Top Fantasy Baseball Stories of Week 17 (2024)

Hello, RotoBallers, and welcome to the second half of the Major League Baseball season. The All-Star break has come and gone, and soon the trading market will be heating up. It’s Monday, which means it’s time to take a look back at the biggest news in baseball from the past week. The All-Star break interrupted fantasy baseball and made for a quieter week than usual, but it was still an eventful one.

For those who missed the festivities, Teoscar Hernandez won the 2024 Home Run Derby on Monday. The following night, the American League defeated the National League 5-3 in the All-Star Game. Play resumed on Friday to the delight of fantasy managers everywhere, but a series of injuries over the weekend left many with holes in their rosters for the week ahead. On Sunday night, it was reported that the Mariners were placing Ty France on waivers.

Fantasy baseball is an expansive league with a six-month season. It’s hard to stay focused during the marathon. It’s easy to miss news, especially when it doesn’t directly relate to players we have on our team or actively follow. To stay up to date on the latest action, bookmark our fantasy baseball news feed, download our mobile app, and check back every Monday for the next installment of Stories of the Week.

Be sure to check out all of our fantasy baseball lineup resources and weekly lineup resources:

All-Star Awards

The 2024 Home Run Derby was played on Monday, June 15. The event started with eight players and narrowed the field to two: Bobby Witt Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez. It was Hernandez who emerged victorious from the championship round, becoming the first Dodger to win the game. On Tuesday, Jarren Duran was named MVP of the 94th All-Star Game. His two-run home run in the fifth inning gave the American League a 5-3 lead over the National League, and the score remained the same until the end.

Fantasy Impact: Hernandez has had a fantastic rebound this season, which will come as no surprise. He hit his 20th home run of the season on Sunday, bringing his RBI total to 64. He’s a great trade target for managers looking for help in those categories heading into the deadline. Duran is an obvious buy, but will be tough to come by, as he’s really turned things up a notch as spring turned to summer. Since June 1, he’s batting .341 with nine home runs. He currently ranks 20th in average (.290), seventh in runs (67), fifth in hits (119) and tied for ninth in stolen bases (22).

It appears the Home Run Derby didn’t hamper Teoscar Hernández’s swing.

He goes the other way and hits a home run to right field — his 20th of the season — to give the Dodgers a 3-2 lead.

Hernández is now 4-for-11 since the All-Star break.

This guy needs to be extended by LA. photo.twitter.com/7hZq6GxveK

— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) July 22, 2024

Permanent injuries

With the All-Star break dominating the calendar last week, fewer trades were made than one might expect. Fate seemed to be making up for lost time over the weekend, as several key players were injured. Top Athletics prospect Jacob Wilson was promoted and made his debut Friday night, but he pulled a hamstring within minutes of making his first career hit and is already on the injured list. Also on Friday, Bo Bichette pulled his calf during the Blue Jays game, and fellow shortstop Carlos Correa was placed on the IL on Saturday (plantar fasciitis).

The Braves suffered a double blow on Sunday when they lost both Max Fried (forearm) and Ozzie Albies (wrist) to the IL. Albies suffered a broken wrist on Sunday and will require eight weeks to recover. Pitchers Reese Olson and Ryan Pepiot were also placed on the IL on Sunday. Olson is nursing a shoulder injury and Pepiot is dealing with an infection in his right knee. Last but not least, Julio Rodriguez injured his ankle while attempting to make a play at the wall on Sunday afternoon. Initial x-rays came back negative, but he is scheduled for an MRI.

Ozzie Albies leaves today’s game against the Cardinals in the ninth inning after this play at second base ⤵️ photo.twitter.com/kANpteaAlz

— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) July 21, 2024

Fantasy Impact: With the above players all out for varying lengths of time, it becomes imperative to determine who will fill the void in each team’s lineup or rotation. Correa’s absence means more opportunities for Brooks Lee. Atlanta plans to promote Nacho Alvarez Jr. to take Albies’ place at the keystone. Alvarez had 16 steals in 48 games at Double-A Mississippi and has hit .342/.425/.586 in 27 games at Triple-A Gwinnett. Rodriguez’s injury could keep Victor Robles in Seattle’s lineup. Robles got three straight starts to begin the second half and went 5-for-10 with three stolen bases.

#FantasyBaseball

The Braves promote Nacho Alvarez while Ozzie Albies is injured with a broken hand. In AAA this year:

28G
.336 / 7 HR / 24 RBI / 5 SB
20K: 17BB

One of my personal favorites here and I’ll be adding more in certain places!
photo.twitter.com/TaFwGmkVWZ

— Andrew DeCeglie (@Andrew_FBB) July 22, 2024

Ta-ta Ty France

Ty France joined the Mariners via trade during the 2020 season. It was reported Sunday night that Seattle is placing its regular first baseman of the past four years on waivers. From 2021-23, France has made at least 613 plate appearances and maintained a .272 batting average and 16.4 K%. This year is different. Through 88 games, France is hitting .223, has a .662 OPS, has increased his strikeout rate to 24.5%, and has recently fallen to the bottom of the batting order. Should he pass through waivers, France would be released or sent to the minors, though he now has the option to decline assignment in favor of free agency.

Ty France has been placed on irrevocable outright waivers. If a team claims him, he is theirs. If he is released, he is still with the Mariners and can be outrighted to the minors. Due to service time, he can decline the outright assignment

— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) July 22, 2024

Fantasy Impact: Hand in hand with the news of France being placed on waivers came rumors that Tyler Locklear would be promoted soon. Locklear has spent time at the Double-A and Triple-A levels this season, and in 72 games he has 12 homers, 49 runs, and 44 RBI with a .280 batting average and .889 OPS. Luke Raley is also in line for more playing time, but hasn’t shown much in the opportunities he’s had thus far.

Download our free mobile app for news and alerts

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24×7 player news, injury reports, sleepers, prospects and more. All for free!

More Fantasy Baseball Advice