It’s been a tough week of injuries for fantasy managers, especially at the shortstop position. Oneil Cruz, Tim Anderson, Dansby Swanson are all on the IL, and the waiver wire is pretty thin. Hopefully, you have another shortstop, and you can draft any middle infielder to help cover your bases. If still available at SS, consider Bryce Turang, Jorge Mateo, Javier Baez and Brandon Crawford, who are all less than 50% rostered in ESPN leagues. However, many play in even deeper leagues, so I have listed another option below in more detail.
If you’re putting in FAAB bids this weekend, remember that you may have to spend more than you’d like to get a player that qualifies at SS/MI. Many managers will be looking to make essential replacements this weekend.
Hitters
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Mauricio Dubon, 2B/SS (HOU)
Dubon has been playing second in the absence of Jose Altuve, but if you are in a very deep league, he could qualify at SS; he made 21 starts at the position last season. Shortstop is very thin right now with so many studs on the IL, and Dubon will hit for average even if he doesn’t hit for power. He’ll also get everyday playing time. Dubon is currently on an eight-game hitting streak and batting .361 for the season.
Edouard Julien, 2B (MIN)
The Twins’ No. 4 prospect got the call on Wednesday after Joey Gallo was moved to the IL. Known for his plate discipline, Julien is a good speculative pickup. Across two seasons in the minors, Julien had a .440 OBP. He also led the World Baseball Classic with a 1.821 OPS, hitting .538 with two home runs for Team Canada, and was named the Arizona Fall League Breakout Player of the Year. He got his first major league hit and swatted his first major league HR vs. the Yankees on Thursday night. That being said, though his bat is ready, it could be a short-term option for the Twins, who expect second baseman Jorge Polanco back from injury soon.
Vaughn Grissom, 2B/SS (ATL)
Grissom is expected to get the callup after the Braves announced Orlando Arcia would be heading to the IL . Many expected Grissom to be the starter to begin the season for the Braves, but he was instead optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett, where he has since slashed .366/.458/.585 with an 8% K rate. He also has two home runs and two stolen bases in 48 plate appearances.
Franchy Cordero, OF (NYY)
Franchy Cordero seems to be this year’s Matt Carpenter. Cordero now has four home runs for the Yankees in just 25 at-bats -- which ties him for the team lead with Aaron Judge – and he has an OPS of 1.333. He’s hitting the ball hard enough to believe this could at least be an extended hot streak. Grab him while you can.
Austin Hays, OF (BAL)
Hays has been hot to start the season, hitting .302 with three homers and five doubles. His barrel rate is in the 94th percentile of the league, and his xSLG is in the 97th percentile. He’s only one season removed from a 22-home-run season, but the Orioles didn’t do him any favors by moving back the fences at Camden Yards. Still, right now, Hays is an everyday start.
Chas McCormick, OF (HOU)
There has been a battle for the centerfield job in Houston, but it looks like McCormick has made his case to be the starter, and that’s good news for fantasy baseball managers. McCormick has speed and power, and he can hit for average. He’s worth streaming -- at least for now while he is hot and Dusty Baker continues to bat him in the leadoff spot for Houston. McCormick is hitting .275 with two homers, seven runs, nine RBIs and four stolen bases across 40 at-bats this season.
Andrew McCutchen, OF (PIT)
McCutchen looks right in a Pirates uniform, and so far he’s performing like the professional hitter we know him to be, hitting .323 with a homer and three stolen bases.
Pitchers
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Bryce Elder, SP (ATL)
Elder has locked up the fifth starter position for the Braves, who are expected to win a lot of ball games. He’s allowed eight hits and zero earned runs across 12⅓ innings pitched this season. He’s due for some regression, but an xERA of 3.62 is still worth rostering.
Kris Bubic, SP (KC)
Bubic looks like an entirely different pitcher this year. In his last outing vs. the Giants, he induced 19 swings-and-misses on 76 pitches, striking out nine batters. He’s been missing bats since the start of spring with an increased velocity and a new release point for his fastball. The lefty may have finally put it all together, and he’s worth a waiver priority add -- especially with the volatility this season at starting pitcher.
Taj Bradley, SP (TB)
The Rays called up one of their best prospects to replace Zach Eflin, who has landed on the 15-day IL. Bradley is only 22 and he promptly struck out eight in his major-league debut on Wednesday night. This was expected to only be a spot start and he was sent back down Thursday morning, but after the injury to Jeffrey Springs on Thursday afternoon, expect him to be on the bus back up soon.
Anthony DeSclafani, SP (SF)
DeSclafani is just one season removed from a 3.17 ERA in 2021. In 2022, he started only five contests for the Giants, and he struggled before spending the bulk of the season on the IL. So far in 2023, he’s struck out 11 batters across 12⅔ innings, and he has an ERA of only 0.73. His command has been excellent, too. He has not walked a batter yet this year. Next up is the Tigers, so it’s a good week to slot him into your lineup.
Andrew Chafin, RP (ARI)
Chafin seems to have a hold on the closer role in Arizona after logging two saves and holding opponents to zero earned runs across 7⅓ innings of relief this year. The Diamondbacks are currently in first place in the NL West.
