Will Benson's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jake Fraley (illness) and Will Benson are both out of the lineup on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies and left-hander Ranger Suarez. Fraley is missing his third straight game due to an illness, while it appears Benson is being rested with a lefty on the mound in this one. Stuart Fairchild is starting in right field and batting leadoff, while Bubba Thompson gets a start in center field and is batting in the nine-hole. Fairchild might be worth a look as a low-cost DFS sleeper in the leadoff spot. He's hitting .250 (10-for-40) so far with no homers, five RBI and five stolen bases in 2024. Fairchild is hitless in his five career at-bats against Suarez, while Thompson has never faced the soft-tossing lefty in his career.

Cincinnati Reds outfielders Jake Fraley and Will Benson are not in Saturday's lineup against the Chicago White Sox. Benson and Fraley will sit versus White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet. Both outfielders should be available off the bench and will look to re-enter the starting lineup for the series finale on Sunday. Bubba Thompson and Stuart Fairchild will replace Benson and Fraley in the outfield. Thompson is starting in center field, batting eighth, and is hitting .250 (2-for-8) with four stolen bases over nine games this season. Fairchild is starting in right field, hitting fifth and slashing .304/.385/.304 with four stolen bases over nine games in 2024. Fairchild and Thompson are deep-league streamers at best in a tough matchup against Crochet.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson will stay in the team's starting lineup on Monday while facing left-hander Cristopher Sanchez and the Philadelphia Phillies. Meanwhile, left-handed-hitting outfielders Jake Fraley and Nick Martini will both retreat to the bench. Benson is in right field and is hitting in the nine-hole. To begin the year, the Reds are viewing the 25-year-old left-handed hitter as an everyday player, as he hasn't been benched for either of the two lefties the team has faced. He's obviously not as attractive at the bottom of the order against a southpaw in fantasy, but Benson is off to a strong start in 2024 for the Reds, going 5-for-12 (.417) with a home runs, three RBI and two runs scored in three games played.

The Cincinnati Reds announced their starting lineup for Opening Day on Thursday in Cincinnati against the Nationals, with outfielder Will Benson penciled into the second spot in the order. Benson gets the start in centerfield after the projected Opening Day starter T.J. Friedl fractured his wrist in a spring game and was officially placed on the 10-day IL on Wednesday. Benson is intriguing for fantasy purposes, as while he's in there he brings a solid power-speed profile to the table, with the six-foot-five-inch lefty hitting 11 home runs and stealing 19 bases last season in just 329 PA. Benson will face the Nationals' RHP Josiah Gray whom he is 2-for-3 off of in his career, including a double and a strikeout.

With Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedl (wrist) set to open the 2024 season on the injured list with a fractured right wrist, Will Benson and Stuart Fairchild could see additional playing time to start the season, per MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Manager David Bell said, "It's all going to work out. I'm focused on the guys we have here." The 25-year-old Benson had a successful 2023 season in limited playing time but is batting just .200 in 25 spring at-bats. Fairchild has yet to stick in a big-league role but is hitting .360 with three home runs in 25 spring at-bats. From a fantasy perspective, Benson's potential to provide power and speed seems to give him the edge over Fairchild in deeper leagues. However, fantasy managers should watch for further news as the regular season approaches.