Top Five Injured Players To Stash In Fantasy Baseball - Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 21

Joshua highlights the top five hitters and pitchers that can be stashed in your IL spots in fantasy baseball redraft leagues as of August 18, 2023 (Week 21).

Welcome back to our top fantasy baseball injury stashes for Week 21, looking at IL players as of August 18. Today's list of injured MLB players to consider stashing off the fantasy baseball waiver wire includes Brandon Marsh, Bryan Woo, Mitch Haniger, Cal Quantrill, and Logan O'Hoppe.

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 redraft 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 those who are most likely to be impactful 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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Brandon Marsh - OF, Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh has been a solid contributor of counting stats this season, collecting eight home runs, 41 runs, 43 RBI, and six stolen bases in 101 games. The former Angels prospect seemed to blossom with a change of scenery, dropping his strikeout rate by over 4% and increasing his walk rate by around 5%. Marsh has also improved his slash line across the board, slashing .245/.295/.384 with the Angels in 2022 to slashing .281/.367/.460 with the Phillies in 2023.

The 25-year-old outfielder was placed on the injured list in early August with a bruised knee. The bruise was severe enough to put him on the injured list for two to three weeks. Marsh has progressed to a rehab assignment in Triple-A. The outfielder started his first game on Thursday night. Marsh could be activated from the injured list next week.

Marsh is 16% rostered in Yahoo and 8.9% rostered in ESPN leagues, so he should be available on most waiver wires. Fantasy managers in deeper 15-team five-outfielder leagues should stash Marsh because he was a top prospect in the Angels system and has been a solid starter for the Phillies. Fantasy managers should also be aware that Marsh has a high strikeout rate but can contribute positively in other categories.

Bryan Woo - SP, Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo has been one of the best sources of strikeouts this season. It wasn't a pretty start to his career against the Texas Rangers, but the rookie has bounced back well. In his 11 starts this season, Woo has collected at least five strikeouts seven times. The 23-year-old has also been a reliable source of innings, going at least five innings in eight of those 11 starts. His 4.75 ERA leaves a bit to be desired, but he owns a 3.37 xERA, so there may be positive regression in his future.

Woo was placed on the injured list on August 8 with forearm inflammation, but the injury was minor and did not concern the organization. Given the rookie's performance and age, this stay on the injured list could be a way for the Mariners to cut back on his innings. Woo has been throwing bullpen sessions and will likely join the Mariners rotation next week during the series against the Chicago White Sox.

Woo is 18% rostered in Yahoo and 6.4% rostered in ESPN leagues, so he's available in most leagues. Fantasy managers should stash Woo this weekend because he can be a solid source of strikeouts and innings without hurting your ratios. It helps that his first start back is against the White Sox, who have the fourth-lowest OPS and seventh-most strikeouts against right-handed pitching since the All-Star break.

Mitch Haniger - OF, San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants outfielder Mitch Haniger has been one of the best outfielders in baseball when healthy, but he has not been healthy often. In his two seasons with over 100 games played, Haniger eclipsed 26 home runs, 90 runs, and 90 RBI both times. In 2018, Haniger played 157 games and slashed .285/.366/.493 with 26 home runs, 90 runs, and 93 RBI. In 2021, Haniger played 157 games and slashed .253/.318/.485 with 39 home runs, 110 runs, and 100 RBI.

Both of those incredible seasons came with the Seattle Mariners, but his time there ended with injury, and his time with the Giants has also been plagued with injury.

Haniger has been on the injured list since mid-June with a fractured ulna that required surgery. The initial timetable for return was set at 10 weeks, and it has been nine weeks since that surgery. The latest reports state that Haniger is ready to begin a rehab assignment next week. Assuming he begins that assignment, and everything goes smoothly, Haniger could return with the Giants in two weeks.

Haniger is 20% rostered in Yahoo and 5.7% rostered in ESPN leagues, so he's available in nearly all the leagues. Fantasy managers with an open IL slot should consider stashing Haniger because he can be one of the best hitters in baseball. If Haniger returns and remains healthy for the rest of the season, he could be one of the best stashes of the year.

Cal Quantrill - SP, Cleveland Guardians

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Cal Quantrill has not been especially dominant or even good. Still, he has been solid in the past, and the Guardians are an excellent organization to trust regarding pitcher development. Quantrill has a 6.45 ERA in 67 innings this season, and his xERA sits at 6.06. The Guardians starter posted a 3.38 ERA in 186 1/3 innings last season and a 2.89 ERA in 149 2/3 innings the year prior, so a stint on the injured list could help him regain that form.

The 28-year-old pitcher was placed on the injured list in early July with shoulder inflammation. Quantrill has made two rehab starts and is scheduled to start a third on Sunday. The plan is for Quantrill to throw around 85 pitches in his next rehab start. Quantrill should rejoin the Guardians rotation at the end of next week if all goes well.

Quantrill is 10% rostered in Yahoo and 6.6% rostered in ESPN leagues, so he is available everywhere. Fantasy managers should try stashing Quantrill because he has shown the ability to limit runs and eat innings in the past. The Guardians are an organization that takes pride in their ability to develop pitchers, and Quantrill should benefit from that reputation. Fantasy managers should monitor the results of his next rehab start and consider adding if he shows improvement.

Logan O'Hoppe - C, Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe is the top prospect in the Angels organization and has shown the ability to compete in the majors. The young catcher slashed .283/.339/.547 with four home runs and 13 RBI in 16 games this season. In his minor league career, O'Hoppe has hit for decent power and average while consistently striking out less than 20% of the time. If O'Hoppe continues those trends in the majors, he could be one of the few solid catchers in fantasy baseball.

O'Hoppe was placed on the injured list on April 20 with a torn labrum that required surgery. It was tough luck for the 23-year-old, who had gotten off to a strong start this season. The latest reports state O'Hoppe is playing in rehab games in Triple-A. If he continues progressing at this rate, O'Hoppe should be activated from the injured list within a week to two weeks.

O'Hoppe is 11% rostered in Yahoo and 6.8% in ESPN leagues, so he should be around on waiver wires. The 23-year-old has shown the ability to play in the majors and has the prospect pedigree to take back the starting catcher job once he returns. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues needing help at the catcher position should have O'Hoppe on their radar or in their IL slots.

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