MLB FAAB Factor: Top Fantasy Baseball Waiver Targets

This FAAB article is in addition to the AL and NL FAAB articles that run Sunday. Bids are based on a $100 FAAB budget. Throughout the season, this column will have two goals:

1. Identify FAAB targets for fantasy managers in leagues with Thursday FAAB.

2. Offer a preview of FAAB targets ahead of Sunday's columns.

The craziness of the MLB trade deadline has come and gone, but that doesn't mean that roster moves have to become a thing of the past. Fantasy playoffs are just around the corner for most leagues, meaning now is the most important time to pick up the players you need to ensure you don't miss the cut. As always, I've found a few widely available players who I think might be able to help you finish the season strong based on their recent performance, as well as a few names who have seen their roles grow in the aftermath of the deadline. Enjoy!

The number in parentheses represents the player's rostership rate in Yahoo leagues.

Starting Pitcher

 Cade Horton, Chicago Cubs (39%)

Horton went into the break with a 4.45 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 3-3 record through 11 appearances. 22.2 shutout innings later, the 23-year-old now has a 3.18 ERA and 1.22 WHIP to go with a 6-3 record. The rookie's strikeout numbers are still a bit lackluster compared to the totals he was putting up in the minors, but it's pretty hard to complain when someone goes nearly a full month without giving up a single run. That streak is likely to end his next time out when he faces the Blue Jays, who boast the second-highest OPS in the American League, but considering he tossed 5.2 shutout frames against Boston – owners of the AL's third-highest OPS – as part of his stretch of dominance, I trust him to hold his own against just about anyone. FAAB: $5

 Aaron Civale, Chicago White Sox (14%)

Although Andrew Vaughn's resurgence has received most of the media attention since he and Civale were traded for each other in June, the latter has begun to impress in his own right recently. The 30-year-old right-hander hasn't given up an earned run in 17.1 innings (three starts) since the All-Star break, and he boasts a 20:3 K:BB and a 2-0 record in that span as well. He now owns a 3.56 ERA and 1.21 WHIP since joining the ChiSox and has a favorable immediate schedule in front of him, as he's in line to make his next starts against the low-scoring Guardians and the fading Tigers. FAAB: $3

Brady Singer, Cincinnati Reds (50%)

Singer was lit up badly during his first start back from the All-Star break, but he's given up just one earned run in 13.1 innings since then. He's also now struck out at least eight batters in three of his last four starts after punching out eight and 10 batters in his latest two outings, respectively. Between his recent surge and a matchup Thursday against the Pirates, who rank last in MLB in runs scored and OPS, the 29-year-old certainly has streaming potential and might also just have enough momentum behind him to help him shut down the Phillies next week. FAAB: $2

Relief Pitcher

 JoJo Romero, St. Louis Cardinals (26%)

The Cardinals completely purged their bullpen last week, sending Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton and Steven Matz out the door before the trade deadline. The mass exodus of high-leverage arms out of St. Louis has allowed Romero to seemingly step in as the Cards' primary closer, and he's already picked up two saves in the first week post-deadline. Riley O'Brien may give Romero some competition for save chances after making a remarkable turnaround from last season, but I believe the latter's past experience in high-leverage situations will give him the upper hand. FAAB: $3

 Calvin Faucher, Miami Marlins (30%)

Faucher has been on a roll since the start of July, logging a 1.54 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 11.2 innings over 11 appearances. Further aiding his case as a fantasy contributor is the fact that the Marlins have been white-hot as of late, which makes it a lot easier for the 29-year-old righty to pick up saves – he already has three since the start of the second half. The Marlins' bullpen situation has been tricky to navigate with Ronny Henriquez, Anthony Bender and others all vying for ninth-inning opportunities, but Faucher remains the team leader in saves with 11 and should still be manager Clayton McCullough's preferred option to close games. FAAB: $2

Catcher

 Ryan Jeffers, Minnesota Twins (15%)

Jeffers hasn't missed a beat since returning from paternity leave, going 10-for-33 (.313) with a homer, three RBI, seven runs scored and a hit in each game he's played since July 29. The 28-year-old's upward trend at the plate isn't exactly a new development – he's slashing .355/.395/.526 since July 5 – but it's helped to keep him in the starting nine regularly over Christian Vazquez, who had taken reps away from Jeffers fairly often during the first half of the year. FAAB: $2

First Baseman

 Andrew Vaughn, Milwaukee Brewers (48%)

