This week’s depth chart review has an unfortunate theme in both the real-life and fantasy baseball worlds. As the season rolls on, the injuries are already piling up.
What can be an unfortunate event for one player, though, can be another player’s opportunity to make a push up the depth chart, as will be the case with some of the players listed this week.
Let’s dive right into the second weekly edition of the MLB’s Depth Chart Review and see what we might be looking at.
Fantasy Baseball Depth Chart Review
Ji Hwan Bae (2B – PIT)
Ji Hwan Bae is the first potential player to benefit from injury regarding the Pittsburgh depth chart during this second week of April. Unfortunately for the Pirates, they lost their franchise star Oneil Cruz to a fractured ankle last week. Cruz is expected to miss 10-12 weeks with the injury and will likely be unable to return before mid-August. It was an absolutely brutal blow for a young shortstop that was expected to fully breakout in 2023.
Since the injury, it has looked like Bae will be one of the first options to fill the recent void. He subbed in for Cruz when he went down and more recently moved into the leadoff spot in the batting order, at least for now. Bae has gone 8-for-33 (.242) to kick off the season but has launched two homers and stolen two bases. He could provide some sneaky value in those departments while seeing regular playing time at the top of the Pittsburgh order.
Jarren Duran (OF – BOS)
If someone asked who the hottest hitter in baseball was through the first two weeks, the expected answers would be the usual suspects: Aaron Judge, Mike Trout or Freddie Freeman. Right?
Wrong. Adam Duvall had been lighting the world on fire since Opening Day, mashing four homers with 14 RBI while riding a .583/.545/1.138 slash line. And then, in devastating fashion, as quickly as he took off, he went down, suffering a fractured wrist against the Tigers while trying to make a play in center.
Cue Jarren Duran, the ex-hyped and then-shunned Red Sox top prospect whose career has gotten off to an undeniably shaky start. The expectation out of Boston is that Duran will soon be called up to fill the void in Duvall’s absence, and he will likely see the most playing time between himself and the alternate options (mainly Raimel Tapia and Rob Refsnyder).
Duran struggled mightily with the Redsox in 2022, batting just .221 with three long balls while striking out 63 times across just 58 games played. He did fare a bit better this Spring Training, as he went 6-for-18 (.333) with a homer and four walks, but was ultimately sent down to AAA to begin the regular season. The pending callup very well may be Duran’s last chance to make an impression with the Boston club, and it remains to be seen if he will develop as many had hoped.
Seiya Suzuki (OF – CHC)
This update may be more of a public service announcement than an official depth chart “movement,” but Seiya Suzuki is nearly healed from his injured oblique and could be back with the Cubs this coming weekend (April 15-16). Suzuki has been rehabbing in Iowa since April 8, and his return to the big leagues is now imminent. He figures to immediately slot into the heart of the order upon his return.
Last year’s Japanese phenom started hot out of the gate before concluding his “rookie” season with a .262/.336/.770 line, 14 homers, 38 XBH and nine stolen bases. He should be one of the top hitters on this year’s Chicago team, which is improved from 2022, and is currently third in the MLB, averaging 5.90 runs per game. Make sure Suzuki is not on your team’s waiver wire for whatever reason, and if he is, go scoop him up immediately.
Brayan Bello (SP – BOS)
Brayan Bello is getting close, and the good lord knows that the Red Sox desperately need him. The 23-year-old sophomore pitcher has been dealing with elbow inflammation since late March and has been making Minor League rehab starts since. It sounds like he is very close to a Major League return, and he could develop into the top Boston pitching option as soon as he arrives.
Bello was extremely sharp in his most recent rehab outing, lasting six innings, while allowing just four hits and one run across 81 pitches. His fastball was clocked sitting in the upper 90s, and most importantly, he finished his outing unscathed. Bello already has some Major League experience from last year, and his development should be improved in 2023. He is a tantalizing young player that is worthy of a bench spot on fantasy rosters ahead of his return to the MLB.
Quick Hitter Notes:
- Braves outfielder Sam Hilliard has taken over Michael Harris‘ outfield spot since he went down with a back injury and has responded by going 7-for-19 (.368) with three doubles.
- Andres Munoz was placed on the 15-day IL by Seattle after suffering a right shoulder strain, paving the way for Paul Sewald to fill in as the temporary closer. Sewald has already recorded two saves and has only allowed two earned runs across six innings pitched in the early going.
- Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar is gearing up for a return after a short stint on the IL. He could slide back into the top of the St. Louis order as early as Thursday (April 13) as the team takes on the Pirates.
- Jonah Heim will be the unquestioned catcher for the Rangers as Mitch Garver was recently placed on the 10-day IL with a knee sprain. Heim has gone 6-for-16 with two homers and four RBI over his last four games played.
If you want to dive deeper into fantasy baseball, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Baseball Tools as you navigate your season. From our Lineup Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – that allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy baseball season.
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