If you have half your pitching staff on the IL and it feels like a few of your early round hitters are underperforming, welcome to the club. We all deal with fantasy problems. Here are seven widely available players that are likely to be useful.
Cowser, who hit two home runs on Thursday, is now 6-for-13 with 10 RBIs over the past three days. You can expect him to play ahead of Austin Hayes in the near future. Cowser is another name for Baltimore's endless supply of blue-chip prospects, coming off a season in which he hit .300/.417/.520 at Triple-A Norfolk. If a guy like this gets flamed, he should be automatically added due to delusion. Kauser's power is real, plus he's fast. Go get him while he's still under the quota.
Bush was a long-time prospect for the Dodgers, but with no clear path to regular minutes in Los Angeles' multibillion-dollar lineup, he needed a transfer in the worst possible way. Give Chicago credit for making the bold and shrewd move of acquiring a talented hitter at a position of need. Bush was a machine for Triple-A OKC last season, hitting .323/.431/.618 with 27 home runs and 90 RBIs in just 98 games. After a productive spring, he has now firmly established himself as a center hitter in a fine batting lineup.
Busch was moved up to No. 5 in the batting order Wednesday and responded well. launch a bomb on dylan stop. He has a good chance of producing another 20-25 home runs this year while posting a batting average and over 80 RBIs. If these numbers play in your fantasy league (and they should), don't hesitate to add them.
Velasquez seemed lucky to be on KC's opening roster after a tough spring, but he was sensational in the first two weeks of the season. He has hit two home runs this year and has had multiple hits in four of his past seven games. Velasquez has been a monster of exit velocity and barrel rate since reaching the big leagues, and his increased power is well known. Assuming he takes the regular turn at bat, he is a sure candidate to hit 30 or more home runs.
I can't make any promises about his batting average, but this gentleman has a talent that goes beyond his audience.
If you need a power boost, it's hard to believe there's a better option on the network than the Velasquez.
Many of us expected Batty to break out last season, but sometimes these young prospects don't cooperate. As a 23-year-old rookie, Batty basically struggled from start to finish, hitting an unlucky .212/.275/.323 with nine home runs in 389 at-bats. I can't say it's great. But things have changed dramatically in the first few weeks of 2024, as he played great defense and started the season safely on base in all but one game. He is currently batting .311 with one home run and six RBIs. Batty had some great moments against LHP.too.
All things considered, this is an encouraging start for a player who has barely struggled in the minors (career .290/.390/.507). Looking at his developmental history, we can see that he can be expected to have double-digit power along with an excellent batting average and on-base ability.
You may not realize it, but Houston currently has a huge hole in its lineup in the shape of Jose Abreu. After a disappointing 2023, Abreu has started this season with a 0-for-3 streak. He's currently hitting a scary .081, and we're still waiting for his first extra-base hit.
Meanwhile, Loperfido, 24, is batting .275 with five home runs and a 1.004 OPS in Triple-A. The Astros will need to seriously consider a move in the near future. Lopelfido hit 25 home runs and drove in 27 bases last season, spending most of his year in Double-A and Triple-A. His career OBP in the minor leagues is .378, so there's a lot to like about his game. Loperfido may not have the same level of prospect hype as players like Jackson Holiday, but his fantasy impact could be just as big. If your roster has an open NA spot, prioritize him.
Dean Kramer, SP, Baltimore Orioles (25%)
In Kramer's second game of the season, he racked up 11 Ks in 12.1 innings with a 0.73 WHIP. So it's not too shabby. It looks like he's enhanced his already solid arsenal with an effective splitter, which looks promising. Kramer had a career K/9 of 10.9 in the minor leagues, so his strikeout potential is good.
Run support isn't expected to be much of an issue in Baltimore. Kremer will start Saturday against the Brewers and will play against the Royals and Angels in a few weeks. He looks like more than just a streaming option.
If you like closers with triple-digit speed, malicious slider, Kopec should probably already be on the roster. The White Sox have only won two games so far, and Kopech has saved both of them. He has struck out 12 batters in 7.1 innings, which isn't all that surprising, and his fantasy rate is perfectly good.
Even the worst clubs in MLB are more than capable of producing a 30-save closer. Don't be a snob about your team's situation. Kopech has a solid grasp on the No. 9 and has what it takes to be successful. This guy has the team's only All-Star representative written all over his body.
