The 2023 fantasy baseball season has officially hit the home stretch. We are just a few weeks before the official end of the MLB regular season and time is running short. For those looking to beef up for a playoff run or in a push for a top-three spot in roto leagues, here’s a look at five names to consider for Week 21.
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Osleivis Basabe
Rays shortstop Osleivis Basabe has been a steady hand in the Tampa lineup, since his callup and the removal of Wander Franco — who was placed on administrative leave this past Tuesday by Major League Baseball — from the active roster. The 22-year-old hit .286 with a home run and nine RBI across his first 12 games as a pro, and has logged a hit in seven of those contests.
Basabe’s never been known as a power hitter, so don’t expect much in that department. However, his ability to make good, consistent contact can be an asset for fantasy baseball players over the final month.
Nolan Jones
Rockies INF/OF Nolan Jones was never able to crack the Guardians lineup as a regular, but he has with Colorado. Jones hit just .193 during the month of July, but came alive at the turn of the calendar. In August, the 25-year-old batted .300 with four home runs and 17 RBI over 91 plate appearances.
Jones’ calling card back in his Minor League days was his strength and raw power, and that tool has been put to good use in the confines of Coors Field.
Tommy Pham
The 2023 campaign has been a strong one for Diamondbacks outfielder Tommy Pham, who’s helped Arizona in recent days get back into a NL Wild Card spot. From August 10-25, Pham hit .291 with three home runs, 15 RBI, and the veteran outfielder also pitched in two steals. Getting back to the runs batted in, Pham tied with Eddie Rosario for fourth in the Majors in that span. Only Julio Rodriguez (18), Marcell Ozuna (17), and Kerry Carpenter (16) had more in that stretch.
Pham’s been known to be a premium hitter when it comes to exit velocity, but the 35-year-old’s been much better at making consistent contact in 2023. The D-Backs outfielder’s seen his Zone Contact% and Line Drive% jump over three percent as compared to last season.
Trevor Story
Red Sox infielder Trevor Story‘s own rate has gone down in recent days that can likely be attributed to a slow start for the veteran infielder. After a lengthy rehab from a major elbow injury, Story’s hit just .220 with a home run and three RBI. The good news, though, is that Story did swipe five bases in his first 15 games of the 2023 season.
Story has always been a reliable source of home runs and stolen bases. It’s not out of the ordinary for a player to struggle after a long layoff, but it can be an opportunity for those who are willing to buy low on the 30-year-old.
Ezequiel Tovar
A second Rockie made the list this week, in SS Ezequiel Tovar. Like Jones, Tovar did struggle in July but has been better at the plate in August. The 22-year-old infielder hit .280 with five home runs and 12 RBI. He’s been piling up the hits as of late, as Tovar posted five multi-hit games since August 12.
Tovar is prone to chasing, but the 22-year-old does possess the power to be a valuable shortstop over the coming years.
