Fantasy Baseball 2018: Potential Replacements for Gary Sanchez

Gary Sanchez will be on the shelf for at least a month due to a groin strain. Here are some potential catchers you could add to replace him in your Fantasy Baseball lineup.

The Yankees were dealt a significant blow after Sunday’s loss to the Rays, as they learned that Gary Sanchez will miss at least 3-4 weeks due to a Grade 1 groin strain. While he was having a rough season, hitting .190/.291/.433, Sanchez was an integral part of the Yankees lineup. Unfortunately for Fantasy Baseball owners, the catching position in MLB is pretty weak compared to some other positions. However, here are a few catchers to consider.

Austin Romine– New York Yankees

This is the obvious choice, as he will be starting pretty much every game while Sanchez is out. Kyle Higashioka, who was called up today, will be his backup. Romine has been a nice surprise for the Yanks this season, as he has put up a slash line of .305/.370/.524 in 28 games. One particularly eye-popping stat is that he is hitting .391 with 15 RBIs with RISP. With a strong offense around him, he will have many more opportunities to build upon those strong numbers.

Kurt Suzuki– Atlanta Braves

In a lineup with star hitters such as Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis, and Ozzie Albies, Kurt Suzuki has quietly been putting together a solid 2018 campaign. So far, Suzuki has hit .282 with 8 homers and 26 RBIs in 53 games. He has also been swinging a red-hot bat in June, to the tune of .359/.419/.538 through 12 games. In addition, 17 of his 26 RBIs have come with RISP. If you do decide to add him, know that he probably won’t play every day, as he does split time with Tyler Flowers, who has played in 31 games. However, Suzuki’s numbers have been far more impressive, and is therefore a viable option for your lineup when he does play.

Yan Gomes– Cleveland Indians

A first glance at Yan Gomes’ slash line would tell you that he is having a pretty average season: .253/.318/.459. Not terrible, but nothing special. However, in a thin catching pool, Gomes is a solid option. He has had a great month of June, hitting .304 with 3 homers, 11 RBIs, and 7 doubles in 16 games. He is only owned in 24.3% of ESPN leagues and only 34% in Yahoo Leagues, and with Roberto Perez having a pretty terrible season, Gomes should get the majority of the starts and at bats.

John Hicks– Detroit Tigers

John Hicks is a useful player to have in your lineup because he plays catcher and first base. In fact, he has played more first base than catcher, as James McCann has assumed most of the catching duties for Detroit. However, Hicks has been the better player of the two this season. Hicks has had a decent year, hitting .273 with 6 homers and 23 RBIs through 51 games. He has also had an inconsistent 2018, hitting .179 in March/April, .304 in May, and .264 in June. However, that was probably due to the fact that he wasn’t getting consistent playing time. With Miguel Cabrera out for the year, expect Hicks to get most of the starts at first base, with a few starts at catcher mixed in.

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