Howdy out there Razzballers! I hope that all of you American readers have been diligent in keeping your fingies, toesies, and skull parts all attached to your bodies.
Fireworks scare the bejesus out of me. I can’t help it; I grew up in a medium-sized city with insurance agencies employing the vast majority of residents. No joke, on our field days during elementary school, the highlight was going to a park with a Safety Town to learn the rules of the road while maneuvering around on Big Wheels. The adults even ruined all the fun by removing one from their “vehicle” if they didn’t follow the rules and tried to initiate a Big Wheels demo derby, as an 8-year-old is wont to do. So if you seek my meek advice, save the fireworks for professionals (and remember the vehicle to your right has the right of away if you get to a four-way stop at the same time!).
Anyhow, it’s been a great week of baseball as the parks heat up. Offense continues to rise along with the mercury, creating exciting games while MLB attendance increases in lockstep. Even though we passed the 81-game halfway mark this week, there is still plenty of talent to find on those waiver wires. Looking to make up specific roto categories? Make sure to check out our Cards & Categories pod this week in which Jeremy and I examined some strategies to take.
Alright, on to those bid suggestions for this holiday (American (derogatory)) weekend.
The stats and roster rates below are updated as of noon central time on 7/4.
As always, if you want advice on specific roster decisions you might have, feel free to leave a comment. You can also find me on BlueSky (@mcouill7.bsky.social).
CATCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Sean Murphy (ATL, 31% CBS Rostership) – Of course, I finally get back on the Drake Baldwin train when it looked like he was overtaking the job, then Atlanta runs through a stretch of southpaws, and Murphy gets hot to reclaim his lineup spot. The 30-year-old popped three homers with eight RBI this past week. With Atlanta lining up for three more lefties this upcoming week, two of those coming in Bing Bong Stadium (Sacramento), Murphy is the better pickup for the upcoming week. If in a daily moves league and scrambling for a cheap catcher option, rostering both Baldwin and Murphy becomes a premium option with their powers combined. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Kyle Teel (CHW, 28% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Gary Sanchez (BAL, 28% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Ryan Jeffers (MIN, 44% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Drake Baldwin (ATL, 44% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Jonah Heim (TEX, 20% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Liam Hicks (C/1B, MIA, 5% CBS Rostership) – Welp, my curse on the catcher pool was strong this past week. Just as Miguel Amaya looked set to start rehab games, he hit a snag and Craig Counsell told reporters this week that Amaya was still a ways away. You’ll notice there are lots of Marlins bats suggested for adding this week. Why? They line up for a seven-game week at Cincy and at Baltimore for their final stretch before the All-Star break. Hicks has been in a strong-side platoon role cycling between catcher, first base, and DH because it’s difficult to justify keeping his .275/.366/.423 (122 wRC+) bat out of the lineup. I loved Hicks coming into the season (he was my “buy” in the Cards & Categories NL East preview) because his Rule 5 selection status meant he would continue to stick on the roster, which I was confident in given his 137 wRC+ at Double-A in 2024. Despite the Fish lining up for three southpaws next week (lord help me avoid another Drake Baldwin here), both Cincy and Baltimore are going to be toasty next week, making it so Hicks only has to pop a homer or two in his starts and pinch hit at-bats to return great value. (3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Joey Bart (PIT, 16% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Edgar Quero (CHW, 10% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Miguel Amaya (CHC, 9% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Danny Jansen (TBR, 7% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Victor Caratini (C/1B, HOU, 7% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Pedro Pages (STL, 6% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)
INFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Tyler Freeman (2B/OF, COL, 30% CBS Rostership) – Hop aboard this rocket ship while you still can. Freeman is now up to a .328 batting average with 12 steals through 46 games with just 152 plate appearances. That puts him at roughly a 40-steal pace if you stretch that over a full season. Folks may want to poo-poo the former Guardian’s .350 BABIP, but that mark is not unreasonable given the “hit ‘em where they ain’t” contact-oriented plate approach (his 8.6% K-rate and 9.9% BB-rate is an absurdly elite combo) and the Coors Field effect. He’s a must-add if in need of runs, speed, or average. (5-7% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Ezequiel Tovar (SS, COL, 49% CBS Rostership, 3-5% FAAB), Christian Encarnacion-Strand (1B/3B, CIN, 31% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Michael Toglia (1B, COL, 26% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Luis Rengifo (2B/3B, LAA, 21% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Jake Burger (1B/3B, TEX, 49% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Jose Caballero (2B/3B/SS/OF, 48% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Ernie Clement (1B/2B/3B/SS, TOR, 45% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Willi Castro (2B/3B/SS/OF, MIN, 45% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Jonathan India (2B/3B/OF, KCR, 44% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Brooks Lee (2B/3B/SS, MIN, 39% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Gavin Lux (2B/3B/OF, CIN, 30% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Conor Norby (3B, MIA, 27% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Carlos Santana (1B, CLE, 26% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Ha-Seong Kim (SS, TBR, 20% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Thairo Estrada (2B, COL, 16% CBS Rostership) – Wow, sorry, I was really off my game last week between not having Estrada in my Rockies-centric piece along with whiffing on the catchers. However, I didn’t have Estrada because he and Orlando Arcia were still jockeying for a lineup spot. Estrada has now cemented himself into the keystone thanks to a .364/.393/.491 slash line with two homers, 11 RBI and four runs since June 13 while batting in the heart of the Rockies order, cycling between hitting third, cleanup, or fifth. That adds up to the rare middle-infield option that offers power and RBI upside on the wires. And don’t forget, **points at sign** that Rockies schedule in July is bananas. (7% FAAB, 3-5% FAAB in 12-teamers)
QUICK HITS: Eric Wagaman (1B/3B/OF, MIA, 11% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B, PIT, 15% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Nick Gonzales (2B, PIT, 11% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Max Muncy (2B/3B/SS, ATH, 8% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Otto Kemp (1B/3B, 8% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Spencer Horwitz (1B/2B, PIT, 7% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Lenyn Sosa (1B/2B/3B, CHW, 5% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Ryan Ritter (SS, COL, 4% CBS Rostership) – Sadly, this is likely the last week of Ritter as Ezequiel Tovar is finally rehabbin’ and could be back post All-Star break. Ritter was just starting to find a BABIP-fueled groove with a .300/.371/.400 slash line since June 20 that included an 11.4% BB-rate. I think there is a talented player here for Colorado long-term, but he’s bound to keep plying his trade in Triple-A after Tovar’s return. If looking for a one-week flyer at MI, Ritter and the Rockies have a great upcoming week with road matchups at Boston and Cincy. (3-5% FAAB in NL-Only, 1% in 15-teamers)
Brooks Baldwin (2B/SS/OF, CHW, 3% CBS Rostership) – Hell yeah, chalk it up – we have a win from last week! Baldwin was promoted in Chicago this week (along with Colson Montgomery, who was purposefully left out of this piece… a career .215 batting average in Triple-A with a solid home park ain’t gonna cut it for me) because, tell me if you’ve heard this before, Luis Robert Jr. hit the IL with a hammy issue. Given Robert’s history of hammy/leg issues, he might not be back for a good stretch of time, allowing Baldwin to shine, which he already has with a long ball at LA on Thursday. Baldwin is great roster spackle that is capable of posting a .245 average and 15/15 homer/steal pace with upside as a 24-year-old switch hitter. (7-9% FAAB)
OUTFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Jordan Beck (COL, 48% CBS Rostership) – I’m not sure how much more I have to say about Beck since he’s become a regular fixture around these parts. He’s clocked in at roughly a $9 player on our year-to-date Player Rater despite a two-week stint in Triple-A. The Hittertron is consistently pumping out weekly values around that level too. If Beck is available in your league, snatch him up immediately, as he’s a batting average asset especially given **points at sign** while being a run machine at the top of the Colorado lineup. The power and RBI are a bit lacking, but this is free money when rounding out a five-man outfielder can get tedious throughout a fantasy season. (5-7% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Jesus Sanchez (MIA, 24% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Mike Yastrzemski (SFG, 44% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Jake Meyers (HOU, 35% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Chase DeLauter (CLE, 28% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Parker Meadows (DET, 27% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Matt Wallner (MIN, 27% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Wenceel Perez (DET, 22% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Jake Mangum (TBR, 21% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Isaac Collins (MIL, 13% CBS Rostership) – Collins continues to chug along and is now up to five bombs and eight legs with a .263/.371/.413 (125 wRC+) slash line in 199 plate appearances over 68 games. Yes, I know Blake Perkins is nearing a return from his leg injury. But given that Collins is on a 4-5 fWAR pace thanks to solid defense to pair with his offensive line, there’s no way the Brewers are going to shy away from him in the heat of a playoff spot battle. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Dane Myers (MIA, 15% CBS Rostership, 3-5% FAAB), Luke Raley (1B/OF, SEA, 15% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Ramon Laureano (BAL, 14% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Mickey Moniak (COL, 13% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Jake McCarthy (ARI, 7% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Brandon Marsh (PHI, 9% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Will Benson (CIN, 8% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Tommy Pham (PIT, 8% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Daylen Lile (WSN, 2% CBS Rostership) – This 22-year-old continues to be a great target because he’s starting to settle in with regular playing time at the big leagues. Over his past 10 contests, Lile is hitting .333 (13-for-39) with four walks, seven runs scored, and one RBI. He only has two steals out of five attempts over that span, but hey, the Nats are out of the race and have no reason not to let Lile run wild a la Jacob Young in 2024. (5% FAAB in NL-Only leagues, 1% FAAB in 15-teamers)
Alejando Osuna (TEX, 2% CBS Rostership) – Wyatt Langford’s most recent IL stint for a soft tissue injury (I’m not liking this pattern for him over his first two years…) opens up an outfield spot along with a batting slot in the middle of the Texas lineup. The 22-year-old Osuna has looked better under the hood than the rough .193/.319/.263 slash line on the surface. Osuna smokes the ball (47.7% HardHit rate) with line drives up the middle (50.0% center field hit rate), which points to a .301 xBA. The tools are there for Osuna to be a league-average bat, and this shot at playing time could help him carve out a path to additional at-bats post-trade deadline, as the Rangers are on a bad trajectory, having faded behind the Angels in the standings. (3-5% FAAB)
STARTING PITCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Andre Pallante (STL, 38% CBS Rostership) – As a Cardinals fan that has been subjected to then ups-and-downs of the Andre Pallante experience, I can tell you, he’s not a great pitcher by any stretch. He reminds me a bit of starting pitcher Jordan Hicks with much less velocity. It’s a sinker-heavy profile that he tries to use for Ks, and it just doesn’t work. Plus, with his mechanics, I swear there’s no deception with his over-the-top arm slot (his 58 degree slot is sixth-highest among starters), allowing batters to really see the ball well, making his boring 4.10 ERA and weak 6.0 K/9 very much warranted. What will make me and the Streamonator toss all of those facts aside? A solid two-start week at home in a pitcher-friendly park against Washington and Atlanta. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Michael Soroka (WSN, 45% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Andrew Heaney (PIT, 34% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Cade Horton (CHC, 45% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Charlie Morton (BAL, 41% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Trevor Rogers (BAL, 38% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Eric Lauer (TOR, 31% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Brandon Walter (HOU, 24% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Colin Rea (CHC, 24% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Stephen Kolek (SDP, 24% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Adrian Houser (CHW, 22% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Justin Wrobleski (LAD, 17% CBS Rostership) – If playing in a traditional 5×5 roto league, arms don’t come much hotter than Wrobleski right now, as he’s 3-1 with a 2.73 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 26:6 K:BB since being recalled June 6. The caveat here is being in a league with wins because the 24-year-old southpaw has crafted most of that line in a bulk reliever role, so look elsewhere if chasing quality starts. Wrobleski features a six-pitch mix with four pitches clocking in at 100 or greater on the Stuff+ scale. While he’s rolling and getting featured innings for the Dodgers, he’s a win machine in the bulk role, making him rosterable everywhere with a wins category. (5-7% FAAB, 3% FAAB in 12-teamers)
