The time has come – he’s BACK. When the Texas Rangers square off against the Seattle Mariners on Friday night, superstar pitcher Jacob DeGrom (Tommy John surgery) will make his long-awaited return – it’s been 503 days since we last saw DeGrom toe the rubber. The 36-year-old hasn’t pitched more than 92 innings since 2020 and will undoubtedly be on a pitch count as the Rangers monitor his workload over the remainder of the season. With Texas 7.5 games back, it will take quite a push to make it to the postseason. However, it’s good to have the righty back on the mound.
Gain one, lose one, because with the return of DeGrom, Texas will lose shortstop Corey Seager (sports hernia) to season-ending surgery. Seager really turned it on in the second half, and it’s a significant loss for his team this late in the season. In other injury news Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo (hamstring) was placed on the 15-day IL this past Tuesday after exiting his start in the fourth inning. It’s of the Grade 2 variety, which could sideline him even longer. Los Angeles Angels reliever Ben Joyce (shoulder inflammation) was also placed on the 15-day IL. Joyce has pitched well this season with a 2.08 ERA. Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder inflammation) could only work one inning in his most recent start before finding his way to the 15-day IL, too. Lastly, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly (hamstring) left Wednesday’s start in the fifth inning with a cramp. We should learn more over the coming days.
As always, we’ll do our best to cure your fantasy ails by offering some intriguing options to consider while they’re hot. As per usual, for a hitter to qualify, 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.
Nathaniel Lowe, 1B - Texas Rangers (52% Owned)
Texas 1B Nathaniel Lowe had a dip in production throughout the month of August, but otherwise has been a steady force in the heart of the Rangers lineup. The calendar flip to September has agreed well with him, as he seems to be trying to make up for his cold August. In 11 contests this month, Lowe has a stellar .375 average with a sky-high 1.094 OPS.
The 29-year-old has already matched his August homer total of two and is up to an 8:10 BB:K total thus far – one fewer walk than he had a month ago – in just a third of the at-bats. His Stat-cast metrics have never really told the whole story as he typically out-bats his expected average, but a 12.7BB% puts him in the 97th percentile of MLB. That’ll play.
Spencer Horwitz, 1B/2B - Toronto Blue Jays (40% Owned)
Blue Jays 1B/2B Spencer Horwitz has appeared in this column a few times in 2024, and while he’s still being protected against lefties – it’s been quite the September for him. Horwitz has three multi-hit efforts over his last five appearances, and they haven’t been cheapies, either. Over the nine hits in the sample, six have gone for extra bases (3 HRs/3 doubles).
In his best performance of the season last Saturday, the Blue Jays’ second-baseman was a monster 4-for-5 with two long balls, three RBI, three runs scored, a single, and a double. He now has an other-worldly 1.290 September OPS and will undoubtedly be a popular breakout pick in next year’s drafts. From his first taste of big-league action last season, Horwitz has dropped his K% by nearly ten points (17.5%) while raising his hard-hit rate and average exit velocity – albeit marginally.
Victor Robles, OF - Seattle Mariners (25% Owned)
I touched on Seattle OF Victor Robles last week before he missed a few games due to elbow discomfort. Over his last five appearances He hasn't missed a beat, and has continued his torrid pace while batting in the leadoff spot. Robles has two three-hit outings over his previous three contests while picking up three thefts in the process. He scored just two runs during that span, but fantasy managers can expect those numbers to tick up in order.
The 27-year-old has been white-hot at the dish since the Mariners signed him. So far he's carried a .324/.394/.465 triple-slash and has been even better over the last 17 games. Robles has a blistering .426 average in that stretch, with seven extra-base hits, seven steals, and a strong 14.1K%. In September alone, he’s hitting .464 with a 1.175 OPS and 4:7 BB:K ratio.
Parker Meadows, OF - Detroit Tigers (19% Owned)
Detroit OF Parker Meadows started the season ice cold but has begun to come on over the last month. Meadows has two hits in four of his previous eight games and has mostly hit out of the leadoff spot since mid-August. While his season line won’t show it, he’s recently been a strong contributor for the Tigers and has evolved into a full-time player.
