FAAB Factor-NL: Stretch Run Pickups

National League - FAAB - 9/14/14

As mentioned last week, the column is not an exhaustive list of who was promoted. Instead, I have profiled those players who will either fill a substantive role on their team down the stretch or project in the future to have a key role or bright future with their team. If I missed anyone or there is someone you would like profiled, please put it in the comments section of the blog. In addition, this is the penultimate column of the year, so any suggestions/comments/criticism/praise; please email [email protected] or [email protected].

Starting Pitching:

Daniel Corcino, Reds - Corcino, who has been working out of the bullpen since his promotion, got a chance to start Friday, replacing Mat Latos. He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out four over six innings against the Brewers and will get another start if Latos remains sidelined. Corcino spent most of the year at Double-A Pensacola, where he posted a 4.13 ERA and 1.35 WHIP over 143.2 innings, which is a marked upgrade over his nightmarish 2013 season at Triple-A Louisville. That regression came after he posted a 3.01 ERA with a 126:65 K:BB over 143.1 innings for Double-A in 2012 and looked ready to ascend to the majors. Mixed: $2; NL: $7.

Carlos Frias, Dodgers - Frias looks to be the likely candidate to start in place of Hyun-Jin Ryu, who left Friday's start with shoulder inflammation. Frias didn't post particularly strong numbers over 91.2 innings at Triple-A Albuquerque (5.01 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 65 strikeouts) this season but was stellar in a spot start on September 3 and has a 3.91 ERA in 25.1 innings with the Dodgers. Mixed: $0; NL: $2.

David Holmberg, Reds - Holmberg was called upon for emergency relief duty on Monday, shutting the Cardinals out for 5.2 innings, allowing just four hits and two walks with five strikeouts. His two starts after getting promoted earlier this season were disastrous and his numbers at Triple-A Louisville - 4.64 ERA, 1.66 WHIP - were nothing special, so take that good outing with a grain of salt. Dylan Axelrod is out for the year with a strained oblique while Mat Latos missed Friday's start with a bone bruise in his right elbow, so the Reds seem to have little choice but to keep Holmberg in the rotation. He earned the win Saturday against the Brewers by allowing just one run on two hits and two walks while striking out four in six innings.Mixed: $0; NL: $3.

Relief Pitchers:

Robbie Erlin, San Diego - Erlin didn't pitch well before he was sidelined in late-May and struggled in the minors, but has some future upside. He likely will work in relief but could get a spot start. Mixed: $0; NL: $2.

Drew Storen, Nationals - Last week, I projected that Tyler Clippard would close with Storen second in line. So far, I could not have been more wrong, as Storen notched saves in three straight games while Clippard has remained in his set-up role. Storen has just a 37:11 K:BB ratio but has posted a miniscule 1.34 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. Rafael Soriano returned to action after a few days off to work on his mechanics and could get his job back, but as long as Storen keeps notching clean and non-antacid requiring saves, look for manager Matt Williams to stick with him. In addition, he could keep the job for 2015. Mixed: $25; NL: $65.

SamTuivailala, Cardinas - Tuivailala, drafted by St. Louis as a shortstop in the third round of the 2010 draft, moved to pitching in 2012. That move has resurrected his career, as, Tuivailala has a 170:60 K:BB over 108.1 innings, including 97:27 K:BB over 60 innings across three levels this year. Tuivailala has a 98-101 mph fastball and once he refines his command, look for him to be a dominant late-inning reliever down the road for the Cardinals. Mixed: $0; NL: $2.

Catchers:

Yasmani Grandal, Padres - Grandal served a 50-game suspension to start the year for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. After returning took action, he took over catching duties from Nick Hundley, fitting in 28 contests before sustaining a season-ending ACL tear in July. Grandal made a full-comeback, but has struggled for the second straight season at the plate, although he does have a career-high 13 home runs. The good news is that San Diego has been using him at first, due to several injuries, while Rene Rivera has caught, enabling Grandal to strengthen his legs. Grandal plans on catching in winter ball and will enter spring training as the starting catcher, but he will need to hold off Austin Hedges to keep the job.Mixed: $2; NL: $7.

Injury activation/update:

Wilin Rosario, Rockies - Rosario missed just the minimum 15 days with left wrist inflammation, returning to action Sunday. However, he is not playing daily, as Colorado has given Michael McKenry additional playing time behind the plate. Rosario should be the starter for the Rockies in 2015, but there are some rumors that they may look to move him to first or deal him, as his defense has declined a bit, as has his stats since his breakthrough 2012 campaign.

First Basemen:

Ben Paulsen, Colorado - Paulsen, who was promoted last week, could see more time than first expected if Justin Morneau's sore left intercostal muscle keeps him sidelined. Paulsen, a third-round pick in 2009, batted .294/.378/.533 with 20 homers and 76 RBI in 117 games for Triple-A Colorado Springs to earn the promotion. Colorado could opt to play Michael Cuudyer at first if Morneau is out, but with the team having little to play for this season, they would be better served in playing Paulsen, as they did Saturday.Mixed: $1; NL: $4.

Injury activation/update:

Brandon Belt, Giants - Belt, who was sidelined with a concussion but returned on August 2, landed back on the disabled list with post-concussion symptoms on August 7. He took batting practice on the field Friday for the first time since he was sidelined the second time and could be activated shortly. Mixed: $5; NL: $14.

