After a long fantasy baseball season, the playoffs are just one week away. Teams are trying to fortify their postseason positions or simply to qualify. No question, getting this far and being in position to make a run at the championship is to be commended! However, several players hamper rosters by not carrying their weight. Simply stated, these players need dropping and there isn’t a second to waste! Truth be told, no player can be allowed to spoil a postseason bid.

After accomplishing that task, though, where does a manager turn to find replacements? The fantasy trade deadline has passed, and now the only solution is the wire. As has been the case all season, there’s no reason to worry as this fantasy baseball playoff pickups edition is here to help. As per usual, the ownership percentages are taken from ESPN. Let’s dive right in!

Position Player Fantasy Pickups

Jake McCarthy, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks, 6.4% Owned

As the season is wearing down, there is a bright spot to be found in the Arizona desert. That player’s name is Jake McCarthy. Having started 12 of the last 13 games, McCarthy’s presence on fantasy rosters needs to rise ASAP. All that he has done over his last seven games is hit .350, with a homer, five RBIs and three runs scored. Along for the ride was 22 fantasy points. With a 6.4 percent ownership rate, McCarthy is universally available across all leagues, big and small. Even if there were a larger pool to draw from, McCarthy would still stand out.

Across 66 games, McCarthy has had 212 plate appearances during which he is hitting .279-4-23. He has speed, as his ten stolen bases attests. Additionally, McCarthy has 13 doubles and 33 runs scored. His .345 BAbip probably means some regression is coming, but until it arrives, enjoy the ride. McCarthy’s hardH% is up over 20 percent from a year ago.

Truth be told, McCarthy wasn’t ready for major league pitching in 2021, which is why he only played in 24 games. That is no longer the case this season, especially lately. McCarthy can help a fantasy team’s playoff push. Add him today if outfield help is a fantasy need.

Albert Pujols, 1B/DH, St. Louis Cardinals, 20.2% Owned

Without doubt, it is clear that one of the greatest to ever play the game of baseball isn’t going gently into the sunset. Albert Pujols announced his continued presence in a big way the past week or so and doesn’t look like he is slowing down anytime soon. Just a glance at the numbers confirms this. On August 12th, Pujols went 4-5 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Two days later, Pujols homered twice and drove in four. Four days after that on the 18th, he had a homer among his two hits and drove in five. Pujols returned on the 20th and hit two more out of the park. Finally, he homered on Sunday.

As of Tuesday, over the past seven days, Pujols is hitting an out-of-sight .450-3-3. He also has 21 fantasy points. Of course, that is not sustainable, but ride the hot hand while it is happening. Simply stated, there aren’t many first basemen that are owned at 20 percent that can help at this point in the season. Admittedly, Pujols won’t be in the lineup every day, but it is assured that he will be whenever a southpaw starts for the opposition.

Perhaps he will be an everyday player going forward, however. Pujols has started seven of the last ten games as of this writing. The way he is currently swinging the bat, Pujols can help any fantasy team. His ownership rate has gone up seven percent in the past two days. Wait too long and Pujols will be gone. Adding him couldn’t be more recommended on this fantasy baseball playoff pickups edition.

Ha-Seong Kim, 2B/3B/SS, San Diego Padres, 11.6% Owned

By now, everyone is aware of the fact that superstar shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. is suspended for the rest of the season and into 2023 as well. Unquestionably, that is bad news for anyone that drafted and held Tatis all of this time. However, if done quickly enough, those owners can shift to Ha-Seong Kim and have a player that will be in the lineup the rest of the way. Kim certainly has the bat to justify his presence. Further, with the Padres having one of the best hitting teams around, Kim will generate significant stats for his managers in the last week of the fantasy season and into the playoffs.

Since August 12, Kim has three games with two hits or more. Furthermore, Kim has hits in ten of his last 13 games. Over the past week, Kim is hitting .350 with two doubles, four RBIs, two runs and a steal. Of course, those stats produce fantasy relevance, to the tune of 17 fantasy points in his last seven days. For the season, Kim is hitting .253-6-44, with 23 doubles, three triples and nine steals.

