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This list 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. These five players are available in roughly 50% 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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Top Fantasy Baseball IL Stashes for Week 10
Adam Duvall - OF, Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall was off to a blistering start this season. Through the first eight games of 2023, Duvall slashed .455/.514/1.030 with four home runs and 14 RBI. That production level is unsustainable, but it did suggest that Duvall may be comfortable with his new team in Boston.
The 34-year-old outfielder has always been a standout in the power department, hitting over 30 home runs in three seasons. The main issue Duvall tends to run into is injuries. In his first nine seasons at the major league level, Duvall has only had four full seasons played. The slugger already caught the injury bug this year, so he may play most of the remaining games.
Adam Duvall started his rehab assignment on Tuesday with Boston Red Sox Triple-A affiliate Worcester Red Sox. In his first two rehab games, Duvall went 0-for-6 with four strikeouts. The outfielder may take some time to get back up to game speed. There is speculation that the Red Sox would like to activate Duvall by June 9, in time for their series against the New York Yankees, but that all depends on how he progresses. Duvall is rostered in 64% of Yahoo and 45% of ESPN leagues. Fantasy managers looking for home runs should stash Duvall now since he may return within a week.
Anthony Rendon - 3B, Los Angeles Angels
Like Adam Duvall, Anthony Rendon is a talented hitter who has often been injured. Earlier in his career, Rendon was a perennial All-Star. The third baseman hit over .300 with 25 home runs and 40 doubles for multiple seasons. It seems those days are behind him, but Rendon is still a talented hitter who can get on base.
The power has been in question for Rendon lately, but the HardHit%, xSLG, and Average Exit Velocity are all up this year compared to the last two seasons. Before hitting the IL this season, Rendon was slashing .301/.415/.369. The 33-year-old also walked more than he was striking out, owning a 14.6% BB% and an 11.5% K% through 30 games.
The Angels' third baseman appears almost ready to return within a week or two. The slugger may not hit over 25 home runs or steal any bases, but he still has elite plate discipline and the skill to find the gaps. Rendon is rostered in 50% of Yahoo and 41% of ESPN leagues. Third base is not a very deep position, so Rendon can be a sneaky IL stash before his activation.
Trevor Rogers - SP, Miami Marlins
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Trevor Rogers burst onto the scene in his first full season. Rogers finished the year with a 2.64 ERA and 157 strikeouts in 133 innings pitched. The following season, the southpaw regressed quite a bit to a 5.47 ERA in 107 innings pitched.
Rogers has had injury issues in the past, which may have been detrimental to his effectiveness last season. This season, the 25-year-old suffered a left biceps strain that has kept him on the IL for over a month. The left-hander has been throwing for over two weeks, and the results have been promising.
In his most recent rehab start, Rogers racked up seven strikeouts in four innings. The young Marlin only threw 58 pitches, so a couple more rehab starts may be expected before he gets activated. Rogers has shown flashes of being a valuable starting pitcher in fantasy in the past, and he could return to form. His first full season may have been a bit lucky, but Rogers could return to the rotation and provide above-average strikeout numbers with an ERA below 4.00. Most of the fantasy community has abandoned Rogers since he is only rostered in 13% of Yahoo and 4.7% of ESPN leagues. Stashing Rogers may be a bit of a dart throw, but it's a low-risk move that could pay off.
Tarik Skubal - SP, Detroit Tigers
Tarik Skubal is coming off the heels of his best season in the majors. The left-hander posted a 3.52 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 117 2/3 innings pitched before getting surgery on the flexor tendon in his left elbow. Skubal carved through lineups with a nasty slider and a fastball he could dial up to the high-90s. Whenever pitchers undergo major surgery on their throwing arm, their ability to return to form is questioned. The early returns for Skubal have suggested his recovery has gone well.
In a recent live batting practice session, Skubal could put his stuff on display once again. 10-year veteran Jonathan Schoop praised Skubal's pitches in the session, calling his stuff nasty. The southpaw's ability to dial the fastball up to 98 mph is a good sign that he feels comfortable with it.
The 25-year-old is set to begin his rehab assignment in High-A this Sunday. Skubal is a little over a year removed from his surgery, so it may take him weeks to return to the team, but his first rehab start is a massive step in the right direction. Skubal is only 11% rostered in Yahoo leagues and 3.3% rostered in ESPN leagues, so there is a good chance he is available in your league. Fantasy managers should stash Skubal for a few weeks in case he can perform near the level he did before his surgery.
Jose Alvarado - RP, Philadelphia Phillies
Jose Alvarado had over 20 saves plus holds the last two seasons for the Phillies and was poised to take over the closer role coming into 2023. Alvarado recorded five saves and 24 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings pitched before heading to the IL with left elbow inflammation.
A closer with a pitch that nasty, who can also touch triple digits, is a valuable weapon. The 28-year-old pitcher features a 99 mph sinker and a 94 mph cutter, which is especially nasty. In 2022, Alvarado drastically increased his cutter usage from around 16% to 42.9%. Alvarado threw his cutter 378 times, inducing a 55.7% Whiff rate and a .119 batting average.
Alvarado will have a rehab outing on Saturday before returning to the team within the next week. Craig Kimbrel has taken over the closer role in Alvarado's absence but has yet to pitch well enough to retain it. Alvarado is rostered in 73% of Yahoo and 36.4% of ESPN leagues, so grab and stash him if he's available in your league.
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