RADIO
There is nothing quite like the ebbs and flows of fantasy baseball. Every at-bat of every game is the final straw based on that moment whereas in reality, players will have hundreds more across the next dozen weeks to neutralize whatever outcome came about.
Across the past two months, plenty of recently unknown players have thrived in fantasy baseball while many perennial All-Stars have disappointed. Below, I discuss which known commodities should work their way back to fantasy stardom and which flavor of the month may stick.
For all complaints, contact Kev Mahserejian on X (@RotoSurgeon). Without further ado, here are your Risers and Fallers for Week 11 of the fantasy baseball season!
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Fantasy Baseball Risers
Davis Schneider, Toronto Blue Jays
52% Rostered on Yahoo
Davis Schneider just walked it off in the bottom of the 14th. His first career walk-off home run. #BlueJays win a wild game that felt like it would never end. pic.twitter.com/GSNFp6MfAX
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) June 1, 2024
While Schneider's days as the Blue Jays' leadoff bat may be numbered, he is still worth rostering in fantasy. His expected average (.221) and slugging percentage (.417) are mediocre but those can be off-base for hitters like Schneider and his fellow AL East mate, Isaac Paredes. Schneider excels at barrelling the ball (13.8%) and pulling it (45.7%). He also walks at a 12% clip, which keeps him valuable in OBP and points leagues if his average declines.
Verdict: Roster in all 12+ team leagues.
Mark Vientos, New York Mets
30% Rostered on Yahoo
Carlos Mendoza discusses the strides Mark Vientos has made since Spring Training
"His willingness to get better when it wasn't easy. Had to go down to Triple-A not happy about it and continued to work understanding there was room for improvement. Here he is now" pic.twitter.com/jQrgN5XuHh
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 5, 2024
Vientos is slashing .339/.400/.645 through 70 PA this season. Five home runs in 19 games is hard to find in this season's hitting landscape. Small sample? Absolutely. However, Vientos has the prospect pedigree to suggest his rise to fantasy relevance may be real. The Mets are not very good, which makes him unlikely to post massive run and RBI numbers, but a high average with consistent home runs is welcome on any fantasy team.
Verdict: Must-roster batter. Ride and see if it is real.
Yimi Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
43% Rostered on Yahoo
With Jordan Romano on IL and presumed setup man Erik Swanson struggling, Yimi Garcia is the next man up for saves in Toronto. Garcia already has three saves this season, which match his season total from 2023. Before he was traded in 2021, Garcia was a successful closer with 15 saves in 39 games. Since then, he has improved greatly. The veteran RP is on fire this season. He is posting a 1.57 ERA and 0.74 WHIP, which a 2.58 SIERA and 3.24 xFIP back.
Romano just received an elbow injection to limit his "inflammation," which could easily result in further damage to his elbow. Romano has a 6.59 ERA and the lowest strikeout rate of his career. There is a chance he may not close even upon return. While his peripherals are kinder than his surface stats, they are still not that of a proper closer.
Verdict: Must-roster RP. He could lead Toronto in saves all season (or at least until the trade deadline).
Fantasy Baseball Fallers
Robert Gasser, Milwaukee Brewers
24% Rostered on Yahoo
Gasser has performed admirably for those who picked him up earlier this season. However, the injuries are piling up after preseason bone spurs and now another elbow issue. Gasser's 2.57 ERA and 1.04 WHIP are somewhat sketchy given his 4.02 xFIP and 4.16 SIERA. His 14% strikeout rate only worked because he walked a meager 0.9% through 28 innings this season. With Gasser (elbow) likely to miss time and be placed on IL, he is expendable in fantasy.
Verdict: Cut in all leagues without an IL spot. Do not drop someone valuable for him.
Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels
40% Rostered on Yahoo
The breakout seemed very real for a moment. Jo Adell is now slashing .201/.263/.453 through 176 plate appearances. His 11 HRs and eight steals were great for those who earned a chunk of them but cutting bait sooner than later is likely the wisest move. Adell has two HRs since May 21 with 22 strikeouts in 45 PA. His strikeout rate regression was always a worry but this is untenable. There is a silver lining in his .253 expected average and .513 expected slugging but that is dropping by the game.
Verdict: Drop after this week if he cannot pick himself up at the plate.
Nathaniel Lowe, Texas Rangers
61% Rostered on Yahoo
Josh Smith homers. He has 3 this season. Nathaniel Lowe has 2. Smith should not be outslugging the first baseman.
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) June 1, 2024
Injuries are the worst. Lowe began the season on IL with a strained oblique and is now getting replaced by veteran journeyman Robbie Grossman in the Rangers lineup regularly despite being healthy. The power is just not there for Lowe as his real slugging and expected slugging percentage are both in the low-.300 range. Lowe's strikeout rate and walk rate remain unchanged while his average is not far from his career norm. The best bet is he is incapable of his old swing or is scared to unleash it after the injury and we do not know when that will return.
Verdict: Drop in all formats.
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