As Week 6 rapidly approaches, the toll of injuries continue to mount with each passing game. In the past few days alone, we've witnessed three significant contributors succumb to the relentless strain. Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi showcased his prowess with a commanding win against the Nationals last Thursday, only to be sidelined by groin tightness in the sixth inning.
While the Rangers are adopting a cautious approach, optimism lingers that Eovaldi's absence may be brief with an MRI scheduled for Friday to help shed light on his condition. Meanwhile, Grayson Rodriguez, despite securing a victory in his recent outing, found himself placed on the 15-Day IL due to an onset of shoulder soreness.
On the flip side of the coin, just a day following Mike Trout's sixth steal of the season, news breaks that he will undergo surgery for a tear in his left meniscus. This unfortunate development deals a significant blow to fantasy managers given Trout's league-leading performance with ten home runs and a resurgence in stolen bases, matching his tally from 2020 within just 29 games.
Despite being placed on the 10-Day IL, the Angels remain hopeful that this setback won't spell the end of his season, and there's a glimmer of optimism that Trout could make a swifter return than anticipated. Nevertheless, with a potential void in our lineups, now's the time to explore the waiver wire for viable replacements.
As a reminder, for a hitter to qualify for this list, he must be less than – or right around – 50% owned in Yahoo! Leagues. Additionally, a player will only appear on this list twice if they continue raking from the week prior.
Josh H. Smith 3B/SS/OF, Texas Rangers (34% Owned)
Josh Smith has received significant playing time since Josh Jung went out early in the season with a fractured wrist. Smith is hitting .318 and has a .410 weighted on-base average (wOBA). While he’s unlikely to have those numbers at season’s end, his expected stats aren’t that far off.
Smith is also walking a nice amount this season (11.5%), and he’s cut his K% over seven points down to a very respectable 16.3%. I’m not crazy about his BABIP being so high – .377 – but he’s been over .350 on a larger than 30-game sample multiple times in his career. He gets a nice boost if we account that he’s batting in the middle of the Texas Rangers lineup.
Tyler Nevin 1B/3B/OF, Oakland Athletics (16% Owned)
There isn’t too much to get excited about when talking about the Oakland A’s offense. They rank near the bottom of the league in many offensive per-game stats. Despite this, Tyler Nevin has been a bright spot recently. Nevin is in the middle of a nine-game hit streak with a 1.145 OPS (!!) during that time frame.
Although his stat-cast page doesn't boast anything remarkable aside from a modest increase of about 2% in his Hard Hit%, there are some noteworthy trends to observe. While Nevin's walk rate leaves much to be desired, particularly in points leagues, it's countered by a relatively moderate strikeout rate of 19.3%. However, what truly stands out is his newfound aggressiveness at the plate compared to previous seasons.
This heightened level of engagement is reflected in his increased swing rate, especially on pitches within the strike zone, suggesting a more assertive batting approach. Despite the likelihood of his recent power surge tapering off—having hit three home runs in his last four games—Nevin's consistent presence at the top of the batting order in eight consecutive games and nine out of the last ten is a promising indicator of ongoing opportunities for offensive production.
Tyler Black 2B/3B, Milwaukee Brewers (19% Owned)
Early last week, the Brewers called up their #4 prospect, Tyler Black. Black isn’t your traditional corner-infielder archetype – he trades the traditional pop you would expect for ample speed. Across two levels last season (AA/AAA), Black stole 55 bases, which would be a treat to get out of this position in fantasy. He may not steal as many bases in the majors, but there is a lot to like about Black’s prospect profile.
For starters, he’s never had a BABIP under .313, and that was this season during his stint in AAA. Despite this, he hit .303 – driving in 18 RBI and scoring 20 runs. Maybe he won’t hit 30 HRs, but Black graded out at 60 for his hit tool and should be a great OBP asset in leagues where that applies.
Mike Tauchman OF, Chicago Cubs (22% Owned)
Mike Tauchman is a player who almost made the cut for last week's waiver adds but was held back due to the abundance of outfield options. However, his consistent performance demands attention now more than ever. Filling in admirably for the Cubs amidst a spate of injuries, Tauchman has proven his worth. While the imminent returns of Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki may crowd the outfield, Tauchman's stellar play could pose a challenge for the Cubbies when it comes to deciding who gets playing time.
An interesting note is that despite Tauchman's consistent performance, there's no significant increase in his exit velocity (EV) or Hard Hit% compared to his career averages, indicating that his hitting approach hasn't drastically changed. Additionally, although his batting average on balls in play (BABIP) is slightly above average, it's not so high as to doubt his ability to sustain this current hitting streak. Moreover, his impressive walk rate and frequent placement in the second spot in the batting order add to his fantasy value, and concerns about a platoon situation are unwarranted as he's been more successful against left-handed pitchers than righties thus far.
Jo Adell OF, Los Angeles Angels (40% Owned)
If you read my article last week – you know my deal with post-hype prospects. Well, Jo Adell might be the post-hypiest prospect yet. Drafted with pick 10 in the first round back in 2017, the expectations for Adell went immediately through the roof. As a near-consensus Top-3 prospect in 2020, Odell raked his entire career and garnered a 70-power grade and a 60 on the basepaths. Back then, the talk of a 40/40 season for him was contagious, and many baseball evaluators were drooling at his potential.
