If you’re still in the hunt this late into the season, congratulations! We’re in the fantasy baseball homestretch now and every move is pivotal. With roughly a month and a half left, waivers over the next few weeks have the potential to make or break an entire season. But so close to the end of the year, frankly, that’s a given. And considering how important these late-season decisions can be, let’s not delay it any further. Seven players – all relatively available on waivers – that are riding hot streaks and are thus perfect fits to help a last-minute playoff run on any fantasy team.
7 Players to Aid a Late-Season Push
David Festa, SP, MIN
5.20 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 2 W, 33 K over 27.2 IP (8 starts)
There are so many reasons why I like David Festa. Reason one? Probably his intimidating 6’6″ frame that gives him both elite extension and complements a strong fastball velocity that registers at a solid 95.3 MPH. Reason two? His other Savant numbers. It’s still a work in progress, but we’re talking promising numbers with respect to K %, BB %, and chase rate. Reasons three and four? He’s the No. 87 prospect in baseball (not a requirement, of course, but something that can give skippers a degree of faith while streaming) and he plays on a contender. But the fifth and foremost reason I like Festa has to be the simple fact that after struggling to a 10.80 ERA over two rough starts in his first big-league tenure, Festa has been a stud since a second call-up on July 23. Just take a look:
- July 24th: 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 7 K vs. PHI (ND)
- July 30th: 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 6 K @ NYM (L)
- August 5th: 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 9 K @ CHC (W)
- August 11th: 3.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 3 K vs. CLE (ND)
Obviously, his stats have yet to calm down after initial struggles and there are limitations innings-wise. But there’s so much to love about what the 24-year-old brings to the table. With Festa’s solid quartet of recent starts and the falling sand of 2024 now that we’re in the home stretch, fantasy managers should seriously consider adding the RHP pre-emptively or at the very least monitoring the emerging rookie sensation.
David Festa racks up a career-high nine strikeouts 🔥
MLB's No. 87 prospect (@Twins) scatters two hits and two walks across five scoreless innings. pic.twitter.com/AhhauXye8N
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 6, 2024
Joey Bart, C, PIT
.273/.351/.506, 10 HR, 32 RBI, 0 SB, 23 R over 154 AB (51 G)
With Bart I think it’s as simple as he’s been hot. Edit: Not only that, Bart’s been hot at a position where hitting is (as usual) hard to come by. Isn’t that enough? He’s seeing everyday time behind the plate for Pittsburgh and his slash line looks really good. Over his last 30 games he’s slashing .277/.343/.500 with 6 HR and 20 RBI. Insofar as his last 15 are concerned, he’s been hitting at a clip of .321/.377/.589 with 4 HR and 12 RBI.
Once a heralded prospect with the Giants, Bart has always had potential. In 2021 he was baseball’s No.2 catching prospect (No.1 was a kid named Adley Rutschman) and No.23 overall. All that is to say, maybe he’s come to realize that potential now with the Pirates? Or maybe Bart just has a hot bat this August. Either way, fantasy managers should sit back and ride the wave.
Edit: His hot streak is at a point now where his overall season numbers would push all-star levels. Add him now!
It really is a Bart summer 🟩
Joey Bart gives the @Pirates the lead with a 2-run blast! pic.twitter.com/WHuOv4Fi3t
— MLB (@MLB) August 8, 2024
Alejandro Kirk, C, TOR
.244/.313/.335, 3 HR, 34 RBI, 0 SB, 15 R over 209 AB (67 G)
Alejandro Kirk offers a very similar profile to Bart, but not quite the same. I’ve written about Kirk a lot lately, and that’s because – while it’s easy to forget – Kirk was the AL starter behind the plate during the 2022 all-star game. Thus, coming into this season having really only slumped one year in ’23, Kirk was a popular sleeper choice and a bounce-back candidate. That ultimately did not come to fruition and for most of this season Danny Jansen – despite injuries – emerged as Toronto’s first choice at the Big C. But not to fret, things are really looking up for the just 25-year-old slugger.
