Each week, we’ll look at a handful of different hitters who fantasy managers should consider picking up in deeper fantasy baseball leagues. Many of these players will have the most value in larger leagues where waiver wire options aren’t as plentiful. Still, they could also occasionally be useful additions in other, more standard-sized leagues, depending on your options at their position.
All roster percentages mentioned in this column are via FantasyPros as of Wednesday afternoon.
Jared Triolo – 9%
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jared Triolo has hit just .222 with a .313 on-base percentage, five home runs and nine stolen bases in 249 plate appearances in the Majors this season, sporting an 86 wRC+ in the process.
Overall, the 27-year-old has probably been a bit unfortunate at the plate, what with an 18.9% strikeout rate and a rather low .261 BABIP.
However, that BABIP fortune might be changing a bit, at least if his recent run of form is anything to go by.
Dating back to August 15, Triolo has multi-hit games in seven of his last 11 starts for the Pirates.
During that stretch, the infielder is batting .432 with a .512 on-base percentage, a pair of home runs, six total extra base hits and four stolen bases in 44 plate appearances.
Furthermore, he’s started to hit further up the lineup during that stretch, with three starts as the National League Central’s leadoff hitter in the last few weeks.
Elsewhere, Triolo can provide infield reinforcements for just about any fantasy manager, what with fantasy eligibility at second base, third base, shortstop and first base.
He’s a must-add in the short term for fantasy managers in leagues with 14 or more teams.
Luis Matos – 2%
Sticking with hitters who have logged a number of multi-hit games recently, San Francisco Giants outfielder Luis Matos is batting an even .500 with a .550 on-base percentage in his last 20 plate appearances since being recalled from the minors on August 21.
That stretch has included four multi-hit games in five appearances, as well as a pair of home runs, six total extra base hits and a pair of stolen bases in those 20 plate appearances.
For the season in the Majors, Matos is batting .212 with a .257 on-base percentage, seven home runs and four stolen bases in 140 plate appearances in the Majors, with a wRC+ that is just four points below league average.
Like Triolo, he’s an ideal short-term addition in fantasy leagues with 14 or more teams, particularly those looking for a boost in the batting average and stolen base departments.
And with .287 xwOBA, a .226 xBA and a .393 xSLG on the season, it seems unlikely that Matos’ current production will continue like this for the entirety of the rest of the season. However, with a .204 BABIP and just a 15.7% strikeout rate with the Giants this season, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this type of production continue for another week or two.
Colby Thomas – 2%
Seeing his first MLB playing time this season, Athletics rookie outfielder Colby Thomas has provided above-average power production so far, what with a .250 ISO, four home runs and an even .500 slugging percentage in his first 72 plate appearances in the Majors. Thomas has also added a 10.8% barrel rate, a .446 xwOBAcon and a 51.4% hard-hit rate.
It’s a small sample size to be sure, and there’s some unsustainability with the 24-year-old’s swing and miss numbers.
Since debuting in the Majors on June 30, the 24-year-old is sporting a number of below-average plate discipline numbers.
Overall, Thomas is batting .250 with a .296 on-base percentage, four home runs, two stolen bases and a 111 wRC+ in those aforementioned 72 plate appearances.
With a .287 xwOBA, a .375 BABIP and such a high strikeout rate on the season, there’s likely some statistical regression coming where Thomas’ surface-level stats are concerned. However, like Triolo and Matos, he’s an intriguing fantasy option in the short term for fantasy managers looking for streaming options.
Graphic by Carlos Leano.
