September 17, 2017

Kyle Bishop looks at players whose fantasy owners should considering cutting or trading for Week 25 of the 2017 fantasy baseball season. These players are potential busts.

Welcome back to the Cut List. Each weekend from now until the end of the season, I’ll be offering my thoughts on players who don’t deserve to keep drawing a nonexistent salary on your fake baseball teams.

Now that we’re beyond most league’s trade deadlines, the only way to improve your team is via the waiver wire. It’s a sprint now, not a marathon. Ratchet up your ruthlessness accordingly.

In addition to the players on the Cut List, we'll also spotlight a player on the Hot Seat: Someone whose situation is worth monitoring, even if it’s not time to hit the ejector seat just yet. Without further ado, here are your Week 25 cut candidates.

The Cut List: Week 25

Yasmani Grandal, C, Los Angeles Dodgers

Grandal has gone cold at the worst possible time for fantasy owners. He’s managed just one extra-base hit, and seven hits total, since August 24. Over that span, he’s logged a putrid .383 OPS while striking out nearly 40 percent of the time. Oh, and that extra-base hit was a home run on September 5…which currently stands as his most recent hit, period. These struggles, as well as the Dodgers’ assured playoff berth, have opened the door to more playing time for backup Austin Barnes.

Mike Moustakas, 3B, Kansas City Royals

Moustakas has had a career year in 2017, with 36 homers, career-highs in runs and RBI, and a solid .273 batting average. Unfortunately, very little of that production has come recently. Moustakas has just one homer in the last month, and during that stretch he’s hitting just .218/.289/.310. He hasn’t driven in a run in over two weeks, and has scored just once in that time.

Jon Lester, SP, Chicago Cubs

Typically one of fantasy’s safer investments, Lester hasn’t lived up to that standing this season. While he’s still striking out a batter per inning, the veteran’s walk and home run rates have increased in each of the last four seasons, with a much more pronounced jump this time around. Lester will fall short of 200 innings for just the second time in his career and the first time since 2011. After posting a 2.74 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over the preceding three years, those marks check in at 4.30 and 1.31, respectively, in 2017.

The Hot Seat: Week 25

Chris Archer, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

In his September 2 start against the White Sox, Archer allowed home runs to the first two batters he faced. They were the only batters he faced that night, as he was pulled with forearm tightness. Both team and player downplayed the injury, and Archer has made his last two starts as scheduled. Unfortunately, both were poor showings. The Rays’ ace has been battered for 11 runs (nine earned) and 15 hits over just seven innings. While those matchups were tough (Yankees and Red Sox), Archer’s schedule doesn’t get any easier from here. Assuming no changes, he’ll face the Cubs and Yankees in his next two starts. Both are top-5 offenses. It’s tough to trust him right now against that level of competition.

Last Week

Matt Carpenter’s home run on Saturday was the high point of an otherwise quiet week.

Matt Kemp hit a grand slam on Wednesday, but didn’t do much else and is now day-to-day with another hamstring injury.

Alex Wood fired six shutout innings and struck out eight in a win over the Nationals.

Andrew McCutchen hit three home runs in five games. His post-July numbers still look ugly, though.

More Week 25 Lineup Prep