At this point of the MLB season, it is all about playing the hot hand and great matchups. Each week, I will highlight a few players to target in your weekly FAAB process, but know there are many others available and, more importantly, others that may be better fitting for your teams.

If you have any questions, please ask me on Twitter (@bdentrek). Remember that we’ll be using Yahoo for player percentages, and we’ll keep our suggestion to players rostered in no more than 60% of leagues.

Fantasy Baseball FAAB Waiver Report

Hitters

Tommy Pham (OF – ARI)

Rostered: 44%
Suggested Bid: 4%

Pham entered the weekend riding a six-game hitting streak, which continues a strong month of September. Since September 1, he has been hitting .308 with eight extra-base hits, with three being home runs. Pham is hitting third every game for the DBacks, and when he’s making contact, he’s barreling the ball 12.5% of the time with a 57.5% hard-hit rate. Pham is locked in and should end the fantasy season on a strong note while the D-Backs fight for a playoff birth.

Willi Castro (2B,3B,SS,OF – MIN)

Rostered: 36%
Suggested Bid: 3%

Castro returned from the IL on September 3rd, and he’s producing at a high level. Since his return, Castro is hitting .324 with six extra-base hits, including two home runs. He has scored nine runs and added two stolen bases. Castro is playing daily, hitting at the bottom of the Twins’ batting order, yielding many runs scored in a potent Twins lineup. Castro’s positional flexibility also adds a ton to his fantasy appeal.

Mike Yastrzemski (OF – SF)

Rostered: 21%
Suggested Bid: 4%

Yastrzemski has been battling hamstring injuries all season, but when he’s been healthy, he has produced for your fantasy teams. Yastrzemski returned from his recent IL stint on August 30 and is mashing. Since the 30th, Yastrzemski is hitting .389 with eight extra-base hits, including three home runs. Yastrzemski also walks 16.3% of the time, with a 14.8% barrel rate and 44% hard-hit rate. Yastrzemski has also been leading off over the last five games, increasing his fantasy appeal.

Pitchers

Michael King (SP – NYY)

Rostered: 54%
Suggested Bid: 7%

King has been a solid force in the Yankees’ bullpen all season, but he is now stretching out as a starter in the Yankees’ rotation. Over his five starts since joining the rotation, King has allowed three earned runs over 21.1 innings pitched for a 1.27 ERA and 2.74 xFIP. King also has 29 strikeouts with four walks and an amazing 29.4% K-BB. King has been outstanding since joining the Yankees’ rotation and could be very valuable over the season’s final two weeks.

Reid Detmers (SP – LAA)

Rostered: 33%
Suggested Bid: 5%

Detmers has had quite the up-and-down season, and he has been outstanding over his last five starts. Detmers has allowed ten earned runs (four in one start) over 30 innings pitched for a 3.00 ERA. He has 23 strikeouts, which is down from what we are used to with Detmers, but he does have 12 strikeouts over his last two starts. Detmers is looking like a viable fantasy starter once again and is worth streaming over the season’s final two weeks.

Reese Olson (SP – DET)

Rostered: 23%
Suggested Bid: 6%

Olson has been outstanding down the stretch for the Tigers, allowing four earned runs over his last four starts, 24 innings, for a 1.50 ERA and 3.91 xFIP. He has 23 strikeouts over 24 innings pitched for a 15.9% K-BB. That may not sound great, but 22 of the strikeouts came over three starts, with one start only having one strikeout. Olson is coming off of three quality starts and could be nice down the stretch for fantasy teams.

Closers

Trevor May (RP – OAK)

Rostered: 48%
Suggested Bid: 4%

I keep writing about May as he continues to be low-rostered across Yahoo formats. He has not allowed an earned run over his last 11 appearances, with eight strikeouts, seven saves, and a win. The A’s may not win many games, but May has flourished when he takes the mound and should be rostered in more formats.

Adam Ottavino (RP – NYM)

Rostered: 39%
Suggested Bid: 3%

Since the trade deadline, Ottavino has taken over as the lead closer, albeit still a bit of a platoon. Ottavino is coming off three saves in each of his last three outings. He has allowed one earned run over his previous 11 outings for a 0.77 ERA and 3.85 xFIP. Ottavino has been a great source of ratios and strikeouts while tossing in since wins. All being quite valuable over the final two weeks of the season.

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