We are into the last full week for the month of August in fantasy baseball for the 2023 MLB campaign. There’s still plenty to be decided in both the Majors and fantasy leagues between now and the end of the season. So, let’s go over five names that are trending upwards at the moment.
Related: What to Expect from Giants Left-Hander Kyle Harrison
Elvis Andrus
White Sox infielder Elvis Andrus parlayed a strong final two months of the 2022 season — in which he hit 10 home runs between August 1 and the end of the season — into a new deal with Chicago this past offseason. It hasn’t been a good year for the two-time All-Star, but he’s starting to heat up again in the month of August. Between August 4-19, Andrus was tied for eighth in the Majors in total hits (21).
It remains to be seen whether Andrus can do this again for a second year in a row. But for those in need of help in the middle infield or a bench bat, Andrus is worth a shot for at least the next few days.
Jake Burger
Getting back to Andrus for a second, the 34-year-old was one of six players to be in a tie for eighth in hits in that span. One of those names tied with Andrus was his old teammate with the White Sox, Jake Burger. Burger hit .375 with two home runs and 11 RBI with his new team in that span.
It’s hard to believe that a 27 home run hitter like Burger is available in so many leagues, but much of that has to do with the low batting average. The 27-year-old did get it up to .240 with his recent hot streak, though, and he has a very real chance to get to 30 home runs.
Eddie Rosario
Like Burger, Braves outfielder Eddie Rosario’s been on a tear over the last two weeks. The veteran outfielder and 2021 World Series champion hit .347 (17-49) with three home runs and 13 RBI over the last two weeks. On the season, he’s hit .260 with 19 home runs and 61 RBI for the Braves.
Rosario hasn’t been hitting breaking balls in the manner he did prior to 2022, but he’s back to being a machine against fastballs. Rosario hit .294 and 10 home runs off fastballs thus far in 2023, his best numbers against the heat since 2019 (.300, 18 HR).
Austin Hays
Orioles outfielder Austin Hays has formed a strong trio in the Baltimore outfield along with Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander. On one of the best teams in Major League Baseball, Hays flirted with the AL batting title in the first half. He’s cooled down in recent weeks, though, as indicated by Hays’ .202 average in the second half. However, the 28-year-old’s performed better at the plate in recent days. Hays cracked two home runs, five RBI, and six hits over his last five games.
Hays may not be an elite power hitter, but his ability to rack up hits and score runs — he had five runs scored in the past week — makes the O’s outfielder a name to watch.
Royce Lewis
Twins infielder Royce Lewis has been on this list before, and he’s back now that he’s returned from the injured list. The 24-year-old Lewis, who’s hit .319 with four home runs and 17 RBI across his first 31 games of the season, recorded five hits in his first five games back with Minnesota.
Lewis is a tremendous talent, but health has been the one missing piece to his formula. If Lewis can stay healthy for the remainder of the 2023 campaign, the young infielder could be a difference maker for a team that’s received subpar campaigns from Byron Buxton — who’s on the IL at the moment — and Carlos Correa.
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