Welcome to this week’s edition of the Stolen Base SAGNOF reports. After a week off in the Wisconsin Northwoods. I am back to update you on some SB sweetness and thoughts as we turn to the closing weeks of the season.
The time is drawing nigh where we need to start looking at categories in our leagues and figuring out where we can squeeze a few more points onto the board. In daily leagues, we always want to maximize ABs, but what direction we go with those ABs should now be getting dictated by where we can get points.
Below are a few names I am going to throw out that are available in more than 50% of ESPN leagues who could find you a few extra SB points. I’ll also get you your usual weekly dose of day specific options in the Speed Dials section below.
Xavier Edwards – There shouldn’t be many competent leagues left where Edwards hasn’t yet made it onto a roster. Fortunately, many people have already moved on to football and he is still out there in plenty of places. His sprint speed isn’t elite, but he doesn’t have much soft contact and he hits the ball hard on the ground. This leads to a high BABIP which translates to lots of chances on the bases with his low K-Rate and High BB-Rate. He has a .433 OBP in 165 Plate appearances and is 16 of 18 on the bases. Grab him in all leagues if available.
Jacob Young – Yes he hits at the bottom of a not so great lineup. He has stolen 27 bases however and is playing every day rolling the lineup over to CJ Abrams. If runs (62 of them) or steals are a need for you I highly recommend you pick him up and get him in your lineup every day.
Tyler Fitzgerald – Another guy who shouldn’t be available anywhere, but somehow is. He has 12 Home Runs and 12 steals in 185 plate appearances… does math in head for full season… he’s got 40/40 potential.
Zach Neto – He has been moved up in the lineup and now hitting 2nd every day. Has solid contact rates and decent power to go with his stolen base abilities. Certainly could be a 25/25 guy and is available in 75% of leagues. Plenty of rosters could use him so what are you waiting for?
Here’s Our Stolen Base Leaderboard through Monday August 12th
The Speed Dials:
0 for 4 on the Speed Dials last time out.
Overall, that puts us at 13 for 60 on the season.
Remember these are exact dates to pick up and stream steals guys in daily leagues. Reminder these stats and analysis includes 2023 and 2024 data.
Braves vs Giants – Wednesday August 14th
Whit Merrifield – This guy was Zach Neto before Neto was. The bat has lost some ability, but the legs haven’t with a 29.0 Ft/Sec sprint speed and 40 steals over the last two seasons including 14 in limited action this year. He’ll face recently returned Robbie Ray who he has 2 stolen bases off of recently. Ray is allowing .296 SB/IP so far. Patrick Bailey is the best catcher in MLB at cutting down runners, but if he doesn’t get Tuesday off he will for sure sit the day game on Wednesday. Curt Casili is middle of the pack.
Red Sox vs Orioles – Thursday August 15th
Pick a Red Sock – Tough day on Thursday with a lot of pitchers who do a great job holding runners. I’m gonna look at either David Hamilton or Ceddanne Rafaela to swipe a bag off Corbin Burnes if they can get on. Burnes isn’t great at holding runners but limits traffic very well. He has 90% success rate against and a .131 SB/IP even with his low WHIP. Adley Rutschman and James McCann are both middle of the pack catchers at cutting down runners.
Blue Jays vs Cubs – Friday August 16th
Daulton Varsho – His contact skills haven’t come around as hoped, but he’s still fast at 28.4 Ft/sec and is 26 of 35 in stolen base attempts the last two seasons. He will face Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs Friday. The Professor allows 85% of base stealers to succeed and has a .149 SB/IP. Christian Bethancourt is #4 on the Catcher Throwing Leaderboard, but the main man behind the plate Miguel Amaya cuts down only 10% of runners and has one of the worst Pop Times in all of MLB.
Twins vs Rangers – Saturday August 17th
Willi Castro – The leadoff man who steals bases like it’s his job cause it’s supposed to be is available in almost 65% of leagues. He hasn’t been doing a great job of…well his job this season only 12 of 19 on the bases. He has slowed way down to 27.8 Ft/sec as well. So why do I think he gets one Saturday? Cause Tyler Mahle has already allowed a few this season in less than ten innings. Let’s grab Willi on Saturday for a steal.
