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Welcome back to our top fantasy baseball injury stashes for Week 14, looking at IL players as of June 29. Today's list of injured MLB players to consider stashing off the fantasy baseball waiver wire includes Riley Greene, Alex Cobb, Brandon Lowe, and Patrick Wisdom.
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 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 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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Alex Cobb - SP, San Francisco Giants
I have been a Cobb truther for several years now, and it seemed like this was the year his actual stats would creep toward his expected stats. That was until he went on the injured list with an oblique strain. Injuries have long been a part of Cobb's story, and he is almost guaranteed to have an IL stint or two each year. Luckily, this oblique strain was not severe and will likely require a minimum stay on the 15-day IL. Before his injury, Cobb had arguably been the Giants' best pitcher.
The veteran right-hander has posted a 3.09 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 78 2/3 innings this season. Cobb's ability to induce ground balls and limit home runs makes him one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball. Among pitchers with at least 70 innings pitched this season, Cobb has the third-highest ground ball rate at 58.3% and the 10th-lowest HR/9 at 0.69. Cobb's underlying also largely support his low ERA, owning a 3.23 FIP and 3.23 xFIP.
Cobb's latest rehab start came on Saturday, and he built up to 66 pitches. Reports suggest that Cobb will likely be activated from the injured list this weekend. Cobb is 71% rostered in Yahoo and 54.5% rostered in ESPN, so he may be available. The Giants starter is worth a stash in most leagues.
Riley Greene - OF, Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers third baseman Riley Greene had been the best hitter on the team before his injury. The 22-year-old was slashing .296/.362/.443 when he was placed on the injured list with a stress fracture in his fibula.
In 2022, Greene was promoted to the Tigers as a top prospect in the system and put forth a decent effort, despite mediocre power numbers. He finished the year batting .253 with five home runs and 18 doubles in 93 games. Greene continues to struggle with strikeouts, but one significant difference in Greene's profile is his increase in launch angle. 2022 Greene had a launch angle of 2.8; this season, his launch sits at 4.9. This change has resulted in a nearly 6% increase in LD% and a 4% decrease in GB%.
Greene was placed on the injured list on May 31 and has yet to begin a rehab assignment, but the good news is it appears he has been ramping up his baseball activities. The former top prospect was spotted taking batting practice and running sprints, so a rehab assignment could be soon. The young third baseman is 55% rostered in Yahoo and 14.7% rostered in ESPN leagues, so he's available in roughly half of leagues, depending on what platform you use.
Greene has been a solid contact hitter, despite his nearly 29% strikeout rate. Although his power output has continued to disappoint, Greene's exit velocity numbers and HardHit% suggest that more extra-base hits could be on the horizon. Fantasy managers should stash Greene because legitimate contact hitters with power upside are challenging to find, especially at the hot corner.
Brandon Lowe - 2B, Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe is one of the biggest power threats at the middle infield positions. The issues that plague him are his lack of consistency and health concerns.
The 28-year-old slugger has flashed big power numbers in the past, hitting 39 home runs in 2021. The highs are very high, but the lows are also very low. Lowe has a strikeout rate over 30% this season for the second time in his career and is only batting .205 through 50 games. There are stretches when Lowe is one of the most dangerous hitters in the game and other times when he is nearly unusable in fantasy.
Lowe had previously been on this list when his back issue seemed minor, but his recovery has taken longer than expected. The veteran hitter was placed on the injured list due to back inflammation at the beginning of June. It was then announced that he had been diagnosed with a herniated disc, requiring a more prolonged shutdown. Lowe is now playing in rehab games, so his return could come within the next week or so.
Lowe is 58% rostered in Yahoo and 53% rostered in ESPN and remains injury-prone, but few injured players possess the upside that Lowe does at the pitcher position. Fantasy managers needing help at second base should consider stashing Lowe while they can.
Patrick Wisdom - 3B, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs third baseman Patrick Wisdom is one of the most exciting players in baseball when he's locked in. In his legitimate rookie season with the Cubs in 2021, Wisdom finished the year with 28 home runs and 61 RBI in 106 games. Wisdom is one of the last three true outcomes hitters left in baseball.
Wisdom owns a strikeout rate of 38.9% and a walk rate of 10.6% this season. In nearly 50% of his at-bats, the ball isn't even put into play. However, when Wisdom does hit the ball, he tends to hit it hard and far. He's batting .196 this year with 14 home runs in 56 games. Wisdom is also an extreme fly ball hitter, putting the ball in the air 49% of the time and converting those fly balls into home runs 28% of the time.
The 31-year-old landed on the injured list earlier this month with a right wrist sprain, but he was recently cleared to begin his rehab assignment. How many games Wisdom will need remains to be seen, but he can seemingly return within the next week. Wisdom is 23% rostered in Yahoo and 11.7% rostered in ESPN leagues, so he is available in most places. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues needing home runs and walks should stash if they don't mind the excessive strikeout numbers.
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