It’s Thu … well, it’s a day. You know what that means.
I’ve been out sick this week, so I apologize for the delay.
Each and every week during the fantasy baseball season, we’ll be doing a stock report, looking at the players who are improving their value on a week-to-week basis.
If there are players you want me to dive into, feel free to tag me on Twitter @MichaelWaterloo.
Now, without any further ado, let’s get to it.
Fantasy Baseball Stock Report
Stock Up
Burger started the season red-hot, and he was arguably the best offensive fantasy option on the White Sox. But then, he got hurt, which has been the unfortunate story of his pro career.
Upon returning, we didn’t know which version of Burger we would get, but it looks like he’s picked up right where he’s left off for the Southsiders.
In 12 May games, Burger is slashing .262/.256/.548 with three home runs and 10 RBIs. Now, the big concern is the 39.5K% during the month, but that will always be high. But as long as the quality of contact remains high and the White Sox keep him in the lineup – there’s been talk about trying him out at second base – then Burger can continue to provide fantasy value to those managers in deeper leagues.
Stock Down
After a great start to his season in what looked to be a bounce-back year from a putrid 2022, Kikuchi has struggled a bit over his last three starts. In fact, his high-water mark in those three starts was five innings, which he hit just once. What’s more, he’s given up 12 earned runs across those starts, covering 13.2 innings, and he’s walked six batters over his last 9.2 innings pitched.
Granted, the starts came against Atlanta, Baltimore, and Tampa Bay, but Kikuchi seems to be finding a balance between his 2022 season and his early 2023 returns. I moved him in a 25-team dynasty league a few weeks back for Kyle Harrison, and I’m feeling better and better about it after each passing day.
Stock Up
What more can be said about Miller that hasn’t been said already? He’s an extreme fastball pitcher (70.5%) that has been nearly unhittable so far in his short big-league career. He’s allowed just eight hits against his fastball (310 pitches) with 22 strikeouts in 78 plate appearances.
The Mariners have an embarrassment of riches at starting pitcher, and they have more waiting on their opportunity (Bryan Woo, Emerson Hancock). Miller will have natural regression, as he can’t hold a 0.51 WHIP and 1.15 ERA all season long, but in no way would I be looking to sell high on him.
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Stock Down
I write for a few other places, too, and one of those places is The Athletic. When I did my updated Top 300 points leagues rankings at the beginning of May, I caught some flack because I had Mateo outside of my top 300 despite him being a top-five shortstop on the season.
Do I have my own personal bias against him? Yes, but it’s due to the lack of a sustainable profile.
In the month of May, Mateo is hitting .113 with a 29.4K% and a -21 wRC+.
Trust your scouting. Trust the skills. Admit when you’re wrong, but fade the noise.
Stock Up
Don’t look now, but one of the most dominating relievers in baseball is on his way back. Munoz looks to be returning in early June, as we are seeing him get in some bullpen work.
Paul Sewald has been good for Seattle this season, racking up 10 saves with a 3.32 ERA, but expect Munoz – eventually – to take over some of the ninth-inning work from Sewald.
I can see Seattle working him back slowly into the high-leverage situations, with him having at least a 50/50 share of the duties by the All-Star break.
Stock Down
I’m not going to s**t on Philadelphia fans. Yeah, snowballs at Santa Claus and yada-yada. But it is clear that if you don’t perform, you will hear about it.
Turner is seeing that happen, as he heard the boo-birds Wednesday in Philly.
Booing people is objectionably dumb, but Turner has definitely underperformed so far this season for the Phillies.
He has just six stolen bases, and he has a career-high 26.7K% while hitting .250 – the first time in his life he’s hit below .271.
As our friend Vlad Sedler says, “Yes, it’s 30 percent of the season, but that means 70 percent of it remains.” I agree with The Gut, as I, too, am looking to acquire him while the stock is low.
I find it hard to believe a guy just forgot how to be an elite player at 29 years old.
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Michael Waterloo is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Michael, check out his archive and follow him @MichaelWaterloo.
