These are the fantasy baseball risers fallers as the sport steams ahead into the last week of the season before the playoffs begin. The time is now to make that critical move if a playoff berth is at the door or to nail down a division championship. Belly Up Sports is here to help and thanks can be expressed with a gift card or just a little appreciation. Let’s dive in, shall we?

These Players are Rising Like a Hot Air Balloon

Kevin Pillar, Outfielder, Colorado Rockies

You might have noticed that Kevin Pillar was traded to the Colorado Rockies before the deadline. It’s important to note this because any hitter gets an immediate bump in the ratings when their home park is a mile above sea level. It only took one game for Pillar to get hot. After going 0-3 in his Rockies’ debut, Pillar went 2-5 with two runs, two RBIs and a stolen base against the Giants. That is after he had two hits in each of his last two games in Boston.

For the season, Pillar is hitting .272-4-15. He has hits in four of his last five games. Also, Pillar has two hits in four games since August 23rd. This is a man that is poised to do some damage at the plate for Denver and he would look awfully good in any fantasy lineup. He is owned in 27.1% of leagues and that will certainly shoot way up soon. See who isn’t hitting on your team and make the exchange.

J.P. Crawford, Shortstop, Seattle Mariners

Admittedly, there hasn’t been much going right for the Mariners this season. Just a few days after their outstanding catcher Austin Nola was highlighted here, he was traded to the Padres. There wouldn’t seem to be much left to talk about in Seattle’s shipwreck of a season. But, alas, there is, and that player is J.P. Crawford. His season stats won’t blow anyone’s socks off (.250-1-9), but his performance in the last few games would.

Crawford has hits in six of his last seven games, with two hits in three of them. He has his first home run of the season and four doubles in that span. He also has five stolen bases. Earlier in the season, Crawford had an eight game hitting streak. When he gets hot, any fantasy manager would want him on their team. Make the move now before Crawford cools down and makes it on a drop list later on. Crawford is definitely a riser in this week’s fantasy baseball risers fallers list.

Miguel Cabrera, First Base, Detroit Tigers

It is certainly hard to believe after the career that Miguel Cabrera has had that he would be on a fantasy waiver wire at this point in a season. Yet, here we are, as he is only owned in 17.4% of leagues. Just last week, I stated that Detroit has one of the worst hitting teams in the majors. It is unclear if Cabrera saw those comments or not, but it sure seems as if he took them personally.

During the last week, Cabrera has hits in five straight games with a homer, five RBIs and four runs scored. After a day off Thursday, Detroit plays every day until Monday, September 14. Cabrera will have plenty of chances for at bats during that stretch. His stats will certainly improve from the .240-5-20 they are now. Don’t miss out on a Hall of Fame player. Cabrera may never be on a fantasy roster again after this season.

Ross Stripling, Starting Pitcher, Toronto Blue Jays

Another player traded before the deadline, Ross Stripling went from the Dodgers to the Blue Jays. After being used as a swing man in his Los Angeles career, Stripling will have a spot in Toronto’s rotation. Maybe knowing his place and getting a fresh start will help turn around his less than stellar season so far.

How less than stellar? Stripling went 3-1 but with a 5.61 ERA for Los Angeles in seven games. His problem was 11 walks and 12 home runs allowed in 33.2 innings. That homer total was the highest in the National League. But, enough of the bad news. After a disastrous start against the Mariners in which Stripling gave up six earned runs on eight hits, he allowed five runs in his last two starts.

It’s not often that a pitcher with this much talent that can be at the top of a playoff contender’s roster can be found on the waiver wire. That opportunity exists. If pitching help is needed, go get him before his ownership rises over the 50% it is now.

