First off – if for whatever reason Josh Lowe and/or Christopher Morel are available in your
league, please stop reading this and add them. Lowe is 83-percent owned and Morel is 82-percent owned at the time of this article in Yahoo leagues. Those numbers should have been in the 90's as of last week. If they both are available, can I join your league next year?
Now – on to the pickups of the week…
1. Jorge Soler, OF, Miami Marlins – This guy has been on FIRE and it could not have come at a better time. The Marlins travel to Colorado for a four-game set, then get the Angels at home for three games. So, a full slate of games for Mr. Soler and four of them come at the friendliest hitter’s park in all of baseball. He also gets to face four left-handed pitchers next week. On the year, Soler is hitting .367 against lefties with six homeruns and 11 RBIs. He is, if nothing else, a must add for this week and a very strong rest of season play. The power has always been there for Soler, it’s just a matter of staying healthy. He likely won’t help much in the average department but there will be plenty of production in the power department (41% rostered in Yahoo.)
2. Elly De La Cruz, SS/3B, Cincinnati Reds – If you’ve been living under a rock, let me introduce you to Elly De La Cruz, shortstop prospect for the Cincinnati Reds. No, he is not up with the Reds at the time of this article but now is the time to add. There is absolutely no reason to leave this kid down in Triple-A any longer. He has three of the hardest hit baseballs in ALL of baseball this year – majors and minors. For the year, EDLC is hitting .281 with 23 runs scored, seven homeruns, 25 RBI and seven stolen bases. He is my number-one prospect in all of baseball, over Jordan Walker and has league winning upside. He profiles as a top ten pick in fantasy in a couple of years, but the kid is ready to contribute now. I’m adding him now and beating the rush. I predict he will be called up before May is over. Now the big questions are A) where does he play, and B) can his improved plate discipline translate over to the majors? The Reds must figure it out to get him in their desperate-for-runs lineup. You may have swung and missed out on Lowe and Morel earlier in the year from my recommended pickups, don’t make it strike three and miss out on Elly De La Cruz. Add now (21% rostered in Yahoo.)
3. Bryan De La Cruz, OF, Miami Marlins – Speaking of De La Cruz, the Marlins' outfielder has also been hitting extremely well over the past two weeks. He has gone 16/44 (.364 AVG) with nine runs scored, three homeruns, eight RBIs and a stolen base. Like Soler, BDLC gets four games in Colorado and three games at home versus the LA Angels. If you need OF help, look no further than Bryan De La Cruz, who received some preseason hype heading into the season. I’d be looking to add in 12-plus team formats (21% rostered in Yahoo.)
4. Lane Thomas, OF, Washington Nationals – Another National in this space, who knew? Lane Thomas has been a regular at the top of the Washington lineup and has been hitting the ball extremely well this month. Ready for these number?
Over the last week: 10/28 (.357) with 7 runs scored, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1 SB
Over the last two weeks: 19/56 (.339) with 12 runs scored, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 1 SB
The month of May: 25/75 (.333) with 16 runs scored, 6 HR, 13 RBI, 2 SB
That will play. Especially in a scarce position like OF. No – his advanced metrics are
nothing to write home about but as I have said all year long, statcast numbers are a tool
– not the ends all be all in evaluating a player. As they say in golf, there are no pictures
on the scorecard. Just like there are no pictures in the box score or in fantasy baseball. If
nothing else, the Lane Thomas wave is worth surfing if you need help in the OF and he
can contribute to four categories, as shown above (37% rostered in Yahoo.)
5. Dane Dunning, SP, Texas Rangers – I must be honest; I am not 100-percent sold on Dane Dunning as a long-term option, but here are some reasons he’s on this article:
1. He does have a two-start week this week (@PIT & @BAL)
2. The Rangers are for real and they can score some runs for him (Second in the
league in team average and runs scored)
3. He has pitched very well recently:
a. Over the past two weeks: 12.0 IP, 2 W, 9 K, 2.25 ERA, 1.09 WHIP
b. Over the past month: 22.0 IP, 3 W, 14 K, 2.86 ERA, 1.00 WHIP
If you’re interested in his statcast numbers:
So, I do expect Dane Dunning to turn into a pumpkin at some point, but I don’t think it’s this
week. Good tw-start streamer if you need some help with wins, ERA and WHIP.