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Welcome to our top fantasy baseball injury stashes for Week 11, looking at IL players as of June 9th. Today's list of injured MLB players to consider stashing off the fantasy baseball waiver wire includes C.J. Cron, Alex Wood, Lars Nootbar, Jose Quintana and Brandon Lowe.
In case you're not yet familiar, this list is a weekly article series 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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Top Fantasy Baseball IL Stashes for Week 11
C.J. Cron - 1B/DH, Colorado Rockies
Like Brandon Lowe, C.J. Cron is a big power hitter who has often been injured, but not nearly to the same extent. Through nine seasons, Cron has only eclipsed 140 games three times. The 33-year-old was consistently productive in those three seasons, averaging nearly 30 home runs and 30 doubles while batting over .250. There is no reason to believe that Cron can't continue being productive upon his return from the IL.
One of the biggest reasons to assume Cron will be okay is the ballpark he plays at. Coors Field is one of baseball's most hitter-friendly environments, especially for home runs. The high altitude of Denver, Colorado, makes balls in the air travel farther than they usually would elsewhere. In his career, Cron has hit fly balls 40% of the time nearly every season. Combined with 42% HardHit% and 95th percentile Barrel%, Cron is a dangerous hitter at home.
The Rockies' first baseman is dealing with back soreness and is still a week or two away from returning. The slugger may not hit for the highest average, but he makes hard contact and sends balls a long way. Cron is rostered in 71% of Yahoo and 59% of ESPN leagues. First base has been a mixed bag this season, so Cron can be an underrated IL stash before his activation.
Lars Nootbaar - OF, St Louis Cardinals
St Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar significantly improved from his first year in the majors to his second. Nootbaar was able to improve his plate discipline and quality of contact metrics. Across the board, Nootbaar was showing signs of progression and was a hyped sleeper heading into the 2023 draft season.
The 25-year-old's best asset has to be his ability to get on base, which he showcased during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The young outfielder recorded a .424 OBP for Japan as they went undefeated. All signs were pointing toward Nootbaar taking the next step in his development. This season, Nootbaar has increased his walk rate again and raised his batting average significantly before being injured.
Nootbaar was placed on the IL with a lower back contusion nearly a week ago. There have been little to no updates on his condition, but a contusion is a much less significant injury than a strain or a fracture. The young left-handed hitter could return to the team within a week or two. Nootbaar is only rostered in 60% of Yahoo and 20% of ESPN leagues. Nootbaar is a decent option in points leagues due to his low strikeout rate, and a great option in OBP leagues. Fantasy managers should look to stash Nootbaar because he has the potential to keep getting better.
Jose Quintana - SP, New York Mets
New York Mets starting pitcher Jose Quintana is an interesting pitcher to analyze. Early in his career, Quintana was a reliable Chicago White Sox rotation member with a decent ERA and the ability to eat innings.
Following his rookie season, the Southpaw threw 200 more innings four seasons in a row. 2017 Quintana was traded across town to the Chicago Cubs and began his run of five straight mediocre years. Quintana performed noticeably worse in a Cubs uniform and had an ERA over 4.00 every season. It seemed the left-hander's best years were behind him until 2022.
In 2022, Quintana turned back the clock to have, arguably, one of the best seasons of his career. He made 32 starts and recorded a 2.93 ERA in 165 2/3 innings pitched. Quintana was back to his reliable self and could be in for a big season until his injury. During the off-season, Quintana picked up a stress fracture in his rib cage, which required surgery. The injury pushed back his 2023 debut, but he could return soon.
The 33-year-old is set to begin throwing live batting practice. Quintana is only a few months removed from his rib surgery, so it makes sense that he would need time to build up, but throwing to live hitters is a big step in the right direction. Quintana is only 3% rostered in Yahoo and 1.4% rostered in ESPN leagues, so there is a good chance he is available in your league. Fantasy managers should stash Quintana for a few weeks if he can perform near the level he did last season.
Alex Wood - SP, San Francisco Giants
Alex Wood is a funky pitcher. His delivery is unorthodox, which makes his stuff more deceptive. The left-handed pitcher had some decent years early in his career with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers before imploding on the Reds. The southpaw is now on the San Francisco Giants, an organization known for getting the best out of the veteran starting pitching. The talent and stuff have always been there for Wood, but his health has not.
Wood is the type of pitcher that is nearly guaranteed to have multiple stints on the IL throughout a season, but he is typically an above-average pitcher when healthy. Wood is a good ground ball pitcher at his best, inducing ground balls in around 50% of plate appearances in nine of his 11 seasons in the majors. The 32-year-old is also a decent strikeout pitcher, earning over 9 K/9 every season for the last four seasons.
Wood was placed on the IL on June 4 with a back strain, but initial reports speculate that he will return as soon as his 15 days are up. Wood is rostered in 6% of Yahoo and 2.5% of ESPN leagues, so it's plausible he is available in yours. Fantasy managers dealing with injuries or looking for pitchers to stream can stash Wood and reap the benefits while he is healthy.
Brandon Lowe - 2B, Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe may have been dropped in many leagues when he was placed on the injured list or due to his poor performance. Lowe is currently rostered in 66% of Yahoo and 60% of ESPN leagues.
Lowe is your prototypical power hitter that racks up a ton of home runs and strikeouts. One of the issues involved in rostering Lowe is his extreme streakiness. Lowe is batting .199 this season with nine home runs and 63 strikeouts. The home runs usually come in bunches, and the droughts can last for weeks at a time, but when he's hot, Lowe is one of the most dangerous power bats in the league.
The 28-year-old second baseman is known for his contributions in the power department but has yet to have the chance to contribute for an entire season. Lowe has been in the league for over five seasons and has only played over 100 games once. However, in the one entire season he played, he hit 39 home runs. The main issue Lowe tends to run into is injuries. His current IL stint is due to lower back inflammation.
Brandon Lowe was placed on the injured list on Monday, but back inflammation is not an issue requiring a long-term IL stint. There is a chance that Lowe stays on the IL for the minimum, but that all depends on how he feels over the next week.
Lowe has a legitimate downside, but the upside is 30 plus home runs from the second base position. Lowe could be a decent source of home runs for fantasy managers willing to take a chance on him.
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