Fantasy baseball has its ups and downs, especially when it comes to injuries. Currently, there are 265 players on their team’s respective injured list. Some are out for a few weeks while some are done for the season. Much like Ronald Acuna Jr.‘s ACL, you have a hole in your roster and you need to fill it. You can’t replace a generational talent but you can’t give up because he is out for the season. So what do you do now that your No. 1 draft pick is done for the season?
Fantasy Baseball Targets: Outfielders
Tyler Freeman
Tyler Freeman has been flying under the radar this season and is only owned in 40% of Yahoo! leagues. The utility man brings qualifications at 2B, SS, 3B, and OF. The Cleveland Guardians have scored the second most runs in the American League this season and Freeman has been batting lead-off. Anyone batting in front of the red-hot Jose Ramírez is bound to score some runs if they get on base. Freeman is slashing .219/.310/.654 with four home runs and 22 runs batted in. Freeman also has stolen base upside with eight bags swiped in 2024.
TJ Friedl
TJ Friedl is back from injury and is batting lead-off for the disappointing Reds. It appears TJ Friedl is finally healthy, stealing a base and hitting a home run in his first two games back. It’s also a good sign that the coaches are letting Friedl run. Just another threat to steal bases on a Cincinnati team that is second in MLB in stolen bases. Friedl brings stolen bases and home run pop to any fantasy lineup and is only rostered in 40% of Yahoo! leagues and 27% on ESPN.
J.J. Bleday
JJ Bleday is quietly putting together a strong season. Going mostly unnoticed because he is in Oakland, but the center fielder has been batting around .250 most of the season. Bleday has raised his OPS to .794 over the last month, heating up over May. Bleday is rostered in 21% of Yahoo! leagues and 19% on ESPN.
Other outfielders to Consider
Jake Meyers 37%, Jesse Winker 26%, Ceddanne Rafaela 38%
Fantasy Baseball Infielders to Target
Getting the call-up in early May, Nick Gonzales put together an impressive month at the plate. The 25-year-old is slashing .306/.360/.860 with three home runs and 16 runs batted in. Gonzales should come back down to earth a little, but these stats are indicative of what he has been doing with Triple-A Indianapolis all season. The rookie should continue to get playing time as long as his bat stays hot. Gonzales is rostered in 37% of leagues and rising on Yahoo! Fantasy
Patrick Bailey Bailey is just too good behind the dish. Unfortunately, defensive stats do not play into fantasy points or Bailey would be a top-tier catcher. If you had Wilson Contreras and need someone to stand in at the catcher position the Giants backstop is worth holding a roster spot. Bailey is slashing .298/.354/.819 with four home runs and 19 runs batted in. After a decent sample size, those numbers should stay near the same for the season. The only downside to Bailey, as it is with many catchers, is playing time and rest. Rostered in 24% of Yahoo! leagues.
PATRICK BAILEY FOR THE WIN ? pic.twitter.com/fySa0A8c5L
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 13, 2023
Mark Vientos
Mark Vientos’s stock is rising and it may be too late in your league to add this 6’4 power-hitting third baseman. With Brett Baty back with Triple-A Syracuse, Vientos has had only one day off since May 15th. Vientos is slashing a substantial .321/.327/.984 over 56 at-bats this season. The 24-year-old provides pop with RBI and scoring opportunities. He is currently rostered in just 19% of Yahoo! leagues but has risen 7% over the last week.
Other Infielders to Consider
Brett Wisely 3%, Masyn Winn 25%, Josh Smith 37%
Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitchers to Target
Tylor Megill’s 0-2 record is lackluster. If you are playing in a league where wins aren’t counted, the New York Mets right-hander is a great option. Megill still has an upside, however, if you are looking to reduce your team’s ERA and WHIP. With Blake Snell going down with a groin injury Megill can fill that gap in your roster. In three games this season, Megill has a 1.69 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP. The big 6’7″ right-hander also brings 20 strikeouts over 16 innings pitched.
The starting pitcher is rostered in just 29% of leagues on Yahoo, but this is probably larger due to Megill pitching on the day of this article and fantasy managers streaming pitchers.
Tylor Megill matches his season-high with his seventh strikeout of the afternoon pic.twitter.com/U32e8ljiEL
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 28, 2024
Kyle Gibson
The 36-year-old Kyle Gibson is still getting it done on the mound. Gibson has allowed two runs or less in eight of his last nine starts, who also has a 52:25 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 65 innings this season. He isn’t flashy but is averaging 27+ fantasy points on Yahoo! per start and has yet to have a negative outing. Gibson is rostered in 30% of Yahoo! leagues and 13% on ESPN.
Trevor Williams
Since Trevor Williams plays for the Washington Nationals it seems most fantasy owners have stayed away from him. Despite playing for a team that refuses to score runs, Williams is currently 5-0 on the season. In his last outing, Williams held the Atlanta Braves to just one run on four hits in 5+ innings. Williams has a 47:16 strikeout-to-walk ratio over the season and looks to continue dealing against the Mets later this week. Rostered in only 49% of Yahoo! leagues.
Other Starting Pitchers to Consider
Ben Brown 55%, Andrew Abbott 47%, Hunter Brown 45%
Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitchers to Target
Jalen Beeks and Tyler Kinley
If you are starved for saves because you were banking on Edwin Díaz, there’s another option. Jalen Beeks has picked up two saves in his last three opportunities for the Rockies. Beeks will raise your ERA and WHIP if you can stand it, allowing runs in four straight games during May. Tyler Kinley picked up his second save on May, 26 and is sporting a 2.45 ERA with a 10:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Neither pitcher has a grasp on the closer role in Colorado but if options are limited in your league both of these relievers should be available.
In the absence of Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano, Yimi García looks to be in line to take the 9th inning for the time being. Garcia’s last appearance came against the Pirates on June 2 to close the game out. Despite giving up a double to Oneil Cruz, Garcia grabbed his first save of the year. Upon Ramano’s return, Garcia will most likely be relegated to the 7th and 8th innings. In deep leagues where saves can be hard to come by, Garcia may be the band-aid you are looking for. Rostered in 38% of Yahoo! leagues
Jeff Hoffman
The Philadelphia Phillies’ reliever has been lights, with a 0.94 over the month of May. Jeff Hoffman also brings a 14:2 K:BB over the last month. For the season Hoffman has five saves with an ERA of 1.05. Hoffman should be considered in most leagues with a strikeout and save upside and shouldn’t harm your ERA and WHIP too much. He should also be capable of levelling out these categories for fantasy owners who use starting pitchers who tend to give up runs. Rostered in 43% of Yahoo! leagues
Jeff Hoffman picks up the save! pic.twitter.com/2l1u0fUxJ2
— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) April 10, 2024
Other Relief Pitchers to Consider
Jeremiah Estrada 36%, Bryan Hudson 22%, Reed Garrett 43%
Main Photo: © Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
