It’s Thursday. You know what that means.
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.
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Fantasy Baseball Stock Report
Stock Up
I don’t know if you’re aware of this or not, but Triston Casas has been money since the beginning of June. After a terrible April, Casas has turned things around in a big way. In June, he hit .286, and so far in July, he’s slashing .294/.400/.647.
The power has continued into July, too, as he has three homers in 11 games – all three coming after the All-Star break. It was too early to bail on him, and he’s showing that now.
Stock Down
We may be seeing the rookie wall being hit by Hunter Brown. He’s given up nine earned runs in his last 8.1 innings – yes, one start was in Coors Field – and those come just two starts after he allowed six earned runs against the Mets.
There’s a good opportunity to go after Brown here in dynasty leagues while he’s struggling. I have absolutely zero long-term concerns for him, and expect him to be an SP2 for the long haul. But I wouldn’t look to trade for him in redraft formats.
Stock Up
I don’t blame anyone for being hesitant in buying into Christian Yelich after we’ve been disappointed over the last couple of years. But Yelich is looking closer to the 2018-2019 version of himself than he has in a long time.
He has 13 home runs and 21 steals already. The stolen bases are the most he’s had since 2019, and he’s one home run off of his 2022 total. Moreover, the batting average and OBP have returned to respectable levels, at .283 and .374, respectively.
With a still-high Pull% and a 55.2 GB%, I have to think the defensive shifting limitations are helping him with his average and overall production.
Stock Down
It’s been a cold spell for Elly De La Cruz, which makes sense. He’s a rookie, after all. Before his single on Tuesday, Elly was 0 for his last 20. Moreover, his last home run came on July 5 at Washington. Yeah, you know the one. The one that upset the Nats’ manager Dave Martinez.
And then there’s the Ks. The strikeouts are the problem we thought they would be, as he has a 32.1K% for his career so far.
Prospect growth isn’t linear. And there’s still a good chance he’s a first-rounder in 2024 drafts. I see this as a chance to try to acquire him from any manager who is slightly worried about his strikeout rate or lack of production of late.
Stock Up
I don’t know what Josh Naylor has been having for breakfast but share the secret, man. Since the All-Star break, Naylor has been on one.
Naylor is slashing .400/.455/1.150 since the break with four home runs, 11 RBIs and zero strikeouts. He’s been sneaky good all season, and he gives the Guards an offensive threat they desperately need.
Stock Down
The rollercoaster of not only Michael Kopech’s 2023 season but his career, too, is continuing. After a very solid stretch a few weeks ago, Kopech has struggled.
He couldn’t make it one inning against Atlanta, giving up four earned runs and four walks. Prior to that terrible outing, Kopech has failed to go more than 4.1 innings in an outing since June 10.
That’s not good. I hate giving up on someone who was supposed to be a frontline ace, but I’m losing hope for Kopech, especially in fantasy.
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Michael Waterloo is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Michael, check out his archive and follow him @MichaelWaterloo.