Fantasy Baseball Player Notes

After years of steady production, Bryan Reynolds showed real signs of decline. His strikeout rate climbed to 26.5% — a jump of roughly four percentage points — and he posted a career-worst .245/.318/.402 slash line. Playing in a Pittsburgh lineup that offers little support only adds to the downside. As he enters his age-31 season, fantasy managers should be prepared for increased inconsistency. Reynolds is still projected for around 20 home runs, but his run and RBI totals will suffer in a weak offense, and his batting average is more likely to settle near .250 than his career .271 mark. At this stage, he profiles better as an OF3 or OF4 rather than a reliable, every-week fantasy starter.

Marcell Ozuna's 2025 campaign marked a steep regression from his elite 2023-2024 peak, as his slash line fell to .232/.355/.400 with 21 home runs across 592 plate appearances. While his 15.9% walk rate buoyed his OBP, his power indicators slipped considerably — including a drop to a .168 ISO, 3.5% HR rate, and a career-low 89.9 mph average exit velocity. After posting rOBA marks of .384 and .394 the previous two seasons, he dipped to .342 (118 Rbat+), signaling a clear step back from middle-of-the-order dominance. Now eligible only at DH with the Pirates, Ozuna's lack of positional flexibility further caps his fantasy utility. He profiles as a fantasy faller, with 2026 projections pointing toward solid but no-longer-elite power production more in line with a mid-tier corner bat than a foundational fantasy piece.