Primarily that’s because he’s been hot since just before the all-star break. His last 30 games reveal a slash of .283/.339/.373 with 1 HR and 18 RBI (.275/.328/.373 with 1 HR and 10 RBI over his last 15). With the trade deadline seeing Danny Jansen head to the Red Sox, Kirk is set to see everyday time behind the plate the rest of the way. Factor in the elite defensive defensive metrics that will keep him in the lineup and the impressive offensive ability Savant reveals, and Kirk looks fantastic. It’s tough to manage in the homestretch, and skippers trying to make a run should look to the Blue Jays backstop as perhaps the most viable option on this list (availability-production considered). The window to claim him off waivers is closing soon.
Victor Robles, CF, SEA
.269/.353/.388, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 16 SB, 18 R over 134 AB (56 G)
I will admit something very personal: It is indeed true that Victor Robles fell off my fantasy radar. Oops. And while it’s far too late for me, it might* not be too late for other skippers. Known for his stellar glove work in center field, after being released by the Nationals on June 1 (mind you, after hitting just .120) the former World Series champion has enjoyed a renaissance in Seattle.
In 42 games with the Mariners, he’s hitting an impressive .303/.372/.450 with 3 HR, 6 RBI, and 12 steals. Surely a line Nationals fans will take a moment to groan at, Robles (now also healthy) has truly come into his own this year. If it’s not too late – and players like Josh Bell and Robles push it – add him immediately as a breakout stud with dynamic speed and average potential.
Josh Bell, 1B, AZ
.243/.309/.418, 18 HR, 56 RBI, 0 SB, 45 R over 440 AB (114 G)
Josh Bell is really interesting. At the trade deadline last year, he was sent to the Marlins because he wasn’t quite living up to his potential for the Guardians. Suddenly a change of scenery did the trick and he improved greatly down the stretch as Miami chased a playoff berth. And by Joe, the same thing happened this year. After slashing .239/.305/.394 with 14 HR and 49 RBI for the Marlins to start this season, Bell is now raking for the D-Backs.
In just 10 games since the beginning of his tenure in the desert, Bell has a whopping 4 HR, 7 RBI, and a slash line of .286/.348/.643. In fantasy sometimes it’s best not to question it and just roll with the hot hand, and Bell certainly parrots that philosophy. Helping Arizona stay in a playoff position, fantasy managers can also capitalize and use Bell to make a run. Another must-add if he hasn’t already been claimed.
Josh Bell has his 3rd home run in 6 games since joining the @Dbacks. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Z5T9QCIz4s
— MLB (@MLB) August 7, 2024
Alex Cobb & Matthew Boyd, SP, CLE
3.87 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 7 W, 131 K over 151.1 IP (28 starts, 2023)
0.83 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, 1 W, 27 K over 21.2 IP (5 starts over MiLB rehab stint)
The appeal of Alex Cobb is clear. He plays on a first-place Guardians team and – despite his age of 36 – has offered skippers awfully spry stuff over the last few years. Though he struggled in his first start back, I see no reason why Cobb can’t return to that high level of performance.
Now onto Matthew Boyd. Coming off TJ surgery and a relatively insignificant career line as far as fantasy is concerned, he’s only really a streaming option for fantasy managers with an iron gut. But still, there’s a lot to like about the 33-year-old. Mostly that stems from his impressive ability to garner strikeouts (career 8.8 K/9). However, his dominance in Triple-A also shouldn’t go unnoticed. Either way, the southpaw has potential. The important to remember is that despite the fact Boyd is days away from seeing a call-up now that his rehab is complete the role in which he’ll be returning is unclear. But given the circumstances (and, again, Cleveland is a first-place team), enterprising fantasy managers in deep leagues should also consider looking into Matthew Boyd in addition to Alex Cobb.