Have no Fear, Steer is Here!

Spencer Steer (CIN): 2-3, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI, BB, SB.

Hovering around an ADP of 100, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say Spencer Steer had a bit to prove this season, but he’s more than proved his worth as a multi-positional value pick with speed and pop. Monday’s performance came with a combo meal as Steer posted a line of 2-3, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI, BB, SB to help the Reds to a 6-1 victory over Sonny Gray and the Cardinals.

Steer isn’t particularly elite in any category, but he’s contributed almost everywhere in standard 5×5 leagues. The 18 homers and 19 steals put him on pace for a 25/25 season, and the 60 runs and 74 RBI are solid counting stats. The only blemish is a .237 batting average which is a decent step down from his .271 mark in 2023, but xBAs of .252 in 2023 and .240 in 2024 suggest his true performance is more consistent than either outcome suggests.

Despite below-average ratios, Steer has a lot going for him that makes him an enticing pick in the years to come: he’s a 26-year-old player possessing speed and power upside with eligibility at multiple positions. He also plays in a hitter-friendly park and has an up-and-coming roster around him that should raise his upside for counting stats. While he won’t knock your socks off like teammate Elly De La Cruz, Steer is a solid bat that should raise your lineup this year and in the future.

 

Let’s see how the other hitters did Monday:

Jhonkensy Noel (CLE): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI.

Speaking of multi-positional eligibility, we’ve got Jhonkensy Noel, who is eligible in the outfield and both corner infield spots in ESPN leagues. Unfortunately for Noel, the acquisition of Lane Thomas from the Nationals has cut into Noel’s playing time, as he’s only started in four games since Thomas debuted on July 30th. Noel’s two-homer performance shows plenty of upside for the young slugger, but he’ll need some clearance on the path to playing time before he earns a more permanent spot on your roster.

 

Ian Happ (CHC): 1-2, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB.

Happ-y birthday to Ian Happ, who rung in his 30th birthday with his 20th home run of the season. After a tough start to the season, Happ has returned to his consistent self and is back in stride with his career OPS numbers. Should he finish the season strong, Happ has a good chance to surpass his career-high of 25 home runs.

 

Royce Lewis (MIN): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.

The man cannot be stopped. In only 140 at-bats this season, Royce Lewis has managed to reach 15 home runs. Lewis is likely to be one of the most hotly-debated players in draft season next year due to his polarizing mix of talent and injury risk. If we ever get a full season of Lewis at his best, it’ll be one truly special season indeed.

 

Mookie Betts (LAD): 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI, SB.

Hey, he’s back! Though he got embarrassed by Freddy Peralta in his first at-bat, Mookie Betts immediately made an impact for your teams by recording a combo meal in his return to game action. Not much more to be said here – he’s Mookie, and it’s great to have him back for your playoff runs. Hopefully, he’s steering clear of those ghosts in the Pfister Hotel.

 

Yainer Diaz (HOU): 1-4, HR, R, 3 RBI.

The home run was the 12th of the season for Diaz, who hasn’t quite had the same power stroke as his prolific rookie season. In 60 more at-bats, Diaz has only half as many home runs as the 23 he recorded in 2023. Despite the lack of homers, Diaz still has an excellent .299 batting average and remains a consistent source of RBIs in the Astros offense. If he finds a way to tap back into the power he had last year, Diaz could be a true elite catching option.

 

Korey Lee (CHW): 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB.

The White Sox put on a hitting clinic against the Yankees on Monday, and Korey Lee was just one of many players who had a big day. The catcher hit his tenth home run of the season and recorded his third straight multi-hit game. The catcher position is fairly deep in 2024, meaning Lee should be left on waivers given the team he plays for.

 

Brooks Baldwin (CHW): 1-4, HR, R, 3 RBI.

Brooks Baldwin launched the second home run of his career Monday night. With a .213/.244/.347 slash line in his first round of big-league action, Baldwin still clearly has room to grow before he will be worth adding to your rosters. Keep an eye on this player’s development, as he excelled in minor-league action before earning his promotion.

 

Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC): 1-5, HR, R, RBI.

Slowly but surely, PCA is finding his footing in the majors after struggling mightily in his first two stints. Over the past 30 days, PCA has a .250 batting average and three of his five home runs on the season, as well as seven steals. We’re not quite to the point where he can be counted on for consistent production, but there are worse options to stream in a pinch, especially if you need help with steals.

 

Will Wagner (TOR): 3-4, 2B, R, RBI.

Will Wagner, the son of Billy Wagner (yes, that one) was part of the Blue Jays’ return from the Astros in exchange for Yusei Kikuchi. He’s been red-hot in Triple-A action since making the move to Toronto’s system and earned the call-up on Monday. He’d earn his first big-league hit on the very first pitch he saw and added two more hits throughout the night. The lefty should earn relatively consistent playing time against right-handed pitching and could be worth a speculative add if you need help at second or third base.