Welcome to the 2022 Fantasy Baseball Week 8 Drop List.
A two-time All-Star and the 2018 National League MVP runner-up makes the drop list. He is joined by a former top prospect and the National League ERA leader from 2016.
All three of these players have provided plenty of value in the past but are being dropped by Fantasy Baseball managers. It's going to be hard releasing them, but they are no longer worthy of being rostered in 12-team leagues.
As always, be sure to read the Performance Review section at the bottom to find out who made it off the drop list.
2022 Fantasy Baseball Week 8 Drop List
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Yoan Moncada, 3B, Chicago White Sox
Moncada is off to a slow start after making his season debut on May ninth. Now the White Sox third baseman has missed the past few games with a sore leg. Team manager Tony La Russa has stated that he believes Moncada will be able to play in Tuesday's game.
Moncada's play during the short time he's been on the field has been abysmal. He's slashing .136/.177/.254 with a 23 wRC+ in 63 plate appearances. His strikeout rate (30.2%) is currently above his career average while his walk rate is an awful 3.2%.
Normally it's good to give a player more time and plate appearances before dropping him, but Moncada should be dropped. Part of the reason is due to the other third basemen around the league that have pushed Moncada down the third base ranks. The production from Bobby Witt Jr., Wilmer Flores, Brandon Drury, and Ke'Bryan Hayes is pushing Moncada to the edge of being rostered in 12-team leagues.
Moncada has yet to live up to the top prospect hype he received back in 2016 when he made his MLB debut. He's only had two full seasons with a wRC+ above the league average mark of 100. It's time to drop Moncada in Fantasy Baseball leagues.
Javier Baez, SS, Detroit Tigers
Baez fits in a similar scenario as Moncada. He is falling down the shortstop rankings with players such as Wander Franco, Jeremy Pena, J.P. Crawford, Ha-Seong Kim, and Nico Hoerner replacing him. This is due to Baez's lackluster play combined with solid production from these younger players. Baez is at the point where he's no longer a top-12 option at his position in Fantasy Baseball.
Fantasy Baseball managers still roster Baez in 84% of Fantasy Baseball leagues despite his offensive struggles this season. He's slashing .194/.237/.306 in 152 plate appearances with a 25% strikeout rate and 3.9% walk rate. The Tigers shortstop has been a disappointment thus far and it's time to move on.
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Kyle Hendricks, SP, Chicago Cubs
Hendricks has struggled in his previous two outings leaving Fantasy managers wondering if they should cut ties with the pitcher. In those two games, Hendricks pitched a total of nine innings and allowed 11 earned runs versus the Diamondbacks and Reds.
He is in line to start Wednesday in a divisional match-up against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers' offense ranks top-10 in MLB for runs, RBIs, walks, and OPS. They also rank top-five in home runs, stolen bases, and slugging percentage. This is a team with a lot of firepower and is always a tough match-up.
Hendricks has had two starts against the Brewers this season. The first was the Cubs season opener in which he allowed just one run in 5.1 innings while striking out seven. The next game was April 29 and Hendricks got the loss after allowing six runs in 4.1 innings while striking out just two batters.
The biggest downfall of rostering Hendricks in Fantasy Baseball is the low strikeout rate. Hendricks' strikeout rate from 2014 to 2020 was 20.8%, however, in the previous two seasons, it's been a slim 16.5%.
The poor stats, tough match-up, and low strikeouts make Hendricks a drop this week.
Performance Review
Merrill Kelly, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Kelly made the drop list a week ago due to having some recent struggles and having a matchup versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. His start against the Dodgers wasn't awful but it wasn't the same as his high-quality production earlier in the season. He received the loss after pitching five innings and allowing seven hits and two walks for three runs. Kelly also struck out five while walking two.
Kelly's roster percentage sits at 53%, but the pitcher is a solid play this week as he takes on the Pittsburgh Pirates. Stream him off the waivers this week if possible.
Steven Kwan, OF, Cleveland Guardians
Kwan is still a drop this week after he recorded just one hit and one run in 16 plate appearances. Fantasy Baseball managers have been dropping him rapidly and his roster percentage now sits at just 39%.
Franmil Reyes, DH, Cleveland Guardians
Reyes made two appearances this week before the Guardians placed him on the 10-day injured list. He recorded one hit in eight plate appearances.
Fantasy Baseball managers can stash the slugger on the IL or drop him if it's already full.
Check out all the 2022 Fantasy Baseball content from Fantasy Six Pack.
