Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch 2024: Jackson Chourio, Garrett Crochet, More
Winning a fantasy baseball championship takes work, so it’s time to check in with our MLB Week 21 Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch!
While it may seem like the fantasy baseball season is flying by, you’ll be amazed as to how long another month and a half feels. You still have your league’s trade deadline coming up, another six or seven Sundays of fantasy baseball waiver wire action and let’s not forget about all the September call ups that will be available to you once rosters expand!
You need to keep your nose to the grindstone, follow each and every fantasy baseball trend and make sure you are evaluating MLB player stock in both your starting lineup and full roster each and every day.
We talk about MLB player stock rising and falling in value all the time. With your trade deadline likely coming up at the end of August, it’s the ideal time to jettison some of the dead weight you’ve been carrying and fill your roster with more upside if you can.
There is very little time left for players to turn things around, so holding out hope is a dangerous thing. How much longer are you going to endure Luis Robert’s .123 average and near-50% strikeout rate here in the second half? Is Brice Turang still swiping bags for you with just three since the All-Star break? Christopher Morel? Jonathan India?
It's time to stop waiting on Mr. Right and get yourself Mr. Right Now! Be diligent with your roster research and evaluations. Study what your opponents are doing and see what changes you can and should be making as you press on toward a fantasy baseball championship!
Now, as is tradition with our Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch, let’s play a little ‘3 Up, 3 Down’!
Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch: Risers
- Jackson Chourio, OF Milwaukee Brewers
- Zach Dezenzo, 1B Houston Astros
- Spencer Arrighetti, SP Houston Astros
Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch: Fallers
- Garrett Crochet, SP Chicago White Sox
- Lane Thomas, OF Cleveland Guardians
- Camilo Doval, RP San Francisco Giants
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.