Listen, some of us won’t meet our quarterly quotas unless the add/drop activity increases around here. We need everyone to participate and do their part. Here are seven potential fantasy baseball pickups approved for use in all leagues…
Reese Olson, SP, Detroit Tigers (38% rostered)
This man is single-handedly building the fantasy case for abandoning winning in favor of quality matchups across all leagues. Olson is an objectively excellent young pitcher who has held opponents to two earned runs or less in seven of his eight starts this year — including three scoreless starts — but is still waiting for his first win in 2024. It’s just not fair.
Olson has struck out 8.6 batters per nine innings over the past two seasons and his WHIP is currently 0.99, so he’s checking all the important ratio boxes. It also passes the eye test:
The 24-year-old is primed for a two-game week, starting with a clash in Kansas City, so he definitely belongs in your plans regardless of run support.
James Paxton, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers (40%)
On the other side of the win/loss spectrum, we have this veteran lefty who is now 5-0 on the season despite walking more batters (24) than striking out (22). Life in Los Angeles is pretty good if you can just get past five or six frames. His velocity has dropped a bit, but not to concerning levels, and he has allowed one run or zero in three of his last four starts.
We won’t convince you that Paxton is necessarily an answer for the rest of the season, but he will have a friendly against the Reds on his next shift. Cincinnati has been near the bottom of MLB in average (.218) and OPS (.658) all year, while also ranking near the top in team strikeouts. There’s a good chance Paxton is headed for his sixth win.
Michael Kopech, SP/RP, Chicago White Sox (30%)
This will simply serve as a periodic reminder that A) even the worst MLB teams will generate plenty of save opportunities, B) Kopech is the White Sox’s unchallenged closer, and C) he has a triple-digit heat and an exceptional K rate ( 31.5%). Kopech must be picked in all mixed leagues in which he is currently single.
Jalen Beeks, SP/RP, Colorado Rockies (11%)
If you’re chasing defenses, Beeks should definitely be on your fantasy radar. He has saved in four of his last five starts for the Rockies while maintaining respectable ratios (2.21 ERA, 1.18 WHIP). In truth, Beeks doesn’t have Colorado’s newest defensive end — that went to Tyler Kinley on Tuesday — but the lefty has been the steadiest option in this team’s bullpen. Opponents are hitting just .183 against him in 20.1 innings to this point. Add whenever you need PR assistance.
Luke Raley, 1B/OF, Seattle Mariners (11%)
Raley has come out of the gates a little slow this season, but has been very hot the last few days. In his last nine games, he is 11-for-29 with three homers, eight RBI and two steals. Let’s remember he went 19/14 last year for the Rays in 406 plate appearances, establishing himself as a multi-category contributor with eligibility at a position not known for speed. Raley generally opposes LHPs, but that’s an easy inconvenience to manage in daily transaction leagues.
Brenton Doyle, OF, Colorado Rockies (49%)
Wow, congratulations to Doyle on what has to be his 10th or 12th appearance in an waiver column already this season. He is on track to break Mallex Smith’s long-standing record.
Doyle is having a great power/speed season (5/8) while hitting for average (.281) and playing his home games in the best environment possible. He established his 20/20 credentials in the minors, so we know his fantasy appeal is legitimate. Here’s a pop sample of it:
Someday, we hope he will be scaled to an appropriate level, but of course that day has not yet come. That’s it wild that he is still eligible for this feature.
Junior Caminero, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays (44%)
Caminero is doing exactly what you’d expect an elite prospect to do at Triple-A, slashing .316/.385/.582 with seven homers in 24 games. When he gets it right, he usually leaves no doubt:
On Tuesday, Caminero started at second base, which obviously gives him an additional avenue to play in the big leagues. He’s probably as ready as he needs to be, so it’s past time to stash him away before the eventual call-up.
