Austin Hays's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Austin Hays (calf) was removed from Saturday's game in Kansas City with calf tightness. Hayes was replaced in the seventh inning by Colton Cowser. It was later announced that he had injured his calf, which was why Hays was pulled from the game. The 28-year-old went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run before exiting. The severity of Hays' injury is unknown, and he is considered day-to-day. Hays has struggled this season, hitting .111 (5-for-45) with two RBI over 19 games. Cowser has surpassed Hays on the outfield depth chart, and fantasy managers can leave Hays on the waiver wire in most leagues even if he avoids a trip to the injured list.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Austin Hays will start on the bench again on Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox with Colton Cowser starting in left field and hitting seventh against Red Sox right-hander Kutter Crawford. Hays has now started on the bench for Baltimore in three of the last five games and continues to lose playing time to Cowser. The 28-year-old has gone just 2-for-26 (.077) with no home runs, two RBI and seven strikeouts in his first nine games after making the All-Star team for the first time in his career in 2023. Meanwhile, Cowser has gone 7-for-15 (.467) with no homers and five RBI in his first nine games. Hays' fantasy stock is clearly on the decline early in 2024, and he's probably going to have to hit his way back into the lineup if Cowser remains healthy.

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg and outfielder Austin Hays are not in the starting lineup against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. With the two resting in Beantown, Tony Kemp is playing second base and batting ninth, while Colton Cowser starts in left field and is hitting seventh in the lineup against Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello. This will be Westburg's first game off of the season, and he could use the break, as he's started off the year hitting just .194 in his first 34 plate appearances in 2024. Hays has also started slow, going just 2-for-26 (.077) in his first eight games played. Cowser has never faced Bello in his career, while Kemp has one hit in his two at-bats against him. Cowser is the better upside sleeper play in DFS and is off to a .455 (5-for-11) start in 2024.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Austin Hays is taking the day off on Friday with the team facing the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hays has gone 2-for-18 on the year with six strikeouts in 21 plate appearances over his first five games and has gone hitless in his last 10 at-bats, so it's probably a good time for him to take a mental break. Meanwhile, rookie Colton Cowser has four hits in his first eight plate appearances this year, including two doubles and an RBI, and he will make another start in left field and will bat eighth on Friday against Pirates rookie right-hander Jared Jones. Cowser, 24, has above-average power and speed and is an interesting stash candidate in deep-mixed leagues, especially if Hays continues to struggle offensively.UPDATE: Hays is out sick on Friday.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Austin Hays was hit by a pitch in Saturday's 3-2 Grapefruit League win over the Blue Jays. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Hays is fine and is considered day-to-day. If Hays is able to go on Sunday, Hyde stated that he'd try to get him in the lineup, otherwise Hays would have to take some live batting practice once the team gets back in Baltimore before the start of the regular season. Hays was a big part of the O's success in 2023, earning an All-Star appearance after slashing .314/.355/.498 and wRC+ of 136 in the first half last season. The 28-year-old came back down to earth in the second half though with a wRC+ of 84. He's hitting just .154 (4-for-26) in the spring, so hopefully the former third-round draft pick can get off to another hot start in the regular season as the Orioles have promising prospects waiting in the wings in the event he doesn't.