The Major League Baseball season and your fantasy baseball playoffs are winding down. However, we still have our due diligence to do when it comes to valuable injury stashes across the league.
Let’s check out who this week’s top stashes are with a mind toward both dynasty and redraft leagues as we’re not quite at the point where dynasty league managers have to make decisions on who to stash with two weeks remaining in the season.
Fantasy Baseball Injury Stash Rankings
Top 8 Players to Stash Right Now
Adolis Garcia (OF – TEX)
Shane McClanahan (SP – TB)
Jeffrey Springs (SP – TB)
Mike Trout (OF – LAA)
Jasson Dominguez (OF – NYY)
Byron Buxton (OF/DH – MIN)
Edwin Diaz (RP – NYM)
Oneil Cruz (SS – PIT)
Adolis Garcia tops our overall list as he can still help fantasy teams this season if he can spend the minimum 10 days on the IL with a patellar tendon injury. His strikeouts hurt, but the power/speed combination is elite and should be for years to come.
Mike Trout is injury-prone at this stage but he hopes to return this season. He was having a down season by his standards but his 18 homers, two steals, and .857 OPS were still good enough for a hefty 133 wRC+ in 82 games.
No star in baseball is injured more than Byron Buxton but the ceiling remains so very high. He hasn’t played more than 92 games in each of his last five full seasons and even missed 21 games in the 60-game 2020 campaign. He has played more than 92 games just once in his nine-year career. However, Buxton’s power numbers have been off the charts over the last several seasons and he tossed together a massive 171 wRC+ with 10 homers and nine steals in 61 games before hitting the shelf just two seasons ago.
His production was down this season but the power and speed combination remains tantalizing.
Keep reading for more information on this list as well as the additional names dished out below!
Top 8 Hitters to Stash Right Now
Adolis Garcia (OF – TEX)
Mike Trout (OF – LAA)
Jasson Dominguez (OF – NYY)
Byron Buxton (OF – MIN)
Oneil Cruz (SS – PIT)
Josh Jung (3B – TEX)
Nolan Gorman (2B – STL)
Matt McLain (2B, SS – CIN)
The hitters’ list has a lean toward dynasty leagues but we simply don’t know who will be able to return before fantasy season’s end.
One name that won’t be back is young Yankees phenom Jasson Dominguez who did not disappoint after his big-league promotion at the age of 20. Dominguez swatted four homers and stole a base alongside a .980 OPS in his 33 plate appearances following his promotion before devastation hit. Dominguez has been diagnosed with a torn UCL that ended his 2023 season and will keep him out to begin the 2024 campaign.
His 2024 return date is uncertain but it’s worth noting that Bryce Harper underwent Tommy John surgery on his torn UCL last November and returned to designated hitter duties in May. Dominguez could actually beat that timeline as he will undergo the knife as soon as possible but it’s very likely he will miss time to begin next season.
Oneil Cruz will not make it back from a fractured ankle suffered on April 9 but he is obviously worth a stash considering his power/speed combination that has already been on full display in his young career.
Josh Jung should make it back to the Rangers before the end of the season, meaning dynasty owners can simply keep him in their lineups at the hot corner. Nolan Gorman is on the 10-day IL with a hamstring issue dated Sept. 13 and his return date is unknown.
Finally, Reds rookie Matt McLain should also return before the end of the season as he is out with an oblique injury.
Top 8 Pitchers to Stash Right Now
Shane McClanahan (SP – TB)
Jeffrey Springs (SP – TB)
Sandy Alcantara (SP – MIA)
Edwin Diaz (RP – NYM)
Walker Buehler (SP – LAD)
Nick Lodolo (SP – CIN)
Felix Bautista (RP – BAL)
Joe Musgrove (SP – SD)
The pitchers’ list is topped by a pair of left-handed Rays pitchers whose seasons abruptly ended. Springs underwent Tommy John surgery in late April, giving him a chance to return perhaps around the All-Star break next season. McClanahan won’t pitch in 2024 but he still headlines our list as a must-stash as fantasy managers should be exercising patience even without his services next season.
Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara’s future is murky at the moment as he has been diagnosed with a sprained UCL. That’s never good news but we await word on how the club and player plan to deal with the ailment moving forward.
We have a pair of closers on the list in the Mets’ Edwin Diaz who is working his way back from a torn ACL suffered in the World Baseball Classic while Orioles shutdown arm Felix Bautista’s status is far more unclear. The righty is dealing with an elbow injury himself and while he’s playing catch, his 2023 status, and potentially 2024, remains up the air.
Finally, the Reds’ Nick Lodolo will not require surgery on his injured left tibia but he will not pitch again this season. That said, the strikeout artist is a must-stash in dynasty leagues over the offseason.
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