The bats are alive with the sound of music! (Sorry, my wife’s watching that movie in the other room.) Baseball is a warm-weather sport, and now that the temperature is rising, so are the scores. While some of your pitches may be taking it on the chin, your home runs and RBIs have undoubtedly caught a boost.
If not, then it’s time to hit the waiver wire! There are still plenty of players consistently hammering the ball and filling up the stat sheet. With all the injuries teams have dealt with, clubs have often looked to their younger talent creating a plethora of near must-add players.
Let’s get right to it. These 16 players are all rostered in less than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues that can help you in at least one major category. Many of these guys will help you in more ways than one, with their primary contributions in the category under which they are listed.
I try not to repeat myself from weeks past, so if there’s someone who seems to be missing, he was probably previously mentioned.
RBI
Toronto’s bowling ball of a man has been a force at the dish lately. Kirk has knocked in eight runs over his past seven games, hitting behind the Blue Jays’ impressive core. He’s also hitting bombs (three in the last four days) while boosting his average over .300.
Kirk was high on many experts’ lists heading into the season and is now showing signs of why. He has more walks than strikeouts and plays nearly every day, switching between catcher and DH. Qualifying at the weakest position in fantasy, Kirk is a must-add in the leagues he is still comically available in.
Stolen Bases
Jace Peterson (1B, 2B, 3B, OF – MIL): 17%
With numerous starters on the IL, the Brewers utility man has found himself starting almost daily. While Peterson is probably best left on the bench against left-handed pitching, he has been a force against righties. Off to a terrific start, including six doubles, two triples, and five home runs, Peterson has already racked up seven stolen bases. Make that eight! He literally just stole second as I’m writing this with the game on TV!
Running wild on the base paths has also led to a solid 22 runs scored in just 114 at-bats. Peterson swiped 10 bags last year with limited playing time and should continue to run at will this season. He qualifies all over the diamond and should be added in all leagues where you’re lacking speed.
Michael Harris (OF – ATL): 32%
Michael Harris is another player to keep your eye on and potentially add. He has yet to steal a base but does possess plus-plus speed and can contribute across the board. The Braves’ fourth-ranked prospect (according to Fangraphs) is off to a decent start hitting .280 and could be a Christopher Morel type before long.
Runs
Luis Guillorme (2B, 3B – NYM): 17%
Since becoming the Mets’ everyday second baseman, only two players in all of baseball have scored more runs than Guillorme. A favorite among the Metropolitan faithful, Guillorme has produced a ridiculous .448 OBP and 19 runs scored in limited action. Playing regularly now and with so much firepower around him, the Venezuelan infielder is scoring more often, recording 12 runs over his last 11 starts.
With Dominic Smith sent down, Robbie Cano sent packing weeks ago, and Travis Jankowski on the shelf with a fractured hand, a spot has opened up for Guillorme. He has started six of the last seven, including three against left-handed pitching.
Guillorme should continue to score a hefty amount of runs in the powerful Mets lineup with regular playing time. If you already have adequate power but are lacking runs and batting average, Guillomre is an ideal addition.
Batting Average
Kyle Farmer (3B, SS – CIN): 41%
Kyle Farmer has been described by his teammates and manager as the glue that holds the club together. A clubhouse favorite, the Reds’ shortstop has been a beast at the plate of late, producing 12 hits over his last eight games. The ex-Dodger has also clubbed four homers during the stretch to go along with 13 RBIs and a steal. He bats near the middle of the order and often hits third or fourth against lefties.
The Reds have come alive of late, and Farmer has been a big part of it. He went through similar stretches last season and deserves your attention while mashing at the dish. Add everyone’s favorite teammate now while he’s hot.
Andres Gimenez (2B, SS – CLE): 46%
Gimenez has been hot as well, hitting in six straight. He went through a bit of a lull period in May but has since brought his average back up to .302. The Guardians’ shortstop was a letdown last season but has been one of the better sleepers in 2022. He contributes across-the-board similar to Farmer and deserves a spot in all leagues.
Home Runs
These players aren’t for everyone, so I’m giving you a few options.
Jose Miranda (1B, 3B – MIN): 4%
I would love to mention Jose Miranda here because his swing looks more aggressive these days, and the ball is flying off his bat. Plus, he’s only rostered in 4% of leagues, but as mentioned before, I’m doing my best not to repeat players, and he has seen this list before. But if you’re in a deeper league, go get him now!
Matt Carpenter (1B, 2B – STL): 5%
This one comes with a bit of a caveat, but you just can’t ignore what Matt Carpenter has accomplished so far in the Bronx. He’s not going to start every day, but when Carpenter is in the lineup (especially at home), he is worth activating for those in daily leagues. Taking advantage of the short porch in right, Carpenter has hit three dingers in all three home games so far. Before signing with the Yankees, the three-time All-Star was lighting it up in Triple-A as well, registering a .991 OPS with six bombs in 80 at-bats (for Texas).
While he’s not a great fit for all league types, there’s no denying the 36-year-old looks to have gotten his timing back. The beard is gone, but the stash is alive and well in New York and could be just the place for him to thrive.
