Welcome to our weekly fantasy baseball risers and fallers column. In this article, I’ll provide three risers and three fallers based on what has transpired in the previous week.
Given that we’re about a month in the season, there are more options to choose from. We now know how managers are deploying their players, with some surprisingly receiving less playing time than initially expected. We also have a few young hitters who are making their presence felt immediately.
Without further ado, let’s find out who this week’s biggest risers and fallers are.
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Fantasy Baseball Risers & Fallers
Fantasy Baseball Risers
Ryan Weathers (SP – NYY)
Ryan Weathers has gone at least seven innings with one earned run allowed or fewer in two of his last three starts. He now has seven or more strikeouts in four out of five starts, topping out at 10 against the Angels.
This puts his surface stats up to a 3.18 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in 28.1 innings. These numbers are supported by the advanced metrics, which include an impressive 2.85 SIERA. All we need is for Weathers to stay healthy because he looks like a legitimate breakout candidate.
Bailey Ober (SP – MIN)
Bailey Ober is coming off his best start of the season, where he allowed one unearned run in 6.1 innings. You have to love the 10 strikeouts that came in that outing, especially since he’s now put up seven or more strikeouts in back-to-back starts.
The veteran righty has shown he can get some whiffs this year, as he’s put up a 12+% swinging-strike rate in three out of five outings. Those concerns about diminished velocity look behind Ober right now. We can move him into the circle of trust as a viable streamer, especially in home games.
Chase Dollander (SP – COL)
What a start to the year for Chase Dollander, who has been working in bulk relief following an opener. The flame-throwing right-hander has allowed a combined three earned runs in his last four outings, spanning 15 innings.
While three of those appearances came on the road, you have to be encouraged by the spike in strikeout rate (18.6% to 28.7%) and advanced metrics (2.63 SIERA). The Rockies have a new front office now, one that seems to be getting more out of their existing talent. I wouldn’t rule out a Dollander breakout, even while pitching at Coors Field.
Fantasy Baseball Fallers
Max Fried (SP – NYY)
Max Fried’s surface stats look solid, including a 2.97 ERA in 33.1 innings. However, his strikeout rate has fallen from 23.6% to 18.1%, while his 4.17 SIERA is quite underwhelming.
While there’s an extensive track record here, so we don’t have to be alarmed, it’s still worth keeping an eye on. If Fried has a sub-20% strikeout rate, he’s going to disappoint from where he went in drafts.
Cole Ragans (SP – KCR)
Cole Ragans is coming off an abysmal outing against the Yankees, where he issued eight walks. This was my most rostered player in drafts, so it’s quite disappointing for me.
I wonder if getting hit by the liner in his start versus the Guardians is having a lingering impact on his performance. I’ll be watching closely in his next start, which is at home against the Angels.
Brandon Woodruff (SP – MIL)
Brandon Woodruff currently has a 3.42 ERA in 23.2 innings, but his strikeout rate has dipped to 21.3%, while his SIERA is at 3.95.
He’ll need to have better strikeout numbers, or else there’s limited upside to outweigh his injury risk. Let’s see if it’s just because it’s early in the year. We’ll have to monitor his starts closely.
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