Two months of the fantasy baseball season are already in the books, but there’s still plenty of time to make big moves in your fantasy baseball league. By the end of June, it’s important to be well positioned, so the next few weeks could be time to make some tough cuts if you’ve got players that are struggling.
The priority add for this week is Elly De La Cruz. Cruz is the kind of player that could make a big impact for your fantasy squad, and now is the time to get your bids in.
If you lost Cedric Mullins this week, there are two options here that are available on most waiver wires.
Let’s get to it.
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Elly De La Cruz, 3B/SS/CI/MI (CIN)
If you are in a competitive league, you may already be too late to add Elly De La Cruz after all the buzz suggesting his call-up is inevitable. He could be up as soon as this weekend, as the Reds’ number one prospect has been absolutely crushing the ball at Triple-A. Elly has the hardest-hit ball this season in both the minors and the majors, and over the course of 25 games in May, he is hitting .347 with 10 home runs, a 1.202 OPS, 17% walk-rate, a 21% strikeout- rate, and 28 RBIs. Oh, and did I mention he also stole nine bases? Where he will play is not exactly clear, but he should get plenty of time in the infield. He’s only 21 and he should be added in all fantasy leagues.
Royce Lewis, SS/3B (MIN)
Lewis returned from his ACL tear to make his season debut on Monday, and it was the spark the Twins offense needed. Lewis immediately made an impression going 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs in the Twins; 7-5 victory over the Astros. His minor-league rehab assignment this season suggested he could be poised for a breakout, as the shortstop was hitting .333 with four home runs and 10 RBIs in just eight games. The 2017 number-one overall pick is currently ranked as the 34th-best prospect in MLB.
Jordan Walker, 3B/OF (STL)
Remember the buzz on Walker in the preseason? Well, the Cardinals recalled him and he rejoins the team tonight. Walker hit .311 with three home runs across his last 15 games at Triple-A. Walker was the favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year in April, so if you have room, be sure to put your bids in. The fact that you can play him in both the infield and outfield is a huge bonus.
Jake McCarthy, OF (ARI)
Many had high hopes for McCarthy to start the season after his impressive showing last season. McCarthy stole 21 bases while also hitting .300 with five homers and 34 RBIs after last year’s All-Star break. He got off to a slow start this season, however, and the Diamondbacks sent him down to work some things out. It looked like those things had been worked out, as McCarthy is hitting .343 with four home runs, 17 RBIs and four stolen bases across 22 games at Triple-A, so the D-backs called him up again last week. He’s hitting .389 with six stolen bases since rejoining the team last week. If you’re looking for a replacement for Cedrick Mullins, McCarthy could be your guy.
Jose Siri, OF (TB)
Siri has a power/speed combo that could pay dividends for your fantasy team. Siri hit eight home runs just during the month of May, and he’s got five stolen bases this season. His exit max exit velocity is in the 91st percentile of the league and his sprint speed is in the 98th percentile. He’s seeing everyday playing time for the team that’s scored the most runs in baseball this season, and he should not be left on the wire.
Griffin Canning, SP (LAA)
Starting pitching has been a real grab-bag this season, and if you’re still looking for starters in a deeper league, it’s time to give Griffin Canning a second look. Canning has now had two strong starts in a row, limiting the Red Sox to only two hits and striking out nine White Sox. A former Top 100 prospect, if Canning can stay on track, there could be upside for the pitcher that has been generating a lot of swings and misses.
