RADIO
When will Matt McLain debut for the Rays? Should I stash Matt McLain fantasy baseball leagues? Fantasy baseball prospect outlook for the Reds' starting pitcher.
The Cincinnati Reds have suffered through many injuries to key players this season, but they might have missed Matt McLain more than any other player.
McLain had a breakout campaign in 2023 and was expected to be a core piece of this young Cincy offense this season.
However, he's missed the entire season so far and the earliest he'll return to a baseball field (in the minors) is in mid-August. So is it worth it for fantasy managers to hold onto McLain or not?
How High Is Matt McLain's Fantasy Baseball Potential?
McLain is truly a five-tool talent who flashed some incredible potential last year in his rookie campaign.
In a little more than half a season, McLain posted 16 home runs while driving in 50 runs and swiping 15 stolen bases. He also hit .290 with a .864 OPS.
I miss Matt McLain.
— Reds Daily (@RedsDaily4) June 21, 2024
Elly De La Cruz has been fantastic this season for Cincy, and Noelvi Marte is back from suspension. But McLain might be the best true hitter among them and could slide into second base where the Reds are getting just average production from Jonathan India.
When Might Matt McLain Return to the Major Leagues?
McLain is set to start a minor league rehab assignment on August 12th. Since he's missed so much time this year, he will likely need several weeks (at least) to get going which pushes his return to September.
He's 46% rostered in Yahoo! Leagues, which reflects how favorably managers view his upside. However, he may only have a month or less to contribute fantasy stats and that's if his rehab goes as smoothly as possible.
If you already have McLain on your IL, then you have to hold steady and hope for a big month of September from him. But managers in shallower leagues can probably ignore McLain if he's on waivers, as other players will be ready to contribute to your fantasy team sooner than him.
More Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups
Christian Moore - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Waiver Wire Stashes (Week 12)
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12-team leagues CALL-UP ETA: Now ANALYSIS: On Thursday evening, the Angels announced they were promoting their top-ranked prospect, infielder Christian Moore, to the major leagues. Moore was selected with the eighth pick in last year's draft out of Tennessee. Moore wasted little time making an impact as he made his Double-A debut […]
Andrew Painter - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Waiver Wire Stashes (Week 11)
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12-team leagues CALL-UP ETA: June ANALYSIS: Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitching prospect Andrew Painter should continue to be viewed as a top stash option. After recovering from Tommy John and missing the entirety of the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Painter has returned to the bump this season and is fast approaching his MLB […]
Zebby Matthews - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Waiver Wire Stashes (Week 11)
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ team leagues CALL-UP ETA: June ANALYSIS: Zebby Matthews was one of the most interesting pitching prospects coming into this season and delivered solid outings before going down with a shoulder injury. Matthews has not been particularly impressive in his two major league stints so far, but his minor league success and […]
Quinn Mathews - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Waiver Wire Stashes (Week 11)
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ team leagues CALL-UP ETA: June ANALYSIS: St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Quinn Mathews was a popular name in this column during the opening month of the campaign, but suffered a shoulder injury. However, Mathews is back in action and remains on a trach to reach the majors this season. In his […]
Carson Whisenhunt - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Waiver Wire Stashes (Week 11)
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14-team leagues CALL-UP ETA: June ANALYSIS: San Francisco Giants left-handed pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt continues to impress at Triple-A and is quickly approaching his MLB debut. The top-ranked prospect in the system opened the campaign by earning his second look at Triple-A. In 2024, Whisenhunt made his Triple-A debut but struggled, logging […]
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!
Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!
