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We're onto Week 13 in the fantasy baseball world. Wild things continue to happen in baseball and my Rockies are yet again a part of that. Has your favorite team ever given up seven runs in the ninth inning to lose it after being up five? Check swing from Teoscar Hernandez or not, the Rockies continue to befuddle the minds of the dozens that hopelessly watch them, myself included. But I digress.
In this article, as usual, we'll go over some of the trends we're seeing with platoon hitters, notable playing time changes, and batting order notes. We'll focus on a couple of players for each section and provide some added depth and insight to help you build your lineup.
If there are players that you'd like to see covered or discussed that fit any of the criteria below, feel free to hit me up! Now, let's get to it.
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Platoon Player Updates for Fantasy Baseball
Ryan O'Hearn - 1B, Baltimore Orioles
We featured O'Hearn in this article earlier this season and he's back to absolutely crushing the ball in June, smacking it around the park for a .955 OPS. With O'Hearn being on less than 50% of rosters, you may want to get this lefty that platoons against righties on your roster as soon as possible.
Ryan O’Hearn’s last 15 games:
🔥 17 hits
🔥 2 HR
🔥 8 RBI
🔥 2 stolen bases
🔥 4 doubles
🔥 .354 AVG
🔥 .392 OBP
🔥 .563 SLG%Just a reminder, he was traded for cash considerations #Birdland pic.twitter.com/JkM4tmD4cO
— Rocco DiSangro (@RoccoDiSangro) June 20, 2024
O'Hearn potentially has even more value, too, as his .356 wOBA is outpaced by his .383 xWOBA that ranks in the 95th percentile. If O'Hearn is on your waiver wire, snag him up now because he has no business not being rostered.
Tyler Soderstrom - 1B, Oakland A's
After a lackluster 2023 and a slow start to 2024, this left-handed 22-year-old has flipped the switch in June. With a .933 OPS during the month, driven by four homers, Soderstrom has been the A's best hitter in June who has stepped to the plate at least 50 times.
TYLER SODERSTROM HAS HIS THIRD HOMER IN HIS LAST FOUR GAMES! 🔥🔥🔥 #Athletics pic.twitter.com/wfxhjHssgJ
— Uprooted (@uprootedoakland) June 14, 2024
With a .344 wOBA and a .360 xwOBA, we should expect a little positive regression to come Soderstrom's way. You may not being paying much attention to the A's these days, but that means your opponents likely aren't, either. Inserting Soderstrom into your lineup may make you look like a genius. DFS managers should look to target him in away games vs. righties, a situation where he's hitting for a 159 wRC+.
Other platoon names to keep an eye on:
Zach McKinstry - 3B, Detroit Tigers
Michael Busch - 1B, Chicago Cubs
Playing Time Updates for Fantasy Baseball
Miguel Rojas and Enrique Hernandez - SS and 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers
When an NL MVP leader candidate like Mookie Betts lands on the IL with a fractured hand, you've got to be able to turn to someone. In the Dodgers' case, they'll just continue to lean on their other two MVPs, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. An embarrassment of riches of types. But in the meantime, fantasy managers won't just be able to swoop those two off the waiver wire, so let's focus on Rojas and Hernandez as they've been the starters at shortstop in Betts' absence.
For the most part, Hernandez has been a net negative at the plate. Hitting for just a .586 OPS, he doesn't hold much fantasy value. Rojas, on the other hand, has much better season-long stats. With a .783 OPS, good enough for a 123 OPS+, you're going to get better value out of Rojas. The 35-year-old had been used as a platoon vs. lefties for a while (started against left-handed starters in 24 games, right-handed starters in eight), but he's had equal at-bats against both righties and lefties now and hits them about the same (.767 OPS vs. righties, .799 OPS vs. lefties).
With a .342 wOBA and a .303 xwOBA, negative regression is unfortunately due for Rojas. However, if you're in a rut at SS and need some guaranteed at-bats, you're not going to find many better options. Add him if necessary or stash him on your bench if you're a little skeptical.
Ildemaro Vargas - 3B, Washington Nationals
Eligible at third base but he plays all around the diamond, Vargas has been the man to step up when the Nationals have dealt with multiple injuries. Most recently of which has been starting shortstop CJ Abrams, who's dealing with a ganglion cyst in his wrist. Abrams is technically day-to-day, but Vargas may have more opportunities whether Abrams is active or not.
¡Doble de Ildemaro Vargas! 🔥🇻🇪
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— BeisbolPlay (@beisbolplaycom) June 16, 2024
As we look at Vargas' expected stats, they show he's due for negative regression with a .322 wOBA and a .288 xwOBA. However, his 112 wRC+ is still solid for now. If you add him, consider it a bit of a flier. But he'll continue to get scattered playing time for the Nats. And hey, they've got a series against the Rockies coming up so that always helps.
Other names to keep an eye on who are now receiving more playing time:
Cavan Biggio - 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers
Danny Jansen - C, Toronto Blue Jays
Batting Order Changes for Fantasy Baseball
Andy Pages - OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Another player we featured earlier this season when he was getting increased playing time. Now with Betts out and Pages hitting for a scorching .954 in June, the Dodgers have bumped him up from the lower third of the order to the five and six hole, even hitting cleanup on Wednesday when Will Smith was given a breather.
Andy Pages is batting .333 and slugging .515 in his last 20 games.pic.twitter.com/HqoxtBz2i5
— Dodgers Tailgate (@DodgersTailgate) June 19, 2024
Pages' results this season are true, shown by a .328 wOBA and a .330 xwOBA. Given his current hot streak, you should be getting the rookie onto your roster as soon as possible and capitalize on his hot streak.
Michael Toglia - 1B, Colorado Rockies
If you can tell from my not-so-serious Rockies updates at the beginning of these articles, there's not much to look forward to with Colorado baseball right now. The main focus of the rest of the season is to see the younger guys develop and Toglia has started to take a big step forward in June. With an .838 OPS in June, outpacing his season-long .674 OPS, Toglia has found his way into the five hole after hitting near the bottom of the order whenever he's been active.
Three-run shot for Michael Toglia! pic.twitter.com/QZ8AUsh4ch
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 20, 2024
As a switch-hitter, we don't have to worry about any platoon situations for Toglia. With the oft-injured Kris Bryant out for the foreseeable future, we don't have to worry about playing time issues, either. It's a good situation to just let Toglia develop. He's also due for some positive regression (.288 wOBA vs. .309 xwOBA), so it should be good things coming for the switch-hitter. Add him to your bench if you're skeptical and get him in your lineup if you're desperate.
Other players to keep an eye on for batting order changes:
Matt Vierling - 3B, Detroit Tigers
David Hamilton - SS, Boston Red Sox
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