Top 25 Injured Players to Stash: Fantasy Baseball Week 21

Welcome back, RotoBallers, to another weekly edition of the Injured Players to Stash for Fantasy Baseball series, as we prepare for Week 21 of the 2024 MLB season. Today, we list the 25 high-profile injured MLB players who are worthy of a continued spot on your roster while imploring you to pick up players who could help you, like Michael Harris II and Triston Casas, who both could be activated this week.

When productive players are injured, some fantasy folks will be forced to dump them to the waiver wire, depending on league rules and context. This represents an opportunity for you, especially if you have room on your bench to stash an injured hitter or pitcher cheaply now before they come back on the radar. Always remember that humans get frustrated easily when things aren't going their way, and owners losing patience with an injured player can represent a golden opportunity for you to pounce on productive players in the right deal. You might be able to trade for one of these injured stars and boost your chances down the stretch.

We look to Yahoo! for the roster percentages and will highlight five key players nearing a return who could be under the radar right now. Below is my list of 25 players who are injured, and have their status and injuries listed to keep handy for you.

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Top 25 Injured Players for Fantasy Baseball

Fantasy Baseball Players to Monitor Closely

Michael Harris II, Atlanta Braves (OF)

Rostered: 87% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: August 14

Harris is set to return from the 60-day IL on Wednesday and should be inserted immediately back into the Atlanta Braves diminished roster. Harris has missed nearly two months with a hamstring issue, and the Braves will welcome the multitalented outfielder back.

Before the injury, Harris was hitting .250 with five home runs, 20 RBI, eight stolen bases, and 30 runs scored in 67 games. Over six games in his rehabilitation assignment, Harris is hitting .435 and appears to be ready. If he is free in your league right now, grab him. You may also be able to trade for him if another owner has lost patience or if that owner needs help at another position. Show them the box below and try to acquire him.

Kerry Carpenter, Detroit Tigers (OF)

Rostered: 37%  Yahoo!
Estimated Return: mid-August? 

This is a play to try and get some power back into your lineup. Carpenter was hitting .283 with eight home runs in 50 games played before going down with a stress fracture in his back. He's starting a rehab assignment on Tuesday and the timing is unknown. However, if you have bench space, this powerful outfielder is rostered in only 37% of Yahoo! leagues. Pick him up before your league mates get wise to him.

Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox (1B)

Rostered: 70% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: this weekend 

I will admit that I have an unhealthy crush on Casas, and continued to roster him in leagues that I am in with IL spots. He's only 70% rostered in Yahoo! leagues. The word on the street is that he is healthy and will be activated sometime this weekend for Boston's series with the Baltimore Orioles.

Casas had six home runs in 22 games before he got hurt, and with the short porch in right field at Fenway Park, he could hit them in bunches when he returns. This is the type of move that can win you a championship when a burgeoning star returns from an injury.

Trevor Story, Boston Red Sox (SS)

Rostered: 12% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: Early September?

Lo and behold, it was reported before the season was even two weeks old that Story would miss the entire season with shoulder surgery. Story was set to take live batting practice on Monday night before the Red Sox played, and is making quick progress through a serious injury.

Now is a good time to add the veteran, especially if you have ample bench space. Story might not help you with batting averages, but he has been known to hit for power and steal bases. And with the Red Sox fighting for their playoff lives and having a weakness in the middle infield, Story would be a much-needed shot in the arm for the surprising team this year.

Ranger Suarez, Philadelphia Phillies (SP)

Rostered: 92% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: Mid-August (estimated)

Suarez is expected to be ready after this homestand ends this coming weekend, so he could pitch in the rotation next week. The veteran threw a side session last Thursday and is expected to complete another this week. It's unknown if he will need to make a rehab start, as he's been out now for more than two weeks.

Suarez has 10 wins, a 2.87 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and 116 strikeouts in 119 innings this year. If someone in your league has made the mistake of dropping him, now is the time to swoop in and get an ace who should not be on any waiver wire.

Suarez is in the 91st percentile in MLB this season in ground-ball percentage. Looking below, I wonder if the drop in July had to do with the back issue, which led to poorer results (0-3, 6.61 ERA), and may lead to consternation and drops in your leagues.

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