8 Bold Fantasy Baseball Predictions for the Second Half (2025)

As the second half of the fantasy baseball season kicks into gear, it’s time to take some big swings. Whether you’re looking to climb the standings or maintain your lead, bold moves can make all the difference. That’s why we’ve asked our trusted collection of Featured Pros experts to deliver their boldest predictions for the rest of the 2025 season. From breakout stars to surprising fades, these takes could help you win your league – or at least stay one step ahead of the competition. Let’s dive into the bold calls that just might shape the second-half fantasy landscape.

Bold Fantasy Baseball Predictions for the Second Half

Hitters

What is one BOLD prediction you have for a hitter in the second half and why?

Ceddanne Rafaela (2B, SS, CF – BOS)

“Ceddanne Rafaela goes off in the second half. He has already started that process, by hitting eight of his 14 home runs since June 15th. During that same period of time, he’s put up an over full point of WAR, a .322 batting average, and struck out only 16% of the time. Rafaela finishes the year close to 25/25 and is one of the most important bats for the Red Sox as they push for a playoff spot.”
– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)

Randy Arozarena (OF – SEA)

“Randy Arozarena is going to be more fantasy valuable than Cal Raleigh on the whole (because of his stolen base contributions – something Raleigh does not have in his game). He is also going to out-homer Raleigh in the second half and during the Fantasy playoffs in September. Catchers don’t produce consistently, and neither does Randy Arozarena, but right now, he’s on a heater. Combine that with the wear and tear of catching regularly, and you have as safe a bet as there is. Death, Taxes, MAJOR regression from catchers, and Boiling hot streaks and underrated production by Randy Arozarena. Raleigh is a sell high while Arozarena is an extreme buy low with his nine home runs, 26 runs scored, 20 RBI’s, four stolen bases, and .301 batting average in his last 103 at-bats.”
– Chris Mitchell (FantasyData)

Cal Raleigh (C – SEA)

“Cal Raleigh continues his tear, reaches 55 home runs, and we hit peak annoyance in the “Raleigh vs. Judge” MVP debate. Up to the All-Star Break, Raleigh hit a homer every 9.13 at-bats and now has 68 games to get 17 more. Those 17 would set the single-season record for home runs by a switch-hitter, taking the title that Mickey Mantle has held since 1961. In my opinion, he’s the best story in baseball this season, fantasy or otherwise.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)

“Cal Raleigh wins American League MVP. Aaron Judge is the heavy favorite, but it feels like we’re discounting just how ridiculous of a season we’re seeing from Raleigh. It isn’t just great, it’s historic. Judge got off to an absurd start to the year and looked like he was going to run away with the award, but he batted .253 in June while the Yankees began their tumble in the standings. He has since bounced back in July, but the Yankees haven’t. If Raleigh does anything resembling what he did in the first half in the second half of the year AND the Yankees disappoint, he’s going to have a strong case. And the one thing we seem to be discounting in these conversations is defense. Judge is a good right fielder. Raleigh might be the best defensive catcher in baseball. Raleigh plays a more important and more difficult position, and he does it better than anyone else in the game. That matters, even if we’re discounting it right now. “
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)

Pitchers

What is one BOLD prediction you have for a pitcher in the second half and why?

MacKenzie Gore (SP – WAS)

“MacKenzie Gore fades in the second half. He currently has a three ERA paired with an 11+ K/9. Since June 1st, though, his 2.79 ERA is met with a 4.34 xFIP, and a troublesome 7.93 K/9 and a walk rate that is hovering at three per nine innings. He has been a huge value all season, but the Nationals are trending in the wrong direction, as is MacKenzie Gore.”
– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)

Brayan Bello (SP – BOS) | Lucas Giolito (SP – BOS)

“Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito are going to be must-start SPs and Top 40 starters in the second half of the 2025 season. Bello is rostered in only 52% of Yahoo leagues, while Giolito is only slightly more popular at the devil’s own 66% ownership. Fenway park isn’t a friendly place for pitchers, especially for those that live and die by their curveball and who have been homer-prone his entire career (Lucas Giolito), but they both have 33 strikeouts in the last 30 days, the Red Sox have won 10 straight and neither has a WHIP over 1.00 in their last 30+ innings pitched. Garrett Crochet is lighting it up from the Devil’s side (lefty), the much tougher side to perform at Fenway, while Bello and Giolito both benefit from one of the largest right fields in the majors as righthanders. The Sox are hot, they have elite athletes all over the diamond, and while they have played horrible defense for most of the first half of 2025, they’re a different unit with Rafael Devers gone, and the defense is a place where they have been transformed. Neither has an elite resume so far, but in the second half of 2025, they’re both going to have a breakout 75 innings pitched.”
– Chris Mitchell (FantasyData)

Paul Skenes (SP – PIT)

“Paul Skenes does not win the Cy Young Award, and the voters cite “Wins” as the reason why. Wins, as you should know, are almost entirely meaningless for starting pitchers, and there are much better metrics to determine a pitcher’s value. I mean no disrespect to Zack Wheeler, who is having a fantastic season, but I can feel it in my bones that his W/L record (currently 9-3) will be the deciding factor against Skenes’ (currently 4-8). Comparing their stats demonstrates how close they are statistically, so it would not be a grave error to give the award to Wheeler or anything. The bold prediction lies only in the WHY they won’t give it to the Pirate.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)

Hunter Brown (SP – HOU)

“Hunter Brown makes a serious run at the AL CY Young and enters 2026 as a Top 20 pick. I made this bold prediction for last week’s episode of The Cycle, and Worm told me it wasn’t bold enough. But Worm isn’t here to stop me, and it looks a little bolder after Brown allowed 10 ER over his final two starts of the first half. Tarik Skubal is the heavy favorite to win the award, and Garrett Crochet is making a strong case to be in the conversation, but I think Brown is the one who steps up with a great second half to challenge Skubal. His Statcast page is a sea of red, dark red, and he has three separate pitches with a BAA of .194 or lower. One of those is his four-seamer, which he throws 40% of the time, with a .143 BAA and .176 xBA.”
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)