Baseball’s unique schedule is awesome.Despite having already played well over 100 games this season, teams are still plugging away every day.
The downside to so much action? While the long season is certainly hard on players, it can also take a toll on fantasy baseball managers. Here are six players to get excited about as we enter the “dog days” of August, separated into three groups by availability. All rostered rates are via Fantrax.
0-20% Rostered:
High Ceiling: Nacho Alvarez Jr.
(2B, Atlanta)
Nacho Alvarez Jr. is the Braves’ third-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline. While his .150/.203/.167 career slash line in 64 plate big-league plate appearances certainly isn’t turning heads, his potential as a rare offensive-first second baseman is difficult to ignore.
Alvarez has raked at every level of the Braves’ minor-league system. After being drafted in the 5th round of the 2022 draft, the middle infielder hit .287 with a .451 on-base percentage and .394 slugging percentage. In his first full professional season, Alvarez posted nearly identical numbers but drew significantly fewer walks, lowering his on-base percentage to a still-excellent .395 mark.
In 40 at-bats in Triple-A this season, Alvarez is batting .350 with a 1.019 OPS. Four of his 14 hits have gone for extra bases, and it’s encouraging to see him getting on base at a ridiculous .519 clip in the early going.
From a fantasy baseball perspective, Alvarez has the chance to bring power and high OBPs to a position that severely lacks said skillsets. While he doesn’t necessarily possess a standout skill, Alvarez will be a long-term boost to managers in points leagues needing a second baseman with above-average on-base ability and 15-homer pop.
High Floor: Jake Fraley
(OF, Cincinnati)
Outfielder Jake Fraley was dealt to the Reds in the 2019 deal that brought sluggers Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker to Seattle. With the Mariners, Fraley hit a paltry .196 and struggled to make high-quality contact.
Since joining the Reds, the left-handed batter has slashed .263/.339/.424 and posted a batting average of at least .250 every season. His increased production is the result of much-improved bat-to-ball skills, which have significantly raised his floor as a hitter.
In 2021, Fraley struck out in 26.8% of plate appearances and whiffed at 28.6% of the pitches he swung at. In 167 plate appearances this season, the Reds outfielder has reduced those marks to 20.4% and 23.7%, respectively.
Fraley is a great option for points-league fantasy baseball managers needing consistency. Since being traded to Cincinnati, Fraley has consistently posted .260/.340/.420-level production that we can expect to continue due to his improved whiff rates.
21-40% Rostered:
High Ceiling: Deyvison de los Santos
(1B, 3B, Miami)
If he reaches his lofty ceiling, Deyvison de los Santos will be the perfect power bat for fantasy baseball managers in rotisserie leagues. His profile as a hitter features the classic power-contact trade-off, which is the only inhibitor of his offensive production at the big-league level. Take a look at his MLB Pipeline scouting report:
“De Los Santos can crush balls as well as just about anyone in the Minors, with his quick right-handed swing, strength and mindset creating at least plus-plus raw power to all fields and producing exit velocities as high as 116 mph last year. But there are questions as to how well his pop will play in the Majors because of his undisciplined approach that resulted in a 46 percent chase rate in Double-A and Triple-A in 2024 -- matching the worst percentage in the big leagues (Ceddanne Rafaela).”
With over 100 minor league home runs since his professional debut in 2021, de los Santos has a powerful swing that comes from a large 6'1, 185 lbs frame. His hitter profile is typical for a corner infielder, which is good news for a Marlins team that has the third-worst wOBA from the hot corner this season. After mashing 40 home runs across Double-A and Triple-A last season, de los Santos flew up MLB Pipeline’s prospect rankings and is now the Marlins’ 13th-highest-ranked player.
According to MLB Pipeline, de los Santos has an MLB ETA of 2025. If we see him on the field later this season, he’ll instantly become a popular addition for fantasy baseball managers seeking significant power upside.
High Floor: Victor Caratini
(C, 1B, Houston)
Catchers aren’t typically high-floor bats, but Victor Caratini fits the mold perfectly. The backstop has a .265 batting average so far this season after posting a .269 mark in 2024 and a .259 batting average in 2023. His consistent bat-to-ball skills give him a higher floor than many catchers who are more prone to whiffs.
This year, Caratini is one of three catchers with at least seven home runs and a batting average north of .300. Will Smith of the Dodgers and Hunter Goodman of the Rockies are the other two, and both represented the National League during the All-Star game.
Caratini hits for a high average because of his excellent plate discipline. His chase rate, whiff rate, and strikeout rate all rank him in the top quartile of qualified MLB hitters. For managers in rotisserie leagues needing a batting average boost at catcher, Caratini is your guy.
41-60% Rostered:
High Ceiling: Troy Melton
(P, Detroit)
Troy Melton is technically only rostered in 31% of Fantrax leagues, but his potential is high enough to merit his placement here. Since June 1st, the Detroit Tigers’ starting rotation has the 13th-worst ERA in MLB. The bullpen has struggled to an even greater extent, posting the 6th-worst ERA in that timeframe.
Melton, whose stuff gives him a shot at a short-term role in the Detroit bullpen, would make an instant impact upon his promotion to the big leagues. Armed with a fastball that reaches the upper 90s and four secondary pitches, Melton has a 2.99 ERA this season in 75.1 innings pitched across Double-A and Triple-A.
Striking out 101 batters certainly hasn’t hurt his cause for a call-up, either. Once he is in the big leagues, he’ll likely have a shot at a starting rotation spot in the long term.
High Floor - Ernie Clement
(INF, Toronto)
While he had a rough month of July, Ernie Clement’s bat-to-ball skills and versatility make him a great waiver wire pickup for fantasy baseball managers in rotisserie leagues with strong power output. The Blue Jays infielder is batting .282 this season and has a .259 career batting average. Like Caratini, he succeeds because of his extremely low whiff and strikeout rates.
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 draft, Clement has established himself as a key cog in Toronto’s lineup this season. He has nearly 400 plate appearances and five home runs to boot despite a 13th-percentile average exit velocity. Based on his strong track record, look for him to maintain his success in the AVG column throughout the second half of the season.