Here are a few of the recent trends in the fantasy baseball world, for anyone who needs assistance in addressing the waiver wire in their hometown leagues. Or, if you need some extra encouragement to pull up that bench starter on your NFBC squads. Whatever the case, here are some players on the rise…
PITCHING
Garrett Crochet (CWS – RP) – I’m using Yahoo designations on positions. Crochet is 69% rostered, but was only 38% started on the day after his second turn. Some were skittish about that Atlanta Braves lineup–myself included–but it was much ado about nothing, as Crochet shoved against one of the best lineups in baseball. He gets the Kansas City Royals today, and is among the strongest adds in the pitching world right now. Maybe this reliever-turned-starter experiment won’t last…but what if it does? Ride him until the wheels fall off. Given the rash of pitcher injuries on the young season, Crochet shouldn’t be available in over 30% of leagues, no matter what platform you play on.
Brady Singer (KC – SP) – Singer blanked the Twins over seven innings this past Sunday, but he also fanned a whopping 10 batters. He had 19 whiffs, 16 on sliders–and he is apparently tweaking his four-seamer to have a bit more rise on it, something to help him attack left-handed hitters:
In his second turn, Singer continued leaning heavily on his slider, but has seen early positive results on his sinker and four-seamer. Overall, he has a sparkling 0.68 ERA and 0.53 WHIP with one win and 14 strikeouts over 13.1 innings. He is just 61% rostered at Yahoo, and the same logic applies. That’s too low given all the injuries to pitchers that we’ve seen.
Ronel Blanco (HOU – SP, RP) – The 30-year-old Blanco no-hit the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday of this week, with seven strikeouts against two walks (105 pitches). Blanco has been pressed into service for Houston due to injuries to Justin Verlander and Jose Urquidy. I’m not quite convinced he’ll keep it going, but a speculative add ahead of today’s turn makes sense if you have the space. A road start against the Texas Rangers isn’t exactly inspiring, but his early week results were spectacular. The change in pitch mix (read: changeup) could be a key to future success:
Blanco is just 43% rostered at the time of this writing (Saturday night) but expect that number to grow exponentially if he has a strong start on Sunday. One caveat: he will get the Rangers again next Friday, that time at home. It’s possible the near future could be a tad bumpy, but that it smooths out afterwards. So if you pick him up today, I’d advise being patient–or, don’t pick him up.
Zack Littell (TB – SP, RP) is an option for shallower leagues, at just 29% rostered. Getting a piece of the Rays pitching pie is always advisable, and Littell has started off strong in 2024 after finishing 2023 on a high note. Not sure what else you’d need to see in order to take a shot on him. He’s another pitcher whose slider has been on point to start 2024. He’s using it over 44% of the time in the early going, but also has a cutter and split-fingered fastball, giving him a three-pitch mix to rely on. Mostly for me, this is taking a shot on the Rays and their pitching development. Littell was a reliever in Triple-A last season, but now he’s looking like a legitimate starter. This is a nice shot to take.
Sean Manaea is another veteran name to consider, but he’s at the Reds today. Reese Olson has a two-start week upcoming, and would probably creep north of 30% rostered if he shoves on Monday against the Pirates.
If you’re digging deeper, Steven Matz or Bryce Elder could make sense as decent innings on quality teams. Elder isn’t a given, but he’s the most logical course for Atlanta after the loss of Spencer Strider. You’ll want to watch that Wednesday start for this upcoming week to see who Atlanta names. I’m not overly excited for Elder, but if you’re desperate, he’s a name to know. I’d rather see AJ Smith-Shawver, and I think he will contribute for Atlanta at some point in 2024–I’m just not convinced it will be for this coming week.
HITTING
Will Benson (CIN – OF) – Is Will Benson this year’s Lane Thomas? The Reds seem intent on making Benson an everyday player, and last year’s 11 homers and 19 steals (108 games) are pretty encouraging if you play the prorate game. The bugaboo is strikeouts, though, as even the most favorable projections have Benson finishing with around a .230 BA and over a 30% strikeout rate in 2024. Still, Benson managed a .275 line on a .391 BABIP last season, and if he’s on the lucky side again–or if he shows any growth whatsoever–you could have a 20/30 player on your hands. Benson made hay against righties last year (.297/.389/.549) but needs to show growth and/or be protected against southpaws (.146/.205/.195). However, he fits a mold that I like. He’s a good enough defender to be in the lineup, he’s toolsy, he’s in a good park, and his team seems to have a need to play him. He’s struggled with contact in the early going, but you’re hanging your proverbial hat on all the hard contact–a whopping 61.1% rate, so far. That’s top 5% of the the league, while simultaneously being in the bottom 7% for strikeout rate. Just know what you’re risking here.
Brice Turang (MIL – 2B, SS) – Turang fits the defensive mold as well. He’s got a great glove and elite speed, as well as a great home park for hitting–and his team has a need (the injury to Garrett Mitchell has moved Sal Frelick to the outfield). He was 26-of0-30 on the basepaths in 2023, and he was once regarded as a player with a feel for the strike zone who made a good amount of contact. He had a .268 BABIP last year, and while some of that can be pinned on weak contact, it’s something we can feel decent about improving if Turang can drive the ball with more authority this season. Even a league average BABIP/OBP could give you a poor man’s version of Nico Hoerner. Think double-digit homers and 30 swipes, but without Hoerner’s batting average boost. I could see it. He’s 6-for-6 on the bases so far, and he boasts 95th percentile sprint speed. He doesn’t have the whiffs of Benson, but he doesn’t have that hard hit ability, either. Again, just know what you’re getting.
Jackson Merrill (OF – SD) – Dynasty managers will be saddened over Merrill’s move down the defensive spectrum (from shortstop to center field) but the rest of us need not fret over such when it comes to redraft leagues. Merrill is keeping elite company as a 20-year-old starting center fielder:
What does that mean for fantasy? Exactly nothing. But it shows the sort of talent that Merrill is, and most projections have him batting anywhere from .250 to .260, with double-digit homers and steals. For a draft day afterthought, that’s pretty nice. He’s only 38% rostered at Yahoo, and he’s batting ninth, but the Padres get at least four right-handers next week. Expect Merrill to hit the bench on Tuesday and once again on the weekend, as Jose Azocar will draw the lefties. All this said, betting on young talent is fun, and Merrill is the strong side of the platoon. He’s worth a stash, and I’m using him as a middle infielder at Yahoo, where I’m in a pinch.
A few quick hits to end the day:
Luis Garcia Jr. has 15 batted ball events so far this season, and 10 of them have been hard hit (in excess of 95 MPH). He’s also seeing the bench against lefties, from what I can tell. But that’s a lightly owned play to know, given the early returns.
Ivan Herrera is filling in admirably for the injured Willson Contreras, if you’re desperate for a second catcher. Contreras was briefly considered as a DH option for St. Louis on Saturday, but was again scratched due to lingering pain in his left hand after being hit by a pitch mid-week. We could get another half a week of usefulness from Herrera, at least, and that matters in NFBC formats.
At Yahoo, Jack Flaherty is 65% rostered and draws the Oakland Athletics today. Can you say “streamer?” Kyle Gibson continues his two-step with the easier half, after spinning seven solid innings against the Padres on Monday. He gets the winless (!) Marlins today. One last name for you is Alec Marsh. He won the fifth starter gig for Toronto this spring, and he was effective against the mighty Orioles in his first turn. Today, he draws the lowly Chicago White Sox. You know what to do.
rotoranks 