Top 100 Hitters: The Home Stretch

As the final month of the fantasy baseball season approaches, the chase for glory intensifies. In this week’s Top 100 Hitter rankings for the rest of the 2024 fantasy baseball season, we sift through the best performers to spotlight those whose bats are scorching and those who’ve cooled off at the wrong time. This time of year, rankings are more volatile than ever with players swinging from hero to zero in the blink of an eye. The difference between a hot streak and a slump can make or break your season especially as the playoffs begin. Being on top of your team and the waiver wire could be all it takes to tip the scales in the last dash to the finish. For this last version of the 2024 season, I thank you for visiting, debating and most of all being the best readers around.  Let’s all hope these rankings guide you through the frenzy of the closing weeks, where every day could be the difference between triumph and heartbreak.

Rising

• Lawrence Butler – Butler is scorching hot, hitting .341 with six homers, 11 runs, and 12 RBI over his last 10 games. What’s even more impressive is that his performance isn’t fueled by luck, as evidenced by his low .242 BABIP. With a strikeout rate under 5% during this stretch, he’s showing exceptional plate discipline. While it’s unclear whether this is a breakout or just a hot streak, at this point in the season, it’s wise to ride the hot hand. Butler is delivering elite production right when it matters most.  Nice to see the value coming out of the bay for the Athletics.
• Corbin Carroll – Drafted as a consensus first-rounder, this Diamondback was expected to be a cornerstone for fantasy teams, but his season got off to a rocky start. For much of the first two months, he flirted with the Mendoza line, but he managed to salvage some value with 18 stolen bases in the first half, but the rest of his stat line was disappointing, posting a .212 average with only five home runs.  The second half has brought a glimmer of hope, as things have started to come together for him. Over the last two weeks, he’s finally delivering the power that was expected from the get-go, surpassing his entire first-half homer total with six more dingers while hitting .311. His hard contact is also back, as evidenced by a 95.2 mph exit velocity, suggesting that his early-season woes might be behind him.  While this resurgence might come a little too late for those in roto leagues, his recent surge could be a game-changer in the fantasy playoffs.
• Connor Norby – The Orioles must be second-guessing their decision to send Connor Norby to Miami in exchange for Trevor Rogers. Since being called up by the Marlins, Norby has seized the opportunity to claim the third base role, hitting .318 with a pair of homers and steals, while scoring 13 runs over 11 games. Slotting into the leadoff spot has been a boon for his counting stats, and with Xavier Edwards sidelined, Norby could continue to thrive at the top of the order. It looks like Miami got the better end of this deal, and Norby is making the most of his fresh start.

Falling

• Lane Thomas – The Nationals seem to have come out ahead in the Lane Thomas deal, as his move to Cleveland has not gone as hoped. Since his arrival, Thomas has struggled mightily, hitting just .150 with no homers and three steals over 27 games. Once a top-of-the-lineup presence, he’s now been relegated to the bottom of the order and even the bench at times. The underlying metrics hinted at this downturn for a while, and it appears Thomas is finally succumbing to the limitations in his Statcast profile. What once looked like a promising acquisition is quickly turning into a disappointment for Cleveland.

Watching

• Pete Crow-Armstrong – Known primarily for his glove, Pete Crow-Armstrong has been heating up at the plate for Chicago. Over the last 14 days, he’s hitting .359 with two homers, three steals, and 11 runs and RBIs apiece. While there’s some BABIP luck involved, with a .429 mark, his 45% hard-hit rate suggests he’s making quality contact. Whether this performance is sustainable over the long haul is debatable, but for now, PCA is filling up the stat sheet and providing a spark in the short term. Enjoy the ride while it lasts!
• Jordan Walker – Once a top prospect, Jordan Walker’s season has been a rollercoaster for both him and the struggling Cardinals. Before his demotion, Walker managed just a .155 average across 67 plate appearances, falling out of favor as quickly as he came onto the scene. But out of sight hasn’t meant out of mind—Walker has been grinding in Triple-A, where he’s hit .348 with three homers and 20 combined runs and RBIs since the beginning of August.  With Tommy Pham now designated for assignment, manager Oli Marmol has committed to playing Walker every day for the remainder of the season. While this year has been full of ups and downs, Walker’s return offers a chance to see his potential as we look ahead to 2024, and even more so to 2025.