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We have hit the stretch run in fantasy baseball. There are some hitters who enter it locked in at the plate, a few of which have come out of nowhere to shine.
What should we do about the players who are on unexpected heaters? Should fantasy managers add them and try to take advantage of their hot streak, or is it too late to jump on board?
Let’s dive into some potential Fantasy Frauds and discuss if they will be able to continue their current level of success.
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Brent Rooker, Oakland Athletics (OF, 88% rostered)
Rooker slugged 30 home runs for the Athletics last season, which left him with a .242 ISO. While he has a ton of power, he also has plenty of holes in his game. He had a 32.7% strikeout rate and only batted .246 last year.
Rooker continues to hit for power this season, slugging 22 home runs on his way to a .284 ISO. He is also striking out a lot with his 31.9% strikeout rate. However, he is on a hot streak in which he has hit 37-for-96 (.385) over his last 27 games entering Monday. For the season, he now has a .294 batting average.
What’s encouraging about Rooker’s recent stretch is that he only produced a 24.8% strikeout rate. If he can continue to make significant improvements in that department, there is no reason to believe that he can’t have a higher batting average than last season. However, with how hot he is right now, it might not be a bad idea to float him out in trade offers and see if you can sell high on him. For those who desperately need his power, though, there’s no reason to rush to trade him.
Alec Burleson, St. Louis Cardinals (1B/3B, 84% rostered)
Burleson appeared in 107 games for the Cardinals last season, recording just a .146 ISO and a .300 wOBA. He did show a good eye at the plate, though, with his 13.0% strikeout rate. He also showed power in the minors, including when he hit 20 home runs over 109 games at Triple-A in 2022.
Alec Burleson hits HR on top of the Chop House 🤯
(via @Cardinals)pic.twitter.com/Eml0sZ7yPn
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 21, 2024
Burleson has brought more power to the plate this season, entering Monday with 18 home runs and a .206 ISO. His strikeout rate remains excellent at 13.2% and he has posted a .352 wOBA. After finishing with a 5.8% barrel rate last year, he has a 7.6% barrel rate this season. With his ability to make contact and also hit for power, Burleson should remain an appealing fantasy option down the stretch.
Rece Hinds, Cincinnati Reds (OF, 66% rostered)
Hinds entered Monday having played just nine games for the Reds. Still, he already has five home runs, four doubles, and one triple. In addition to his stellar power numbers, he has also stolen two bases. He hadn’t even reached Triple-A until this year, although he did show his combination of power and speed at the level with 13 home runs and 12 stolen bases.
Hinds only batted .216 with a .309 wOBA at Triple-A, so his current .353 average and .558 wOBA with the Reds is certainly a surprise. Another major concern is that Hinds had a 38.4% strikeout rate at Triple-A. Hinds’ ability to hit home runs and steal bases makes him appealing for fantasy baseball, but expect his average to take a massive hit as the second half moves along. Ride out his hot streak for as long as possible, but be ready to cut bait when he cools off.
Jose Iglesias, New York Mets (2B/3B, 8% rostered)
Iglesias is a versatile veteran who is known more for his defensive abilities than his bat. For his career, he has a .105 ISO and a .308 wOBA. He has worked his way into regular playing time for the Mets and has given them a nice boost. Over 33 games with the team, he has posted a .189 ISO and batted .389 to go along with his .431 wOBA.
Jose Iglesias has his second hit of the day pic.twitter.com/lyZmr1x2yb
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 21, 2024
Given his career numbers, Iglesias is likely to cool off sooner rather than later. He has been aided mightily by his abnormally high .405 BABIP. For his career, he has a .312 BABIP. While he might be an option in 15-team and deeper leagues right now, there’s no need to rush to add him in shallower formats.
Juan Yepez, Washington Nationals (1B/OF, 22% rostered)
After beginning his career with the Cardinals, Yepez landed in the Nationals’ organization this year. He didn’t exactly dominate Triple-A, posting a .795 OPS over 74 games. However, with their struggles to get production out of the first base position, the Nationals decided to give Yepez a shot. He has responded by batting .367 with a .433 wOBA over 13 games entering Monday.
Yepez currently has a .447 BABIP, which has certainly aided his batting average. With how locked in he is right now, he has likely earned himself more playing time. However, his career .323 wOBA doesn’t exactly scream fantasy standout. While he can provide a temporary boost, don’t expect it to last for long.
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