The baseball All-Star break is behind us and the second half is underway! The first half was an unpredictable roller coaster ride of memorable plays, outstanding players, injuries and disappointments. Managers must gear up for the stretch run and the fantasy playoffs. Rosters need to be fortified. Which players are the priority adds? This fantasy baseball pickups post All-Star week edition will provide the answers! Without another second’s delay, let’s dive right in!

Logan Gilbert, SP, Seattle Mariners, 37% Owned

Fantasy managers are becoming much more familiar with Logan Gilbert, as well they should. His last start before the break against the Yankees clearly demonstrates the pitcher that Gilbert has become. How does seven innings of one hit shutout baseball sound? Even against a New York offense that hasn’t been firing on all cylinders this season, that stat line is just pure dominance. Even more impressive, Gilbert struck out eight Yankee hitters and did not issue a free pass.

Gilbert’s Sunday start against the Angels was more of the same. He pitched 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with nine strikeouts and two walks. Gilbert has now pitched into the sixth inning or later in six or his last eight appearances. Only three times has an opponent scored more than three earned runs with Gilbert on the mound. For the season, Gilbert has a 4-2 record with a 3.50 ERA and an excellent 0.98 WHIP. Gilbert is a classic strikeout pitcher, with 62 in 54 innings. There is a zero percent chance that Gilbert is available for a second after this is read. Jump to the head of the line now and enjoy the show.

Drew Smyly, SP, Atlanta Braves, 29.9% Owned

How does it sound to know that there is a pitcher that has won his last five decisions that is heavily available? It may be hard to believe, but that is the case with Atlanta’s Drew Smyly. There have been plenty of problems so far this season for the Braves. However, Smyly has been a nice surprise. He exited Sunday’s start against the Rays with a 7-3 record with 74 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched. His ERA (4.50) and WHIP (1.33) are high, no question about that.

While that is true, both stats have been falling for Smyly since early June. He has pitched into the sixth inning in four of his last five starts. Further, Smyly has given up just seven earned runs in those starts. Smyly is a veteran player that knows how to pitch. If Atlanta has any hope of creating momentum in the second half, they will need all of their players to step up. Smyly is quite capable of doing that and helping a fantasy team in the process. He is certainly worth a look in all formats.

Chad Green, RP, New York Yankees, 27% Owned

Without question, everything was looking up for Chad Green the Sunday before the All-Star break. While the Yankees have certainly had their issues in the first half, Green wasn’t one of them. He had been a solid reliever in an above average bullpen. With a flash, that all changed against the Astros. Green allowed an unimaginable four runs while getting just one out as Houston rallied to win. That was three more runs than Green had allowed in his last 11 appearances.

Green was charged with the loss, his first since June fifth. Since that date, Green had earned three wins, three holds and a save. Further, Green pitched more than an inning in seven of those games. Even with that hiccup, the Yankees will have faith in Green in the second half and so should fantasy managers.

Green dominates Boston

To demonstrate that, Green pitched Sunday against Boston and fired 1.2 innings without allowing a hit. Further, he struck out three. For those looking for relief pitcher help on their rosters, Green gets the highest of recommendations on this fantasy baseball pickups post All-Star week edition.

Dane Dunning, SP, Texas Rangers, 12.4% Owned

Nothing much has gone right for the Texas Rangers this season. The team is in last place and looking to possibly trade their some of their All-Star players. Even so, Dane Dunning is worth a look. Dunning went into the break having only allowed three earned runs in his last three appearances. In his last two starts, he allowed just one earned run.

In those starts, Dunning matched his 14 innings pitched with 14 strikeouts. For the season, Dunning has struck out 85 hitters in 79 innings. Any pitcher that is averaging over a strikeout an inning demands attention by fantasy managers. That is especially true with so many pitchers on the injured list. If no one will give up a quality starter in trade, the wire is the lone place to find reinforcements. Dunning will not give many innings, but with his availability, he can help a fantasy roster. His next start is Tuesday in Detroit.

Garrett Whitlock, SP/RP, Boston Red Sox, 9.7% Owned

Without doubt, those needing relief help should look no further than Garrett Whitlock from Boston. The Red Sox have been one of the biggest surprises of the season and Whitlock has been a huge part of their success. After pitching two dominant innings against the Yankees on Sunday, Whitlock is 3-1 with an microscopic 1.38 ERA. Whitlock’s WHIP is an excellent 1.05 and he has struck out 50 in 45.2 innings.

Other than a melt down against Detroit on May fifth, Whitlock has been a shutdown reliever for Boston. His ERA in April: 0.00, June: 0.66 and so far in July: 1.44. In addition, Whitlock has pitched more than an inning in eight of his last ten appearances. True, he is not the closer for Boston, but he is certainly the bridge in the middle innings. There’s nothing more a manager can ask from a reliever than to pitch multiple dominant innings several times a week. His ownership rate won’t stay below 10 percent forever. Managers must act today.