If you don’t like Carpenter, Longoria’s another veteran who has been mashing homers of late. Longoria has been a boon in the power department with five long balls to close out May. He dealt with a sore shoulder to start the month but should be back by Monday (he’s already pinch-hitting) and could be a valuable source for homers throughout the summer.
And if younger upside is more your thing, there’s always Lane Thomas. Thomas doesn’t start regularly, but he has launched four home runs over his last 16 ABs, and he’s also hitting .375 during that stretch. Thomas isn’t the most exciting name out there, but he did show the kind of fantasy asset he can be in the second half of last year.
Strikeouts
Edward Cabrera (SP – MIA): 29%
Cabrera is nasty. Probably the only player on earth who throws a mid 90’s changeup, Cabrera made hitters look silly last week, flailing at pitches well outside the strike zone. Not only did he produce six shutout/one-hit innings, but he did so in Colorado’s launching pad of a stadium. The performance should earn him a few more starts, especially with Elieser Hernandez being sent down.
It was just one game, but with an elite 42.6 CSW% (seven percent higher than Jacob deGrom last season), Cabrera should be an exceptional asset for strikeouts once given a chance. His role is still up in the air as he hasn’t been assigned another start, but now is the time to pounce. He deserves a roster spot in all leagues.
ERA
Graham Ashcraft (SP – CIN): 8%
Not many believe in the young right-hander out of Huntsville, Alabama yet, but make no mistake, Ashcraft’s rostership will quickly increase over the next few weeks. The 24-year-old out of UAB throws two high 90’s fastballs that produce an enormous amount of ground balls. The key to his success is the movement he gets on both offerings. One cuts at nearly 98 miles per hour while the other sinks at 97. Both pitches can reach 100, which Ashcraft pairs with a mid-80s slider to help keep hitters honest.
The high-velo with good movement has produced a 3.18 GB/FB rate with only one barrel given up over three starts. This season, Ashcraft produced a mind-blowing 6.36 GB/FB rate in Triple-A, so the ground balls should continue in massive quantities. His ERA currently sits at 1.53, mirroring the 1.65 ERA he registered in Triple-A.
While some worm-burners may eventually sneak through, Ashcraft will keep the ball in the yard and extra-base hits to a minimum. He lasts deep into games, and while he hasn’t struck out a ton of batters, he did up his total in his latest outing with five over seven innings. Ashcraft also managed around a K per inning in the minors, so it’s not like he can’t miss bats.
Take a flier on the unknown righty in Cincinnati and start him this week in his tilt against the D’backs.
WHIP
Jakob Junis (SP, RP – SF): 16%
Junis pitched well at the beginning of last year (in KC) before the wheels came off and was quickly dispatched to Triple-A. Recognizing his potential, the Giants signed him this winter as a free agent which seems to have already paid dividends. In seven games (five starts), Junis has kept runners off the bases to the tune of a low 0.973 WHIP.
San Francisco has been one of the best places to pitch over the last few years, and while Junis has fared well there, it’s been on the road where the 6-foot-3 righty has impressively pitched better. His ERA sits at a paltry 2.68 (1.80 on the road) for the season. Junis has done a good job of keeping the ball in the yard while limiting hard contact.
The Giants and all their coaches have really improved Junis’ command, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him continue to produce a low WHIP all season long. Anthony DeSclafani and Matthew Boyd aren’t due back anytime soon, so if your WHIP is getting ugly, take a chance on Junis and expect more quality starts.
Wins
Devin Smeltzer (SP, RP – MIN): 24%
Smeltzer has been somewhat of a surprise, pitching deep into games while keeping runners off base. The southpaw out of New Jersey doesn’t light up the radar gun but does have a quirky delivery that has kept hitters baffled at the plate. He offers great command, doesn’t give up homers, and has averaged six innings over his four starts, leading to a pair of wins.
With the ability to pitch deep into games while keeping the score down, Smeltzer is in the driver’s seat to earn a win every time out. His team’s offense offers plenty of run support, plus he arguably plays in the weakest division. If Smeltzer can stay healthy, his 1.50 ERA and 0.83 WHIP belong on fantasy rosters in all leagues.
Saves
Trying to predict who’s going to earn the next save in Tampa is like trying to predict who’s going to win the World Series. There are many strong candidates, but more than a few could come out the winner if things go right. With JP Feyereisen headed to the IL, that should lower the competition, but with the return of Andrew Kittredge, the situation gets even cloudier.
Kittredge will likely act as the closer more often than not after he gets his legs back under him, but in the meantime, there’s a good chance the Rays turn to Mr. Poche to get those final few outs. His ERA is 1.56, and he already has three saves on the season.
Poche’s not a great add except for those in deeper leagues, but with the Rays’ tendency to win close games, enough saves should go around. Plus, these days, it’s pretty slim pickings for unrostered (and previously unmentioned) closers. Add Poche if you are genuinely desperate for saves.
Hudson could be in line for saves in the future if Craig Kimbrel continues to struggle. The Dodgers will have a tough time moving Kimbrell out of the ninth inning, but an ERA north of 4.5 will hardly cut it for a team with World Series aspirations.
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Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.