We are more than two months into the 2024 MLB season and fantasy baseball trades are kicking into high gear. That means it’s time to check in with the MLB Week 11 Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch and find those great buy-low, sell-high opportunities.

The latest MLB news has been filled with lots of players coming back from injuries. Royce Lewis is expected to return to the Minnesota Twins this week, Nolan Jones is expected back with the Rockies sooner than later and even Gerritt Cole has begun his rehab assignment. 

That tends to limit who is worthwhile on your fantasy baseball waiver wire, but we still have a few names to highlight from there, as well as some potential trade targets who won’t cost you your best players. You know what time it is: let’s play a little ‘3 Up, 3 Down’.

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch: Risers

Matt Vierling, 3B/OF Detroit Tigers 

Don’t look now, but Vierling is currently riding a seven-game hit streak in which he is slashing .438/.455/.906 with three doubles, four home runs and nine RBI. With Kerry Carpenter landing on the injured list with a stress fracture in his back, Vierling has been seeing full-time at-bats between third base, the outfield and the DH spot. 

The multi-position eligibility is a big bonus, but more importantly, he’s seeing full-time work, or pretty darn close, for only the second time in his short big-league career. There isn’t a track record for big power or big speed, but there is definitely some growth potential here.

Mark Vientos, 3B New York Mets

The recent roster shake-up on the Mets that saw Brett Baty shipped out to Triple-A Syracuse has opened the door for full-time at-bats for Vientos, who now has 17 games logged at the hot corner and has eligibility beyond the DH position. We’re probably looking at a “strike while the iron is hot” situation because those who have him are currently benefiting from a .366 BABIP, which will only go down. 

But for now, let’s get involved here. Vientos has hit safely in five of his last seven games with three multi-hit performances over his last four. During these last seven, he’s batting .333 (9-for-27) with two home runs, four RBI and four runs scored. He’s worth a look for right now but be careful not to invest too much.  

Noelvi Marte, 3B Cincinnati Reds

This is definitely more of a heads-up play for you all as the Reds have now played a total of 60 games this season and Marte is 21 games away from returning to the lineup. The target date for return is June 27 and he is going to officially start his rehab assignment on June 11, so at least two full weeks to get his timing back on his swing. 

Now sure, we don’t exactly know how he will perform as this was an 80-game PEDs suspension, but there is a definite power/speed combo to his game, and we all know how favorable Great American Ballpark is for hitters. Put him on your radar now and see about stashing him early if you have the roster space.

 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch: Fallers

Christian Scott, SP New York Mets

While most people are lumping Scott in with Baty as part of that roster shake-up to jump-start the Mets, Scott is actually a victim of the schedule. The Mets have a two-game series being played in London with the Phillies and have three off-days surrounding that trip.

Not only do the Mets want to keep him on his regular throwing schedule, but they can also use this time to limit the 24-year-old’s innings. He’s never thrown more than 86 innings in a season and he’s already up to 63 this year. Consider stashing him in leagues with deep benches but expect him to be in the minors for somewhat of an extended stay.

Luis Matos, OF San Francisco Giants

It was fun while it lasted, wasn’t it? Matos came out of the gate white-hot and hit two home runs and plated 16 RBI over a five-game span, but the magic has seemingly run out as he has just one hit over his last five games (23 at-bats). 

To add to it, Michael Conforto was just activated from the IL and recent call-up Heliot Ramos is still swinging a hot bat. Ramos’ luck will run out, but then you still have Mike Yastrzemski, Brett Wisely and Tyler Fitzgerald floating around. If Matos is going to stay in the lineup regularly, he needs to heat back up, and fast. For now, he should be living on your bench.

Taylor Ward, OF Los Angeles Angels

After putting the Angels offense on his back following the Mike Trout injury, Ward has cooled off significantly and isn’t putting up too much in the way of production. He’s not someone to drop, but he’s also not someone upon whom you can rely on for consistent production. Over his last seven games, Ward is batting .143 with just two RBI and one run scored. 

Maybe it’s the 34.6-percent strikeout rate during that span? There’s not a whole lot of lineup protection for him and pitchers are giving him less to hit inside the zone. He’s drawing some more walks as a result, but right now, we’re just not getting anything out of him and the climb back up is going to be long and steep.