The All-Star break. Time to exhale. OK, now that that exhale is over, what does a fantasy baseball manager do during the break when not watching the Home Run Derby or the parade of pitchers in the Midsummer Classic?
Reading articles like this and grinding out the waiver wire to make any adjustments to fantasy rosters that can always use some tweaking. Maybe it’s snapping up a rookie or post-hype sleeper who just got called up and has a lot of playing time awaiting him. Or maybe it’s a starting pitcher on a first-place team who can pile up wins and strikeouts. Or it could even be the closer on a slumping team that hasn’t provided many save opportunities of late.
What is key is that when the games are paused, you’re not halting. Many fantasy managers take their foot off the pedal during baseball’s summer break. Those FAAB bids that would come in other weeks may not on this one. So this is the time to sneak those players by in keeper leagues who could help either this year or next. Just because baseball takes days off, your continuing to work could bring a title.
And since July 11 is the All-Star Game, here’s a quick shoutout to one of the breakout stars of the 2022 game, Alek Manoah of the Blue Jays. Fans were in awe of him talking directly to Hall of Famer John Smoltz during the game and even asking for pitch recommendations on the TV broadcast. Manoah fell on hard times this season, compiling a 6.36 ERA, 1.90 WHIP, and 1-7 record before being sent to the minor leagues on June 5. He was recently called back up with the hope that he found the mechanics that made him a frontline starter last year. Fantasy baseball can always use more starting pitching.
Let’s get into some Deep Sleepers, as defined by players rostered in under 30% on the FantasyPros rest-of-seasons projections.
Deep Sleepers & Waiver Wire Pickups
Ezequiel Tovar (SS – COL): 28% Rostered
Tovar was taking his licks at the outset of the season, hitting just .220 on May 25, and reporters were asking manager Bud Black if the young shortstop might be overmatched. Since that date, he’s hitting .321 with a .515 slugging percentage, pounding five home runs and driving in 22 in 35 games. Tovar has primarily hit second in the lineup since June 11. Playing half his games in Coors Field is inviting, and he may even start running more for a Rockies team that is not going to contend.
Michael Soroka (SP – ATL): 27% Rostered
Multiple Achilles and arm injuries have sidelined the right-hander who came into the major leagues from Canada with so much promise. Pitching with support from the potent Braves offense, Soroka can compile victories just by getting through the minimum five innings. In his last two outings, he’s gone a combined 11.2 innings, allowing three runs and striking out 11 hitters. If he can continue that, he’ll plug a rotation hole for Atlanta.
Kenta Maeda (SP – MIN): 26% Rostered
Maeda has quietly pitched very well in his first three starts after missing almost two months with a triceps injury, going a total of 17 innings and striking out 21 while walking five. His ERA of 0.63 in that small sample size is fantastic. Health permitting, he’ll stay in the Twins’ rotation for the remainder of the season.
Adbert Alzolay (RP – CHC): 17% Rostered
At 40-46 and losers of seven of their last 10 games, the Cubs have not given Alzolay very many save opportunities recently. Still, look at the power stuff – 42 strikeouts in 37.1 innings – and his pristine 0.94 WHIP. Alzolay should remain in the closer role even after the trade deadline, so if you can be patient for saves, he’s a good sleeper pickup off the waiver wire.
Mickey Moniak (OF – LAA): 8% Rostered
The 2016 No. 1 overall pick of the Phillies is enjoying a revival in Anaheim, hitting .295 average with a .623 slugging percentage in his first 36 games since his callup. Since June 26, he’s hit leadoff for the Angels in every game he started, though he is sitting primarily against lefties. Moniak is 0-for-9 with two walks against southpaws, and he does have a 4:41 BB:K rate that gives off warning signs. But in leagues with daily transactions, Moniak could be cycled through your lineup as the Angels deploy him to add any offense to a lineup that will be without Mike Trout for about the next month.
Nick Gonzales (2B, SS – PIT): 5% Rostered
The seventh overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, Gonzales fell off the prospect radar after hitting 18 home runs in 80 games during the 2021 season at Single-A. Since his callup on June 23, the infielder has shown that advanced hit tool that scouts raved about. He has multiple hits in five of his last nine games, going 9-for-16 with a home run, four runs, and four RBI from July 2 to 5. His multi-position eligibility makes him even more valuable.
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