Looking for a way to beat your opponents to fantasy glory over the past two weeks?
Look at the hitters on your roster and the notable swing players available on the waiver wire who are playing against teams that rank last in the league in team ERA.
Their in-form hitters and favorable schedule will be a boon, as they won't have to worry about whether their batting will continue to be successful in the long term.
We’re concerned about short-term production, and targeting hitters with an easier schedule should give the team a boost.
That's why Roto Lage believes a player like Dodgers' Tommy Edman, who can play shortstop, second base and outfield, is a must-have addition.
Edman had played in just 21 games prior to the weekend and was batting .300 with four home runs, 13 RBIs, 12 runs scored, five stolen bases and an OPS of .821.
Edman has really hit his stride in the first 10 games this month, batting .325 with four home runs (both in back-to-back two-home runs on Tuesday and Wednesday), 10 RBI, seven runs scored, two stolen bases and a 1.007 OPS.
He has played in 13 games since Aug. 29, batting .353 with four stolen bases and a .978 OPS.
Let's also not forget that this is a player who is averaging double-digit home runs, 53 RBIs, 30 stolen bases and a .708 OPS from 2021-2023 while also being the core of one of the best offensive lines in the game.
The most notable thing about Edman may be the Dodgers’ remaining schedule.
After the Dodgers finish their four-game series against the Braves on Monday, they'll travel to Miami to take on the Marlins, who have the third-worst team ERA in the major leagues and the second-worst at home (5.14).
Next up are three home games against the Rockies, who have the worst team ERA in the league, before hosting the Padres (a game that we'll pretend doesn't exist).
Edman & Co. will finish the season with three games at Colorado, but the Rockies also have the worst ERA at home (5.36).
(For reference: Edman has a career batting average of .337 against Colorado and .321 against Miami).
Use the Dodgers’ loose schedule the final two weeks to your advantage and add Edman, who is still available in 70 percent of ESPN leagues.
We mentioned Eugenio Suarez in this space last week and we will talk about him again soon.
He hit .325 with 18 homers and a 1.049 OPS over his first 49 games of the second half, but over his past 18 games through Friday he was hitting .427 with 10 homers, 23 RBIs, 24 runs and a 1.387 OPS.
he still He is rostered in fewer than 50 percent of ESPN leagues and is scheduled to play three games this week with Colorado.
Angels' Zach Neto (24.2% appearance rate) batted .324 with one home run, four RBIs, four stolen bases, seven runs scored and an OPS of .952 in his first 10 games this month, then batted .266 with nine home runs, 28 and 29 RBIs, 15 stolen bases and an OPS of .854 in his first 49 games after the All-Star break.
Outside of the four games against the Astros, the Angels will close out the season with six games against the Rangers, who have a 5.24 road ERA (third-worst in the league), and the dreadful White Sox, who have the second-worst team ERA in the major leagues (4.85).
Taylor Ward (48.5% batting average) is also a hitter to watch for the Angels and one to target.
Lane Thomas is batting .390 with three home runs, 14 RBI, one stolen base and a 1.137 OPS through his first 11 games this month.
He faces the Twins (four games), Cardinals (three games) and Reds (two games) over the next two weeks, all teams with ERAs above 4.00 in the second half of the season.
Tyler O'Neill had eight home runs in his last 17 games before Friday and was batting .314 with five home runs and a 1.229 OPS through his first 10 games this month.
Half of Boston's remaining 12 games will come against Toronto (4.33 team ERA) and Minnesota (4.17 ERA).
Cubs' Dansby Swanson (62.2%) entered Friday's first 48 games of the second half of the season batting .272 with five home runs, 27 RBIs, 33 runs scored, 11 stolen bases and a .775 OPS.
After this weekend's series in Colorado, the Cubs will play three games at home against the Athletics and then four games against the Nationals, both of which rank in the bottom nine in team ERA.
After the series against the Phillies, he will finish up against a Reds starter who has a 4.49 ERA since the break.
Big hit
Matthew Boyd SP, The Guardians
He hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his six starts, and he has a 2-1 record with a 2.18 ERA, a 35-7 strikeout/walk ratio, a .190 batting average and a 15 percent strikeout rate.
Taylor Ward, outfielder, Angels
He has at least one hit in 20 of his last 21 games and has 26 hits in 80 at-bats (.325 batting average), seven home runs, 11 RBIs, 16 runs scored and an OPS of 1.076.
Pablo Lopez SP, Twins
In his last six starts, he is 5-0 with a 1.12 ERA, a 39-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio, a .243 batting average and a 14 percent strikeout rate.
Cedric Mullins, outfielder, Orioles
Through the first 10 games this month, he is batting .343 with four home runs, nine RBIs, seven runs scored, two stolen bases and a 1.153 OPS.
A big miss
Collin Rea SP, Brewers
He has two wins in his last six starts but has allowed 26 earned runs (7.39 ERA) with 11 home runs, a .306 batting average and a .957 OPS in his last 31 2/3 innings.
Luis Garcia Jr., 2B, Nationals
In his past 15 games, he was 7-for-46 (.152), with no home runs or RBIs, 3 runs scored, 11 strikeouts and a .437 OPS.
Cutter Crawford SP, Red Sox
Entering Sunday's game against the Yankees, he had lost six of his past seven starts with a 5.17 ERA.
Triston Casas, 1B, Red Sox
His last home run was on Aug. 25, and in his next 15 games he was 8-for-46 (.174) with 18 strikeouts and a .487 OPS.
Check your swing
– Reid Detmers (43.7% of the roster) is 1-0 in his two starts since being recalled, with a 3.00 ERA, 18-4 strikeout/walk ratio, .186 batting average and a 15% strikeout rate. This year, Detmers is striking out 10.56 batters per nine innings with a 13.6% strikeout rate. His next start is on Monday against the fearsome White Sox.
Dean Kremer is undefeated since Aug. 8. In his last six starts, he is 3-0 with a 2.62 ERA, 32 strikeouts and a .213 batting average with a 10 percent strikeout rate.
– Toronto's Beauden Francis went into the ninth inning on Wednesday with a no-hitter for the second time in his last four starts. He's 5-2 with a 1.83 ERA, .127 batting average and 48-6 strikeout record in his last nine appearances (eight starts) and is still available in 50 percent of ESPN leagues. Do he have to go through the no-hitter to be liked by fantasy managers?
Jake Berger has just 25 home runs since Aug. 21 and is 15-for-70 (.214 batting average) with 16 strikeouts, four RBI and a .548 OPS in 18 games since then.
Everything you need to know about MLB betting
– Christopher Sanchez, who gave up seven runs in an Aug. 11 win over Arizona, has not allowed more than three runs in any of his past five starts and is 2-1 with a 31-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio, a .219 batting average allowed and a 14 percent strikeout rate.
Corey Seager, who hasn't played since Sept. 2, will miss the rest of the season to repair a sports hernia in his right groin. The 30-year-old Ranger is batting .294 with 12 home runs, 26 RBIs, 23 runs scored and a .924 OPS since the All-Star break. Among shortstops, Seager ranks fifth in RBIs, fourth in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS and home runs scored as of Friday and 15th in runs scored.
– Jacob deGrom (expected to be added after starting tonight, could move up to the top instead of Kremer)
This week's team name
Revenue Committee
