It is vital to look at important fantasy baseball storylines and aspects this week to be ahead of the curve and gain an edge on your league mates. We have 20 such fantasy baseball storylines for you to monitor. This guide will help you navigate the waiver wire, pinpoint potential streamers and more.
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- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
- Rest-of-Season Projections
20 Fantasy Baseball Things to Watch
1. Schedule Notes
- Zero teams play just five games this week.
- The following teams play seven games this week:
- Chicago Cubs at PHI, vs. PIT
- Milwaukee Brewers vs. ATL, vs. STL
- Pittsburgh Pirates vs. MIA, at CHC
- St. Louis Cardinals vs. TOR, at MIL
2. David Fry (C, 1B, DH, OF – CLE)
David Fry has returned from the injured list (IL) after missing the first couple of months of the season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Fry is unable to play the field right now, so he will be splitting time at designated hitter.
Fry was great in 2024 before getting hurt, hitting .263/.356/.448 with 14 home runs and four stolen bases in 392 plate appearances. We need to see how often he is playing because Kyle Manzardo will also take at-bats at designated hitter.
3. Ryan Ritter (SS – COL)
Rockies prospect Ryan Ritter was called up to cover for Ezequiel Tovar while he is on the IL. Ritter is a former fourth-round pick for the Rockies who has hit well in the Minors. He doesn’t profile as having a carrying tool for fantasy, but can be a useful accumulator while playing full time. We need to see if he will play regularly while he is up.
4. Jerar Encarnacion (OF – SF)
Jerar Encarnacion has been activated by the Giants. He is a power-hitting prospect who has struggled to make contact regularly in the Minors. He has made real improvements in his approach and hit tool, but we need to see if he can carry that into the Majors and whether the power takes a step back because of it.
5. David Festa (SP – MIN)
With Zebby Matthews hitting the IL, David Festa is back in the Majors. Festa is a top pitching prospect in his own right, but the Twins have been cautious with him when he has been in the Majors, not letting him face the opposing lineup more than twice.
The Twins had been doing that with Matthews, too, but before Matthews got hurt, he was allowed to go deeper into games. We need to see how deep the Twins will let Festa go.
6. Brandon Walter (SP, RP – HOU)
In two starts since being called up, Brandon Walter has thrown 11 innings with a 1.64 ERA and 10 strikeouts. He has only allowed one walk and one home run in that time. Walter has good command and control and a full arsenal. We need to see if the Astros will let him stay in the rotation because he would have a ton of value if he does.
7. Kyle Teel (C – CWS)
Kyle Teel is a top catching prospect for the White Sox who made his debut last week. Teel was crushing AAA, hitting .295/.394/.492 with eight home runs and seven stolen bases. Teel was the centerpiece of the Garrett Crochet deal and should play regularly at designated hitter and behind the plate, but we need to see how much he plays to see what kind of leagues he will be viable in.
8. Daniel Johnson (OF – SF)
Daniel Johnson was called up by the Giants this week. He is not a prospect at the age of 29, but the Giants have given him a fair amount of playing time out of the gate. He has played in four out of five games since being called up and hit lead off in three of those games.
Johnson has had some big Minor League seasons, but he is a journeyman Minor Leaguer. We need to see if the Giants keep letting him play and lead off.
9. Ranger Closing Chaos
Since taking over the closer job, Robert Garcia has struggled. While he earned three saves in the last five appearances, he may be on thin ice if he continues to allow runs. If he loses the job, the next man up would likely be Chris Martin.
10. Braves Closing Chaos
Raisel Iglesias has struggled this season, posting a 6.75 ERA in 24 innings and losing five games, including four blown saves. The Braves appear to be ready to move in a different direction, giving opportunities to Pierce Johnson, though he has now blown two games in a row for the Braves. Dylan Lee and Aaron Bummer could be options in the ninth, but this is something we need to watch.
11-14. Streaming Options
Mitch Spence (SP, RP – ATH) at LAA
Mitch Spence looked good in his first start back from the Minors and faces a mediocre Angels offense.
Mitchell Parker (SP – WSH) at MIA
Mitchell Parker has been up and down this season, but is coming off a good start and is facing one of the worst offenses in baseball.
Bryce Elder (SP – ATL) vs. COL
The Rockies are the worst team in MLB history so far this season and struggle when they leave Colorado, which is enough reason to stream just about anyone against them.
Jameson Taillon (SP – CHC) vs. PIT
Jameson Taillon has quietly been really good this season and is facing a terrible Pirates team at home.
15-20. Two-Start Options
Clarke Schmidt (SP – NYY) at KC, at BOS
Clarke Schmidt has thrown 49 innings this season with a 4.04 ERA and 50 strikeouts. The walks have been a bit of an issue for him, but the underlying skills have been pretty good for the most part.
Schmidt has a 3.04 xERA and the best swinging strike rate of his career. This is a good start to the week for him in a good pitcher’s park in Kansas City, but a tougher start in Boston to end the week. However, he is backed by the Yankees’ offense, and I believe in his talent.
Eury Perez (SP – MIA) at PIT, at WSH
Eury Perez is making his debut this season after recovering from Tommy John surgery. I am usually not a fan of starting a pitcher in his first start back, but Perez is a special talent, and these are excellent matchups. There is some risk because Tommy John returnees usually struggle with command and control, but if you can’t start him versus the Pirates, when will you ever start him?
Jeffrey Springs (SP – ATH) at LAA, at KC
Jeffrey Springs has been up and down this season, but he has been markedly better on the road than at home. He has a 3.86 ERA when away from Sacramento and a 5.51 ERA at home. Springs faces two bad offenses on the road, so you are starting him in most leagues.
Jack Leiter (SP, RP – TEX) at MIN, vs. CWS
Jack Leiter has amazing stuff, but struggles with command and control. He is facing a tough Twins roster, but gets a terrible White Sox team to end the week. It is hard to pass up on the latter half of the two-step, but there is some risk here.
Luis L. Ortiz (SP, RP – CLE) vs. CIN, at SEA
Luis L. Ortiz has been up and down this season, but he has a pretty decent two-step versus a Mariners team that has struggled as of late in a great park and a Reds team that is hit or miss. There is a ton of strikeout upside in the profile, but there is some risk that Ortiz could walk too many batters and pay for it.
Shane Smith (SP – CWS) at HOU, at TEX
Shane Smith won’t get a lot of wins pitching for the White Sox, but he has been great this season, throwing 62.1 innings with a 2.45 ERA and 60 strikeouts. He has a great matchup at the end of the week versus a terrible Rangers offense, but has a tougher one at the beginning of the week. He just needs to survive versus Houston.
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