With the trade deadline looming in most fantasy leagues, most leagues have been divided into buyers and sellers already. It's also likely that each team has definite strengths and weaknesses, whether it be a lack of power or an absence of strikeouts. In some instances, one player can make a huge difference in making up ground in a single category, even if it comes at the slight detriment of another category. With this in mind, here are a few under-the-radar players whose contribution in a single rotisserie category can be the difference between a league championship and a second-place pat on the back:
HOME RUNS
Joey Gallo - 3B/1B, TEX
Once a highly-touted prospect, Gallo's shine has diminished a bit due to constant strikeout problems. However, in leagues in which on-base percentage is measured instead of batting average, the young slugger is actually a surprisingly good asset given how frequently he walks (13.2 percent walk rate). As a result, his OBP on the season sits at .315, 116 points higher than his batting average. This all comes with 25 home runs on the season (and six steals thrown in just for fun!). In shallower leagues, Gallo likely isn't owned, so a simple FAAB bid will suffice to earn his services, although a trade may be necessary in deeper leagues and keeper leagues. Given his youth, a good prospect or two may be necessary to complete a trade for him, but it very well could pay off in the short-term if he joins a team lacking in longballs that can stomach the large downturn in batting average.
STOLEN BASES
Jarrod Dyson - OF, SEA
The speedy outfielder is currently sidelined with a toe injury, but he's still fourth in all of baseball with 22 steals on the season. Dyson has also been struggling mightily at the plate in July, as he's batting just .130 during the month. However, there's reason to expect a turnaround at the plate, as he's making contact 82 percent of the time yet only has a .268 BABIP, a figure well below his career average in that category. With two more months left in the season, it's reasonable to think that the stolen bases could come pouring in as his BABIP reverts to the mean, making him a reasonable and relatively cheap FAAB pickup.
STRIKEOUTS
Luis Castillo - RP/SP, CIN
In terms of win/loss record and runs allowed, Castillo's first cup of coffee in the majors has been pretty mediocre. However, if there's something he's already excelled at, it's striking batters out. In 40 innings of work this season, he has 45 strikeouts and averaged at least one strikeout per inning in six of his seven starts. He's also only 24 years old, making him an attractive target in keeper leagues if he continues to hold his own despite not pitching a single inning at Triple-A.
SAVES
Shane Greene - RP, DET
Detroit's current closer Justin Wilson has been the subject of many trade talks as of late, so if he heads out of town, Greene seems like the logical choice to fill the void. Through 44.2 innings as Wilson's setup man, the 28-year-old is sporting a 2.82 ERA along with 50 strikeouts. His 25 walks and low .268 BABIP are a bit concerning, but his career-best 79.2 percent strand rate and increased velocity on his fastball quell some of the concerns that his numbers could taper off in the final two months.
ERA
Chad Green - RP, NYY
The 26-year-old has thrived in a long-relief role this season, producing a 1.56 ERA and a 0.67 WHIP with 54 strikeouts in 40.1 innings pitched. If that isn't enough to persuade you, he's been even better as of late, posting 9.1 straight scoreless innings of relief, allowing no hits and three walks while fanning 16. Green may even be put into more high-leverage situations moving forward, but as long as he is in long relief, he has the potential to bolster the ERA category that is typically very tough to alter this late in the season.