Andrew Abbott, SP, CIN (CBS: 46% rostered, ESPN: 21% rostered): It’s not like we haven’t seen a hot run from Abbott before. Last year, a strong start faded down the stretch, but with a 2.60 ERA and 1.04 WHIP three games into the ’24 campaign, it’s time to re-up with the 24-year-old Southpaw.
Paul Blackburn, SP, OAK (CBS: 39% rostered, ESPN: 32% rostered): Blackburn is off to an amazing 3-0 start and posting zero after zero after zero—19 1/3 of them after his first three starts. Sigh, he is very quickly turning into Cy in Oakland.
Dominic Canzone, OF, SEA CBS: 5% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered): With three home runs in his first 30 at-bats, Canzone is currently the M’s home run leader. Who would have thunk it? The BA will never be any great shakes, but he has bested the 20-home run mark in the past two seasons. The odds are good that he’ll make it three years running come year’s end.
Colton Cowser, OF, BAL (CBS: 40% rostered, ESPN: 22% rostered): Colton Cowser has gone 9-for-20 over the past five games with three homers, 11 RBI, and two stolen bases. His days as a part-time bat off the bench are coming to a close. It’s time for Fantasy Managers to spend big or go home.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 2B/3B/OF, TOR (CBS: 4% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered): No, he’s not a star, but his 15-to-20 stolen bases and a handful of homers, along with his multi-position eligibility, make him a solid bench option in all formats.
Tyler Fitzgerald, OF, SFG (CBS: 1% rostered, ESPN: not rostered): Fitzgerald is not an everyday player, but in NL-only formats, that speed will play and could prove very useful as we struggle to maintain active rosters.
Sal Frelick, OF, MIL (CBS: 43% rostered, ESPN: 9% rostered): Frelick has gotten out of the gate strong, going 15-for-47 with 11 runs scored and a pair of stolen bases while patrolling CF. If you temper the power expectations, you should be satisfied with the 2024 results.
David Hamilton, SS, BOS (CBS: 6% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered): Trevor Story suffered a fractured glenoid in his left shoulder and is lost for the season. This creates an opportunity for the 26-year-old Hamilton to at least own the good side of a platoon. He swiped 59 bases last year and already has two in the books since being called up.
Ivan Herrera, C, STL (CBS: 18% rostered, ESPN: 7% rostered): Willson Contreras is hurting, so the Cards have turned to Herrera behind the dish. The 23-year-old has responded in fine form, slugging three home runs in his past six games. He’s proven to be a more than capable second-catcher option in two-catcher sets.
Joey Loperfido, OF, HOU (CBS: 7% rostered, ESPN: not rostered): Loperfido is off to a great start at Triple-A Sugarland, tearing it up to the tune of 10 home runs and 24 RBI in only 54 at-bats. Jake Meyers has struggled to start the ’24 campaign, losing time to Mauricio Dubon. How long before the “Stros get on the phone and give Loperfido the call? I’m betting that it won’t be very long.
Michael Lorenzen, SP, TEX (CBS: 23% rostered, ESPN: 3% rostered): In surprising news, the Rangers have placed Cody Bradford on the 15-day IL with lower back issues. Lorenzen will slide into his rotation spot and is looking at a two-start week on the road against Detroit and Atlanta. Buy now, but let him knock off the rust on your bench this week.
Max Meyer, SP, MIA (CBS: 44% rostered, ESPN: 8% rostered): Max Meyer is off to a great start in his first full season returning from TJS. He has posted two wins in three starts with an excellent 2.12 ERA and .82 WHIP. There will be workload restrictions, probably 125 innings, give or take, but they could prove to be very good innings.
Lars Nootbaar, OF, STL (CBS: 50% rostered, ESPN: 20% rostered): Nootbaar returned Friday after starting the year on the IL with fractured ribs and immediately parked one in the bleachers. A steady diet of at-bats awaits as he hopes to build on that solid 14 HR, 11 SB 2023.
