Justin Mason | Mon, Jun 30th 2025, 7:07am EDT

20 Things to Watch This Week in Fantasy Baseball (2025)

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.

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:

- New York Yankees at TOR, at NYM
- Toronto Blue Jays vs. NYY, vs LAA
- Kansas City Royals at SEA, at ARI
- Seattle Mariners vs. KC, vs. PIT
- Arizona Diamondbacks vs. SF, vs. KC
- San Francisco Giants at ARI, at ATH

2. Matt Vierling (3B, OF – DET)

Matt Viering has returned from the injured list (IL), shaking up the Tigers’ lineup. He could bounce between the outfield and the infield, but the Tigers are stacked offensively, so for him to get playing time, others will have to lose it. We need to see how this shakes out.

3. Zac Gallen (SP – ARI)

Zac Gallen has gone from a reliable stud to a terrible dud this season. He has been atrocious recently as well, throwing 23.1 innings over his last four starts with a 7.71 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. It looks even worse when you realize that all four of these starts were against teams in the bottom 23 of WRC+.

We need to see if there are signs Gallen can turn it around with a two-start week on the docket or if he is cooked.

4. Lucas Giolito Pitching in the Morning

Let me bring you back to April 21st, 2019. It was Patriots Day in Boston, and Chicago ace Lucas Giolito took the mound for the White Sox. He threw one inning and allowed eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and two walks with no strikeouts.

Giolito would later tell the press that he is not a morning person and does not like pitching early in the day. Fast forward to this week. Giolito is pitching a morning game on July 4th against the Nationals. Giolito’s day/night split says he should be fine, but he could fall victim to having to pitch before noon.

5. Trevor Rogers (SP – BAL)

Trevor Rogers rejoined the Orioles rotation last week and pitched a gem, throwing eight scoreless innings versus the Rangers. However, he was not overpowering, and he was very lucky in the start. Rogers has a two-start week we should watch against that same Rangers team and a tougher Braves offense.

6. Pitching Prospects Getting Sent Down

Every year at this time, teams prepare for the All-Star break by sending down prospects to keep them throwing and manipulate service time. We need to keep this in mind and watch to see if teams with pitching prospects do this because it will lessen the fantasy innings we get from these young pitchers.

7. Jake McCarthy (OF – ARI)

Jake McCarthy was recalled from the Minors and has already had an impact in fantasy, hitting a home run and stealing a base in his third game back. McCarthy was a popular sleeper coming into the season, but struggled and was sent down. He has a ton of speed and a good hit tool, so there is upside if he is playing every day.

8. Brandon Woodruff Returns

Brandon Woodruff is expected to make his return to the Majors after missing all of 2024 and most of 2023 with injury. Woodruff was an ace before injuring his shoulder and has had a long road back. We need to see if he is still the same guy and how deep into games the Brewers will let him pitch.

9. White Sox Closer Chaos

The White Sox may have found gold in 23-year-old pitching prospect Grant Taylor. They have been letting him pitch in high-leverage situations, and he now has two saves for the White Sox. However, the White Sox have used a committee most of the season, and there are not a lot of wins available in Chicago, so we need to see if he is the guy or just one of the guys.

10. Braves Closing Chaos

The Braves haven’t been winning a ton of games this year, but it is a better team than their record suggests. One of the issues has been the ninth inning. Raisel Iglesias lost the closer job because of it. Dylan Lee appeared to be stepping into the role, but Iglaisas also got a save last week, along with Lee. We need to see if this is a shared job or if one of these guys is taking over the role.

11-14. Streaming Options

Dustin May (SP – LAD) at CWS

Dustin May has been up and down this season, but he is facing one of the worst offenses in baseball, and his stuff is still great. With the Dodgers’ offense behind him, he should pick up a win this week at least.

Chad Patrick (SP – MIL) at MIA

Chad Patrick has quietly been really good this season and is facing a terrible Marlins offense in a great pitcher’s park.

Eduardo Rodriguez (SP – ARI) vs SF

Eduardo Rodriguez has been fantastic in June and is facing a struggling Giants offense at home.

Charlie Morton (SP, RP – BAL) at TEX

Charlie Morton has been fantastic recently and is facing a terrible Rangers offense in a good pitching park.

15-20. Two-Start Options

Michael Wacha (SP – KC) at SEA, at ARI

Michael Wacha has quietly been fantastic this season, throwing 92 innings with a 3.33 ERA and 74 strikeouts. His underlying numbers aren’t as good, but he has always outpitched his peripherals. Wacha does have a tougher set of matchups against the Mariners and Diamondbacks, but he should be started in most, if not all, formats.

Grant Holmes (SP – ATL) vs. LAA, vs. BAL

Grant Holmes has been up and down this season, but he has been much better recently, throwing 22.1 innings with a 2.82 ERA with 35 strikeouts over his last four starts. Holmes still struggles with control and command, but the stuff has been fantastic. He has two tougher matchups here, but you are still using him in most formats.

Jacob Lopez (SP, RP – ATH) at TB, vs. SF

Jacob Lopez has been fantastic recently, throwing 23 innings over his last four starts with a 0.39 ERA and 29 strikeouts. He is moving closer to being a must-start every week. While these offenses aren’t ones you are necessarily scared of, the parks these games are in are. That said, you have to play him in most formats.

Ryne Nelson (SP, RP – ARI) vs. SF, vs. KC

Ryne Nelson has been great recently, throwing 15.2 innings with a 1.15 ERA with 14 strikeouts. The stuff has been great, and he is doing a good job of controlling and commanding it. He has a good set of matchups here at home, making him a great option in all formats.

Edward Cabrera (SP – MIA) vs. MIN, vs. MIL

Edward Cabrera has been fantastic over his last six starts, throwing 30 innings with a 1.80 ERA and 36 strikeouts. He struggles with control, and the Marlins are not going to win a lot of games, but the stuff is really good. Cabrera has two tough matchups, which makes him a risky bet, but there is a ton of upside.

Andrew Heaney (SP – PIT) vs. STL, at SEA

Andrew Heaney had been having a fantastic season before the last two starts, where regression hit him hard. He has two tough matchups this week, but both are in great parks. He is best used in deeper formats where you don’t have better options.

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