Wednesday's two-hit performance against Atlanta made it 12 consecutive games in which Vaughn has reached base on a hit – the longest hitting streak of his five-year career. He also hit a home run and drove in two RBI to give him seven blasts and 28 ribbies through 22 games with the Brewers, which would be equivalent to tallying 51 homers and 206 RBI over a full 162-game season. Not bad for someone who had a .532 OPS a month ago. If he continues to hit the way he has, not only would Vaughn become an elite fantasy asset, but there's a very good chance he would replace Rhys Hoskins as Milwaukee's main first baseman when the latter returns from his thumb injury. FAAB: $7

Second Baseman

 Lenyn Sosa, Chicago White Sox (27%)

Sosa has slugged four home runs over the course of his nine-game hitting streak, during which he's gone 14-for-32 (.438) with eight RBI and eight runs scored. His hot streak has helped him record a .280/.309/.445 slash line on the season – all of which easily represent career highs for the 25-year-old. The White Sox currently have him playing at first base most days to cover for the injured Miguel Vargas (oblique), though there will almost certainly be an open spot at second base or designated hitter for Sosa to fill once Vargas is healthy. FAAB: $3

 Luke Keaschall, Minnesota Twins (39%)

The Twins seemed determined to trade away pretty much every player on their major-league roster last week, but they made an addition Tuesday by returning Keaschall from the injured list after three-plus months of him being on the shelf with a fractured forearm. In two games since being activated, the 22-year-old has gone 4-for-9 with a homer, a pair of doubles and six RBI, and if you take away his injury-shortened contest April 25, he has a hit in every game he's played in the majors. With minimal competition for playing time following Minnesota's fire sale, Keaschall should have no problem continuing to start regularly at the keystone while batting in the heart of the Twins' order. FAAB: $3

 Ernie Clement, Toronto Blue Jays (26%)

After he finished the Jays' three-game series against the Rockies 9-for-18 with a home run, two RBI and seven runs scored, it's safe to say Clement's trip to Colorado was a successful one. He doesn't owe all his success to Coors Field, however, as Clement had gone 14-for-48 (.292) in the 12 games leading up to Toronto's series in Denver. A lack of speed (three steals) and power (six homers) limits his fantasy ceiling a bit, but Clement remains a great option if you need someone who can elevate your team's batting average. FAAB: $1

Third Baseman

 Colson Montgomery, Chicago White Sox (39%)

It took Montgomery 15 games with the White Sox to hit his first MLB home run, and now it seems like he can't stop – he's slugged eight homers over his last 13 contests. There are still some issues the 23-year-old rookie needs to address at the plate, as evidenced by the fact that he has 15 strikeouts and no walks in that 13-game span. But as long as he's making up for it with his power, fantasy managers should have no problem being patient while Montgomery works on his discipline. FAAB: $2

Shortstop

 Carlos Correa, Houston Astros (31%)

Seeing Correa back in an Astros uniform just feels right. And considering he's gone 9-for-26 (.346) with a home run, three RBI and four runs scored through his first six games back with Houston, he might even agree with that statement himself. RBI should come relatively easily for the 30-year-old since he's been batting cleanup for the most part with Houston, and his fantasy value will also receive a nice boost soon once he picks up eligibility at third base. FAAB: $2

Outfielder

 Isaac Collins, Milwaukee Brewers (12%)

Now slashing .391/.480/.578 with 14 RBI, 11 runs scored and three steals since the All-Star break, Collins has emerged out of left field (literally) as a serious contender for the National League Rookie of the Year Award at the ripe age of 28. On top of his impressive batting average (.292) and OBP (.392), Collins has an outstanding glove that is sure to keep him in the Brewers' lineup every day, and his aggressiveness on the basepaths makes him a viable source for steals despite him having just average sprint speed. FAAB: $2

 Jakob Marsee, Miami Marlins (6%)

Marsee earned a promotion to the majors at the start of August following Jesus Sanchez's departure to Houston via trade. Marsee slashed .243/.377/.432 with 14 homers during his time in Triple-A and also stole an eye-popping 46 bases. Now six games into his MLB career, the 24-year-old is 7-for-16 with a homer, three RBI, three runs scored and a steal, and he is consistently hitting the ball hard. His affinity for swiping bags alone should warrant a look from fantasy managers, and he may prove to be a strong offensive asset as well if he continues to square the ball up like he has been. FAAB: $1

 Nathan Lukes, Toronto Blue Jays (5%)

Lukes' bat has begun to catch fire over the past couple of weeks, as he's smacked five home runs, driven in 16 RBI and scored 14 runs himself while posting a .957 OPS over his last 14 games. It certainly helps that the Blue Jays just wrapped up a three-game series at Colorado, but the 31-year-old has done enough throughout the season to work his way into batting leadoff for Toronto against right-handers, giving him extreme potential to come across the plate for the team that's scored the fifth-most runs in baseball this season. FAAB: $1

Find out who to target the rest of the way with RotoWire's MLB Rest of Season Projections!