Getty Images. Pictured: Akil Baddoo (left) and Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Jesús Aguilar is the National League RBI leader. The same guy who was jettisoned to Tampa Bay after failing to replicate a career-year in Milwaukee for Jacob Faria, who is toiling between the minors and a relief role in Arizona while Aguilar is thriving once again.
Aguilar is on his way to matching his 2018 numbers, which included 35 home runs and 108 RBIs. He did so with a .309 BABIP, slightly above his .296 career mark. In 2021, he has seen his BABIP drop to .279 while his expected batting average, slugging and weighted on-base average are all within .008 of his actual numbers.
I have been pushing Aguilar as often as I could when he was rostered below the 60% threshold and have been happy to see him excel without a dependence on his power.
Waiver additions like Aguilar push fantasy teams past playoff contender to championship contender. Let’s see who could make a big impact like Aguilar over the final weeks of the MLB season.
Pick Them Up
Adam Duvall – OF, Atlanta Braves
Yahoo: 61%, ESPN: 60%
Speaking of RBI leaders, Duvall is second in the NL behind Aguilar and tied for sixth in MLB. The veteran has been a constant in Atlanta’s revamped outfield and put up one homer and five RBI’s against the Marlins in a three-game set this week.
Akil Baddoo – OF, Detroit Tigers
Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 33%
The Rookie of the Year candidate is on rehab assignment after a collision with a Tigers teammate on defense. Prior to landing on the concussion list, Baddoo had a five-game hitting streak and should resume hitting towards the top of Detroit’s lineup.
Amed Rosario – SS/OF, Cleveland Indians
Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 47%
Rosario’s .706 OPS is his second best of his career and while his value would jump if he chose to steal more bases, he has not been caught stealing in 12 attempts this season. Rosario and Myles Straw have helped give Cleveland’s outfield respectability for the first time in a while.
Jazz- Chisholm Jr. – 2B/SS – Miami Marlins
Yahoo: 52%, ESPN: 47%
As long as Chisholm is healthy, I am recommending him. He hit his 13th home run this week and continues to hit ahead of Aguilar.
Fun fact: Chisholm has a higher OPS than both Eric Hosmer and Matt Chapman.
_BookPromo=1425
Worth A Look
Josh Rojas – 2B/SS/OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 44%
The University of Hawaii product has a seven-game hitting streak (four with more than one hit) with one home run and five RBIs. He missed two weeks on the IL and has come back strong. The question is how long can he keep it up on a bad team?
Miguel Rojas – SS, Miami Marlins
Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 27%
Since we last convened, Rojas has eight hits in six games and two RBIs. He also avoids striking out, if your league penalizes that, with just two over his last 25 at-bats entering play on Friday.
Mike Zunino – C, Tampa Bay Rays
Yahoo: 52%, ESPN: 46%
It has been a minute since I wrote about Zunino but in case you have missed it, he entered Friday on a five-game home run streak that has included eight RBIs. Zunino is an immediate power upgrade and mashes left-handed pitching (.345 average, 12 home runs in 84 at-bats).
Short-Term Solutions
Justin Upton – OF, Los Angeles Angels
Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 19%
His power tool still plays even with a weak supporting cast. Upton’s road numbers are questionable at best but he gets a weekend trip to Cleveland. The Indians are 20th in pitching WAR and as of Friday morning were yet to announce a starter for any game this weekend. Cleveland’s pitching has been an issue with so many injuries and an inconsistent bullpen.
Chas McCormick – OF, Houston Astros
Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 2%
McCormick played well enough for the Astros to trade Myles Straw and is in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak. He is not a strong run producer or hitting atop the Astros lineup, but attaching yourself to players on good offenses matters.
I Am Skeptical
Garrett Hampson – 2B/SS/OF, Colorado Rockies
Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 33%
The injuries in Denver should have helped Hampson get continued reps and play well like he had prior to the All-Star break, but the extra at-bats have shown that he may not be an everyday player. Hampson played one game in Colorado’s most recent series against San Diego.
Bobby Dalbec – 1B/3B, Boston Red Sox
Yahoo: 17%, ESPN: 11%
Remember his three home runs and six RBIs over two games last weekend? Of course it was against Balitmore and since Dalbec has one hit in 10 at-bats with two strikeouts.