If it seems like half your pitching staff is on the IL and several of your leadoff hitters are underperforming, welcome to the club. We are all dealing with fantasy issues. Here are seven widely available players who can probably help…
After a two-homer Thursday, Cowser is now 6-for-13 with 10 RBI over the last three days. We can assume he will play ahead of Austin Hays in the near future. Cowser is another name in Baltimore’s endless supply of top-tier prospects, coming off a season in which he slashed .300/.417/.520 at Triple-A Norfolk. When guys like this catch fire, they should be automatically added into fantasy. Cowser’s power is legitimate, plus he has a hint of speed. Go grab him while he’s still short-handed.
Busch was a longtime Dodgers prospect who needed relocation in the worst way, as he had no clear path to playing regularly in Los Angeles’ zillion-dollar lineup. Let’s give Chicago credit for making a bold and astute move to acquire a talented hitter at a position of need. Busch was a machine at Triple-A OKC last season, slashing .323/.431/.618 with 27 home runs and 90 RBI in just 98 games. After a productive spring, he is now firmly established as a premier hitter in a respectable lineup.
Busch moved up to fifth in the batting order on Wednesday and responded favorably, dropping a bomb on Dylan Cease. He’s a good bet to produce another 20-25 home runs this year while also hitting for average and driving in 80+ runs. If these numbers are going to play in your fantasy league (and they should), don’t hesitate to make the addition.
Velázquez seemed lucky to make KC’s Opening Day roster after a rough spring, but he has been sensational through the first two weeks of the season. He has scored twice this year and has hit multiple hits in four of his last seven games. Velázquez was a muzzle velocity and barrel rate monster since reaching the big leagues, so his power advantage is well known. Assuming regular hitting, he is a clear candidate to hit 30 or more homers.
We won’t make promises about batting average, but this gentleman has a pop beyond the stands:
If you need a power boost, it’s hard to believe there’s a better option than Velázquez available on the wire.
Many of us predicted a Baty breakout last season, but sometimes these young prospects don’t cooperate. As a 23-year-old rookie, Baty essentially struggled from start to finish en route to an unfortunate .212/.275/.323 slash line with nine home runs in 389 plate appearances. Not good. However, it’s been a very different story in the first few weeks of 2024, as he’s started out reaching base safely in all but one game while playing stellar defense. He is currently hitting .311 with one home run and six RBI. Baty had some good moments against LHPsalso.
All things considered, it’s an encouraging start for a guy who has rarely struggled in the minors (career .290/.390/.507). His development history suggests we can expect double-digit power along with a respectable batting average and on-base ability.
In case you haven’t noticed, there is currently a huge Jose Abreu-shaped hole in Houston’s lineup. After a disappointing 2023, Abreu opened this season with an 0-for-3 streak. He’s now hitting a terrifying .081 and we’re still waiting for his first extra-base hit.
Meanwhile, the 24-year-old Loperfido is hitting rockets at Triple-A, batting .275 with five homers and a 1.004 OPS. At some point soon, the Astros will have to seriously consider making the move. Loperfido hit 25 homers and swiped 27 bases last season, spending most of the year in Double-A and Triple-A. His career minor league OBP is .378, so there is a lot to like about his game. Loperfido may not have the same level of enthusiasm as guys like Jackson Holliday, but his fantasy impact could be just as big. If you have open NA positions on your list, make it a priority.
Dean Kremer, SP, Baltimore Orioles (25%)
We started Kremer’s season two years ago and he racked up 11 Ks in 12.1 innings while producing a 0.73 WHIP. So that’s not so bad. Looks he enhanced an already solid arsenal with an effective divider, which looks promising. Kremer had a career K/9 of 10.9 in his minor league days, so he offers a lot of strikeout potential.
We can assume support for the race won’t be a big issue in Baltimore. Kremer will tie Saturday against the Brewers and then face the Royals and Angels in the coming weeks. It looks like something more than a streaming option.
If you like triple-digit speed zippers and cruel sliders, Kopech should probably already be on your list. The White Sox have only won two games so far, but Kopech saved them both. He’s struck out a dozen batters in 7.1 innings, which isn’t a huge surprise, and the fantasy ratios have been perfectly good.
Even the worst MLB clubs are fully capable of producing 30-save shutouts, so please don’t be snobbish about team context. Kopech has a firm grip on the ninth and has the material needed to succeed. This guy has the team’s only All-Star rep written all over him.
