This article is part of our The Z Files series.
Isn't September baseball fun? This isn't the time to discuss whether we should cut the fantasy season short. The reality is there's still a little over three weeks left and there's plenty of time to talk about next season's rankings, so let's look at some players with the potential to help down the stretch. Some are familiar names, others a bit more covert.
Before jumping into the players, let's first think about the best teams to target to assure maximum playing time. You want clubs at the extremes, either embroiled in a hotly contested chase for a playoff berth or out of it and dedicated to auditioning specific players for next season. Playoff-bound teams will likely afford their regulars a bit more time off, while non-competing teams could shut down their better hitters once they're mathematically eliminated.
With that as a backdrop, here are some bats getting a lot of playing time and who figure to do so the rest of the season.
Victor Reyes, OF, Detroit Tigers
The 24-year-old, switching-hitting outfielder has hit safely in 13 of 14 games entering the weekend, including nine straight. He's batting .410 in that span (25-for-61) albeit with only one walk and no homers. Reyes has swiped three bags in this stretch and there's no reason for him to stop running. There's no indication the Tigers plan to call up Daz Cameron, so center field looks to be property of Reyes the rest of the season, and perhaps most of next
Isn't September baseball fun? This isn't the time to discuss whether we should cut the fantasy season short. The reality is there's still a little over three weeks left and there's plenty of time to talk about next season's rankings, so let's look at some players with the potential to help down the stretch. Some are familiar names, others a bit more covert.
Before jumping into the players, let's first think about the best teams to target to assure maximum playing time. You want clubs at the extremes, either embroiled in a hotly contested chase for a playoff berth or out of it and dedicated to auditioning specific players for next season. Playoff-bound teams will likely afford their regulars a bit more time off, while non-competing teams could shut down their better hitters once they're mathematically eliminated.
With that as a backdrop, here are some bats getting a lot of playing time and who figure to do so the rest of the season.
Victor Reyes, OF, Detroit Tigers
The 24-year-old, switching-hitting outfielder has hit safely in 13 of 14 games entering the weekend, including nine straight. He's batting .410 in that span (25-for-61) albeit with only one walk and no homers. Reyes has swiped three bags in this stretch and there's no reason for him to stop running. There's no indication the Tigers plan to call up Daz Cameron, so center field looks to be property of Reyes the rest of the season, and perhaps most of next as Cameron had a rough time at Triple-A Toledo, slashing just .214/.330/.377.
Dawel Lugo, 3B, Detroit Tigers
The Tigers hoped Jeimer Candelario would claim the job at the hot corner, but his struggles paved the way for the club to turn to Lugo for much of the second half. For much of the time, Lugo was worse than Candelario, but the Tigers stuck with him. On August 22, he was batting .201/.233/.275. Since, Lugo as slashed .347/.360/.653. Sure, hot streaks can flip on a dime, especially since Lugo has walked only once in 50 plate appearances during this stretch. But the surge has assured him regular playing time and if you're trying to make up ground, Lugo is a chance worth taking.
Kolten Wong, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals
Wong is obviously a familiar name, but since he often gets inconsistent playing time or hits low in the order, it's worth noting he's now playing nearly every day and slotting in the two hole. Like Reyes, Wong's primary asset in the final three-plus weeks is the ability to swipe a base, as he's an impressive 20-for-22 on the season with three steals in the past 10 days.
Tommy Edman, 2B/3B/SS, St. Louis Cardinals
We started with a pair of Tigers, representing a team looking to the future, and follow with a brace of Redbirds, on a club battling for a division title. These are exactly the type of scenarios most suitable for this type of analysis. Other than being a solid hitter, Edman's three-position eligibility is huge, allowing maximum production throughout your fantasy lineup. He's also running a bit, leading the Cardinals in steals since the break.
Dylan Moore 2B/3B/SS/OF, Seattle Mariners
Moore offers even more flexibility than Edman, adding outfield to the infield spots. He opened the season filling in for Kyle Seager at third. Lately, he's been handling shortstop with J.P. Crawford sidelined. In between, Moore helped in the outfield with Mitch Haniger and Domingo Santana on the shelf. Projected over a full season's worth of regular at-bats, Moore is on pace for about 20 homers and 30 steals -- though it should be noted he's only 10-for-19 on the basepaths, and that includes three successful attempts his last three games. Still, Moore is likely to receive regular at-bats until very late in the season when Crawford hopes to return.
Matt Beaty, 1B/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
While the analogy isn't perfect, as Beaty isn't another team's castoff, he's this season's version of Chris Taylor and Max Muncy. The Dodgers are still playing for home field advantage, but by and large their focus is getting everyone healthy and in tune for the playoffs. Beaty will likely be a key piece of the postseason puzzle, but when everyone is healthy, he's more of a utility man. That said, with Muncy and Alex Verdugo on the IL, Beaty is playing nearly every day, chipping in with eight homers and a perfect 4-for-4 in steals over what amounts to one third of a season of regular at-bats.
Nick Martini, OF, San Diego Padres
This is a deep league special, as Martini should only see playing time on the strong side of a platoon and is a candidate to be lifted for a pinch hitter with the extended roster. Even so, in an NL-only format, Martini may play more than your fifth outfielder or utility spot. He doesn't possess much power or speed, but every counting stat matters down the stretch and it's better than taking a goose egg.
Pedro Severino, C, Baltimore Orioles
Confession time: earlier in the week I shook my head when noticing the Orioles are playing Severino over some of their younger backstops, figuring they should continue to audition Chance Sisco and not just ride the hot bat of a journeyman. Then, much to my embarrassment I remembered Severino is only 26 years old. For some reason, I had him pegged as the standard-issue backup catcher and not the intriguing player he is. This isn't to suggest you have the same brain cramp, just to point out Baltimore has every reason to ride Severino the next three weeks.
Cory Spangenberg, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers
Spangenberg is likely to add at least third base eligibility, perhaps even shortstop, by season's end. He's seeing most of his playing time at the keystone with Keston Hiura unfortunately out for the season. Spangenberg is another NL-only choice, but with playing time being paramount, he could help during the final push. For Triple-A San Antonio, Spangenberg slashed .309/.378/.498 with 24 pilfers.
Tim Lopes, 2B/OF, Seattle Mariners
Lopes is a deep league special in the junior circuit. He's a second baseman by trade and has played a little there, but mostly he's been filling in for Haniger and Santana. It should be noted the Mariners are also playing Jake Fraley and Braden Bishop, along with the aforementioned Dylan Moore, but Lopes is seeing enough action to be helpful in AL-only. He's yet another candidate to supplement your stolen base total, nabbing 26 in 35 attempts for Triple-A Tacoma.
Josh Naylor, OF, San Diego Padres
The Franmil Reyes trade, and the second-half woes of Hunter Renfroe and Wil Myers, have made regular playing time available for Naylor. He's not exactly crushing it, batting a modest .258 with seven homers in 216 plate appearances. However, he's been seeing the ball well lately, fanning at a tidy 16 percent clip the past month after whiffing a quarter of the time before that.
Adam Haseley, OF, Philadelphia Phillies
Injuries and other factors have handed Haseley the keys to center field in Philadelphia and he's contributing a little of everything as his number prorate to around 12 homers and 16 steals over a full season. Granted, in today's landscape those are tepid, but again playing time is currency and he's on the strong side of a platoon, with no threat other than a still-injured Roman Quinn to wrest away playing time.
