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Welcome back to our top fantasy baseball injury stashes for Week 26, looking at IL players as of September 22. Today's list of injured MLB players to consider stashing off the fantasy baseball waiver wire includes Matt McLain, Triston McKenzie, Ryan Mountcastle, Jeimer Candelario, and Byron Buxton.
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 redraft fantasy baseball leagues. With the fantasy season approaching its final week, we'll discuss those most likely to be impactful in fantasy upon return.
These five players are rostered in less than 60% of leagues and have the opportunity to make an impact in fantasy during the last week of the regular season. Make sure to check if these players are available to be picked up in your leagues!
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Matt McLain- SS/2B, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds infielder Matt McLain was one of the best hitters in baseball when he was healthy earlier this season, and there is no reason to believe he cannot be that again once he returns from injury. In 2023, McLain has slashed .290/.357/.507 with 16 home runs, 65 runs, 50 RBI, and 14 stolen bases in 89 games. The 24-year-old was called up before Elly De La Cruz, and his play proved that he has a claim to be the most productive rookie in the Reds organization.
McLain has been on the injured list since August 28 with an oblique strain. The Reds infielder has been ramping up baseball activities and should be ready to return to the team soon. If his rehab progresses at this rate, McLain could return to the Reds lineup on Tuesday.
McLain is 74% rostered in Yahoo and 38% rostered in ESPN leagues, so he should be available in more ESPN leagues. Fantasy managers should stash McLain because he has demonstrated the ability to be an impactful hitter at the major league level. McLain possesses a combination of power and speed that can make a huge fantasy impact, albeit with a 28.5% strikeout rate.
Triston McKenzie - SP, Cleveland Guardians
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie has been one of the most exciting pitchers to watch since his major league debut in 2020. The 26-year-old had a breakout season in 2022, posting a 2.96 ERA with 190 strikeouts in 191 1/3 innings. It is becoming increasingly rare to approach 200 innings pitched in a season and even more rare to do it with the efficiency that McKenzie did. The Guardians starter has only made two starts in 2023 so far and looks to build on his breakout year.
McKenzie has been on the injured list since June 17 with an elbow strain in his pitching arm. Any strain in a pitcher's arm is usually a serious issue, and this injury has kept McKenzie out for months. In the past three months, McKenzie has built himself back up and has progressed to rehab starts. The younger Guardian pitched in his second rehab start on Tuesday night, putting him on track to start Sunday's game for Cleveland if activated.
McKenzie is 58% rostered in Yahoo and 53.5% rostered in ESPN leagues, so he's available in roughly half of leagues. Fantasy managers should stash McKenzie because he is a potential ace-level pitcher that you can have for one or two starts to end the season. The best case scenario is McKenzie is activated and starts Sunday's game on a pitch count, then has one more start without restrictions. Finding an ace for fantasy championship week could be the difference between winning and losing.
Ryan Mountcastle - 1B, Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle has had a tough 2023 season. Still, he has an opportunity to finish strong if he can return from injury before the end of the regular season. After breaking out with 33 home runs in 2021, Mountcastle took a step back from a production standpoint in the 2022 season. This year, Mountcastle was putting together arguably the best season of his short career, but the Orioles first baseman has been affected by injuries nearly all season.
Mountcastle was placed on the injured list earlier this week with a lingering shoulder injury. The September 17 placement on the injured list means that the 26-year-old slugger is eligible to return as soon as September 27. It remains to be seen whether or not a return on that day is possible, but stashing Mountcastle for the end of the season could be advantageous.
Mountcastle is 65% rostered in Yahoo and 52.2% rostered in ESPN leagues, so he's available in some places. Fantasy managers with an open IL slot should consider stashing Mountcastle because he has the ability to carry a team offensively when he is hot. The power output and potential for counting stats in a good lineup should be reason enough to stash Mountcastle.
Jeimer Candelario - 3B/1B, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs corner infielder Jeimer Candelario has been one of the more pleasant surprises of the 2023 season. Candelario has long been an underrated fantasy asset, but playing at Comerica Park for the majority of his career proved to have a negative impact on his offensive production. Moving back to the Cubs, the team he began his major league career with, seems to have been the change of scenery Candelario needed. The Cubs infielder has the most home runs, RBI, and stolen bases of his career this year.
Candelario has been on the injured list since September 12 with a back strain. The 29-year-old infielder has been sidelined for over a week but seems to be progressing well. Chicago Cubs manager and former catcher David Ross stated that Candelario could return from the injured list next week, so there is reason for optimism.
Candelario is 45% rostered in Yahoo and 24.4% rostered in ESPN leagues, so he is available in most places. Fantasy managers should consider stashing Candelario in their IL slots because he is amidst arguably the best season of his career with a decent batting average and power production while maintaining solid plate discipline. Candelario could be the boost fantasy managers need to win this matchup.
Byron Buxton - OF, Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton is amidst another injury-plagued season in 2023. Buxton has been a player that has divided the fantasy baseball community because of his talent and inability to stay healthy. There is evidence to prove that Buxton has been one of the best baseball players from a per-plate appearance standpoint when healthy, but he is rarely healthy. It appears Buxton is close to returning from his latest injured list stint and should continue to be a divisive player.
Buxton was placed on the injured list in early August with a hamstring injury. During his rehab assignment to return from the hamstring injury, he suffered a setback and was shut down from playing in rehab games due to a patellar tendon issue. Buxton has since received treatment and returned to rehab in Triple-A. He played his first rehab game since the knee flared up on Thursday and could be activated from the injured list next week.
Buxton is 67% rostered in Yahoo and 43.8% in ESPN leagues, so he should be around on about half of ESPN waiver wires. Injuries will always be an issue for Buxton, but his per-game production is among the elite players when he is locked in. The Twins outfielder has elite power and can be a valuable asset for counting stats in the final week of the season.
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