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Fantasy Baseball 2018: 3 speedsters to target for stolen bases

By Gavin Tramps

ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 13: Mallex Smith #17 of the Atlanta Braves steals second base during the seventh inning against Zack Cozart #2 of the Cincinnati Reds at Turner Field on June 13, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 13: Mallex Smith #17 of the Atlanta Braves steals second base during the seventh inning against Zack Cozart #2 of the Cincinnati Reds at Turner Field on June 13, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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Hunting for stolen bases? Here are three under-owned speedsters for your consideration.

We knew that stolen bases would be hard to find this season, and that is evidently the case. Over the last 30 days, 40 players have hit more than five home runs, but over the same period, only nine players have swiped more than five bags.

Most of these nine players are universally owned, but two should definitely be owned in more leagues.

Having missed 20 games after sustaining an injury in the second game of the season, Delino DeShields is back and producing. Surprisingly, he is still available in just under half of ESPN and Yahoo leagues and unowned in one-third of CBS leagues.

The Rangers’ leadoff hitter has seven stolen bases in 23 games since he returned from injury. He is on pace for a 40-stolen base season. That is valuable in all league formats.

At 24 percent, DeShields strikes out too much, but his 10 percent walk rate keeps his OBP at an adequate level. He is on target to hit double-digit homers for the first time in his career and will likely score 85-90 runs.

His potential to help in runs and stolen bases demands higher ownership.

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DeShields is only hitting .256, but another speedster you should consider picking up for stolen bases is currently hitting over .300. The Rays’ center fielder Mallex Smith is slashing .303/.378/.420 with nine stolen bases in 38 games.

Don’t expect him to sustain a high batting average all season; it has been falling since mid-April.

Smith, with more than 250 stolen bases in the minors to his name, has already swiped double-digit bags this season.

Only Daniel Robertson has a higher OBP so it would not be surprising to see Smith get moved towards to the top of the lineup.

With Carlos Gomez on the DL, the Rays are light in the outfield, so Smith will continue to see everyday at-bats.

Despite his .820 OPS against left-handed pitchers, he usually sits when a southpaw is on the mound, so you will need to bench him if the Rays face a bunch of lefties.

Currently, Smith is available in about three-quarters of leagues.

The third player you need to consider is very widely available. Travis Jankowski is part of the crowded outfield in San Diego but has only missed one game since his promotion on April 29, and is slashing .360/.458/.500.

The former first-rounder is hitting leadoff and manning right field, although, like Smith, he sees the majority of his action against right-handed pitching.

It is only a small sample of 50 at-bats, but Jankowski has nine walks to 10 strikeouts and has already swiped four bags.

He earned his promotion after slashing .363/.452/.450 in 94 plate appearances in Triple-A in April.

With only nine home runs in 598 games across all levels, the 26-year-old offers no power but, hitting at the top of the Padres’ lineup, Jankowski offers the potential for cheap speed and run scoring.

Next: AJ Pollock could miss two months

Scouring waivers for stolen bases is fraught with danger. Jarrod Dyson is a reliable source for stolen bases, and Jace Peterson is showing impressive speed, but both are hitting below .180. Don’t destroy your batting average in the pursuit of a few extra bags.

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