Big Kid Adds (Week 2)

John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

While the NFBC Main Event garners most of the attention, there are a handful of leagues with even larger entry fees ($2.5K to $15K). They are named Elite leagues (previously called High Stakes Leagues), and there are seven of them. With so much money on the line, these fantasy managers try to gain any advantage. Most of the time, these managers will be a week or two ahead of everyone else on their adds. Here are the players and some information on the ones added in five or more leagues.

Batters

Liam Hicks (7): Hicks is getting starts against only right-handed pitchers, but since he’s catcher-qualified, the lack of consistent playing time doesn’t matter. So far this season, Hicks is batting .323/.389/.645 with 3 HR. He’s showing some improvemnts. His Conact% is up 10% points to 96%. His Launch Angle is up 4 degrees. His Barrel% tripled from 3% to 10%.

Mark Vientos (5): The 26-year-old has put a dent into his strikeout rate (25% to 20%) while taking advanage of .429 BABIP. After not playing in the first four games, he has started every one since then with six games at first base (only third base qualified right now).

Troy Johnston (5): Starting every game for the Rockies while batting .342/.375/.579 (.379 BABIP) with 2 HR. The 29-year-old debuted last season when he posted a .750 OPS for the Marlins. Projections have him with a solid .250 AVG along with 15 HR and 15 SB. He might have a little more batting average upside with his Contact% up from 72% to 79% and his strikeout rate down from 22% to 17%.

Alex Freeland (5): With Mookie Betts on the IL, Freeland’s playing time should improve. He’s already started eight straight games including one against a lefty. Over a full season, Freeland is projected for 15 HR and 15 SB, but .220 AVG. He struggles with strikeouts (31% K% this year), so he’ll never have a decent batting average.

Mauricio Dubón (5): He’s starting and a .371 BABIP has his overall stats looking great (.333/.362/.556). There is no signs of the 31-year-old breaking out. He’s posted a .917 OPS over several other stretches over the past six years and the improvement has yet to stick.

A volume play.

Jose Fernandez (4): Great start for the 22-year-old with 2 HR in his first game. Since then, he’s been used as a short side platoon bat and has a .900 OPS. He could be interesting if he starts getting regular plate appearances.

Kyle Isbel (4): Isbel is primarily being used as a platoon bat facing righties. As good as this stretch is, it is on par with other hot streaks during his career. Expect some disappointing production in the near future.

Nick Fortes (4): He’s on a bit of a heater (.321 BABIP), so a solid streaming option to see if he can keep it up. His strikeout rate is down to 11% from 19% last season, but comparable to his 12% K% in 2024. The strikeout rate drop was the only “change” I could find.

Dylan Beavers (3): Beavers has started in nine of the first 12 games. He’s been able to chew his way into batting .276/.313/.414 with 1 HR. His value is going to come down to him starting every game.

Joey Loperfido (3): The Astros face the Rockies seven times over the next two weeks, so adding their hitters seemed like an obvious choice. Even though he played in all three games at Colorado, he hit just one single. His playing time has been limited since he’s on the strong side of an outfield platoon with Brice Matthews facing the lefties.

Parker Meadows (3): Regular centerfielder who is hitting fine (.273/.333/.364, .375 BABIP) with 3 SB. An acceptable outfield option.

Angel Martínez (3): Started in eight of the last 11 Games with some skillz improvement. Contact% up from 80% to 88%. Career bests in maxEV, avgEV, Pull%, and HardHit%. While a .310/.412/.483 slash line won’t keep going(.364 BABIP), his talent base is higher, and hopefully the playing time follows.

Kyle Karros (3): I liked Karros as a speed play coming into the season. It was obvious early in Spring Training that he got the third base job. The only question was his talent level. Some signs pointed up – like him setting a new Max Exit Velocity this spring. His contact% and stolen base attempt rate were up. The changes haven’t transferred to the regular season. He’s struggling to make contact (68% Contact%) and has just 1 XBH. He needs to start making more contact or make harder contact before he starts losing playing time.

Gabriel Arias (3): Arias hits two home runs, gets added in several leagues, and then ends up on the IL for four to eight weeks.

Starters

Bryce Elder (6): Elder has not allowed a run in 13 IP. And while that will end at some point, he has improved across the board. Strikeouts are up from 7.5 K/9 to 9.0 K/9. Walks are down from 2.9 BB/9 to 1.4 BB/9. Groundball rate increased from 48% to 55%. The combination has his xFIP down from 4.04 to 2.43. Our STUPH models are not a fan. They still think he’s a below-average pitcher, making me leery that he’s a changed man. His xFIP has dropped this low before, but each time it’s shot back up.

Colin Rea (5): The 35-year-old has posted a 4.39 ERA and 1.27 WHIP for his career. That’s a near perfect streaming option.

Sean Burke (4): Against the Orioles, Blue Jays, and Brewers, he has a 3.60 ERA (3.34 xFIP), 1.07 WHIP, and 9.0 K/9. His main improvement is attacking the strike zone, bringing his walks down from 4.2 BB/9 to 1.8 BB/9. His 33% ball% points to 2.1 BB/9. Our STUPH models love his 94-mph fastball (14% SwStr%). Besides a solid slider (13% SwStr%), he doesn’t have anything close to a third average pitch.

Joe Boyle (3): I know the 5.17 ERA is unsightly, but his core skill this season are solid (3.84 xFIP). The key for Boyle is keeping his walks in check. After posting a 4.9 BB/9 last season, he is down to a 3.5 BB/9 this year. His 37% Ball% points to a 3.2 BB/9. Part of the improved control might be from adding a sinker that he has thrown 19% of the time.

Jake Irvin (3): Like Burke, Irvin has an 8.00 ERA and 1.56 WHIP, hiding some solid changes (3.72 ERA). Irvin is throwing his fastball harder (~1 mph) and fewer times (54% to 51%). Additionally, he is leaning into his cutter more (4% to 15% usage). Our STUPH models love him, putting him at a 3.17 botERA and 104 Pitching+.

Adrian Houser (3): Houser lined up for two starts this week (PHI and BAL) with the Nationals next week and the Marlins the week after that. The Phillies roughed him up in this week’s first start for 4 ER, 3 K, and 2 BB in 6 IP. Houser has the same arsenal and velocities he showed last season when he posted a 3.31 ERA (4.30 xFIP) and 1.28 WHIP. I’m wondering if these managers planned to ignore this week’s two-step and use Houser in the next two weeks.

Relievers

Mark Leiter Jr. (5): He was being used in high-leverage spots but has crapped the bed in his last two appearances (2 BS, L, 21.60 ERA, 0 K). Droppable.

Gregory Soto (4): Right now, the team’s bellpen usage points to Dennis Santana and Soto sharing the team’s closing duties.