Fast forward to the year 2024, and thus far, Adell's performance at the major league level hasn't quite lived up to expectations. Since 2020, he's been frequently shuttling between AAA and the majors, but signs now suggest a potential turning point in his career. Over his last nine games, Adell has demonstrated a propensity for extra-base hits, surpassing the number of singles he's recorded, and lately he's been slotted into the second spot in the Angels' lineup. Perhaps the most promising aspect of Adell's 2024 profile is the significant increase in his hard-hit ball percentage, which currently stands at an impressive 53.3%. While his strikeout-to-walk ratio still leaves something to be desired, if he continues on this trajectory, there's a growing sense that Adell could emerge as a difference-maker for fantasy managers.
Bryan De La Cruz OF, Miami Marlins (45% Owned)
Bryan De La Cruz has been a little worse against righties this year, but interestingly enough all five of his HRs have come off them. When it comes to his statcast page however, nothing really jumps out. Despite this, De La Cruz has been solid, and over the past two weeks has hit second for the Marlins in nearly every game.
While he feels more like a floor-play on this list, if you need help in the OF department he is useful. When it comes to the BABIP and batted-ball metrics, De La Cruz is where he's almost always been, so it's feasible he can continue this pace. Currently he's a top-100 player in most points leagues, and seven of his eight walks on the season have come in the last two weeks. If the plate discipline progresses, that’s even more of a reason to ride with him.
Deep League Options
Nick Senzel 3B/OF, Washington Nationals (12% Owned)
Joining the ranks of post-hype prospects is Nick Senzel, who was selected as the 1.02 pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. While Senzel has previously exhibited glimpses of his impressive bat-to-ball skills, these instances have been limited to small sample sizes. Notably, his performance against right-handed pitchers has been lackluster, with a batting average of just .188. However, a stark contrast emerges in his recent success against left-handed pitchers, where he's been consistently excelling. Additionally, his recent placement near the top of the batting order adds another layer of intrigue to his potential, and this is certainly a situation worth closely monitoring.
Willi Castro 2B/3B/SS/OF, Minnesota Twins (33% Owned)
Willi Castro makes the ‘deep league’ portion of the list, if only for the fact that his BABIP is 50 points over his major league average of .334. Castro might hurt you if you’re docked points for strikeouts, but he can be a big boost in the steals department if there is an uptick in his attempts there – he stole 33 in 2023.
Pitching/Streaming Options
Tyler Anderson, Los Angeles Angels (39/58% Yahoo/CBS)
Tyler Anderson has been a decent option all year if you’ve been streaming him. We know what to expect by now – not too many strikeouts, but also not many hard-hit balls, as Anderson has always been good at limiting hard contact. One warning, there is some chance for regression here as his ERA of 2.23 is a bit off from his xERA of 4.72. Regardless, Anderson gets two juicy matchups this week – one in Pittsburgh (bottom seven in runs per game) and one at home against Kansas City. KC has been worse when playing away from Kauffman Stadium, thereby increasing Anderson's chances at a good game.
Andrew Heaney, Texas Rangers (8/21% Yahoo/CBS)
Andrew Heaney has given up more hard contact than I’d like to see this year (46% of the time), but has two even juicer matchups than Tyler Anderson – at Oakland and Colorado, as the A’s and Rockies are 29th and 22nd in runs per game. Even though teams are squaring him up, his xBA against is .234, which is a superb mark. Batters are also finding it tough to get the fat part of the bat to the ball, as evidenced by his career-low Sweet Spot% of 25.3%. This bodes well for his upcoming slate of matchups.
Patrick Sandoval, Los Angeles Angels (4/34% Yahoo/CBS)
Yup, that’s right – we’re double-dipping on Angels this week as their matchups present some of the better ones for pitchers. Regarding the upcoming matchups, Sandoval also takes on the Royals and Pirates, but has actually had the opposite luck of his rotation-mate Tyler Anderson. Sandoval’s statcast metrics are mostly average, but his near 6.00 ERA is far above his expected 3.82. His FIP (fielding independent pitching) and xFIP agree, too – standing at 3.17 and 3.66, respectively. Most encouragingly, he struck out 10 Phillies on his last turn, and that trend could continue this week.
Roddery Munoz, Miami Marlins (2/6% Yahoo/CBS)
This one is not for the faint of heart. Roddery Munoz has been fantastic, even though it’s a very small sample size. Munoz’s matchups scare the crap out of me – at the Coliseum against the Dodgers and then at home against the Phillies – but his statcast and advanced metrics support his stellar start. If he has two good outings, this might be the last chance we find him on waivers.
As we delve into the player analyses and potential streaming options for Fantasy Baseball Week 6, it's evident that the landscape is rife with both opportunities and challenges. The prevalence of injuries continues to impact teams, with notable figures like Nathan Eovaldi and Mike Trout facing setbacks. However, amidst the uncertainties, emerging talents like Josh H. Smith and Tyler Nevin offer promise, while post-hype prospects such as Jo Adell and Nick Senzel hint at newfound potential. Additionally, the pitching realm presents intriguing streaming options, from reliable veterans like Tyler Anderson to up-and-comers like Roddery Munoz. As we navigate the intricacies of roster management and strategic decision-making, it's crucial to remain vigilant and proactive in seizing opportunities that can elevate our fantasy squads to victory.
