This is not the time for dipping toes in the water. It’s the time to dive in head first, without checking the temperature. As Rocky Balboa told Clubber Lang in Rocky III, “Go for it.” Sorry for going borderline boomer on that one.
When it comes to fantasy baseball, stream pitchers to see if they could stick on your roster. Pick up players dropped by league mates to see if you might benefit from their hastiness. There are positions to churn on every fantasy baseball roster. This is the time to experiment and possibly hit a home run for more than five months of the season. After all, Cliff Lee was a pickup in many mixed leagues in 2008 when he eventually went 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA and won the Cy Young Award.
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Ryan O’Hearn has seen his rostership percentage leap from 4% to 33% in a matter of days. It helps when he hit home runs in three consecutive games with five RBI while hitting third for the Orioles’ pyrotechnic lineup. Colton Cowser went from 11% to 83% rostered in just over a week after he took hold of a starting job for Baltimore.
April may be a time for settling into baseball season for some, but for the sharp fantasy manager, it’s time to pounce on players who could be difference-makers throughout the summer months. Let’s get into the Deep Sleepers for this week.
6 Fantasy Baseball Deep Sleepers & Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 5
Nelson Velazquez (OF – KC): 13%
Nelson Velazquez has a hit in nine of the last 13 games, hitting .319 with a .830 OPS, including a home run with seven runs and six RBI. He’s been batting in the middle of a surprising Royals lineup that is 11th in runs scored with 92. He’s worth the pickup for fantasy managers dealing with injuries or players with prolonged slumps.
Jonatan Clase (OF – SEA): 12%
When a player steals 79 bases across two levels of the minor leagues, as Jonathan Clase did last year, and that player then hits the big leagues, fantasy managers need to take notice. Clase got that call on April 15. In his third game, he recorded a hit, a walk, a stolen base and a run to help fuel a 5-1 Mariners victory.
Clase has game-changing speed, though getting on base is going to be a question. While he did walk 82 times in 129 games last season in the minors, he also struck out 165 times. He’s hitting ninth in the order and needs to flip the lineup over so he can use that 70-grade speed.
Masyn Winn (SS – STL): 8%
Hitting .347, Masyn Winn is showing out in his first full season in the big leagues. Even though he’s batting in the bottom third of the lineup, the Cardinals could use any kind of spark. They’re tied for 23rd in the big leagues in runs scored.
Winn has speed, having stolen 43 bases across two levels in 2022. He snagged another 17 bags in 105 games at Triple-A last year and already has three in his first 17 games this season. He could be a cheap source of steals for the rest of the season.
Jose Butto (SP – NYM): 18%
First the good news: Jose Butto has 15 strikeouts in 12 innings, and a matching 0.75 ERA and WHIP through his first two starts. Unfortunately, he did not figure in the decision either time. Now comes the bad news: Butto is facing the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 20 in an afternoon game. The ball tends to jump in day games, and that fearsome trio at the top of the lineup is waiting for him.
Butto could stick in the rotation for the long term, as manager Carlos Mendoza said so after the righty’s most recent outing. If he flashes stuff like what helped him register nine strikeouts in six scoreless innings, he’s going nowhere but onto plenty of fantasy rosters.
Jameson Taillon (SP – CHC): 5%
Fast-acting fantasy managers can take advantage of Jameson Taillon returning from the injured list (IL) for a back strain in time for an April 19 matinee against the lowly Marlins’ lineup. Temperatures should be in the 50s, not too much fun for a team from sunny South Florida.
With the Cubs having such an elite defense, especially up the middle, and sporting an offense that’s eighth in runs scored, Taillon could get his share of wins after going five or six innings.
Landon Knack (SP – LAD): 5%
Nothing like giving up a home run to the first batter faced in your big league debut, as Landon Knack did to C.J. Abrams of the Nationals on April 17. He gave up another run in that frame. The rookie right-hander settled down thereafter, throwing four shutout innings and allowing just a single.
While the Dodgers could get Walker Buehler back soon, they like to employ enough pitchers to give starters at least five days of rest between starts. Knack should get the Nationals again next week, so it could be a good spot for him.
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