The 2024 season has been thrilling and unpredictable. The overall season leaders in points leagues reveal a blend of new talent and seasoned players. Baltimore stud IF Gunnar Henderson Jr. and Red Sox OF Jarren Duran have climbed into the top ten, while Padres IF Jurickson Profar and Phillies 3B Alec Bohm secure spots in the top 20. With baseball's inherent unpredictability, anything can happen, making both the game and fantasy baseball so exciting.
The Philadelphia Phillies were hit hard by the injury bug this past week, as starter Taijuan Walker was placed on the IL last Sunday. Pitcher Spencer Turnbull also followed after exiting Wednesday’s start with right shoulder soreness. Adding to their woes, both OF Bryce Harper and OF/DH Kyle Schwarber were removed from Thursday’s game against the Marlins with left hamstring and groin injuries, respectively. For now, they’re both day-to-day, and the hope is they won’t be out for an extended period, as they both currently rank in the Top-15 of points formats.
As always, we’re here to cure your fantasy ails by offering some intriguing options to consider while they’re hot. For a hitter to qualify for this list, he must be less than – or around – 50% owned in Yahoo! Leagues. Additionally, a player will only appear on this list more than once if they continue to rake from weeks prior. Let’s get into it.
Byron Buxton, OF - Minnesota Twins (50% Owned)
If it all comes together for Minnesota OF Byron Buxton, he could be a five-category fantasy stud, however, his biggest issue throughout his career has been staying healthy. Aside from a knee issue in early May, for the most part he's avoided injury as such and is finally starting to pay off.
Buxton has been blazing hot in June, batting .289 with four homers and three steals, and has been even better over the last two weeks. He has multiple hits in six of his previous sixteen starts, going 22-for-62 (.355) and scoring 14 runs during that span. He still strikes out a bunch (28% K%) and isn’t really walking all that much, but otherwise has been a machine. Over his last four games alone, he has two doubles and three HRs. Now is the time to grab him if you’re a Harper or Schwarber owner.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 2B/3B/SS/OF - Toronto Blue Jays (31% Owned)
A look at Toronto utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s statcast page isn’t so inspiring, but he’s been great in June. He’s batting .313 this month (26-for-83) amid an 11-game hit streak. After snapping his homer drought last Saturday with two solo shots, in just 79 contests this season Kiner-Falefa has matched his HR total from a year ago.
While he barely walks, he has one of the better K%s in the league (13.8%), and over the last week, has led off three times and hit second in the lineup too. If he has genuinely climbed his way out of the bottom third of the order, this would be a nice boost to his counting stats. I’ve always loved him for his positional versatility, but he now garners our attention for the bat, and a .283 average on the season will undoubtedly play.
J.P. Crawford, SS - Seattle Mariners (28% Owned)
I touched on Seattle SS J.P. Crawford a few weeks ago, and he has continued to hit well. At that time, Crawford bolstered a measly .211/.298/.669 triple slash. Now, that line has climbed up to .217/.315/.686. It might not seem like much, but at this point in the season (over 221 at-bats), that’s not so easy to do.
While his K% is up two ticks from last year, he still has a 12.2BB%, which is nice to see. He’s even chipped in two steals during his current seven-game hit streak. While he won’t help too much in the HR department, we don’t expect him to do so, and that’s fine. The Seattle Mariners have picked it up a bit as far as runs go over the last few weeks, and Crawford is locked into the top lineup spot. To that end, if Crawford continues to hit he has an excellent chance to be one of the main benefactors of an offense on the rise.
Spencer Horwitz, 1B/2B - Toronto Blue Jays (25% Owned)
It’s a small sample – just 46 at-bats – but Toronto 1B/2B Spencer Horwitz has been nothing short of spectacular. The lefty-hitting second baseman has been white hot since getting the call-up, and while he’s sitting against most lefties, has torn the cover off the ball against right-handed pitchers.
Horwitz is excelling against right-handed pitchers, hitting .357/.509/1.057 with an impressive 11:6 BB ratio. While an everyday role would be ideal, his current success against righties makes it less crucial, as his 18.6% walk rate strongly suggests he’ll remain a fixture in the lineup. Additionally, when he does play, he hasn't hit lower than second and has even had a few opportunities to lead off.
