We made it to Memorial Day! You know what that means — it’s the time where I finally start preparing my 2022 taxes. You pay these things on a once a decade basis, right? I kid, I kid. I’m just feeling a bit jealous that all the super yachts I see out this weekend are a business tax write-off while I’m deep in my basement lair breathing radon and wondering where my next squishmallow will come from.
Holiday weeks are always rough for fantasy: schedules are weird, players sometimes get a rest, and we’re also in the middle of call-up season. Don’t fret anything too much if you’re off your game this week — just stay the course and remember that you could have drafted a Strider / Cole start to your $1800 league.
That’s What I Like
Jake Meyers (HOU, OF, 13% Rostered): 27-year old journey man with some pop and some speed is getting his 15 minutes of fame in Houston. He seems to have claimed the centerfielder job — which meant beating out a bunch of Quad-A players and guys who I’d only roster after round 35 of RazzSlam. But! Over the past month he’s out-batted Gunnar Henderson and Anthony Volpe. (<— things 2023 me never expected to write). Meyers has a history of under-performing at the MLB level (with a 30%+ K rate to start his career with -8 offensive WAR in his first 600 AB). But this year! This is the year, right? His BABIP is a ludicrous .388 over the past month, meaning he’ll come back to earth at some point. But he’s slashed his career K rate by half, is showing good contact, and bats in a loaded Houston lineup. Tough to ask for anything more from a “free” guy on the waiver wires. Add and start in all leagues if you’re looking for OF/UTIL.
Michael Massey (KC, 2B, 43% Rostered): Figures that a guy gets hot and then starts dealing with back tightness. Add at your own risk — he’s out of the lineup right now while he figures out some lumbar issues, which is basically my excuse for getting out of all the BBQ action I’m not invited to this weekend. You know what’s totally out of the loop for me? Massey has been in the majors for like 3 years and basically put in a full “Max Kepler” year worth of time last year. Should he ever have been on your fantasy team during that time? Probably not. But now? Meh. 2B is tough, right? Especially those “MI” leagues, or MI + 2 UTIL leagues. Massey has clubbed 5 homers in the past month in limited action. Measured another way, he’s been smacking balls out of the park at a better rate than Juan Soto. Massey doesn’t really walk, which limits his upside for counting stats, but he’s better than average at avoiding whiffs and bats in-between Salvador Perez and Nelson Velasquez when healthy. Who is often on base in front of him? Bobby Witt Jr. Massey comes with some risk — like all these bottom dwellers that I highlight — but the guy needs to keep up A) with his playing time and B) with basic contact, and he could be an above average addition to your team.
JJ Bleday (OAK, OF, 26% Rostered): How desperate are you? Are you the team with Brent Rooker and JJ Bleday as your stars? You’re bolder than me, Cotton. Bleday is…Bleh-day. I said it. But over the past week, the dude is on fire — he’s slugged 3 homers (with a laughable 4 RBI to go with that!) while adding 3 more doubles and a triple. His walk rate is nearly as high as his K rate (10 / 13) and his ISO is a Barry Bonds-like .538. The greatest thing? His BABIP is .211 over that time. He’s been unlucky! Bleday has a track record of mediocrity, but use your DFS mind here — take the hot hand for what it’s worth, and when it cools down, move on to some other basement dweller of the week. Maybe one day I’ll recognize myself!
Ben Brown (CHC, P, 7% Rostered): Featured him last week and his rostership actually went down? Then the dude went out and added 6 IP of 14 K/9 work to his resume. Do we hate winning that much? Over his last 4 outings, Brown has racked up about 12 IP, 14 K/9, and a Win. Among all pitchers, Brown is the 13th most valuable pitcher during that timespan, out-ranking Gausman, Skubal, Skenes…the list goes on. Obviously, he’s an RCL darling with his Roleless Rob status, but at this rate, he could luck into some Wins and become a standard league darling too. Add in all formats, start in RCLs.
I’m the Problem, It’s Me
Triston McKenzie (CLE, SP, 98% Rostered): McKenzie has been the subject of debate this year — he decided to go “rest and rehab” instead of the Tommy John route to heal his elbow. His body, his choice, full stop. But the data on “rehabbing” the elbow through rest is not great — sure Zac Gallen did it, but he’s been the outlier so far. Guys like Jacob deGrom tried to rehab and could do short bursts of effectivity before crashing and hitting the IL for months. Shane Bieber tried to work through his shoulder/elbow issues for a while before the inevitable TJ surgery came in 2024. McKenzie famously said he wanted to be a cardiologist if he wasn’t in baseball — the kid is making an informed decision. But right now, that “rest and rehab” option doesn’t seem to be working. He’s walking nearly 5 batters per nine, and his K rate is the lowest it’s ever been (and 7.7 K/9 ain’t helping your team). His ERA is 3.44 — and that might be why you’re holding on to hope — but his xFIP is 5.22 and his SIERA is 5.14. His barrel rate against is the highest of his career since his rookie year and he’s got the lowest swinging strike rate of his career. I wish the Cardiac Kid the best of luck in whatever his next decision is, but your next decision for your fantasy team should be to move on. See if you can sucker somebody into a trade, otherwise drop in all formats.
