Welcome to the dog days of August. Those in favor of the two wild-card format are getting what they want as both races are shaping up to go down to the wire. Many head-to-head leagues are also enjoying heating battles for playoff spots with precious few weeks to secure a berth. Sunday is the last day to scramble and pick up a victory. It's also getting down to category management for rotisserie leagues, focusing on the stats earning the most points.
Regardless of the format, the Daily Notes team will stay with you until the hopefully not-so bitter end. Here are some suggestions to end the week in strong fashion, all available in at least half of ESPN leagues.
Pitching
Reynaldo Lopez (R), rostered in 21% of ESPN leagues, Chicago White Sox at Philadelphia Phillies: Call it confirmation bias, but I'm still optimistic Lopez has turned a corner. He tweaked his delivery over the break, adding velocity to his fastball and spin to his breaking stuff. The Phillies lineup is surprisingly below average versus right-handers, offering an above-average strikeout rate for Lopez to continue exhibiting increased dominance.
Tanner Roark (R), 15%, Oakland Athletics vs. St. Louis Cardinals: Conventional wisdom deems ground balls good and fly balls bad, especially in the current offensive climate. However, a fly ball pitcher in a big park is beneficial, setting Roark up as a solid streamer for home starts in his new digs. That said, his newfound elevated strikeout rate might take a hit as not only is Roark no longer facing a pitcher in the opponents' lineups, Great American Ball Park boosts punchouts.
Drew Smyly (L), 6%, Philadelphia Phillies vs. Chicago White Sox: It's only two starts, but we're at the point of the season where patience isn't as much of a virtue and taking chances is the preferred approach. In 13 innings with the Phillies, Smyly has fanned 13 with only three walks, surrendering eight hits with a sole earned run. His velocity and spin rates aren't different, but since joining Philadelphia Smyly is throwing more cutters and curves while cutting back on his four-seamer and ditching his changeup.
Pedro Payano (R), 4%, Texas Rangers vs. Detroit Tigers: If you're chasing a win or strikeouts, Payano is in play. He draws one of the most anemic lineups in the league, further weakened after Nicholas Castellanos was dealt to the Chicago Cubs. In 71⅔ combined innings in Double- and Triple-A before being called up, Payano fanned 85. In 11⅓ frames with the Rangers, Payano has punched out 11.
Bullpen: Another NL West closer has lost his job as the Colorado Rockies demoted Wade Davis with Scott Oberg the expected replacement. Earlier in the week, Greg Holland was stripped of the gig by the Arizona Diamondbacks, with Archie Bradley securing the first save opportunity presented to the Snakes.
Hitting
Catcher -- Tony Wolters (L), 2%, Colorado Rockies vs. San Francisco Giants (RHP Tyler Beede): With most of the usual suspects either on the other side of the 50% cutoff or slumping, let's pivot to Coors Field where Wolters enjoys the platoon edge on a middling righty. Wolters isn't a power hitter, but remember, Coors Field boosts hits and runs more that homers.
First base -- Eric Thames (L), 4%, Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs (RHP Yu Darvish): While Thames still isn't going to play against southpaws, he benefits a bit after Jesus Aguilar was dealt to Tampa Bay, though Travis Shaw was recalled. Still, Thames has been a lineup stalwart against righties. Darvish has picked it up over the second half but remains vulnerable to left-handed power bats.
Second base -- Niko Goodrum (S), 12%, Detroit Tigers at Texas Rangers (RHP Pedro Payano): Goodrum has been doing a little bit of everything lately, slashing .338/.386/.554 with three homers and four steals over the last three weeks heading into Saturday's action.
Third base -- Pablo Sandoval (S), 1%, San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies (LHP Kyle Freeland): The release of Tyler Austin should keep Sandoval in the lineup, especially against right-handers. Let's hope Sandoval is active, seeing it's the last game of a weekend set in Colorado.
Shortstop -- Bo Bichette (R), 28%, Toronto Blue Jays at Baltimore Orioles (Bullpen game): If it were earlier in the season, Bichette be rostered in over twice as many leagues so why not take advantage? Not only is he playing every day, the second-generation top prospect has been leading off. He hasn't attempted a steal yet but running is part of his game and shouldn't take long to blossom. The Orioles will open with Jimmy Yacabonis before handing the ball to Tom Eshelman, neither of which pose a threat.
Corner Infield -- Renato Nunez (R), 38%, Baltimore Orioles vs. Toronto Blue Jays (RHP Sean Reid-Foley): Nunez has been a staple in the space, crushing homers all season. He fares better against southpaws but still has 14 of 25 long balls with a righty on the hill.
Middle Infield -- Jason Kipnis (L), 8%, Cleveland Indians vs. Los Angeles Angels (RHP Jaime Barria): Known for his streakiness, Kipnis is on a bit of a tear, sporting a 1.087 OPS the past week. More importantly, he benefits from the recent lineup upgrades, likely availing more RBI opportunities for the veteran.
Outfield -- Jesse Winker (L), 34%, Cincinnati Reds at Atlanta Braves (RHP Julio Teheran): Even when Teheran is pitching well, good lefty swingers are plug-and-play options. Winker is slashing .351/.455/.595 the past couple of weeks with most of the damage coming with the platoon edge.
Outfield -- Adam Duvall (R), 17%, Atlanta Braves vs. Cincinnati Reds (RHP Sonny Gray): After spending almost four months on the farm, Duvall was promoted by the Braves as Austin Riley is amid a deep slump. Duvall, author of back-to-back 30 home run seasons in 2016 and 2017, has responded with five long balls in his first seven games.
Outfield -- Willie Calhoun (L), 8%, Texas Rangers vs. Detroit Tigers (RHP Jordan Zimmermann): Calhoun has been on the Triple-A shuttle much of the past two seasons. Based on his .345/.387/.655 line the past three weeks, he's had enough of Triple-A Nashville.