Jose Miranda, 3B - Minnesota Twins (16% Owned)
Twins 3B Jose Miranda was one of my favorite sleeper picks in 2023 drafts. Though he didn't deliver as expected, he's showing promise in 2024, batting .295 for the season. Over the last two weeks, Miranda has been even better, with three games in the past eight days where he;s recorded three RBIs and reached base four times.
Miranda has been uber-productive during that stretch, and is currently walking more than striking out (7:5). Additionally, the Twins have started to heat up, and Miranda has been a major reason why. It also doesn’t hurt he’s seemingly locked into the heart of Minnesota’s order.
Deep League Options
Harrison Bader, OF - New York Mets (7% Owned)
If Mets OF Harrison Bader’s stats hold, he’ll easily post career-highs in almost every category. Bader’s .275 average aligns with his xBA of .270, and over the last month, he's averaged one fantasy point per at-bat. He’s been even better over the past two weeks, hitting two of his six HRs and adding three steals. Bader is batting a strong .283 in June and, while better against righties, is currently on a three-game multi-hit streak. If this continues, he should move up in the lineup very soon.
Ben Rortvedt, C - Tampa Bay Rays (4% Owned)
While picking up an unknown catcher off waivers is always risky, Rays backstop Ben Rortvedt has been electric over the last seven days. In his last four appearances, Rortvedt is hitting an impressive 7-for-15 (.467) with two doubles, two HRs, and nine RBIs. Despite a terrible .157 BA in May, he has hit well in every other month, including a staggering .341 in April. He’s slugging .622 in June with a whopping 1.010 OPS, making him certainly worth monitoring.
Pitching/Streaming Options
Spencer Arrighetti, Houston Astros (7/26% Yahoo/CBS)
Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti has been wildly inconsistent in his Major League debut but turned in his best start as a pro earlier this week. Arrighetti spun a seven-inning gem against the Colorado Rockies this past Wednesday, scattering three hits and striking out ten batters while allowing nary a free pass. The ten Ks were easily a career-high, and it was the first time he didn’t walk a batter all year.
While I’m not crazy about his second start against the Minnesota Twins this week, his first is a bit more reasonable (Toronto Blue Jays). On the year, Statcast has Arrighetti pegged for a .235 xBA against, and he’s striking out 25.3% of the batters he’s faced. The Jays have been hot, but the first-year starter just blanked the Rocks, and his 5.68 ERA on the season seems a bit bloated. His 4.14 xERA and 4.24 xFIP (fielding independent pitching) are much more palatable.
Davis Daniel, Los Angeles Angels (2% Owned)
As of this writing, Angels pitcher Davis Daniel isn’t lined up for a start, but he’s worth mentioning. In his 2024 debut this past Thursday against the Detroit Tigers, Daniel spun eight scoreless innings, allowing just four hits, walking none, and striking out eight. As a result, it’s hard to imagine the former seventh-round pick not having at least one more turn in the Angels rotation. The 27-year-old threw 21-of-26 first-pitch strikes during this most recent outing and was also solid in a relief role in 2023 with a .193 xBA against. That alone makes him worth monitoring.
As we move deeper into the 2024 fantasy baseball season, it's crucial to stay on top of player trends and potential breakouts. With the volatility and unpredictability of baseball, talents like Gunnar Henderson Jr. and Jarren Duran are making significant impacts, alongside established players such as Jurickson Profar and Alec Bohm. The blend of emerging stars and reliable veterans keeps the fantasy landscape exciting and dynamic.
The Philadelphia Phillies’ recent injury woes highlight the importance of staying vigilant and adapting quickly in fantasy leagues. With key players like Taijuan Walker, Spencer Turnbull, Bryce Harper, and Kyle Schwarber sidelined or day-to-day, fantasy managers must be proactive in finding suitable replacements and taking advantage of hot streaks. Our list of players worth a look this week includes Byron Buxton, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, J.P. Crawford, Spencer Horwitz, Jose Miranda, Harrison Bader, Ben Rortvedt, Spencer Arrighetti, and Davis Daniel. Each of these players brings something unique to the table and could provide the edge needed to stay competitive.
Remember, success in fantasy baseball hinges on staying informed and making timely decisions. Keep monitoring player performances, adjust your roster as needed, and don't be afraid to take risks on emerging talents. With the right strategies and a bit of luck, you'll be well on your way to dominating your league. Good luck, and may your fantasy team thrive!
