Week 8 brought forth yet another wave of injuries, a recurring theme that's tested both major leaguers and fantasy enthusiasts alike. The saga continues with Braves 3B Austin Riley, who, despite being cleared to swing a bat, has been out since May 12, leaving many wondering why the Braves haven't placed him on the IL. Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres swiftly moved Xander Bogaerts to the IL, with prospects of a prolonged absence due to a left shoulder fracture sustained during a slide. The hope is that he can return by the end of the summer.
In pitching developments, the Baltimore Orioles faced a significant setback as starter John Means landed on the 15-day IL with a forearm strain, a concerning recurrence given his previous injury history. However, amidst the woes there's a glimmer of hope for Yankees starter Gerrit Cole, as he faced live batters for the first time during his rehab and tossed 20 pitches this past Tuesday.
As we navigate through these tumultuous times, our aim remains steadfast: provide fantasy remedies by presenting compelling options to consider while they're at their peak. As per our criteria, hitters featured here boast ownership levels of around 50% or less in Yahoo! Leagues, and repeat appearances are reserved for those continuing their stellar performances from previous weeks.
Nolan Gorman 2B/3B, St. Louis Cardinals (52% Owned)
Cardinals infielder Nolan Gorman was one of my favorite late-round targets going into 2023 as a sleeper / potential breakout. However, last year he was a bit underwhelming, and that trend has continued into 2024. While Gorman has been better over the previous few weeks – albeit marginally - he’s still not a full-time player by any means.
He’ll be riding the pine against lefties more often than not, but is a decent source of power if that’s something you’re looking for – three of his eight HRs on the season have come in the last two weeks. Maybe he’ll never hit for average, but if he can bring his strikeout rate down, his walks will continue to make him useful in points leagues. Gorman is currently batting just .207 on the year, but some positive regression should be coming soon – he's someone to definitely keep an eye on.
David Fry C/1B/OF, Cleveland Guardians (46% Owned)
Guardians utility player David Fry has been excellent this season despite nowhere near having a full-time role – maybe the Guardians should reconsider. He has a stellar .349/.486/.590 triple slash, culminating in a 1.076(!) OPS. Fry has cut his K-Rate six points from last season and is walking an absurd 17.4% of the time. He has already outplayed all his significant stats in 2023, and has done so in fewer plate appearances.
For those with catching woes (and who doesn't have them), Fry can help in both Roto and Points leagues. While his current BABIP is on the high side, that's alright considering we don’t expect him to hit .349 all season. The plate discipline is there, and his batting profile is always a good one to bet on.
Tommy Pham OF, Chicago White Sox (15% Owned)
The former fantasy stalwart looks to be having a resurgent season and seems locked into the leadoff spot for the Chi Sox. If his K-Rate holds – it’ll be the lowest of his career, and Pham is tearing the cover off the ball. With a batting average of .333 across his initial 106 plate appearances, it's clear that his success is no fluke, a sentiment affirmed by Statcast with a .316 expected batting average (xBA).
He’s playing out of his mind right now, and while his BABIP is a smidge high, the volume we’ll get from him batting first is worth jumping on. If you're in need of OF help, he's worth looking at as this season could be his last. Enjoy the ride.
Wenceel Perez 2B/OF, Detroit Tigers (13% Owned)
24-year-old Tigers utility player Wenceel Perez has shown remarkable poise against professional pitching during his initial stint in the big leagues. While he primarily appeals to Roto league managers seeking a boost in batting average, his impressive .295 average shouldn't be overlooked, also making him a speculative option worth considering in points leagues as well.
In fact, his respectable 22% K-Rate is great for a rookie – and if the steals start to fall in place, he’ll make a nice add everywhere. As an added bonus, he currently sports a 10% BB%. Add where necessary.
Masyn Winn SS, St. Louis Cardinals (12% Owned)
SS Masyn Winn has impressed in his second season in a Cardinals uniform. After hitting just .172 in his first stint back in 2023, Winn is batting a superb .295 across 157 plate appearances. The power numbers aren’t there, but he can be a big help in the average department while also contributing modest steal totals.