QUICK HITS: Richard Fitts (BOS, 9% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Frankie Montas (NYM, 18% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Sean Burke (CHW, 17% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Aaron Civale (CHW, 13% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN, 12% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Didier Fuentes (ATL, 11% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Mike Burrows (PIT, 8% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Cam Schlittler (NYY, 8% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Taijuan Walker (PHI, 4% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Nolan McLean (NYM, 9% CBS Rostership) – With Griffin Canning set to miss the remainder of 2025 due to an Achilles injury, the Mets rotation is in shambles right now. Justin Hagenman (totally a real dude) and Brandon Waddell (a 31-year-old southpaw who pitched in the KBO last year) are relievers masquerading as starters right now while Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, and Paul Blackburn all nurse various ailments. No one in this New York (NL) rotation is an innings-eating bastion of health, so they are going to have to dip into some of their minor-league options eventually. While Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong are the hot prospect names, they’ve both struggled this season, opening the door for 23-year-old McLean. The Oklahoma State product has been sharp in his 81 total frames across Triple- and Double-A, producing a 2.33 ERA, 54.6% groundball rate, and 9.4 K/9. McLean isn’t on the 40-man roster, but that can be cleared up thanks to some back end relief options that can be cuttable or the trade deadline clearing out space. He’s an great stash target until his call, which should be soon, comes. (3-5% FAAB)
Parker Messick (CLE, 3% CBS Rostership) – With Luis Ortiz looking to be set for a permanent suspension, Cleveland plugged one-time-starter-turned-reliever Joey Cantillo in for a start this week. Cantillo held his own over 3.1 frames but is better set for the bullpen. If (when) Ortiz is banned, that will free up a 40-man roster spot, which is just what Messick was looking for to join the Guardians roster. The 24-year-old southpaw has continued to be solid at Triple-A with a 3.71 ERA and 83:36 K:BB across 68 total innings. Ignore his latest seven-run disaster at Iowa, as he faced that solid lineup twice in one week in back-to-back starts. Because Messick is more of a command-over-stuff lefty, he’s going to be subject to a heavy third time through the order penalty, which the Triple-A Cubbies pounced on. (3-5% FAAB)
RELIEVERS
10/12 Team Adds
Ronny Henriquez (MIA, 20% CBS Rostership) – Another L around these parts as after putting Calvin Faucher as the pickup last week, Henriquez went and rattled off three straight saves. The Miami bullpen will continue to be fickle rest of season, but Henriquez certainly looks like a closer on the surface-level stats with 2.79 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 32.6% K-rate in 42 innings. He’s even gotten the walks in order, making nine straight appearances without issuing a free pass. (5% FAAB)
Grant Taylor (CHW, 19% CBS Rostership) – That blown save against the Dodgers seemed expected; it’s a tough lineup. All a part of the learning process for Taylor, who should continue to garner the majority of White Sox save opportunities because of an electric Savant page. (5% FAAB)
Robert Garcia (TEX, 27% CBS Rostership) – Don’t worry about those Texas saves by Jacob Latz and Dane Dunning this week; they were both of the wacky three-inning variety. Garcia remains the main saves option for the Rangers. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Orion Kerkering (PHI, 30% CBS Rostership, 3-5% FAAB), Jason Adam (SDP, 37% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Cade Smith (CLE, 32% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Randy Rodriguez (SFG, 29% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Abner Uribe (MIL, 24% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Bryan Abreu (HOU, 22% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Dylan Lee (ATL, 18% CBS Rostership) – Despite the three-run pounding the Angels handed Lee in a one-out appearance this week, the Atlanta lefty remains the best reliever (non-Raisel Iglesias edition) to roster for save chances. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Griffin Jax (MIN, 15% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Reid Detmers (LAA, 15% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Matt Strahm (PHI, 15% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Phil Maton (STL, 7% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Greg Weissert (BOS, 5% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Braydon Fisher (TOR, 2% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)
