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Mike's fantasy baseball buys and sells for MLB players currently on hot streaks. He looks at potential fantasy baseball frauds for Week 21 of the 2024 season.
There are some big names that have been carrying fantasy rosters down the stretch. Bobby Witt Jr. has dominated for the Royals and should continue to thrive as fantasy managers look to bring home a championship.
What should we do about other players who are on unexpected heaters? Should fantasy managers add them and try to take advantage of their hot streak, or is it too late to jump on board?
Let’s dive into some potential Fantasy Frauds and discuss if they will be able to continue their current level of success. All roster percentages are via Yahoo.
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Josh Bell, Arizona Diamondbacks (1B, 54% rostered)
The Diamondbacks had to pivot at first base when Christian Walker (oblique) went down. They quickly traded for Bell, who has hit 12-for-42 (.286) with four home runs over 10 games with the team entering Monday. Going back to when he was still on the Marlins, Bell has slugged nine home runs while batting .343 across his last 17 games.
Josh Bell has his 3rd home run in 6 games since joining the @Dbacks. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Z5T9QCIz4s
— MLB (@MLB) August 7, 2024
Bell certainly benefits from hitting within a more dangerous lineup with the Diamondbacks. He has power, but he’s not going to continue to hit home runs at this pace. He hasn’t finished with a batting average over .266 since 2019, so he’s not likely going to hit over .340 for much longer. Ride out this hot streak for as long as you can, but when he starts to cool off, don’t hesitate to bench him. Walker will also return at some point in September, which could mean that Bell loses some playing time.
Gavin Lux, Los Angeles Dodgers (2B, 33% rostered)
The Dodgers have been rolling out a compromised lineup for a while. They have received added contributions from expected sources, including Lux. Over his last 20 games entering Monday, Lux is 24-for-60 (.400) with a .471 OBP and three home runs.
Lux’s overall numbers are still disappointing since he is only batting .246 with a .294 wOBA. Last season, he hit .276 with a .328 wOBA. He was probably a bit lucky last year, given that he produced a .341 BABIP. This year, he has a .305 BABIP. Lux has a career .126 ISO and has never stolen more than seven bases in a season, so if he’s not going to hit for a high average, he’s not all that valuable in fantasy. Those who need a boost in batting average could try to ride out his hot streak, but he’s not someone to rush out and add.
Jake McCarthy, Arizona Diamondbacks (OF, 27% rostered)
Bell isn’t the only hot hitter on the Diamondbacks right now. McCarthy is 24-for-54 (.444) with three home runs and three triples over his last 15 games entering Monday. With his speed, he also recorded three steals during that stretch. He is up to 16 stolen bases for the season as he pushes for his third straight campaign with at least 20 steals.
As good as McCarthy has been lately, don’t count on him to hit for much power down the stretch. He is known for his speed, posting just a .128 ISO for his career. His 3.5% barrel rate this year is a concern. Fantasy managers who are desperate for steals should consider adding him, but expect his batting average to cool off considerably as the fall approaches.
Joey Bart, Pittsburgh Pirates (C, 15% rostered)
Bart wasn’t able to live up to the hype after the Giants selected him in the first round of the 2018 Draft. He never played more than 97 games in a season and he only has a .682 OPS for his career. He has played much better with the Pirates, though, recording a .857 OPS over 51 total games. Most of that production has come recently. Over his last 14 games entering Monday, he is 18-for-52 (.346) with four home runs and three doubles.
It really is a Bart summer 🟩
Joey Bart gives the @Pirates the lead with a 2-run blast! pic.twitter.com/WHuOv4Fi3t
— MLB (@MLB) August 8, 2024
Bart has improved his strikeout rate a bit this season, although it’s still not great at 26.4%. Maybe the biggest difference is his 11.9% barrel rate, which is nearly three percentage points higher than his career mark. Catcher is not always an easy position to fill, and there is a better option on the waiver wire in many leagues in Austin Wells (36% rostered). However, for those who play in deeper formats, Bart is worth a look until he slows down.
Alex Call, Washington Nationals (OF, 15% rostered)
Call is getting an opportunity to play on a regular basis for the Nationals right now and he has responded by hitting 21-for-46 (.457) with one home run, five doubles, and three stolen bases over his last 13 games entering Monday. Joey Gallo (hamstring) is on the injured list and has played poorly when he has been healthy. Even when he does return, Call has likely worked his way into more playing time down the stretch.
The thing to remember with Call is that he is not a young prospect with a ton of upside. He is 29 years old and had a modest .775 OPS at Triple-A this year. During his 195 career games in the majors, he has a .125 ISO and a .312 wOBA. Those in 15-team or deeper leagues could consider adding him, but pass on him in shallower formats.
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