FAAB Week 2: Chins Up

Now that the splendor of Opening Day has worn off and the deluge of baseball washes over us, becoming the white noise of our summer lives, you may be starting to worry about those slow-starting fantasy teams. Especially if your team spent a first round pick on Julio Rodriguez (no homers, .185 average and 41 wRC+ currently) or Aaron Judge (.179 average and 85 wRC+ to-date) or absorbed George Kirby’s latest start (3.2 IP, 8 runs allowed against the Guardians), it’s likely that you’ve dismayingly sunk to towards the standings basement.

But fear not! Although we are leaving the period when one three-run homer swings your roto standings dramatically, there is oodles of time to accrue stats and find rosterable players. The course of your 2024 fantasy season can be corrected, trust me.

Just check out our Player Rater for year-to-date performance. You think that Michael Conforto, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Steven Kwan finish the season as top ten fantasy performers? If you do, you are quite the maniacal fantasy baseball soothsayer and probably have stacks of MLM products flooding your abode.

In last year’s second week column, I used the Player Rater to identify some pickups that included Brian Anderson, Adam Duvall, and Jason Vosler. That’s a trio of true “remember some guys” names and all of them had their use but certainly were not winning any 2023 fantasy leagues. I also named Gavin Sheets as a replacement for an Eloy Jimenez injury, because time is a flat circle.

The stats and ownership percentages below are updated as of noon central time on 4/5.

As always, if you want advice on specific roster decisions you might have, feel free to leave a comment. You can also find me on twitter (X) (@mcouill7) and bluesky (@mcouill7.bsky.social).

CATCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Travis d’Arnaud (ATL, 41% CBS Ownership) – Sean Murphy is out a few weeks with an oblique strain suffered on Opening Day against the Phillies, giving d’Arnaud full run at the catcher’s job in the dominant Braves offense. The projection systems have the 35-year-old vet slated for roughly a .245 batting average and double-digit homers; however, there may be some upside there. d’Arnaud suffered a concussion in May 2023 that seemed to linger throughout the season, leading to an 83 wRC+. A healthy 2024 campaign could lead to production above his projections, making him an easy roster-filler until Murphy’s return. (3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Alejandro Kirk (TOR, 39% CBS Ownership, 1-3%), Austin Wells (NYY, 34% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Ryan Jeffers (MIN, 28% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Elias Diaz (COL, 24% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Shea Langeliers (OAK, 23% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Reese McGuire (BOS, 1% CBS Ownership) – I swear the Red Sox are on a mission to drive me bananas this season as I whiffed on Andrew Bailey’s pitching prowess re-shaping the entire Boston rotation. Now after expounding on the virtues of Connor Wong last weekend, the Red Sox have started McGuire in the majority of contests since as they are playing a strict platoon at catcher. That gives the former first rounder and left-handed McGuire the leg up on the backstop job in a solid Boston offense. (1-3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Rene Pinto (TBR, 10% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Patrick Bailey (SFG, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Carson Kelly (DET, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Miguel Amaya (CHC, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)

INFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Brice Turang (2B/SS, MIL, 47% CBS Ownership) – Turang’s blazing .438/.444/.563 slash line has been fueled by a .583 BABIP with a paltry 16.7% HardHit-rate thus far, so don’t count on too much batted-ball production going forward. However, for our fantasy game, we’re focused on his perfect 6-for-6 start in the stolen base department. I think it’s safe to expect a .250 average, 8-10 homers, and 25 stolen bases from Turang rest-of-season as his defense should keep him cemented in the Brewers lineup. That makes for a perfectly cromulent 2B/MI option to provide a speed boost, akin to a poor man’s Bryson Stott. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Ty France (1B, SEA, 46% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Josh Bell (1B, MIA, 43% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Michael Busch (1B/3B, CHC, 39% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jared Triolo (2B/3B, PIT, 37% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Orlando Arcia (SS, ATL, 29% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Masyn Winn (SS, STL, 27% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Willi Castro (3B/OF, MIN, 26% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Brendan Rodgers (2B, COL, 25% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), J.D. Davis (3B, OAK, 25% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Zach Neto (SS, LAA, 23% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jose Caballero (2B/SS, TBR, 23% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Wilmer Flores (1B/3B, SFG, 22% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Ezequiel Duran (3B/SS/OF, TEX, 17% CBS Ownership) – Duran stands to be the largest beneficiary of Josh Jung’s broken wrist, keeping him out of the Rangers lineup for the next 8-10 weeks. Plus, don’t discount that Jung could struggle in a return from an injury that will greatly affecting his power and plate approach. Duran hits the ball with enough juice (43.9% HardHit-rate last year) while providing great positional coverage to be useful on plenty of fantasy teams. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Brayan Rocchio (SS, CLE, 20% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Curtis Mead (3B, TBR, 14% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Trey Lipscomb (3B, WSN, 13% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Carlos Santana (1B, MIN, 12% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Enmanuel Valdez (2B, BOS, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Miguel Vargas (2B, LAD, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Elehuris Montero (1B, COL, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Blaze Alexander (SS, ARI, 5% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB) Isiah Kiner-Falefa (3B/OF, TOR, 4% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Oliver Dunn (3B, MIL, 1% CBS Ownership) – Dunn is a 26-year-old journeyman that appears to be the Brewers’ favorite option at third. His resembles that of a height-challenged Joey Gallo as he regularly ran K-rates in excess of 30% throughout the minor leagues with the Yankees and Phillies. However, there’s a possibility Dunn runs into mid-teens homers with his swing-for-the-fences approach, plus there could be sneaky speed here as he collected 16 stolen bases in Double-A last year. (1-3% FAAB)

