Anecdotally, it seems like Friday has been poor for streaming pitchers much of the season. That changes this week with a plethora of options, so now is the time to take advantage while others scramble over the weekend.
Hitters are also plush, albeit with a lot of recurring names. This is crunch time, so while sometimes we embrace the "notes" element of this column to introduce a player so he's on your radar, the focus today is the batters in the best position to embellish your roster.
Something to note is that moves have already waned in many fantasy leagues as some turn attention elsewhere. With Friday marking the beginning of Labor Day weekend, even more will push fantasy baseball down their priority list, lessening those continuing to scour the waiver wire, so don't assume someone you want is rostered. They very well may be available.
The following are all available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues. Enjoy the long weekend but keep grinding.
Pitching
Tony Gonsolin (R), 35%, Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks: Deadline deal? We don't need no stinking deadline, not when we can call up Gonsolin. So far in August, the 25-year old rookie has a 1.20 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in August, tempered by only 11 punchouts in 15 frames. Still, Gonsolin has stabilized the back end of the Dodgers rotation as they continue their playoff march.
Dylan Bundy (R), 25%, Baltimore Orioles at Kansas City Royals: A 4.03 ERA may not seem noteworthy but, in today's high-scoring environment, it's half of a run below average. It's also Bundy's August mark. He has a good chance of lowering it in his final start this month, facing a Royals club near the bottom in production versus right-handers. Not only is Kansas City not hitting, they're not running either, having swiped only 13 bases since the break.
Anibal Sanchez (R), 21%, Washington Nationals vs. Miami Marlins: For the second straight campaign, Sanchez is doing an excellent job keeping the ball in the yard. With more runs scored via the long ball than ever before, this helps overcome other sub-par skills, like Sanchez's 19.5% K%. While he may not rank up a bunch of strikeouts, Sanchez should silence the punchless Marlins and be in line for a win.
Dinelson Lamet (R), 15%, San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants: In contrast, Lamet has piled up strikeouts this month, fanning 30 in 23 August innings. The Giants check in with the fifth least productive lineup versus right-handed pitching.
Kolby Allard (L), 4%, Texas Rangers vs. Seattle Mariners: Especially if the impending Globe Life Field plays more pitcher-friendly than the current Globe Life Park, Allard is an intriguing arm to watch for 2020. He's not dominating but is displaying good control and command. This isn't an ideal matchup as for the season, Seattle is an average offense facing lefties. However, they're starting to work in some youngsters so they could be more vulnerable.
Bullpen
I a surprising script flip, the Boston Red Sox bullpen has been the league's best in August. Closer Brandon Workman is a large part, recording a 1.74 ERA and 0.87 WHIP, whiffing 18 with only three free passes in 10 1/3 innings this month, notching four saves and a win along the way. The undisputed Red Sox closer is rostered in only 29% of ESPN leagues.
Hitting
Catcher -- Tony Wolters (L), 2%, Colorado Rockies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (RHP Dario Agrazal): Let's give Ryan McMahon a well-earned break from being the Rockies representative and shift the focus to behind the plate. Wolters remains the primary backstop with Dom Nunez taking over as backup. The problem for streaming purposes is that both hit lefthanded. Wolters hits for a higher average while Nunes has more pop. Both are in play against a weak righty. Another option is outfielder Sam Hilliard who appears to be on the strong side of a platoon.
First Base -- Mark Canha (R), 26%, Oakland Athletics at New York Yankees (LHP CC Sabathia): Canha has been playing regularly, largely due to hitting right-handers better this season. That said, career numbers are more telling and Canha has a history of excelling with the platoon edge. Deeper leagues can look to Seth Brown, a first baseman by trade but playing outfield with Ramon Laureano and Stephen Piscotty on the shelf. Brown has swing-and-miss tendencies but also has plus power.
Second Base -- Neil Walker (S), 1%, Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals (RHP Anibal Sanchez): While it is fair to question why the Marlins are playing Walker instead of looking at their future, for fantasy purposes, it doesn't matter. Our job is to take advantage, especially when Walker squares off with a righty thrower. Since August 16, Walker is hitting a robust .300.
Third Base -- Renato Nunez (R), 29%, Baltimore Orioles at Kansas City Royals (LHP Eric Skoglund): Hopefully, by this time you have a web alert set up whenever Nunez is slated to face a lefty pitcher, as he's slugging .536 in that scenario.
Shortstop -- Leury Garcia (S), 12%, Chicago White Sox at Atlanta Braves (LHP Max Fried): Garcia continues to be a run-scoring machine on a lesser offense, crossing the dish 16 times this month, despite being shelved for four games.
Corner Infield -- Howie Kendrick (R), 22%, Washington Nationals vs. Miami Marlins (RHP Elieser Hernandez): Kendrick may be the best kept secret in baseball, let alone fantasy. All he's done is slash .327/.380/.559 with 14 homers in what amounts to half a season.
Middle Infield -- Jonathan Schoop (R), 45%, Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers (RHP Edwin Jackson): Schoop was relegated to reserve duties by Luis Arraez but four homers over his last three games may have earned the veteran more playing time.
Outfield -- Corey Dickerson (L), 49%, Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Mets (RHP Zack Wheeler): Dickerson has given the Phillies exactly what they wanted when acquiring him as he's batted .280/.286/.585 with five homers in August. Wheeler began the month like he wanted to repeat last season's second half surge but he allowed 12 runs in the subsequent three starts leading up to this affair.
Outfield -- Kole Calhoun (L), 44%, Los Angeles Angels vs. Boston Red Sox (RHP Nathan Eovaldi): With injuries to southpaws Chris Sale and David Price, Boston has reinserted Eovaldi into the rotation. It's been a rough year for last season's playoff hero, allowing nine homers while issuing 19 walks in just 39 1/3 frames. Meanwhile, Calhoun continues to build on a career-high 28 homers this season.
Outfield -- Jose Osuna (R), 2%, Pittsburgh Pirates at Colorado Rockies (RHP Antonio Senzatela): Consider Osuna the proxy for any available Pirates bat as the Bucs enjoy their yearly visit to Coors Field. Osuna, usually on the soft side of a platoon, is getting regular play. The 26-year old first baseman/outfielder has upped his power game this season, knocking eight out of the yard in just 166 plate appearances through Thursday's action.