In an ideal fantasy baseball world, all stolen bases come from everyday players who provide value across all five categories. However, what we live in is far from an ideal world. Very few players offer five categories of production and even fewer provide stolen bases. Quite often some of the most prolific base stealers are actually part-time players. I am often guilty of writing content that caters to my own leagues, mostly weekly lineup-setting leagues where these part-timers do not have the same value level. Yet, many players and readers play in daily lineup leagues. Here are a few players with questionable playing time who could be great sources of steals when they play.
Jordan Luplow – Luplow has had success in this league as a lefty masher who provides a bit in the speed department. Over the last 14 days, he has had four homers and three stolen bases. He is not a regular starter so you will have to pick your times to use him. However, these player types can help you succeed in fantasy leagues.
Jace Peterson – While he likely loses some playing time with the Brewers getting healthy again, Peterson has played each of the last four games. He has three steals in the last two weeks and five on the season. He likely won’t hit for a high average and provide a ton of power, but he could be a decent daily fill-in.
Roman Quinn – Quinn feels like he has been around forever, but is somehow just 28. Speed is the calling card of the profile and there’s not much else there. However, when he plays, he runs. He should play a few games a week and has enough speed to potentially make a valuable difference in daily leagues.
Typically we discuss catchers to target for stolen bases but pitchers can be even more to blame for large stolen base totals.
| Name | Team | SB | Inn | SB/Inn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noah Syndergaard | LAA | 10 | 29.1 | 0.34 |
| Sandy Alcantara | MIA | 7 | 42.2 | 0.17 |
| Matt Moore | TEX | 6 | 14.2 | 0.42 |
| Kevin Gausman | TOR | 6 | 38 | 0.16 |
| Merrill Kelly | ARI | 5 | 42 | 0.12 |
| Diego Castillo | SEA | 5 | 10.2 | 0.49 |
| Adam Ottavino | NYM | 4 | 10.2 | 0.39 |
| Alex Cobb | SFG | 4 | 20.1 | 0.20 |
| Hunter Strickland | CIN | 4 | 13.2 | 0.30 |
| Robbie Ray | SEA | 4 | 42.2 | 0.09 |
| Drew Smyly | CHC | 4 | 23.2 | 0.17 |
| Kyle Hendricks | CHC | 4 | 39 | 0.10 |
| Adrian Houser | MIL | 4 | 30.1 | 0.13 |
| Ross Stripling | TOR | 4 | 23 | 0.17 |
| Amir Garrett | KCR | 4 | 8.1 | 0.49 |
| Jose Ruiz | CHW | 4 | 11 | 0.36 |
| Joe Jimenez | DET | 4 | 12.1 | 0.33 |
| Zach Thompson | PIT | 4 | 20.1 | 0.20 |
| Tyler Mahle | CIN | 4 | 30.2 | 0.13 |
| Cal Quantrill | CLE | 4 | 34.1 | 0.12 |
In weekly leagues, this data does not carry a ton of value. However, much like the part-time players being smart about attacking these pitchers can have a ton of value for the daily leaguer.
Noah Syndergaard – Syndergaard has historically had a hard time holding runners on. Hitters essentially run at will on him. Syndergaard likely throws against Oakland next week. This could make guys like Sheldon Neuse, Roman Laureano, and Tony Kemp a bit more valuable in daily leagues
Sandy Alcantara – While Sandy has broken out his massive frame makes him slow to the plate. He lines up to pitch against Washington this week. While they are not full of stolen base threats a guy like Cesar Hernandez could get a small boost.
Kevin Gausman – Gausman is another guy that teams seem to be aggressive against which is likely partially a function of his times to the plate but also due to his dominance. He gets Seattle this week which could be a boost to the stolen base prospects of the Mariners. However, most of their players who run are likely already owned. Adam Frazier and Dylan Moore are guys who might be available.
If you play in daily leagues it is vitally important, especially in deeper ones, to ensure that you are taking every advantage possible. Finding these part-time players who are specific category producers can be the difference between a decent fantasy season and a winning one.