Colin Moran, 1B/3B/DH, Pittsburgh Pirates

How far do we need to look back to see if Colin Moran is a hot hitter? in the last week, Moran is hitting .429 and has fewer strikeouts (four) than walks (five). Not convinced? In the last 15 games, he is hitting .348 with a .455 OBP. For the season, Moran is hitting .278-7-13,

There are quite a few Pirates hitters that should be in minors right now, but Moran is not one of them. He has multi position eligibility and is only owned in 18.4% of leagues. That is far too low for a hitter of this quality. Moran needs a home. Won’t you open your fantasy roster door and let him in?

Stone Cold Players Needing to Hit the Street

Sean Doolittle, Relief Pitcher, Washington Nationals

To say that this season has been difficult for Sean Doolittle is an understatement of epic proportions. He enters play this weekend with a 0-2 record with a ghastly 8.44 ERA and an almost unheard of 2.44 WHIP. His fastball has also been timed at only 91.1 MPH, which is a far cry below the 93.5 average from last season. He has also had injury problems earlier in the year.

The Nationals as a whole have been disappointing after winning the World Series. With fewer leads to protect, Doolittle probable won’t see a lot of action down the stretch. He is still owned in 36.9% of leagues and that needs to decrease immediately. Doolittle isn’t going to help your fantasy team, Jettison him today. Doolittle is definitely a faller in this week’s fantasy baseball risers fallers list.

Wilson Ramos, Catcher, New York Mets

It is true that Wilson Ramos has been a reliable fantasy catcher for a few years now, including last season. Ramos hit .288-14-73 for New York in 2019, the third straight year that he hit at least 14 homers and five out of the last six. That kind of performance had many fantasy managers adding him to their roster. Too bad that it is 2020 and Ramos train hasn’t left the station yet.

Ramos is hitting (can we call it that?) .235-2-8 and has only five extra base hits on the season. Even worse, the Mets made a trade for Robinson Chirinos from the Rangers and he will draw starts away from Ramos. Yet despite all of that, Ramos is owned in 61.8% of leagues. Refer to last week’s recommendations regarding Isiah Kiner-Falefa if catching help is needed. Kiner-Falefa is still around 50% owned. Pick him up and send Ramos straight to his room without any dinner.

Jean Segura, 2B/SS/3B, Philadelphia Phillies

A lot of the Phillies players are on the move right now, but that does not include Jean Segura. He comes into the weekend hitting a dismal .231-4-12. He has one hit in his last 14 at bats after a six game hitting streak. Segura has cooled off considerably and it looks like it is time to move on.

A player with multi position eligibility always has some value, but he has to get on base for it to matter. Segura isn’t doing that at the moment. There is a player on the wire that is swinging the bat. Find him and send Segura down the road.

Adam Eaton, Outfielder, Washington Nationals

Another National having a nightmare of a season, Adam Eaton might need to seek a therapist when 2020 is over. For the year, Eaton is hitting just .220-3-15 with a sorry .277 OBP. Most disturbingly, Eaton only has one stolen base. In addition, Eaton is zero for his last nine.

If he isn’t hitting or stealing bases, there is absolutely no reason to keep Eaton on any fantasy roster. And now it is reported that he jammed his knee running the bases Thursday and is day to day. Yet, Eaton is owned in 69.5% of leagues. Send him to the showers so he can soak away the disaster. Don’t delay.

Carlos Santana, 1B/DH, Cleveland Indians

For a guy who is supposed to be a designated hitter, Carlos Santana fails that description. The last week has been especially brutal. In his last six games, Santana is a paltry two for his last 26 with no homers and no RBIs. The home runs and RBIs are what Cleveland and fantasy owners were looking for out of Santana and he just hasn’t produced.

For the season, Santana is hitting just .205-4-17. There are probably a dozen players that qualify at first base and DH that can outproduce that, if not more. Remember, this is the last week of the regular season and then the playoffs start, so there’s no time to waste. There is no reason to keep a bust of a player like Santana around. Find his replacement swiftly with regret.

That’s it for this edition of the fantasy baseball risers fallers list. Have a great week seven and please share with me if there are any recommendations on players to add to or remove from the list. I will see you next time as the sun rises on the fantasy playoffs!

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