Regan’s Rumblings: Chasing Categories

As we wind down the fantasy baseball season and ruminate on whether Week 1 NFL performances are sustainable (Philip Lindsay anyone?), hopefully you're still alive in at least one of your leagues. For me in a couple leagues, I'm category-chasing. What's this mean? Well, in roto formats, you're looking to make up ground in the overall standings by targeting a push in certain categories, whether it's saves, steals, etc. Here are a handful of guys who may be available in 12-team mixed leagues that could help out:

Steals

Terrance Gore (OF-KC): You have to be a bit desperate to go here, as Gore is just one for two since being recalled on September 1, but he does have five steals. Gore is essentially functioning as a designated pinch-runner, so though he could net the occasional run scored, he's going to be of no help in the BA, HR and RBI categories most likely. Gore hit a miserable .211/.304/.254 for Triple-A Omaha, but he's obviously still fast if you need some sneaky steals.

Adalberto Mondesi (SS-KC): Mondesi is just a .227/.263/.362 hitter in 415 career MLB PAs, but he's also 22 and showing signs of improvement. The son of Raul, as of the timing of this write up was three for three with his 22nd steal on Wednesday to lift him to a semi-respectable .281/.309/.462. It was his fourth multi-hit game in his last eight, and though his 54:7 K:BB may ultimately limit his ceiling, 22 stolen bases in essentially a third of a season speaks to his ceiling. He may always be far more valuable in traditional 5 x 5 formats rather than OBP leagues, but Mondesi is an exciting talent who looks to be locked into the starting shortstop gig and No. 2 hitter role.

Dansby Swanson (SS-ATL): Swanson was zero for three Wednesday to drop him to .244/.304/.408, but he does have 14 homers and nine steals, three of which have come this month. Swanson is a former No. 1 overall pick who's been a hefty disappointment so far in his career, but he's still just 24, so there's time for things to ultimately click. The Braves appear committed to him this season at least, so perhaps he'll continue to get the green light and swipe a few more bags this month.

Joey Wendle (2B/3B/OF-TB)
Evan Longoria – 0.4 WAR, $13.5 million salary
Joey Wendle – 2.9 WAR, $546,900 salary: Once again, the 80-65 (!) Rays end up being on the smart side of a deal, offloading a good chunk of Longoria's contract. The return for Longoria looks subpar, as the centerpiece, Christian Arroyo has yet to do anything at the major league level while posting a .627 OPS in Triple-A. Wendle meanwhile was zero for four on Wednesday but is still hitting a solid .293/.339/.424 while hitting seven homers and swiping 13 bases in 480 PA. He could be a cheap source of steals hitting second behind Mallex Smith, who runs plenty in his own right.

Saves

Tommy Hunter (PHI): The Phillies have dropped out of the playoff picture, but they still have plenty of fantasy-relevant talent, and Hunter has apparently elevated himself to their closer. With a 3.57 ERA and 6.8 K/9, Hunter doesn't profile as an elite 100-K closer by any means, but this is all about opportunity, and he's had the team's last two saves after Pat Neshek blew the save on August 28. Neshek has been good since, so the job could flip back to him at some point, but Hunter should be rostered in most leagues.

Greg Holland (WAS): What a difference a new team makes. Holland's transition from the league's worst pitcher with the Cardinals to a possible closer option with the Nationals would be like Nathan Peterman leaving the Bills and being a solid starting QB with a different NFL team. Holland was cut loose by the Cardinals on July 27 after signing a $14 million deal in the offseason and then posting a 7.92 ERA in 25 innings. Holland then signed with Washington, and in his 16 innings with them has allowed just one run with a so-so 16:8 K:BB. Inexplicable turnaround, but sure, sometimes a change of scenery really works. Holland has recorded saves in two of his last three appearances, and though he's probably still behind Sean Doolittle in the saves pecking order, he's certainly worthy of a roster spot in deeper leagues.

Drew Steckenrider (MIA): Steckenrider's hold on the Miami closer role is probably tenuous at this point, but maybe that makes him available in some leagues. Heading into Wednesday's game, Steckenrider has allowed eight runs in his last 5.1 innings with a 7:5 K:BB and three homers. For the year, his numbers are hit and miss with a 4.18 ERA, 1.34 and solid 71:27 K:BB in 60.1 innings. The Marlins have a host of alternatives as possible closers, including arguably their best reliever in lefty Adam Conley, RHP Tayron Guerrero who averages a whopping 98.9 mph with his fastball (but has a 5.43 ERA), and ex-closer Kyle Barraclough. Steckenrider should continue to be the guy, though his chances at leading the team in saves from here to the end of the year is probably 50/50.

