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Welcome back to our top fantasy baseball injury stashes for Week 19, looking at IL players as of August 4. Today's list of injured MLB players to consider stashing off the fantasy baseball waiver wire includes Oneil Cruz, Walker Buehler, Michael Brantley, Kyle Wright, and Charlie Blackmon.
In case you're not yet familiar, this list is a weekly article series that will highlight the top five hitters and pitchers to hold in your IL spots in re-draft fantasy baseball leagues. As players injured early in the season begin to make their way back to their respective teams, it's time to check who is coming back sooner than later. With most of the relevant injured players dealing with long-term injuries, we'll discuss the players most likely to be impact players in fantasy upon return.
These five players are rostered in less than 60% of leagues and have the opportunity to make an impact in fantasy the rest of the way. Make sure to check if these players are available to be picked up in your leagues!
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Oneil Cruz - SS, Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz is one of the most interesting baseball players because of his tools. The 24-year-old's rookie season was a mixed bag since he slashed .233/.294/.450, but he racked up 17 home runs, 54 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 87 games. The intrigue surrounding Cruz stems from the fact that he demonstrated 91st percentile average exit velocity, 97th percentile arm strength, and 98th percentile sprint speed in his rookie season.
The young shortstop was placed on the injured list in early April with a fractured ankle. The injury was the result of a freak accident during a play at the plate. Cruz has working towards his return ever since and has seemingly suffered no setbacks along the way. Reports state that the Pirates are confident Cruz will return this season and could begin a rehab assignment later this month. If all goes well, an early September activation from the injured list could be in the cards.
Cruz is 71% rostered in Yahoo and 51.1% rostered in ESPN leagues, so he should be available on some waiver wires, depending on your platform. Fantasy managers should stash or try to acquire Cruz because he has the raw strength and speed to be a big producer of home runs and stolen bases. The young Pirates slugger could realistically be a top-50 fantasy player from the moment he is activated.
Walker Buehler - SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler has been one of the best pitchers in baseball when healthy and his last full season was arguably the best of his career. In 2021, Buehler eclipsed 200 innings pitched for the first time while earning the lowest ERA of his career at 2.47. The younger Dodgers starter finished the year with a record of 16-4, the most wins of his career despite a drop in his strikeout production. Buehler's 2022 season was shortened due to injury and he has yet to play in 2023.
Buehler has been sidelined all season since undergoing Tommy John surgery in late August of last year. The 27-year-old right-hander has been vocal about wanting to return to the Dodgers in early September and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts seems to be on board with that idea. A return less than 13 months removed from Tommy John surgery is a rare occurrence, especially since this is Buehler's second Tommy John surgery. Still, Buehler and the Dodgers seem to be optimistic about his return.
Buehler is 20% rostered in Yahoo and 5.6% rostered in ESPN leagues, so he's very available. The Dodger's ace could have top-10 starting pitcher upside upon his return, but it would be wise to temper expectations. Considering the nature of the injury, the best case scenario is that Buehler returns in early September on strict pitch counts while providing elite ratios in the innings he pitches. There are few pitchers with Buehler's talent and he could be one of the best IL stashes out there.
Michael Brantley - OF, Houston Astros
Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley has been one of the most consistent contact hitters throughout his career and proved to be an integral part of the Astros' two World Series wins. Brantley has hit over .280 in 10 of his last 11 seasons and hit over .300 six times in that span. The veteran hitter has not played in 2023 yet and his return date has not been determined.
Brantley is on the injured list recovering from a shoulder surgery. The 35-year-old appeared was ramping up baseball activities before suffering a setback. Recent updates revealed that Brantley has been participating in batting practice since he has been seen hitting on the field. The veteran slugger has been taking batting practice for a while and it's unclear when he will progress to more intensive baseball activities.
A clear timetable cannot truly be formed without knowing when he will start a rehab assignment, but the Astros remain hopeful that Brantley will be able to return this season. An early to mid September return seems to be the most optimistic outcome.
Brantley is 4% rostered in Yahoo and 4.7% rostered in ESPN leagues, so he's available in nearly all leagues. The veteran slugger has been injured for a while, but his ability to hit for average in the heart of the Astros lineup makes him a player that can rack up some runs and RBI. Fantasy managers with an open IL slot should consider stashing Brantley because he is a solid outfielder who can hit around .300 and is tied to one of the best teams in baseball.
Kyle Wright - SP, Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves starting pitching Kyle Wright had an impressive first season as a member of the rotation in 2022. Wright earned a 3.19 ERA with a 3.30 xFIP and 3.48 SIERA. The young right-hander also had a K/9 of 9.64 and a ground ball rate of 55.6% in his 180 1/3 innings. The Braves pitcher showed the potential to be a strong piece of the starting rotation, but Wright has only made five starts in 2023 due to a shoulder strain that occurred nearly three months ago.
The young pitcher was placed on the injured list on May 5 with a shoulder strain and Wright has already been on the injured list earlier this season with shoulder soreness. Wright has progressed to throwing bullpen sessions and appears to be on track to return in early September, barring any setbacks.
Wright is 56% rostered in Yahoo and 39.7% rostered in ESPN leagues, so he is available in nearly half of leagues. Fantasy managers should try adding or acquiring Wright because he has shown the caliber of pitcher he can be in the majors. The Braves starter could be a valuable asset down the stretch in fantasy baseball.
Charlie Blackmon - OF, Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon was one of the best players in the National League for a good six or seven seasons, but those days are long gone now. The veteran hitter has seen his production taper off in the past few years and Blackmon has not hit 17 or more home runs since the juiced ball season of 2019. Despite being past his prime, Blackmon likely still has something left in the tank to offer fantasy managers.
Blackmon was placed on the injured list on June 11 with a fractured hand and has yet to begin a rehab assignment but has been ramping up activities. The Rockies outfielder appeared to be well on his way to beginning his rehab assignment when he stating that he was still feeling some discomfort. If the discomfort issue can be resolved swiftly, Blackmon could reasonably return to the Rockies lineup in late August or early September.
Blackmon is 26% rostered in Yahoo and 14.5% in ESPN leagues, so he should be around on waiver wires. The 36-year-old may not be the player he once was but he still plays his home games at Coors Field and he can likely still hit around .265 with moderate power output. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should have Blackmon on their radar or in their IL slots.
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