Injury impact – 10 pickups to replace Ronald Acuna Jr.’s production

Fantasy baseball managers pissed off with the curiously diminished play of Atlanta Braves OF Ronald Acuna Jr., the Nationwide League’s defending MVP and apparent No. 1 choose on this season’s drafts, have a little bit of closure at the moment, however not what they have been hoping for. Acuna, who hit .337 with 41 dwelling runs, 106 RBI, 73 stolen bases and 149 runs scored throughout the historic 2023 season, tore the ACL in his left knee on Sunday afternoon. His 2024 season ends after 49 video games with a .250 batting common, 4 dwelling runs and 16 steals.

Few anticipated Acuna to match his mammoth 2023 stats, however he entered this week a disappointing thirty eighth on the ESPN Participant Rater (roto leagues) and out of doors the highest 50 hitters in ESPN factors codecs. It positive is just not what everybody signed up for, however at the very least he was enjoying baseball. Now he isn’t. Changing Acuna’s present, underwhelming numbers in a factors league, the place the stolen bases hardly stand out as useful as in a roto format, is just not as troublesome, however nonetheless, this stinks for baseball and in fantasy. Final season’s Acuna is just not coming again till subsequent 12 months.

For now, the Braves seemingly will break up their left discipline platoon of OFs Jarred Kelenic and Adam Duvall and let every participant carry out usually, till they make a commerce. The lefty hitting Kelenic is just not doing a lot, posting a .713 OPS with solely three dwelling runs versus right-handed pitching. If he earns additional enjoying time, it’s not actually a very good factor. The precise-handed hitting Duvall, 35, has an extended historical past of hitting for energy and he clubbed 18 of his 21 dwelling runs in 2023 for the Crimson Sox towards right-handed pitching, although staying wholesome is a matter. Add Duvall over Kelenic.

Acuna averaged 2.3 ESPN fantasy factors per recreation this season and, over the previous 30 days, 1.8 factors. Neither mark remotely near his 2023 manufacturing. In a factors format, there are myriad methods for a hitter to accrue fantasy factors, so don’t fret about focusing on the stolen bases. Simply fear concerning the total numbers, and these 10 outfielders have been productive at occasions this season and who is aware of, they might proceed their success.

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Why Stephen A. believes Braves can stand up to Acuna damage

Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe focus on the influence Ronald Acuna Jr.’s season-ending ACL damage can have on the Braves.

Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins: Kepler has at all times proven higher than common energy and the power to attract a stroll, and he enters the week hitting .301 with the very best fly ball fee of his profession. Kepler, averaging 2.6 fantasy factors this season and three.2 over the previous 4 weeks, hit 24 dwelling runs final season, and we have now an affordable baseline for his capacity.

Kerry Carpenter, Detroit Tigers: Carpenter homered twice within the weekend collection versus the Blue Jays, giving him eight blasts on the season, after he hit 20 final season. The Tigers platoon Carpenter, limiting his fantasy upside, however he’s torching right-handed pitching. He must be hitting at the very least 25 dwelling runs yearly.

Luis Matos, San Francisco Giants: Matos turned in style when he knocked in 11 runs over a two-game span final week, and whereas he has been quiet since, at the very least he’s enjoying usually. Matos, 22, combines an intriguing mix of energy, pace and plate self-discipline.

JJ Bleday, Oakland Athletics: On the opposite aspect of the bay, Bleday homered in three consecutive video games not too long ago, giving him eight on the season. He is making contact, hitting fly balls and the previous Marlins prospect could also be breaking out.

David Fry, Cleveland Guardians: A catcher who’s enjoying the outfield as a result of the crew desperately wants offense, Fry is hitting .344 with modest energy and practically as many walks as strikeouts. Sure, it might really feel bizarre to switch the No. 1 choose in each draft with a catcher, however Fry averages 3.2 fantasy factors over the previous 4 weeks, so who cares the way you get the manufacturing so long as you get it?

Alec Burleson, St. Louis Cardinals: Burleson has hit in 10 consecutive video games and raised his batting common to .309. His has turn out to be a high-contact profile with few walks and strikeouts, however Burleson confirmed energy within the minor leagues, too, so that is certainly intriguing. The Cardinals will hold enjoying him whereas he hits.

Daulton Varsho, Toronto Blue Jays: Varsho can’t make sufficient contact to really get away, which is a disgrace as a result of there’s a lot to love right here. He hits for energy towards right-handers, he can steal a base and Varsho is hitting so many fly balls this season. Watch him to see if, at 27, the very best is but to return.

Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees: Stanton has performed nary a recreation within the outfield this season, however he retains his 2023 OF eligibility and his capacity to hit dwelling runs. Stanton has seven dwelling runs over the previous three weeks. He’s not doing a lot else, however dwelling runs matter in any fantasy league, and Stanton could surpass 30 of them, like he used to realize usually.

Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels: Adell already has 10 dwelling runs and eight stolen bases and, as a result of enjoying time appears largely assured on this offense, maybe he makes a run at 25 of every. His factors league upside is muted on account of troubling plate method, with plenty of strikeouts and the uncommon stroll, and he’s streaky. If a very good streak comes alongside quickly, listen.

Dylan Moore, Seattle Mariners: Moore has surpassed 20 stolen bases in latest seasons, with intriguing bench energy alongside the way in which, however fantasy managers usually neglected him on account of a low batting common. This season, Moore is making extra contact. He’s eligible at every center infield place, too. Maybe commerce one in all your center infielders for a prime outfielder, add Moore (or the Giants’ Thairo Estrada or Rockies’ Ezequiel Tovar) and hope this success continues.