Mike Zunino, C, Tampa Bay Rays, 30.3% Owned

The fact that Mike Zunino was named to the All-Star team for the American League clearly shows how weak the position is in baseball these days. All one has to do is look at his batting average of .195 and his OBP of .290 to confirm that. The situation at catcher on most fantasy rosters is probably even more dire. That fact alone earns Zunino this baseball pickups post All-Star recommendation. Whatever else that can be said about Zunino, the man can hit home runs.

Zunino entered the break with 19 homers, 37 RBIs and 34 runs scored. The home runs are second in baseball, the RBIs fifth. He had a hit Sunday against Atlanta. Tampa Bay looks like they are in the race to stay for the division title. Zunino will be in their lineup on a regular basis. That is the bottom line for catcher on fantasy rosters. Any manager with a need at the position should make a move before the shelf is once again bare.

Jeimer Candelario, 1B/3B, Detroit Tigers, 24.1% Owned

It is easy to see that Jeimer Candelario wasn’t having the greatest of luck entering Sunday’s game against Minnesota. He was going through a mini slump, having just one hit in his last 12 at bats before digging in against the Twins. Candelario looks he is heating up again with two hits, including a home run and three RBIs. Before the slump, he had hits in seven straight games. Fantasy managers can be sure that Candelario can swing the bat.

For the season, Candelario is hitting .264-6-27. He has a very good OBP of .347. In the last month, Candelario has had at least two hits in a game four times. He has scored 39 runs. Detroit has been playing much better of late and Candelario will certainly be in their lineup on a regular basis. His duel eligibility at first and third is also a big plus on a fantasy roster. He needs to have a home in more than 25 percent of leagues. Give him a look see today.

Max Stassi, C, Los Angeles Angels, 17.1% Owned

If Zunino above is not available, perhaps Max Stassi of the Angels can fill a fantasy manager’s needs. Stassi is much more available than Zunino and has a pretty good bat himself. He has hits in seven of his last ten games and is hitting .500 in his last seven. For the season, Stassi is hitting .301-7-17 in 123 at bats. His OBP is an excellent .381.

Friday’s game against the Mariners show what kind of hitter Stassi is. He went two for four with a solo homer. Since the beginning of June, Stassi is hitting .302/.402/.578 with six home runs in 90 at bats. That sounds pretty hot, no? When Mike Trout rejoins the Angels, they will have a pretty potent lineup. Even without him, their lineup has been solid. Stassi should have plenty of chances to drive in runs down the stretch. No question, managers must be mindful of him and pick him up if there is a need.

Leury Garcia, 2B/SS/OF, Chicago White Sox, 16.3% Owned

The Houston Astros kept Leury Garcia hitless over the weekend and he might have lost some fantasy appeal to managers in the process. However, he still warrants attention as he was a very hot hitter before the break. Prior to the All-Star festivities, Garcia had two or more hits in three straight games. Additionally, Garcia had hits in four games in a row and six of eight. During that span, Garcia drove in 11 runs and scored six times.

For the year, Garcia is hitting .257-3-39 with 37 runs scored. Before taking a seat Sunday, Garcia had played in ten straight games. Reinforcements off the injury list are coming to the White Sox. However, until they arrive, Garcia can help a fantasy team with his versatility and availability. Garcia can help a team in the infield or outfield and managers need to do a price check and pick him up while he is still available.

Harold Ramirez, OF, Cleveland Indians, 4.9% Owned

A common complaint heard about waiver wire articles is that the players recommended just don’t seem to be available. There is no concern about that when it comes to Harold Ramirez of the Indians, who is owned in less than five percent of leagues. With Ramirez’ performance over his last three games, however, that statistic needs to change and fast. In his last 11 at bats, Ramirez has five hits.

Also in that span, Ramirez has two runs scored and an RBI. For the season, Ramirez is hitting .280-6-23 with 13 doubles and 24 runs scored. Managers may not be too excited about the prospect of having Ramirez on their fantasy team. Even so, in larger leagues there may not be many options. If outfield help is needed, Ramirez warrants a kick of the tires.

Other players worth a look:

Luis Urias is almost certainly not available in most leagues, but managers need to at least check. There are few, if any, hitters hotter than Urias, who had two hits in all three weekend games against the Reds.

Wilmer Flores had two hits Saturday against the Cardinals. That is the end of the good news, however, as they are the only hits Flores has had in his last 17 at bats. Even so, Flores is worth keeping an eye on as he had hits in four straight games before that, including a homer. He could heat up again and managers need to have their finger on the buy button when that happens.

Everything is looking up at the moment for the Brewers and pitcher Eric Lauer. In his last three starts, Lauer has only allowed two earned runs while pitching into the sixth in each of them. Lauer us available as any starter and definitely should be monitored by all managers in all formats.

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy baseball pickups All-Star week edition! As always, I welcome input and suggestions from all of my readers. Have other players to include? Disagree with the selections? Let’s discuss! Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea, and be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports and Picks for all the latest MLB and sports news!

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