In the ever-unpredictable world of fantasy baseball, knowing when to hold onto a player through a slump is just as crucial as knowing when to let one go. In our latest Featured Pros article, five leading fantasy baseball experts dive into why you should keep faith in certain struggling players, focusing on Lars Nootbaar, Bo Bichette, and George Springer among others. They will also discuss two more players facing challenges but poised for a potential rebound.
Our experts analyze the underlying stats, recent performances, and future potential to provide you with strategic insights on why these players deserve a spot on your roster despite their current struggles. Whether it’s due to expected recovery from injuries, adjustments at the plate, or favorable upcoming matchups, this guide will help you understand the value these players can still bring to your fantasy team.
Fantasy Baseball Hold or Drop?
Who is one player off to a slow start who you’re holding onto despite their early struggles and why?
Corey Seager (SS – TEX)
“Corey Seager is off to an awful start, hitting just .227/.229/.311 with three homers and 14 RBI through the first 33 games. Despite his struggles, fantasy managers should not panic. Instead, they need to hold on to the Rangers shortstop, whose metrics and upside tell a different story. His expected batting average (.255) is 20 points higher than his current average. His plate metrics are eerily consistent with his career numbers, with his 8.8% current walk rate (9.2 career) and keeping pace with his 17.7 % strikeout rate. Add his barrel rate (10.3%) and exit velocities, and Seager continues to make hard contact, which will project to better overall numbers and an upcoming fantasy explosion. ”
– Dennis Sosic (Fantasy Six Pack)
Lars Nootbaar (OF – STL)
“Lars Nootbaar entered 2024 on IL due to a fractured rib in Spring Training yet has made good contact all season. The results are not there (though he did homer on Tuesday), but the Cardinals’ OF is worth holding or picking up off the wire. The biggest concern for Nootbaar is the struggling offense around him, especially with Willson Contreras out for two months. Nevertheless, a .263 xAVG and .449 xSLG are very solid while Nootbaar’s incredible plate discipline keeps him fantasy-viable in all formats.”
– Kev Mahserejian (RotoBaller)
Bo Bichette (SS – TOR)
“This is a toss-up between Bo Bichette and Nick Castellanos, but unfortunately for me, Bichette is the winner. Nothing about his Statcast page suggests his season will get better, yet I struggle with the idea of a career .293 hitter suddenly hitting .189 without any hope of improvement. Bichette’s BABIP is a ridiculously low .219 (career .341), so any bump in this could result in a return to form. Besides, his value is so low that trading him isn’t worth it. Bichette is a “hold and hope” player for me at this point. ”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)
Spencer Torkelson (1B – DET)
“Spencer Torkelson has been downright terrible and has ZERO homers YTD with a paltry .218 BA. However, last April Torkelson hit .206 in April and has just two dingers. 19 of his 31 homers last year came after the All-Star break, and he’s still just 24. He may never help with BA nor grow into the “can’t miss star” he was touted to be once upon a time, but to give up on a kid this young with an everyday job and a 30-homer ceiling is just bad practice. ”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
George Springer (OF – TOR)
“George Springer is off to a really slow start, batting just .206 with a .580 OPS through 34 games. The batted ball data and his expected numbers are mostly down across the board. AND he’ll turn 35 years old before the end of the season. But I don’t believe this is the beginning of the end for Springer, and I don’t think you should panic and sell low on him. He’s gone through rough patches like this in the past, and he’s a career .243 hitter in April, the worst month of his career, statistically speaking. He isn’t going to bat .300, but he’s more than likely going to finish with an average north of .250 to go with 20+ HR, at least 15 SB, and something in the range of 150 combined RBI and R (assuming he stays healthy or at least mostly healthy). This is part of the George Springer experience, and the Blue Jays as a whole are in the funk right now. The expected numbers are down, but they aren’t down by THAT much. Hold or buy low and wait for Springer to heat up, like he always does.”
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)
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