Fantasy Baseball Drop Candidates: Is It Time to Drop Shohei Ohtani?

Let's do a fantasy baseball drop article here, as there's some big names to discuss.

More droppable player data can be located on the waiver wire trends most dropped tab, which can be found on any fantasy baseball page here at FantasySP. 

Explore the best in-season tool to manage lineup/start decisions including waiver pickups, projections, trade suggestions, trade value charts, rest of season rankings, power rankings, and tons more with Fantasy Assistant.

Shohei Ohtani - Los Angeles Dodgers

We'll start with the biggest name in fantasy baseball. The two-way star is rostered in all fantasy leagues, and was the first overall pick in most leagues before the year started.

Ohtani is going on the 15-day injured list because of left knee and right biceps/arm discomfort. Looking at the regular season schedule, that puts Ohtani out for almost the rest of the way.

If you can stash him in an IR spot, then I'd do just that, in case he returns right away after his IL stint is up, and then he can maybe help you in the final days of the regular season. If you don't have an IR spot to stash him in, it'd also be a justifiable move to just outright drop him, as he'll barely be available the rest of the way.

If this was the last we saw of Ohtani in the regular season, he'll finish with a .277 average and .380 on-base percentage. He played in 140 games, getting 596 plate appearances. Ohtani had 139 total hits, 25 doubles, 30 homers, four triples, 80 RBIs, 89 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, 80 walks and 144 strikeouts.

As a pitcher, he posted a dazzling 1.79 earned run average over 17 starts and 85 2/3 innings. Ohtani was 8-2 and struck out 95 batters along the way.

His absence will be a big blow to the Dodgers down the stretch, but getting him healthy for the postseason is all the team cares about. Ohtani not being available to his fantasy owners is a massive blow to those still fighting for fantasy glory, so hit the waiver wire and see who you could replace him with.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. - New York Yankees

Chisholm is sitting at 88.13% owned right now. He just hit the 10-day IL because of a right thumb sprain. Chisholm doesn't have a definite return timetable, so it's possible he misses most of the remainder of the regular season as well.

Over 134 games and 520 plate appearances this season, Chisholm has a .232 average and .312 OBP. He's got 16 doubles, 19 homers and three triples among his 107 total hits, plus 55 RBIs, 68 runs scored, 40 stolen bases, 54 walks and 153 strikeouts.

The second baseman has been a solid fantasy asset for most of the season, so it's a bummer for his fantasy owners to miss him down the stretch. Stash him in an IR spot if you can, and replace him with someone who can help you out now.

Kevin Gausman - Chicago Cubs

Gausman is rostered in 95.71% of leagues right now, but he's trending down after a rough last outing.

Gausman lasted just four innings against the Brewers on Wednesday. He took the loss after allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and two walks. Gausman struck out six batters, but also gave up three home runs. He pitched well against the Brewers in the start before that, but allowed five runs against the Reds in a start before that.

Over 30 starts between Toronto and Chicago this season, Gausman is 9-12 with a 4.60 ERA. He's struck out 171 batters over 166 1/3 innings, but the ERA has just not been good enough.

He's still an above-average fantasy pitcher, but one to be careful utilizing down the stretch. Stream him in favorable matchups, but maybe look elsewhere if he's got a tougher test.

Jake Bauers - Milwaukee Brewers

Bauers sits at 88.13% rostered, but is trending down while missing some time because of shin splints. 

He didn't play on Wednesday, and had just four plate appearances in the two games before that. With the Brewers way ahead of the Cubs in the NL Central, Milwaukee can afford to rest Bauers a bit down the stretch.

It's a shame he's not available to fantasy teams right now, as he's been a stellar option this season. Over 131 games and 522 plate appearances, Bauers has a .268 average and .395 OBP. The first baseman and corner outfielder has 115 hits, 19 doubles, 24 homers, two triples, 78 RBIs, 82 runs scored, 10 stolen bases, 87 walks and 134 strikeouts.

Be watching his status and willing to add/stream him for the days he's in the starting lineup, but he's droppable in some leagues when he's opening games on the bench. Keep a close eye on Bauers.

Sandy Alcantara - Miami Marlins

Alcantara is owned in 94.38% of leagues, but he too is trending down after his last appearance.

He was roughed up for seven runs on seven hits and four walks over just 4 1/3 innings against the Mets a couple days ago. Alcantara struck out one batter, hit another and allowed three homers. He gave up four runs in the two starts before that, but also covered six innings in each appearance.

Alcantara is 13-10 with a 3.78 ERA over 31 starts so far this season. He's covered 200 innings, striking out 143 along the way.

There's still some fantasy appeal with Alcantara, but he's not a must-own or must-start pitcher down the stretch. Tread carefully when using him, especially in tougher matchups.