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Fantasy Baseball Radar #14: Mighty Mariners

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The Mariners are the best team in the American League. What would be a hot take a month ago has become more and more of a reality in the past months.

 

After taking 2 out of 3 against the defending-champion Atlanta Braves and splitting with the Padres, the Mariners enter into possibly the easiest stretch of games on the season. The Mariners are poised to close the 2022 regular season with a strong showing. In less platitudinal terms, it would not surprise me in the slightest if Seattle is able to close out the rest of the season on a 20-0 run. Now when that happens, maybe those vegas money lines get a bit less egregious (+2500 for the best team in the AL since mid-June?!). There are a couple of Mariners on the waiver wires who should end the fantasy playoffs on a strong note.

 

Eugenio Suarez (68-83% rostered)

Geno has really only had true appeal in the roto format but his recent burst in power has made him one of the best hitters in fantasy. In the last 7 days, Suarez has hit 5 long balls with a BA of .350. Suarez has put up +6 ESPN standard fantasy point outings in the past week, with two games above 12+ points. Suarez has come up clutch for the Mariners in the 3-spot and there’s no reason to think that Suarez won’t keep this up for the rest of the year. Start Suarez if it’s at all possible.

 

Cal Raleigh (18-40% rostered)

I visited the idea of rostering Cal Raleigh in last week’s fantasy baseball radar on league winners, so first check that out. Ok, you’re back now, good article, I know. Anyways, while Raleigh hasn’t exactly wowed since that piece was released, he has made it through the most treacherous part of the Mariners’ schedule. He should get through the next two weeks scot-free and should return to the production we saw prior to the Braves series. Stay strong and stick with Cal Raleigh at the catcher position.

 

Carlos Santana (4-42% rostered)

In one of the earlier moves of the trade deadline, Carlos Santana made his way to the Mariners. Since that move, Santana has batted under the Mendoza line with some of the worst numbers of his solid career. Santana played himself out of regular playing time but with an injury to starter Mitch Haniger, he has returned to regular playing time. With playing time recaptured, Santana has slugged 3 homers against top-tier opponents in the cleanup spot. The MLB vet has the experience and pedigree to take advantage of situations like these. Santana should be rostered in deeper leagues moving forward.

 

JP Crawford (21-67% rostered)

Crawdaddy, as they call him, has been one of the steadiest presences on this Mariners team since his arrival to the team. The Mariners’ everyday shortstop has regressed since a first half where he put up a respectable .265 BA. JP Crawford has become another Mariners player who’s under the Mendoza line for the second half. Adding on, Crawford’s defense has dropped off significantly as the former gold glover is currently the 2nd worst defensive SS by the OAA metric. Even with all those struggles, JP Crawford is still the Mariners everyday shortstop. The former first-rounder has never been known for his bat but he holds a steady one that should produce against mediocre opponents.

 

Sam Haggerty (1-2% rostered)

In what’s been a stellar offensive season for the Mariners rotational player, the September of Haggerty has been atrocious. Haggerty carries a 137 OPS+ but he’s not breaking .190 as a BA this year. Again, despite all of that Haggerty has taken significant playing time from Jessie Winker. Swaggerty has become a fan favorite and should feed off that energy, especially when the Mariners make it back to Seattle for the last few series against the Tigers, A’s, and Rangers.

 

George Kirby (61-72% rostered)

The rookie starting pitcher is a big reason why the Mariners are even in this good of a position. Kirby has an above-average ERA+ of 124 on the season but his second-half ranks among the league’s best. In 9 games since the all-star break, Kirby has won all of his starts while surrendering no more than two runs in all but one outing. Kirby might be available in your league, and if he is I’d suggest you scoop him up, posthaste.

 

Marco Gonzales (34-52% rostered)

In a season that is best described as average-at-best, I’d imagine some are wondering why Gonzales is even on the list. A 95 ERA+ and FIP of 4.94 doesn’t scream fantasy baseball league winner, but hear me out. Gonzales has matchups against the Angels, Royals, and Athletics; all easy opponents that Gonzales shouldn’t reasonably be struggling with. If you’re a starter short, Gonzales can give your roster an extra punch to close out the season.

 

Paul Sewald (42-74% rostered)

When dealing with closers, all you need to think about are saves and ERA. It’s a deceptively easy position to evaluate, which makes it all the more puzzling that Sewald isn’t widely rostered. He is a sub-3 ERA closer for a bonafide playoff contender. I’ll chalk it up to ignorance, but if Sewald is still available I highly suggest a pickup.

 

See last week’s fantasy radar here

*Picture accreditation: Ian D’Andrea from Philadelphia, PA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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