Eddie Olivares, OF, PIT (CBS: 18% rostered, ESPN: 4% rostered): Olivares is off to a great start, slugging three homers with 7 RBI, eight runs scored, and a great .308 BA. Posting numbers of this stature will guarantee regular playing time and keep him from the constant shuffling between the Minors and Majors he endured while a member of the Royals. The Royals’ loss could prove to be the Pirates’ gain.
Jurickson Profar, OF, SDP (CBS: 23% rostered, ESPN: 9% rostered): The Padres were extremely lean at the outfield position heading into 2024 and signed Profar to hold down the fort until the kids arrived. That one-year deal has immediately paid dividends, with Profar being among the team’s hitting leaders with two homers, 10 RBI, and a great .321 BA.
Luis Rengifo, 2B/3B/SS/OF, LAA (CBS: 36% rostered, ESPN: 36% rostered): The consummate super-sub gives you flexibility when looking at dealing with the constant stream of injuries we’re seeing early into the ’24 campaign. It also helps that he has produced 17 and 16 home runs over the past two seasons and has two thefts in the books in the early going.
Yariel Rodriguez, SP, TOR (CBS: 18% rostered, ESPN: 3% rostered): He got the call Saturday and held his own over 3 2/3 IP, allowing one earned run while chipping in with six strikeouts. There’s still some serious rust to knock off, but it will come. The Jays need a fifth starter; the job is his for the taking.
Jordan Westburg, 2B/3B, BAL (CBS: 46% rostered, ESPN: 11% rostered): The big news of the week was Baltimore calling up Jackson Holliday. While everyone focused on the young phenom, Jordan Westburg went 6-for-15 with two homers, two stolen bases, and 5 RBI this week. If you weren’t on the Westburg bandwagon, it’s time to make that move.
Masyn Winn, SS, STL (CBS: 28% rostered, ESPN: 4% rostered): He’s off to a great start, going 15-for-43 with a pair of thefts. The mid-teen power potential has yet to surface, but it will.
Jesse Winker, OF, WAS (CBS: 4% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered): What once was considered an NL-only option is changing quickly. Winker is off to a great start with one homer, two stolen bases, and a .350 BA. It’s time to give him a look in deeper Mixed Leagues.
James Wood, OF, WAS (CBS: 43% rostered, ESPN: 3% rostered): A 1.254 OPS at Triple-A Rochester over your first 11 games is a good way to impress the parent team. It’s only a matter of time before Wood gets the call, and that time is drawing near.
The Closer Report
Jeff Hoffman, RP, PHI (CBS: 13% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered): In our April 1 Waiver Wire Article, we mentioned that Jeff Hoffman could work his way into the mix for saves. We weren’t fooling! In his past three outings, he has accrued two wins and a save and has positioned himself for more high-leverage outings moving forward. He won’t come cheap, but based on that early-season success, he shouldn’t come cheap. Bid accordingly.
Michael Kopech, RP, CWS (CBS: 42% rostered, ESPN: 7% rostered): The job is all Kopech’s. He only needs the White Sox to have a lead heading into the ninth inning, which will be sorely lacking this season.
James McArthur, RP, KCR (CBS: 31% rostered, ESPN: 6% rostered): McArthur allowed earned runs in his first three outings before settling down. Will Smith struggled, creating an opportunity for McArthur to work the ninth. Over his past four outings, he has Win, and two Saves while tossing up zeros. Timing is everything.
David Robertson, RP, TEX (CBS: 34% rostered, ESPN: 18% rostered): Last week, we mentioned that Jose Leclerc was still the Closer in Texas. Things change quickly. This week, the Rangers announced that LeClerc will work in low-leverage situations “temporarily.” However, temporary can turn into a “long time” when David Robertson has posted a 1.08 ERA in eight appearances and has a solid history of closing out games.
Ryne Stanek, RP, SEA (CBS: 4% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered): Scott Servais has decided to shuffle closer Andres Munoz into high leverage situations, creating save opportunities for Ryne Stanek, who now has two saves on the season. Expect more to come, even with the potential return of Matt Brash.
