The 2021 Fantasy Baseball Week 24 NFBC FAAB Run focuses on the same categories we have chased all year, saves and steals.
We have two unheralded pitchers who made impressive debuts and are poised to make an impact the rest of the way.
The season is winding down. Some NFBC leagues may already be decided, while others can still be decided by only a category or two. It is important to be careful not to fall asleep at the wheel as we have turned the calendar out of summer and into September.
Always be grinding, and if you cannot I will be doing it for you. Let's get it!
Glenn Otto has started his Major League career about as well as he could have hoped. Through two starts, he has allowed only two runs against eleven strikeouts in nine-plus innings. The former fifth-round pick by the Yankees has walked only one batter.
Otto, who came over to the Rangers in the Joey Gallo deal, has put together a fine minor league campaign across three stops. With a 3.20 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and whopping 12.7 k/9, he certainly deserved the callup and has made the most of it.
There is no reason Otto should not remain in the Texas rotation for the rest of the season. If all breaks correctly, he can get as many as five more starts in September. They line up to be against the Orioles, Angels, Diamondback, Astros, and White Sox. He certainly can be used as a streamer in three of those matchups to help you down that stretch.
Joe Ryan, SP, Minnesota Twins (unowned)
The box score may not show it, but Joe Ryan looked great in his Major League debut against the Cubs. Through five innings he recorded five strikeouts and only one walk while recording a 29.6% CSW rate. The lone blemish on his record being a three-run home run which he settled down after.
Ryan's path through this season is very much similar to that of Otto. Ryan was the main chip acquired in the Nelson Cruz trade and earned a promotion after a stellar minor league season. He had a 3.41 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and 12.6% k/9.
The former seventh-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays out of Cal State-Stanislaus will also be in the rotation for the remainder of 2021. His next two starts both line up against the weak-hitting Cleveland Indians, so now is the time to pick up this excellent streaming option.
Aaron Civale, SP, Cleveland Indians 85% owned)
Aaron Civale is poised to finally return from a finger sprain that sidelined him for more than two months. Despite being built up to only 71 pitches, he is lined up for two starts this week with the Twins and Brewers. Before the injury, Civale was leading the Major Leagues in wins. We cannot be sure we are getting the same pitcher rest of the season but I feel comfortable streaming him this week, at least.
Giovanni Gallegos, RP, St. Louis Cardinals (88% owned)
Alex Reyes proved to be unworthy of holding the ninth inning for the entire season, and Giovanni Gallegos has quietly stepped in and taken the role. He has converted each of the last two Cardinals' save chances.
Gallegos will put up your league average reliever-type numbers for you. A 3.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 10 k/9 is a fair expectation for the rest of the season. Saves are likely a critical category in most leagues this September, and Gallegos is one of three options to help you in the the2021 Fantasy Baseball Week 24 NFBC FAAB Run.
Dylan Floro, RP, Miami Marlins (81% owned)
I have mention Dylan Floro in this space more often than any player in baseball, yet he still has not gotten to 100% owned yet. He is the full-blown closer in Miami, having six saves since August 1st.
While Floro may not be as talented as Anthony Bender, he comes with more experience in high leverage situations. Floro was an instrumental piece in the Dodgers' bullpen last year during their playoff run to a World Series Championship. There is also arbitration dollars to consider, as Bender is much earlier in the salary escalation process than Floro. Saves equal contract dollars.
Joe Barlow, RP, Texas Rangers (22% owned)
The Rangers have been a giving tree of cheap fantasy goodness down the stretch. The third of our options for last-minute saves this week is Joe Barlow. Barlow had been quite good with three saves and three holds before a mini-implosion on Wednesday in which he gave up five runs (two earned) in less than an inning. The Rangers have not had a save opportunity since, so we do not know the status of his role. He is by far the least stable of the three options, and should only be bid on in desperation for $1-2 if you do not have access to Gallegos or Floro.
Bradley Zimmer, OF, Cleveland Indians (73% owned)
Bradley Zimmer has strung together one heck of a season with six home runs and 12 stolen bases in 77 games. The post-hype sleeper is more valuable in OBP leagues rather than NFBC formats which use batting average.
When he makes contact, Zimmer hits the ball hard to a rate of almost 40%. Unfortunately, he swings and misses all too often to the rate of 35%
If you can handle the batting average downside, Zimmer brings a great speed/power combination to your lineup and could be a major component to a Fantasy Baseball Championship.
Freddy Galvis, 2B/SS, Philadelphia Phillies (27% owned)
Freddy Galvis excites no one but always seems to produce. He is 5 for his last 15 and now up to ten home runs on the season. At age 31, Galvis does not really run like he used to. His best ability is availability, as he has been thrust into fairly regular playing time by the Rhys Hoskins injury. The two-position eligibility is always helpful for fantasy.
Colin Moran, 1B, Pittsburgh Pirates (66% owned)
If Galvis is boring then Colin Moran might as well be your 12th-grade Economics teacher. Moran is one of the most overlooked players in fantasy baseball. He plays a position that requires power but has little power. He does not run, and a .272 career batting average is hardly inspiring.
What Moran provides for you is stability down the stretch. You can write in pen 3-4 runs, 3-4 RBI and 5-6 base hits on the week while making the lineup every day. I have several NFBC teams where he has become an important cornerman in this injury-riddled season.
Leody Taveras, OF, Texas Rangers (7% owned)
In his last five games, Leody Taveras is 7 for 19 with two home runs and four stolen bases. While he doesn't have batting average in his to belt whatsoever, Taveras brings league-winning speed to the base paths and your fantasy team. He is a 99th percentile sprint speed at the Major League level and thus a threat to steal a base every time he is on base.
Stolen bases have been elusive this year. I would not be surprised to see Taveras steal double-digit bases this month and possibly give you the necessary boost to complete your championship run.
For any questions related to the 2021 Fantasy Baseball Week 24 NFBC FAAB Run, or for additional options, you can reach me on Twitter @jtrela20. Otherwise, check me out streaming LIVE this Wednesday at 9:00 PM EST on the Stack Attack Fantasy Podcast, now part of the Fantasy Six Pack YouTube network of podcasts.