Significantly, Kim’s SO% and BB% have both improved over last season. Going further, his .299 BAbip indicates he can maintain his numbers through the end of the season without a slump threat in the wings. If anything, with just a little bit of luck, his production would see an improvement down the stretch. With his low ownership percentage, presence in a loaded lineup and his versatility, Kim is near the top of the list as a waiver add.

Lars Nootbaar, OF, St. Louis Cardinals, 17.4% Owned

Perhaps Pujols above isn’t available or first base isn’t a team need. If that is the case, cast a glance at his young teammate Lars Nootbaar. After going through an 0-11 stretch earlier this month, Nootbaar’s bat has been as hot as anyone’s. Since then, he has four games with at least two hits. Over his last seven games, Nootbaar is hitting .333 with two homers, two doubles, a triple and eight runs scored. Those totals have produced 35 fantasy points.

The Cardinals have one of the most lethal lineups in the game, and Nootbaar has been installed as the leadoff hitter. That sentence alone should have fantasy managers throughout the land scrambling to claim him from the wire with lightning speed. For the year, Nootbaar is hitting .247-8-28. Certainly, nothing exciting about that. However, much of that blame lies with a lost first half. Since July 5, Nootbaar has hits in 25 of his last 37 games.

St. Louis has enough confidence to use him as their leadoff man and that should be enough for fantasy managers as well. His BAbip is just .282, demonstrating that an improvement in his stats could well be on the way. His SO%, BB% and HardH% have all improved from a year ago. If he keeps this going, his ownership percentage will shoot through the roof. If OF is any kind of need going into the postseason, don’t be one of those managers left empty handed. Adding Nootbaar is highly recommended on this fantasy baseball playoff pickups edition.

Pitcher Fantasy Pickups

Alex Cobb, SP, San Fransisco Giants, 23% Owned

Without question, Alex Cobb has faced some difficult opponents in the month of August. Cobb has squared off against the Dodgers, Padres and the Rockies in Colorado in three of his last four starts. In each of those games, Cobb allowed three earned runs. Given the competition, that’s excellent pitching. Most importantly, Cobb pitched into the sixth inning or later in all of the three. Obviously, the Giants aren’t having a magical season as they did a year ago. The reason for that can’t be placed Cobb’s feet, however. He has pitched well and has gone over a month since he gave up more than three runs in a start.

Truthfully, his win-loss record won’t convince anyone of his ability, as it currently stands at 4-6. His ERA (4.16) or WHIP (1.31) won’t blow anyone’s doors off, either. Even so, as stated above, any pitcher that can survive the brutal stretch that Cobb has deserves fantasy attention. At this late point, there simply aren’t many starting pitchers sitting on the wire that can help a team get into the postseason, let alone win a championship. However, Cobb is available in many leagues and has generated positive fantasy points in every start since May 23.

Cobb’s BAbip is an unlucky .333. That mark is the highest he’s had since 2016. If that was to come down just a tad, his fantasy production would obviously increase. All of his statistics are in line with what he produced in 2021 with the Angels, in which Cobb had a 3.76 ERA. Any starter that has reached the sixth inning in eight of his last nine starts has fantasy value. Especially one that is over 75 percent available. If your team is teetering on the playoff brink and starting pitching is a need, act quickly and add Cobb today.

Drew Smyly, SP, Chicago Cubs, 9.3% Owned

With the Cubs sprinting in the wrong direction in the standings, it might be difficult to believe that one of their pitchers would receive a recommendation on this fantasy baseball playoff pickups article. However, the production of Drew Smyly demands his position here. All Smyly has done in his last four starts is allow only three earned runs on 17 hits with 23 strikeouts and five walks. As noted above, the Cardinals are one of the best hitting teams in baseball and Smyly held them to a single run in seven innings. Unfortunately for Smyly, the Cubs were shut out and he was dealt with the loss.