Anthony Rizzo, Cubs - Rizzo, out with a lower back strain since August 26 game, ran the bases on Friday for the first time since the injury. Assuming he has no setbacks, the hope is that Rizzo, who has a .278/.375/.514 line with 30 home runs and 71 RBI, will be back in the lineup Monday against the Reds.

Second Base:

Dilson Herrera, Mets - Herrera, acquired along with Vic Black from the Pirates in the Marlon Byrd/John Buck last August, was called up August 28 after Daniel Murphy landed on the disabled list with his strained right calf. With the Mets going nowhere this season, they elected to give Herrera a chance to show his wares. Herrera was starting but it was expected that he would see his playing time cut significantly when Murphy was activated this week. That was the case for a day, but David Wright (shoulder) was shut down for the year, which resulted in Murphy playing third base and Herrera sliding back in as the starter at second. Hererra projects to be an above-average starter at second base in the future with a bit of pop and speed while bringing energy to the lineup daily. He may struggle initially and start 2015 at Triple-A, but the future is bright for him. Mixed: $4; NL: $11.

DJ LeMahieu, Rockies - LeMahieu slumped in August, but has been red-hot in September since Colorado returned to Coors Field. He is 13-for-38 this month through Saturday and is fairly locked in as the starting second baseman for the Rockies. Granted, they are pretty empty numbers, save for some runs, but a starter is a starter this late in the year, especially one with a good batting average. Mixed: $11; NL: owned.

Shortstops:

Ed Lucas, Marlins - Lucas started in right field Friday in the first game that Giancarlo Stanton missed after he suffered facial fractures from getting hit by a pitch Thursday. Miami plans on using several options in right field, including starting Lucas, shifting Garrett Jones there with Justin Bour playing first, as was the case Saturday, or possibly moving Marcell Ozuna from center to right and playing Enrique Hernandez in center. Monitor the situation closely, and of those listed, Bour has the most upside if they play Jones in right. Mixed: No; NL: $2.

Jordy Mercer, Pirates - Mercer continues to post surprising numbers in Pittsburgh, hitting three home runs and driving in 10 runs in September, expanding his career-highs in both stats to 11 and 53 on the year. After a slow start, Mercer hit 306/.362/.455 from the beginning of June through Aug. 14 before hitting a three-week rough patch. As noted in the first sentence above, he has regained his form and should start daily the rest of the season for Pittsburgh, as they battle for a playoff spot. Mixed: $12; NL: owned.

Injury activation/update:

Everth Cabrera, Padres - Cabrera, sidelined with a strained left hamstring since August 12 and arrested Wednesday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence of marijuana, did not join the Padres this weekend in Arizona as was first expected. He still has some pain in the hamstring and the organization is waiting to see how the investigation in the arrest pans out before activating him. Prior to being sidelined, Cabrera struggled, hitting just .232 with a poor .272 OBA, but he had shown some signs of life, including on the basepaths, after returning from the first hamstring injury at the end of July. Monitor the situation closely, but Cabrera is worth a bid if he is activated. Mixed: $3; NL: $9.

Third Basemen:

Cody Asche, Phillies - Asche has seen his playing time cut since Makiel Franco's call up, but that hasn't hurt him at the plate. He is 7-for-22 with three extra-base hits in September and will continue to split time at third with Franco. Mixed: $2; NL: $7.

Cory Spangenburg, Padres - Spangenburg, called up when the rosters expanded on September 1, has seen action in several positions, including five games at third base. He's gotten off to a fine start, with hits in seven-of-his-10 games, notching two home runs, six runs batted in and a stolen base. Spangenburg, selected 10^th overall in 2011, is a player who knows the strike zone, makes good contact and has some speed but is not viewed as an elite prospect. He hit .331/.365/.470 in 66 games upon his return in late-June from a two-month absence due to a concussion to Double-A San Antonio, albeit with just two homers while going 14-for-23 in stolen base attempts. With San Diego looking to the future, Spangenburg is seeing time at the expense of Jedd Gyorko and Yangervis Solarte. Mixed: $4; NL: $11.

Injury activation/update:

Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals - Zimmerman, who strained his right hamstring back on July 22, has progressed enough that he will face live pitching with the Nationals' Instructional League team in Florida on Monday. The next step will be for him to play in an instructional league game and the hope is that he will be back with the parent club before the end of the season. Assuming Zimmerman does return, he may be limited to spot starts and pinch-hit duty. Mixed: $2; NL: $7.

Outfielders:

Geraldo Parra, Brewers -Parra started daily when Carlos Gomez was sidelined with a wrist injury. Gomez is now back, but if Ryan Braun's thumb injury forces him to miss any time, look for Parra to start. Mixed: $2; NL: $7.

Injury activation/update:

Michael Cuddyer, Rockies - Cuddyer, out with a fractured shoulder from June 6, returned to action on August 16 only to suffer a hamstring injury that ultimately landed him back on the disabled list a few days later. He missed just the required 15 days before rejoining the Rockies this past Monday. Cuddyer was limited to just 34 games due to the two injuries, hitting .328 with seven home runs and 20 RBI. He will be a free agent after the season and is 36 years old, so his value next year in a bit in question, but he should be a nice option the balance of this season, health permitting. Mixed: $11; NL: $35.