T.J. House -- House turned in a gem on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals, going 7 one-run innings while striking out 5 and walking none. House is an interesting pitcher who undoubtedly has a future in the big leagues, but his ultimate role is up in the air. He's a lefty who throws from a low arm angle (not quite sidearm, but definitely low three-quarters) and uses a sinker and slider as his main pitches. That screams LOOGY, but they are good enough pitches (plus he has a change-up) that he's managed to have decent success against righties this season too (like he did in this contest). There is always the chance he gets blown-up in starts by righties, but for those desperate for pitching, House is a sneaky-good pickup over the final few weeks, especially if you're careful about playing the matchups.
Adam Dunn -- The Oakland A's acquired Adam Dunn from the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Though Dunn was only starting versus righties for the Sox, Oakland is sure to keep up such a platoon and is unlikely to give him *every* start against righties. They have an incredibly crowded roster that will only get more crowded when John Jaso returns, so how much playing time Dunn gets is in severe question, especially since he's said he'll retire at the end of the year. Further lowering Dunn's value is the extreme shift in home parks. Though Dunn has been a favorite of mine through the years as a source of cheap power, Oakland's O.co Coliseum decreases HR% by 43% over U.S. Cellular. Dunn only looks like an option as a spot starter in deep mixed leagues with daily transactions and AL-only formats at this point.
Mookie Betts -- Betts went 2-for-4 with a double, a run, and an RBI on Sunday. Though he was only hitting .247 in 93 plate appearances entering the game, Betts is a legitimate prospect and should be a valuable fantasy contributor for years to come. He profiles as an ideal leadoff hitter with the ability to draw a walk, a good hit tool, and plenty of speed. His value for the rest of the 2014 season is a bit in question since he hasn't shown an ability to adjust to big league pitching quite yet. This will keep him at the bottom of the order for the final weeks, and the regular playing time he's been getting could conceivably be cut into with rosters expanding and Jackie Bradley returning to the mix. He's worth a flier for those in need of speed in deep mixed leagues and is a must-own in AL-only formats, especially in leagues where he qualifies at second base.
Avisail Garcia -- Garcia went 2-for-4 on Sunday with a walk, a double, 2 RBI, and a run. It was one of only a few good games since he returned from the DL in the middle of the month (he's triple-slashed .196/.236/.392 with 3 home runs), but it's unlikely to be the last. Garcia is plenty talented and may just need to shake off the rust. He has good power, a little speed, and is a terrific spot, contextually-speaking. He'll play half of his games in hitter-friendly U.S. Cellular, and the Sox are regularly hitting him in the middle of the order. He's worth a grab in deep mixed leagues, especially if you're in need of some power.
Send your fantasy questions my way on Twitter (@DerekCarty).
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