While Wynn didn't strike out much last year, his rate has improved to a 17.2% K-Rate and he's upped his walk rate to a solid 8%. The former second-round pick is still hitting at the bottom of the lineup, but has hit safely in 11 straight games, and the Cards have slotted him in the leadoff spot a few times over that span. While his hard-hit percentage is down, if he’s genuinely figured something out we can live with that. Sans the power, he’s currently a nice all-around contributor.
Deep League Options
JJ Bleday OF, Oakland Athletics (9% Owned)
JJ Bleday appeared in this column last week, and he’s still impressing. Bleday has consistently hit second for the A’s over the last week and has three doubles, a triple, and two home runs. He’s even knocked his strikeout rate down over the same sample. The volume presented from a top-of-the-lineup bat is always a nice boon for fantasy production, but if Bleday keeps hitting like this, he will force his way into fantasy lineups. Still monitoring a potential breakout.
Michael Massey 2B, Kansas City Royals (7% Owned)
Kansas City 2B Michael Massey has been on fire the last two weeks, as he's batting .363 with three multi-hit games. Two of those performances were 3-hit games. Massey is not walking much – but that’s a moot point considering his fantastic K% (14%), which is 7.5 points down from last year. He’s a virtual – and actual – zero regarding steals, but he's been solid for the Royals, and he warrants our attention as another name to monitor. As an added bonus, the Royals have recently moved him up to fifth in the lineup.
Jorge Mateo 2B/SS, Baltimore Orioles (4% Owned)
Even though he’s almost strictly batting at the bottom of the order, Orioles 2B/SS Jorge Mateo is still making waves. Mateo presents as the smallest sample on this list, but the O’s offense is one we all want pieces of and if he’s going to continue to hit deserves a look. Unsurprisingly, he’s been much better against lefties (batting .289), but it's encouraging that he has cut his K% over the last 14 days. Over the previous week, Mateo has four steals and six runs scored – that’ll play.
Pitching/Streaming Options
Robert Gasser, Milwaukee Brewers (20/43% Yahoo/CBS)
Aside from having one of the greatest names ever for an MLB pitcher, Robert Gasser – the Brewers’ #4 prospect – has been solid through his first three starts. He’s barely striking anyone out, but his BB% is comically low through 17IP (1.4%). Gasser is in the top 1% of the league in hard-hit balls against (19.7%), and draws two favorable matchups this week against two bottom-half-of-the-league offenses – at home against the Cubbies and the Chi Sox.
While there may be some negative regression coming to his ERA (2.65), especially with the lack of strikeouts, the Statcast metrics seem to agree with his xERA sitting at 2.85. He’s a little risky, but if we’re not going to stream him this week, then when?
Cooper Criswell, Boston Red Sox (12/18% Yahoo/CBS)
Red Sox Starter Cooper Criswell has pitched admirably this season. This week, he gets a tough first matchup, drawing a start against the Baltimore Orioles, but his second start is much more favorable – toeing the rubber at home against the Tigers. Criswell’s 2.86 ERA is excellent, and per Statcast he has an xBA of .234 against. You might want to steer clear of his start against the O’s, but you’ll definitely want him for the latter of the week. Additionally, his 23.9 K% is a solid number, and there is an encouraging amount of red across his profile.
Injuries continued to plague Week 8, creating uncertainty for both major leaguers and fantasy enthusiasts. With Austin Riley's continued absence, questions arise regarding the Braves' handling of his situation, while Xander Bogaerts' move to the IL following a shoulder injury compounds the San Diego Padres' woes. However, amidst the setbacks, there are rays of hope, with Gerrit Cole's progress in rehab signaling a potential return to form.
As we navigate through the fantasy landscape, we remain steadfast in our quest to provide viable options for your roster needs. From promising hitters like Nolan Gorman to emerging talents like Wenceel Perez and Robert Gasser, there's no shortage of potential additions to bolster your team's performance. With each week presenting new challenges and opportunities, stay tuned for more insights and recommendations to guide you through the fantasy baseball season.
