Jake Meyers DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Houston Astros reinstated outfielder Jake Meyers from the paternity list on Thursday and also recalled reliever Nick Hernandez from Triple-A Sugar Land. In corresponding moves, the team optioned catcher Cesar Salazar and right-hander Forrest Whitley to Sugar Land. Meyers is back with the team after missing the last three games to be with his family as he welcomed a child into the world. He isn't back in the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale in Cincinnati against the Reds, though, with Chas McCormick starting in center field and batting eighth against Reds rookie right-hander Rhett Lowder. Meyers should return to at least a platoon role in center field in Houston now that he's back. The 28-year-old has a .226/.290/.373 slash line on the year with a below-average .664 OPS, 12 homers, 55 RBI and nine stolen bases in 407 at-bats.

Houston Astros outfielder Jake Meyers is not in the starting lineup on Tuesday against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander Jose Berrios. Chas McCormick is moving to center field and will hit seventh, while Yordan Alvarez will be in left field and hitting second. Yanier Diaz is the designated hitter and is batting in the five-hole. Meyers, the team's regular starting center fielder, has gone 3-for-12 (.250) with a home run, two RBI, a run scored and three strikeouts through the first four games of the season in 13 plate appearances. McCormick could be a nice DFS sleeper on Tuesday, as he's hitting .625 with a 1.375 OPS in eight career at-bats against Berrios. Alvarez, on the flip side, has just one hit in 10 career at-bats against Berrios, although the one hit was a solo homer.

Houston Astros centerfielder Jake Meyers was struck in the hand by a pitch Saturday during a Grapefruit League game against the Mets. The 27-year-old was sent for X-rays on his hand which on Sunday morning Meyers stated had come back clean. The righty hitter is projected to be the Astros centerfielder, although there isn't much appeal for fantasy purposes. He was able to get to double-digit home runs last season (10), but batting out of the nine-hole will give him less opportunities for production compared to other available options. He's having a mediocre spring, batting .237 (9-for-38) with two home runs, five RBI, seven runs scored, and a stolen base over 16 games.

Houston Astros outfielder Jake Meyers went 1-for-3 with a homer against the Washington Nationals in Thursday's Grapefruit League action. Meyers is coming off of his best season as a professional and is off to a nice start this spring with a .348 batting average. In addition, he has also hit two homers, four RBI, six runs and one stolen base. The 27-year-old is expected to open the season in center field for the Astros, but remains best served as a depth option in the deepest of leagues for now.

Houston Astros outfielder Jake Meyers should have a long leash as the team's starting center fielder in 2024, according to The Athletic's Chandler Rome. Both general manager Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada seem committed to giving Meyers as much everyday playing time as possible. But ultimately, his production will determine how long he stays in the lineup on a consistent basis. If Meyers does struggle, the Astros could look somewhere other than utility man Mauricio Dubon to replace him. Moving Chas McCormick to center field and using Yordan Alvarez in left field would be the more likely scenario. The 27-year-old Meyers hit .227/.296/.382 with a career-high 10 home runs, 33 RBI and five steals in 112 games in 2023. His glove is much more attractive than his bat at the moment.