matchups are juicy for Week 14. The Blue Jays host seven contests, one against the Royals before back-to-back three-game sets against the Red Sox and Orioles. Expect a solid week from the Hall of Famer’s son.
Bryan Reynolds (OF – PIT): 37% owned
Reynolds is on fire to begin his MLB career. The 24-year-old is batting .354/.413/.552 through 213 plate appearances. That features six home runs as well. Reynolds won’t keep it up at that pace, but add the hot hand. The Pirates have seven home games in Week 14, so Reynolds should continue hitting.
Kole Calhoun (OF – LAA): 18% owned
Calhoun has 17 home runs under his belt so far this season. For his career, he is a better hitter on the road and against right-handed pitching. The Angels play five of their seven road games versus five right-handed starters next week. Calhoun is a power-only add, but he seems likely to hit at least one homer in Week 14.
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Tyler Watts is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Tyler, follow him @tylerpwatts.
