With the Major League Baseball All-Star Game now behind us, many fantasy baseball fans think we are headed into the second half of the season. But nothing can be farther from the truth. The truth is we are heading into Week 15 of the fantasy baseball season. Generally speaking, for most head-to-head leagues (which make up the vast majority of leagues), there are only 20 weeks of regular season play. That means that there are only five weeks remaining after this elongated 11-day cycle we are about to enter.
Therefore, it is time to really position yourself not only to make the postseason, but make a push for a title. Whatever it is your team needs, there are likely some options if you are willing to make bold moves. In past columns, I have suggested players like Andrew Benintendi and Garrett Cooper back before they were rostered in just about every league. This week, I divulge a couple players you have heard, and possibly one you have not.
Week 15 Fantasy Baseball Top 4 Waiver Wire Pickups
1. Esteury Ruiz – San Diego Padres 2B/OF
The first player on this list is someone that you likely should go and pick up before finishing reading this article. I made the massive mistake waiting an extra week in a couple of leagues and paid the price. San Diego Padres rookie Esteury Ruiz was called up just over a week before the All-Star break.
He was rostered before the call-up in many leagues. Ruiz was then scooped up shortly after the call-up in many others. However, he is still available in over half of fantasy baseball leagues on Yahoo. Why that is, I do not know. But that creates opportunity for you. This kid has elite potential.
🚨 FYI – the minor league player of the year (by far) was called up this wk
.333 with 13 HRs and 🔥60 SBs🔥 over only 291 AA & AAA AB
Must add for peeps needing SB. Pray he doesn't swipe a couple bags 2day or FAAB price goes from 'significant' to 'max bid' for some
— Gekko Industries (@GekkoIndustries) July 17, 2022
Across Double-A and Triple-A this year, Ruiz hit .333 with 13 home runs, 60 stolen bases and 84 runs scored. He did that in just 291 at-bats. That is literally insane. I don't care if you have speed on your roster already. He is worth a pickup if he is available as he can make a better known speedster on your roster a trade asset.
During his six games with the Padres, he's been hitting either eighth or ninth in the order. With the top of San Diego's order being as strong as it is, he is likely to score a ton of runs. But also, the top of the Padres order is not known for hitting for average, so if he reaches 1st and they cannot get him into scoring position for Manny Machado to come up, expect him to run at will.
2. Ross Stripling – Toronto Blue Jays SP
Blue Jays starter Ross Stripling flat out needs to be owned in more leagues. His roster percentage currently sits at 40 percent. He spent much of the first half this year coming out of the bullpen, which is likely why. But since he got moved to the starting rotation in early June, he has looked like a solid number two starter for fantasy baseball teams.
Yet, he is Toronto's number four starter in their rotation. That means he gets more favorable pitching matchups. But his offense will be just as good. It's a win-win. Since he joined the rotation, Stripling has allowed a total of nine earned runs over 43 1/3 innings. That's an ERA under 2.00. What he is doing is not unprecedented for him either. We've seen this level of production from Stripling in the past with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
👏 @RossStripling's ERA as a starter this season: 2.84! pic.twitter.com/NmjEaIcGfM
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 14, 2022
Do yourself and your rotation a favor and go grab Stripling before it's too late. Oh, and his first four starts out of the break are at home vs. the Cardinals, Tigers, then at Minnesota and Baltimore.
3. Ramon Laureano – Oakland Athletics OF
This is not the first time I have suggested Ramon Laureano to people. We all know that he is a decent power speed combination that's usually hard to find. Because he spent time suspended from baseball for PED's, everyone seems to just disregard him.
His roster percentage has gone up since we first suggested him to fantasy baseball managers, but not enough.
He's only played 59 games this season. During that time, he has eight home runs and nine stolen bases. Extrapolate that out over a whole season, and you have a 20-20 guy. Yes, his batting average is not ideal, but it's also not a complete killer as he hitting about .240. Knowing the trade rumors that have circled Laureano this year, he might very well find himself in a much better lineup and ballpark to produce. That likely would turn him into a must-own scenario.
4. Kyle Finnegan – Washington Nationals RP
Every year in fantasy baseball, closers become available as the season progresses. Well, it has happened once again. Nationals closer Tanner Rainey has been announced out for the rest of the year with injury. Nats' manager Davey Martinez already named Finnegan his new closer. Yet, his roster percentage sits at 16 percent.
#FantasyBaseball Backpick Notes
Kyle Finnegan has been named the Nationals closer by his manager, as Rainey is done for the year. He has less desirable ratios, but if you’re looking for saves- he’ll have volume in the 9th ROS
— BackPickFantasyBaseball (@BackPickFantasy) July 16, 2022
His numbers are not sparkling by any means, but he has always been a hard-throwing relief pitcher. In order to be successful in a closer role today, you almost always need a good strikeout rate.
In his four seasons in baseball, Finnegan boasts a 9.8 K/9 rate. That'll definitely do. If you are in need of a closer, of just have a roster spot to burn and could grab and use to trade, Finnegan is a name to have.
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