The MLB season is long and tumultuous. Injuries and slumps are a staple of every season but how we approach them in our fantasy leagues can separate playoff teams and the eventual champion from the rest of their pack.
Nearly halfway through the year, we have a chunk of players who either performed early before injury or throughout last season. Name value is not everything but there is an edge to be had when you strike on a busted slump from former studs.
This article covers impact fantasy baseball pieces to stash now on IL or at the end of your bench. Contact Kev Mahserejian on X (@RotoSurgeon) for any questions or concerns.
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Impact Fantasy Baseball Players To Stash Now
3B Noelvi Marte, Cincinnati Reds
The former top prospect is less than two weeks away from activation. Noelvi Marte's 80-game PED suspension shocked the fantasy baseball landscape as he was a popular preseason breakout candidate. That dream is far from dead as the Reds could use his electric bat in the lineup and there are no concerns with playing time as injuries have decimated the Reds' infield. Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand are unlikely to return this season making Marte a key piece for a Reds team teetering around .500.
Reds 3B Noelvi Marte speaking for the first time on his PED suspension: "It feels like I am starting brand new."
As of now, Marte is eligible to return on June 27. pic.twitter.com/ZjrYhRYZD9
— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) June 10, 2024
Marte accumulated three HR and six SB while slashing .316/.366/.456 through 35 games last season. His fantasy upside is enormous while playing in the friendly confines of Cincinnati's hitter-friendly home park.
1B Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox
Like Noelvi Marte, Triston Casas was a popular breakout candidate this past preseason. Unfortunately, a rib injury has halted Casas this year. The Red Sox report that Casas is progressing well and could return in early July. While he may underperform upon his return given the nature of this injury and the length of time he missed, Casas is too talented to leave on the waiver wire.
The Red Sox could get two players back from the IL on Monday in Toronto, another later in the week in Cincinnati ... and perhaps most importantly, Triston Casas in just a couple weeks.
Updates:https://t.co/8xqbQcvQdJ
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) June 16, 2024
While healthy, Casas hit .244 with six HR in 22 games this season. Power like his is difficult to find. If your roster has any open IL slots, Casas is worth stashing for the next month as he works back to a Boston lineup that is finding its footing.
OF Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox
Triston Casas is not the only Boston Red Sox on the mend, as outfielder Wilyer Abreu (ankle) is due to return even sooner from his injury. Abreu hit six HR with seven SB and a .272 average before hitting the injured list. He was a waiver wire darling who provided immediate profit to anyone savvy enough to snag him earlier this season, and he could continue that upon return.
There is some concern between Abreu's surface stats and his expected stats but playing in hitter-friendly Fenway Park can do that for many batters. Between his five-category contribution and placement at the top of Boston's order, Abreu is a must-roster piece in most formats.
OF James Outman, Los Angeles Dodgers
James Outman in the MLB this season:
.147/.250/.266 with a 55 wRC+
James Outman in Triple-A this season since his demotion:
.304/.447/.570 with a 152 wRC+
Given the Dodgers' offensive struggles in the back of their lineup, a promotion for the 27-year-old outfielder should come soon. Outman is a great defensive player who is too good for the minor leagues and has possibly made the necessary adjustments with his bat. If he returns to the Dodgers lineup and hits just slightly worse than last season, he should be rostered across the fantasy landscape due to his power, speed, and ability to take walks. The strikeouts will persist but can be mitigated with proper quality-of-contact like in 2023.
1B Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers
Spencer Torkelson is in a similar boat as James Outman. He started this season with a fair amount of hype after a promising 2023 but fell flat as a hitter and was demoted. Torkelson does not have the defensive capabilities of Outman to keep him on the field through a slump but does have the edge of being a former first-overall pick who is three years younger. The Tigers need Spencer Torkelson to hit if they want any semblance of a future.
111 mph off the bat for Spencer Torkelson 😲 https://t.co/sows1q3KdU pic.twitter.com/BlFwekBR2p
— Toledo Mud Hens (@MudHens) June 8, 2024
Through 10 Triple-A games, Torkelson has just one HR but is slashing .325/404/.500 with a 134 wRC+. Torkelson performed poorly to start last season with a similar total of four HR through May. However, he bashed 27 from June and beyond without requiring a Triple-A stint. It is unlikely that Torkelson returns to the majors this month unless an injury strikes elsewhere but he is too talented to leave on the waiver wire in deeper (15+ team) leagues.
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