Braden Shewmake (SS, CHW, 3% CBS Ownership) – Paul DeJong performed quite the speed run on losing the White Sox shortstop job as a 63.6% K-rate with some truly awful hacks in your first 11 plate appearances will do that. Shewmake has already worked his way into a strong-side platoon and will likely take the full-time gig as DeJong seems destined for DFA Land. Shewmake’s projected ZiPS line of a .223 average with 12 homers and 13 stolen bases provides plenty of intrigue for those needing MI help in super deep leagues. (3% FAAB)

OUTFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

MJ Melendez (KCR, 41% CBS Ownership) – The 25-year-old Melendez showed a new plate approach during the Cactus League and sported a 14.0% K-rate over 50 plate appearances versus striking out at a 26.5% clip during his first two season. That approach appears to have stuck so far as he’s only punched out at 17.4% rate while producing a 52.9% HardHit-rate and 23.5% Barrel-rate (although, super small sample size alert with only four Barrels). We might be looking at a monster breakout year for Melendez that pushes 30 homers along with a batting average that travels well north of .250. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Jack Suwinski (PIT, 50% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jake Fraley (CIN, 47% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Mitch Haniger (SFG, 39% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jose Siri (TBR, 35% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Alex Kirilloff (1B/OF, MIN, 30% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Bryan De La Cruz (MIA, 25% CBS Ownership Rate, 1% FAAB), Brandon Marsh (PHI, 25% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Mark Canha (CI/OF, 23% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Leody Taveras (TEX, 23% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Charlie Blackmon (COL, 23% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Ryan O’Hearn (1B/OF, BAL, 10% CBS Ownership) – This is a pure one week play as O’Hearn and the Orioles get three games in Boston followed by three against Milwaukee at home. Oh yeah, and the schedule currently includes all righty starters, meaning O’Hearn should get six straight starts in parks that are hitter-friendly for lefties. (1-3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Joey Meneses (WSN, 18% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Nelson Velazquez (KCR, 18% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Harrison Bader (NYM, 14% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Brenton Doyle (COL, 12% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), J.J. Bleday (OAK, 12% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Tyler Freeman (3B/MI/OF, CLE, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), LaMonte Wade (1B/OF, SFG, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jesus Sanchez (MIA, 6% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Ramon Laureano (CLE, 5% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jesse Winker (WSN, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Will Brennan (CLE, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Jurickson Profar (SDP, 4% CBS Ownership) – I can’t believe that I’m doing this again. Profar was a mainstay of this piece last year to stream games at home on a miserable Rockies team. And yeah, it was a historically brutal year for Profar as he accumulated -1.7 WAR and a 76 wRC+ in 2023. Butttt… he did slash .273/.353/.421 in Coors. Now that Profar doesn’t have to deal with the realities of constantly moving to and from altitude, there’s a great possibility he produces a steadier season in an old home. He hit for a .243/.331/.391 line with 15 homers and 82 runs as a full-time player in San Diego during 2022, I expect more of the same in 2024. (3% FAAB)