Just about any other start like that would result in Smyly getting the win, which would have resulted in 19 fantasy points. Even with that as the case, Smyly has produced 72 points in those four starts. Any fantasy manager would take that from an ace of the staff, let alone a number three or four starter. At less than ten percent owned, Smyly will surely be available in all but the largest of leagues. Don’t let the fact he has won only five games, or a pedestrian strikeout rate, scare you off.

All of Cobb’s stats are significantly improved over last season. Whether you look at BA, OBP, OPS, HR%, HardH% or BB%, the numbers are better in 2022. One word of caution: if Smyly is facing an N.L. West opponent, send him to the bench. In Cobb’s last three appearances against clubs in that division, he was wound up with negative fantasy points. Against any other team, however, Smyly is good to go. If Cobb is not available, turn to Smyly. He can help push a fantasy roster into the postseason.

Dean Kremer, SP, Baltimore Orioles, 7.6% Owned

Before diving straight to the bottom for this recommendation, a word of warning is necessary. Adding a starting pitcher when the next opponent is the Houston Astros isn’t usually a good strategy. That being said, the numbers demand that rescuing Dean Kremer from waiver purgatory be given serious consideration. Over his past four starts, Kremer has lasted at least into the sixth in all of them. Further, he has allowed seven runs during that stretch, including four in one game. Kremer has given his fortunate managers 20 fantasy points in two of the four.

Baltimore has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2022 season, and Kremer has come out of the blue as big as anyone. For the year, Kremer is 5-4 with a tidy 3.45 ERA. For certain, he isn’t a strikeout pitcher, but provides the necessary stats in all other areas. Kremer was an absolute disaster in 2021 but has turned his fortunes around like few others in the game this year. One of the most significant factors for that is the fact that although he has already pitched more innings than last season, Kremer has walked fewer batters.

Kremer carries a .327 BAbip, indicating he hasn’t been the luckiest pitcher in the world. As atrocious as Kremer was last season, the BAbip against him was only .297. A correction to that figure the rest of the way would only enhance Kremer’s fantasy value. With the exception of SO%, Kremer’s stats are all improved over 2021. He has a quality team behind him, and he is no longer a rookie.

As such, he should have no innings restriction concerns down the stretch. As stated at the top, he faces the Astros this weekend. Even so, Kremer is a quality add, especially for a manager that needs every avenue to win this week’s matchup. If needed, pull the trigger.

Zach Davies, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks, 4% Owned

Last, but certainly not least, we find Zach Davies. Obviously, the Diamondbacks are going nowhere this season, but their starting pitching has been better than advertised. Much credit for that has to go to Davies. Over his last four starts, Davies has allowed a grand total of five earned runs, three of them in a game at Colorado. Don’t search victory totals to determine Davies’ value, as he only has two for the season.

Of course, much of that blame has to go to the team he plays for. His ERA (3.86) and WHIP (1.19) are both excellent. Both marks are a significant improvement over a year ago, in which Davies lost 12 games for the Cubs. It should come as no surprise his other stats are markedly improved as well. Davies has never been a strikeout pitcher. No news flash there. However, as a number four or five starter on a fantasy team, there is value here.

If one of the above starters are available, the search should begin there. In smaller leagues, there are likely better targets than Davies on the wire. Even so, if push comes to shove and the waiver cupboard is bare, shine a light on Davies. He can help keep a pitching staff afloat until an injured starter returns. As has been said many times, the best ability is availability. Davies has that in spades. At the very least, he can be used as a streamer. If your team’s starting pitching is vulnerable, Davies can solve the problem. Don’t hesitate to use him.

The Last Word

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy baseball trade market analysis edition! As always, I welcome any and all suggestions, comments and input from my readers. Have players to add to the list? Let’s discuss! Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea. Please feel free to share this article. Check out the latest Belly Up Fantasy Live Baseball Show available here on Spreaker. Tune in for the show every Sunday night at 8 PM EST. Be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports for all the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL happenings and the latest sports news!