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We're just a week into the 2024 MLB season (two weeks if you count the Seoul Series), but we're already starting to see some trends develop. The sooner you can get in front of them, the better your fantasy baseball teams will perform.
In this article, we'll go over some of the trends we're seeing with platoon hitters, notable playing time changes, and batting order notes. We'll focus on a few players for each section and provide some added depth and insight to help you build your lineup.
If there are players that you'd like to see covered or discussed that fit any of the criteria below, feel free to hit me up! With six months of baseball ahead of us, there will be plenty of players to discuss. So, let's get at it!
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Platoon Player Updates for Fantasy Baseball
Jarred Kelenic - OF, Atlanta Braves
Kelenic was traded to the Atlanta Braves this season after years of promise with mixed results at the major league level and it'd appear that a change of scenery may have been just what the lefty needed. Kelenic is 7-for-12 against righties with three RBI, two runs, and two walks to start the season.
Jarred Kelenic's first AB as an Atlanta Brave goes for a hit. pic.twitter.com/9cGO3hQsuQ
— Baseball GIFs (@gifs_baseball) March 29, 2024
Hitting in the nine hole may diminish his fantasy value with fewer at-bats, but it doesn't hurt being nestled into that lethal Braves lineup as the guy you've got to face ahead of Ronald Acuna Jr. He will face two righties over the weekend against D-backs scheduled starters Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson.
Kerry Carpenter - OF, Detroit Tigers
The Tigers lefty continues to capitalize on a solid 2023 campaign with a hot start to 2024. He is hitting for a .946 OPS against righties in 14 ABs, notching a double and a homer along the way. He's been a solid piece of the upstart Tigers lineup.
This is y'alls reminder that Kerry Carpenter is him and will always be him pic.twitter.com/n7xoFQlkBO
— 𝓪𝓵𝓮𝔁 (@GibbsForSix) March 31, 2024
Detroit hosts the Oakland A's over the weekend. Carpenter will likely sit on Friday, but should be in the lineup on Saturday and Sunday vs. scheduled starters Paul Blackburn on Saturday and Joe Boyle on Sunday, which looks to be a bullpen game for Oakland.
Davis Schneider - 2B, Toronto Blue Jays
Schneider burst onto the scene in 2023 and was a bit of a folk hero for Blue Jays fans, but his opportunities have been fairly limited this season with Toronto facing only one lefty starter so far. Schneider is still showing he can hit lefties effectively, though, going 2-for-8 against lefties with both hits being home runs. He's only had one start against a right-hander, which came Friday against Yankees starter Marcus Stroman. Schneider went 0-4 in the contest, furthering the idea that his best matchups will come against lefties.
DAVIS SCHNEIDER OFF Josh Hader FOR THE LEAD 😳
(via @BlueJays)pic.twitter.com/qPqbyFcFXs
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) April 3, 2024
Expectations for Schneider may need to be tempered for a while, though, as Toronto doesn't face another lefty starter until April 14 when the Blue Jays face Colorado Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland in a matchup you'll very likely want him active for.
Playing Time Updates
Gio Urshela, Andy Ibanez Velazquez, Zach McKinstry - 3B, Detroit Tigers
When Detroit signed Urshela this season to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, the assumption was likely that Urshela would be the primary third baseman for the Tigers. But that hasn't been the case as he has split time at third with Ibanez and McKinstry this season.
Playing time has been pretty even for each of the three, telling us there's no clear winner in the clubhouse quite yet. Until the waters are less muddied here on the Tigers' game plan, none should be relied upon for consistent fantasy production. They will likely have better value in DFS formats but otherwise should not be in your starting lineup.
Luis Rengifo - 2B, Los Angeles Angels
The Angels second baseman has had a very muted start to the 2024 season. Rengifo has only made two starts this season and, in his most recent start, had to be removed after dealing with lightheadedness. With Anthony Rendon healthy and starting at third, along with Brandon Drury getting most starts at second, Rengifo has been getting squeezed out, giving him just 10 at-bats on the season.
Assuming his lightheadedness was simply dealing with a minor illness (as is currently believed), temper expectations for the 27-year-old until he gets consistent playing time.
Chris Taylor - OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Originally planned to be in more of a utility/platoon role, Taylor is starting to see more playing time with Jason Heyward (back) getting put on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. The 33-year-old vet hasn't exactly taken advantage of the extra opportunities, only notching one hit in 14 at-bats. However, the extra opportunities should be there for him over the next couple of weeks to produce and he may make a viable streaming option in deeper leagues.
Batting Order Changes
Christian Yelich - OF, Milwaukee Brewers
A planned change for Yelich to drop from leadoff to the three spot has started well for the Brewers vet, who is slashing .348/.400/.739 with a 1.139 OPS in five games. "I don't think anything really changes," Yelich told Jack Stern of Brewer Fanatic. Having that mentality has certainly aided Yelich's start as there's been no clear drop-off in power.
431 FEET 💥
Christian Yelich puts the @Brewers back in the lead. pic.twitter.com/BbPtuJNvp7
— MLB (@MLB) April 6, 2024
Fantasy managers can expect the same consistent production at the plate that they've grown accustomed to from Yelich with the likelihood of an increase in RBI.
Nolan Jones and Ezequiel Tovar -OF and SS, Colorado Rockies
The Rockies have been incredibly underwhelming to start the season (maybe unsurprisingly) and they're looking for a spark to their lineup. In Wednesday's game against the Chicago Cubs, the Rockies swapped Nolan Jones and Ezequiel Tovar in the lineup, putting Tovar second and Jones fifth.
The change puts both Rockies in spots they were comfortable in during the 2023 season as both took a majority of plate appearances in their new spots. In Friday's home opener against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Rockies switched Jones back to the three-hole and put Tovar in the seven hole and both had solid games.
A spark is certainly needed for Jones, who is slashing .156/.229/.281 to begin the season, well below expectations after his upstart 2023 campaign. Tovar is outpacing his 2023 production currently with a .823 OPS, but the Rockies will need both to improve to turn around their lineup's anemic start to the season.
Ezequiel Tovar puts the @Rockies ahead in their home opener! pic.twitter.com/1VqnapkgsZ
— MLB (@MLB) April 5, 2024
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