Gavin Sheets (1B/OF, CHW, 1% CBS Ownership) – Like I said in the intro, time is a flat circle. Eloy Jimenez looks bound for the IL, but Chris Getz is too macho to need that 26^th roster spot, instead choosing to play short-handed… for now. Sheets will be the beneficiary of any Eloy absences throughout 2024 while being firmly planted in the middle of the order, which sounds cooler than it is given it’s the White Sox. (1-3% FAAB)

STARTING PITCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Clarke Schmidt (NYY, 44% CBS Ownership) – I really loved Schmidt last year, but maybe I was just a year too early? Despite the unsightly 5.06 ERA right now, the Schmidt’s arsenal has all the pieces for a breakout year. His fastball averaged 95.5-mph in his first start, up two full ticks from his 2023 average. In addition, Eno Sarris’ Stuff+ gave Schmidt a 113 grade on his whole package. His bug-a-boo will always be the home run ball because of his career 43.8% groundball-rate, but I’m willing to see what Schmidt can provide in his upcoming start at Cleveland. (3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Andrew Abbott (CIN, 49% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Max Meyer (MIA, 40% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jordan Wicks (CHC, 38% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Logan Allen (CLE, 38% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Cody Bradford (TEX, 29% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Trevor Rogers (MIA, 28% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Andrew Heaney (TEX, 26% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Chase Silseth (LAA, 24% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Javier Assad (CHC, 20% CBS Ownership) – Assad has a relatively juicy two-start week with road outings scheduled at San Diego and Seattle, two pitcher-friendly parks. Maybe I’m just a sucker for flyball pitchers as Assad has a career 44.4% groundball-rate and only 7.6 K/9, which leads to the projections not liking him (his ERA is projected from 4.30 to 4.70). But since August 1 of last season, Assad has posted a 2.62 ERA over 65.1 innings that have included 10 starts and five relief outings. Sure, his BABIP is .267 but that also makes sense given the solid Cubs defense behind him. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Paul Blackburn (OAK, 16% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Bowden Francis (TOR, 14% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Spencer Turnbull (PHI, 13% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ryan Weathers (MIA, 12% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Steven Matz (STL, 11% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Alec Marsh (KCR, 10% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ross Stripling (OAK, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Cole Irvin (BAL, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jake Junis (MIL, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Trevor Williams (WSN, 2% CBS Ownership) – A two-start week with the first leg in San Francisco with the second at Oakland? Gimme, gimme. (3% FAAB)

Yariel Rodriguez (TOR, 4% CBS Ownership) – The Blue Jays rotation is already skating on thin ice as Yusei Kikuchi and Bowden Francis struggled in their first starts. Rodriguez is currently the only Triple-A pitcher on Toronto’s 40-man roster, so he’s certainly the next man up if poor performance or injury requires it. And the cherry on top of it all is that he looked sharp in his first minor league start, posting six Ks and one BB over four innings. (1-3% FAAB)

RELIEVERS

10/12 Team Adds

Griffin Jax (MIN, 47% CBS Ownership) – Twins manager Rocco Baldelli showed that Jax won’t strictly be in a closer role after deploying him in the 8^th inning Wednesday. However, Jax faced the heart of the Brewers’ order, retiring William Contreras, Christian Yelich, and Willy Adames without issue. Jax is certainly the number one choice for high-leverage spots in the Minnesota bullpen, which should yield a generous handful of saves while Jhoan Duran is sidelined. (3% FAAB)

Yimi Garcia (TOR, 13% CBS Ownership) – The Blue Jays have yet to show us how a save situation will work as the offense has looked putrid of late and wins are hard to come by. However, my faith is still in Garcia being the choice for the closer’s job. Even with the lower ownership rate, he’s worthy of 12-team league ownership especially since Toronto has an easier schedule this week with the Mariners and Rockies visiting. (3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Joel Payamps (MIL, 38% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Michael Kopech (CHW, 35% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), A.J. Minter (ATL, 31% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Daniel Hudson (LAD, 31% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Yennier Cano (BAL, 30% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Aroldis Chapman (PIT, 28% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Hunter Harvey (WSN, 26% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), David Robertson (TEX, 25% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Justin Lawrence (COL, 17% CBS Ownership) – Lawrence is going to rot here all season, sorry. He’s the best free option for saves out there; it simply requires testing one’s luck with the whole Rockies of it all. (1-3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Brock Stewart (MIN, 12% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jeff Hoffman (PHI, 11% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), James McArthur (KCR, 9% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Chris Martin (BOS, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), John Brebbia (CHW, 8% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Shelby Miller (DET, 8% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Chad Green (TOR, 4% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), John Schreiber (KCR, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)