CJ Abrams, SS, Nationals
CJ Abrams went 3 for 5 with a double, two runs, and two stolen bases on Monday. He has had a surprising season so far, impressing with his overall hitting ability with a .275/.325/.502 slash line, but disappointing in the stolen base category, which was the sole reason most fantasy owners drafted him. After stealing 47 bases in 151 games last season, he had only 11 in 68 games this season. His two steals today bring that total to 13, and hopefully, this is the start of Abrams beginning to run more. It's not an issue with team strategy, as the Nationals are one of the most run-happy teams in the league, but the reason for the lack of steals may be due to the increase in extra-base hits for the shortstop. He has 12 home runs, 5 triples, and 19 doubles on the season, which puts him on a 150-game pace of 77 extra-base hits compared to the 50 he had last season. It's much harder to steal bases when you're standing on second, and impossible if you're standing on third or just launched one into the seats. If he can increase his pace of stolen bases while maintaining his surge in power, he will be an elite fantasy option for the second half.
Matt Waldron, SP, Padres
Matt Waldron pitched well against the Nationals, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks with 8 strikeouts over 6 innings pitched. This was his sixth straight quality start, and he hasn't given up more than 2 runs in a start since May 5th. He picked up 15 whiffs on the day, with 7 coming on his signature knuckleball. The last time we saw this successful a run from a knuckleballer was R.A. Dickey and hitters just can't seem to make solid contact against the pitch. Opponents had an xSLG of just .292 against it coming into the day, and Waldron has a hard-hit rate in general of 32.1%, which ranks in the 89th percentile. Waldron looks to be matchup-proof as of right now, so continue to plug him into your lineup and reap the benefits.
David Hamilton, 2B/SS, Red Sox
David Hamilton went 1 for 4 with a two-run home run on Monday. Usually known for his speed, Hamilton showed he has some pop in his bat as well, as the home run is his fifth on the season. He is now slashing .282/.333/.449 with 21 stolen bases in 54 games, and has been one of the best waiver wire adds all year. There are questions as to whether he can keep hitting at the current pace he is on, but one thing that can't be questioned is his speed. He stole 127 bases in the minors over the last two seasons, so at the very least he will be an excellent steals source for your fantasy squad.
Justin Steele, SP, Cubs
Justin Steele had a great start against the Giants on Monday, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits and 1 walk with 9 strikeouts over 7.1 innings. This was his 4th straight quality start, and he has only given up more than 2 earned runs in a start three times all season, and they came in three straight starts between May 11th and May 22nd. Outside of that bad stretch, Steele has looked exactly like the Cy Young candidate we saw in 2023. His ERA is now down to 3.08, and he continues to limit barrels (4.3% barrel rate) thanks to his unique fastball. He can be viewed as a reliable option atop your rotations as a top-35 starting pitcher for fantasy.
Taylor Ward, OF, Angels
Taylor Ward went 1 for 3 with a walk and a home run on Monday. Ward has been a streaky player all season, and it looks like he's starting to heat up once again. This game extended his hitting streak to four games, and he also has 3 runs and 3 RBI in that span. His underlying metrics suggest that better days are ahead, with his expected stats looking much better than his current .241/.326/.431 slash line. His xBA is .264 and his xSLG is .518, which ranks in the 93rd percentile. He also has a 15.8% barrel rate, which places him in the top 5% of the league in that category. Ward can perform like an elite outfielder when he's hot at the plate, but factoring in his cold spells, he remains around the 30th-best outfielder for fantasy.
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