We’re into the eighth full week of fantasy baseball for the 2023 MLB campaign. Now that almost two full months have passed, the time to stay patient has begun to run out. If you’re in need of some relief on offense, here’s five names that are worth a look and should be readily available in leagues.
Related: What to Expect from Dodgers Starting Pitcher Bobby Miller
Dominic Fletcher
Diamondbacks outfielder Dominic Fletcher is a name to watch. The 25-year-old outfielder’s done nothing but hit since being called up to the Majors in late April, as he owned an impressive .343 average after his first 73 plate appearances. Much like his older brother David Fletcher, Dominic has a knack for putting ball into play. The younger Fletcher should be more of a power threat. The former Arkansas product has two home runs and 13 RBI on the season, although both of those homers and eleven of his runs driven in came between May 11-13.
Arizona struggled to receive production from young outfielders Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy, both of whom were sent back down to the Minors after tough starts to 2023. As long as Fletcher continues to hit, he should stick as a regular with the D-Backs.
Ryan McMahon
Back in February, we noted that Rockies 2B/3B Ryan McMahon got off to a tough start to the 2022 season before a resurgent second half. In a lot of ways, this season has been a near-mirror image. McMahon’s only hit four home runs over the first eight weeks of the regular season and his K% rate is up by about five percentage points from last season. At that same token, McMahon’s chase rate is about the same as it was in 2022, and owns what would be a career-high Barrel% rate of 12.7%.
McMahon belted 12 home runs over the final two months of last season and it’s not out of the question that he can do that again this season. Between the 28-year-old’s power, discipline, and a friendly home in Coors Field, there’s just too much that’s in his favor. If you’re looking for a buy-low candidate, McMahon’s a nice find.
Lane Thomas
Nationals OF Lane Thomas has been one of Washington’s best players since the start of May — and it might be a good idea for fantasy players to starting taking note. From May 1-21, Thomas hit .333/.375/.640 with six home runs, 10 extra base hits, and 13 runs driven in. Thomas’ six bombs put him in the top 20 of MLB hitters and just five other players — Ronald Acuna Jr., Luis Robert Jr., Matt Olson, Freddie Freeman, and Anthony Rizzo — have scored more runs (16) than Thomas, who’s become a fixture at the top of the Nationals lineup.
Thomas hit 17 home runs last season for the Nationals, so the power that the 27-year-old has shown off this season isn’t a new occurrence. While Thomas will likely hit a cool spot at some point, riding out the hot hand if you’re in need of an outfielder isn’t a bad idea.
Spencer Torkelson
One could look at Spencer Torkelson‘s numbers from 2023 and be unimpressed. That’s fair, given the overall results. On the other hand, the 23-year-old’s May has been far better than his first couple of weeks. Torkelson hit .284/.324/.463 with two home runs, eight extra base hits, and ten runs batted in. The former top pick in the 2020 MLB Draft’s average is almost seventy points better than his April figure of .215 and his batted ball metrics are all up.
At some point, Torkelson had to turn a corner. No, the former Arizona State star hasn’t broken out like his teammate Riley Greene has. But, Torkelson’s been better at the plate. Given his skillset, he needs to be someone to watch moving forward.
Miguel Vargas
We noted back in May that Dodgers infielder Miguel Vargas looked like he was turning a corner after a bizarre start to the 2023 season. So far, it looks like that’s the case. Over the first three weeks of May, Vargas hit .273/.324/.546 with three home runs, 11 extra base hits, and 13 runs batted in. The Dodgers infielder also ranked among the league’s best in total runs scored (12).
Vargas’ ability to get on base, as well as his raw strength, made him a nice value pick for those who stuck with him after a tough April. If he’s available in leagues, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to snare him.