Meadows hasn’t been as good in September as he was when he hit .322 in August, but his 12 RBI have far surpassed his August total of eight. Additionally, he’s matched his BB total from a month ago (5) in half the at-bats. The fact that the 24-year-old outfielder is getting regular playing time is a massive vote of confidence from his coaches.
Luke Raley, 1B/OF - Seattle Mariners (15% Owned)
Seattle 1B/OF Luke Raley has been on a tear since last Thursday with a hit in 5-of-7 games and two multi-hit performances. He’s got three times as many extra-base hits in that span (four doubles/two HRs) than he does singles – driving in eight runs and scoring five of his own with a 4:7 BB:K ratio. This has thus far resulted in a 1.054 OPS.
The former seventh-round pick is locked into the middle of Seattle’s lineup and not a zero in the steals category – swiping his tenth bag on the year, giving him back-to-back double-digit steal campaigns. After the cold start, Stat-cast hasn’t exactly caught up with his improved play. However, a bat-speed ranking in the 86th percentile is a nice piece of eye candy.
Deep League Options
Otto Lopez, 2B/SS - Miami Marlins (8% Owned)
Miami 2B/SS Otto Lopez has been a stable contributor thus far in September. He’s up to a .295 average during the month – after batting .291 in August – and has recorded three three-hit outings since Aug. 29. He's even crept up into the two-hole in this past Wednesday’s contest. Despite a similar average before the All-Star break (.251), he’s out-produced his totals since then in nearly every category, (sans home runs and RBI) in just 25 more at-bats. He was never known for his power but should be a solid source of average and steals for the remainder of the year.
Pitching/Streaming Options
Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels (23/42% Yahoo!/CBS)
Angels starter Reid Detmers began the season strong through his first few starts before a disastrous 28.1-inning stretch throughout May and June that sent him back to the minors. Earlier this month Detmers returned and has been more of the pitcher he was before the demotion. In two starts since – against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins (two top-11 teams in runs per game) – he’s pitched a clean 3.00 ERA over 12.1 innings. During that time the 25-year-old hurler has racked up an 18:4 K:BB ratio with an even 1.00 WHIP while generating 32 whiffs.
He’ll get a two-start week in which he’ll square off against a historically bad Chicago White Sox team then later face the Houston Astros in Houston. His first matchup is a smash spot, and after seeing what he did to the Dodgers and Twins, it will be tough to keep him out of the latter. Detmers is a top priority should he be available in your league.
Albert Suarez, Baltimore Orioles (31/39% Yahoo!/CBS)
Outside of allowing six runs on eight hits in a matchup against the White Sox in the middle of last week, Baltimore starter Albert Suarez has been an excellent play since the beginning of August. In that month alone, Suarez has pitched to a pristine 1.97 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 32 innings. His September ERA is bloated at 6.10, but he's followed up the dreadful outing against Chicago with a dominant one versus the Red Sox – notching a quality start and win while allowing one run on four hits over six strong innings.
Saurez gets two juicy matchups at home this week against the San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers. The 34-year-old was solid over the first three months of the season until he fell apart in July, and it looks like he has regained his early-season form heading into the final stretch. It also doesn’t hurt that he has the fourth-best lineup in the MLB in terms of runs per game behind him.
As the MLB season progresses towards its climax, the return of Jacob DeGrom and the subsequent injury setbacks highlight the unpredictable nature of the sport. DeGrom’s long-awaited return is a beacon of hope for the Texas Rangers, even though the team will have to contend with the loss of Corey Seager, who has been a vital offensive force. Similarly, injuries to key players across various teams, such as Luis Castillo and Ben Joyce, could shift the competitive balance and impact fantasy leagues. Managers must stay agile and informed to navigate these changes effectively.
In the midst of these disruptions, several emerging players offer promising options. Nathaniel Lowe, Spencer Horwitz, and Victor Robles, among others, are stepping up with impressive performances, making them valuable additions as the season winds down. For those seeking deeper league options or streaming choices, players like Otto Lopez, Reid Detmers, and Albert Suarez are proving their worth and could be pivotal in securing a strong finish. As the final games approach, staying updated on player performances and injury news will be crucial for making strategic fantasy decisions and optimizing team success.