Jose Alvarado (TB): Alvarado recorded his eighth save of the season on Wednesday to lower his ERA to 2.14, so it seems unlikely he's available in most leagues, but it was surprising to see him with a 25 percent ownership rate in Yahoo leagues. In addition to the sparkling ERA, Alvarado also has a 1.10 WHIP and 68:27 K:BB in 59 innings while averaging an elite closer-like 97.3 mph with his fastball. He even generates more than two ground balls per fly ball. With the way the Rays are playing, I'm surprised to see how low his ownership percentage is. Of course, the Rays also have Sergio Romo, but I'm not sure what's going on with him. Romo hasn't appeared in a game since September 4, so while he may still be in the closer mix, I'd take Alvarado over him for the rest of the season.

Home Runs

Ryan O'Hearn (1B-KC): For some reason, the Royals had O'Hearn hitting ninth on Wednesday, and after drawing walks in his first three plate appearances, O'Hearn was hitting .265/.375/.637. Manager Ned Yost has a World Series win on his resume, but it kills me to see the Royals starting three sub-.290 OBP guys ahead of O'Hearn. He was left out of the initial lineup Wednesday because he was one for 29 versus lefties this year, but Hunter Dozier, the original starter at 1B, was scratched with a sore back. Maybe this will help O'Hearn's case for everyday playing time. It seems like it's deserved when you factor in a 1.020 OPS in 120 PA. O'Hearn already has 10 home runs at the big-league level, and if you need some pop, he is likely available. It also makes me wonder who would say no to a straight swap (no cash exchanged) involving O'Hearn and Ryan Hosmer.

Ji-Man Choi (1B-TB): No true Dodgers fan will ever forget the "Hee Seop Choi" chants at Dodger Stadium, and though I'm not sure whether the 10 fans that attend Rays games have done something similar for this Choi, it's deserved. Choi was two for four with a two-run homer Wednesday hitting cleanup. That lifted his overall slash to .290/.375/.550. In September, Choi is 12 for 34 with four home runs and 12 RBI. The limited playing time could mean he's available in shallower leagues, so give him a look if you need power.

Jake Cave (OF-MIN): Cave was one for three with a double against the Yankees on Wednesday, leaving him at .261/.308/.473 on the season with 10 homers in 242 PA. Cave managed 20 homers and a .893 OPS in the minors last year, so he's shown some upside, but this sort of MLB power is a bit unexpected. Cave has hit just .178 in 49 PA versus LHP this year, so he may never be an everyday player, but the power looks to be real, and Cave should start against most RHP the rest of the way.

Wins

Good luck forecasting wins. Sure, you could look at fringe starters on good teams that will face poor teams, but of course you're relying on runs support, bullpen, etc., and hoping for the best. If you're chasing wins, you're best off streaming starters as much as possible given your league format. In my Yahoo leagues, my morning routine is to look at the next day's probable starts, see how they've pitched recently, and see who they are facing. For instance, in one league, Thursday's (9/13) free agent starters include:

• Sandy Alcantara (MIA) – Faces the Mets, has two starts this year (12 IP, 0.75 ERA). Tempting.
  
• Austin Gomer (STL) – 2.93 ERA in 61.1 innings, but good luck predicting what the Dodgers' offense will do in his start this week.
  
• I also see Matt Shoemaker facing Seattle; Brett Anderson fresh off the DL, but facing Baltimore (I'd use him in 12-plus team mixed formats); and there's even Steven Matz against the Marlins. Many options.
  

• Jaime Barria (LAA) – 3.53 ERA and two wins in his last three starts. Angels have six games against Oakland and three with the Astros the rest of the way, but Barria could net a win or two.
  
• Jorge Lopez (KC) – Lopez is set to face the Twins, Pirates and Reds in his remaining starts. He's allowed two runs in 15 innings over his last two starts, so there's some sneaky value here.
  
• Ryan Yarbrough (TB) – Yarbrough could be an opener or starter, so his role the rest of the way is up in the air but somehow he has 14 wins.
  
• Yonny Chirinos (TEX) – Chirinos may or may not be a starter going forward but he has two wins this month, and, with the Rangers looking toward 2019, he could be in the mix for wins.
  
• Mike Minor (TEX) – With a 4.19 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 121:34 K:BB in 146 innings, Minor's three-year $28 million deal has worked out just fine for the disappointing Rangers. Minor has also posted a 1.96 ERA in his last four starts and he looks to have a favorable schedule the rest of the way, facing the Padres, Mariners and Angels.