Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch 2024: Brandon Lowe, Zac Gallen & More
Are you still competing for your fantasy baseball championship? If so, then it’s time to check in with this week’s Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch and see how the current MLB player stock is looking, with guys both rising and falling in value!
We have two weeks left before your fantasy baseball waiver wire is flooded with September call ups, so these next two scoring periods are going to be crucial to your success. As we’ve discussed in previous weeks, you need to be thinking category-specific with your current roster adds and find those veterans who are going to maintain their at-bats or rotation spots even when all the top prospects arrive. Even if they are currently on the MLB injured list, you should think about stashing them.
You also need to be mindful of MLB player stock in terms of rising and falling in overall value as your fantasy baseball trade deadline is likely to be imminent. If you’re in a keeper league and feel like you can win it all this season, think about dealing away some of those highly-coveted prospects and get the help you need. If you’re in a redraft league, see who else is making a push and see if your surplus matches their needs.
It's crunch time, baby! So, let’s play a little ‘3 Up, 3 Down’ in this week's fantasy baseball stock watch.
Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch: Risers
- Brandon Lowe, 2B Tampa Bay Rays
- Bowden Francis, SP Toronto Blue Jays
- Max Muncy/Tommy Edman, IF Los Angeles Dodgers (2-for-1 Special!)
Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch: Fallers
Player News
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.