Fantasy Baseball Player Notes

Heading into 2025, Hunter Greene was on many fantasy analysts' "must-have" lists, and when he was healthy, he showed off the skillset that makes him exciting. He struck out 31.4% of batters, dropping his walk rate to 6.2%, and ended with a swinging strike rate of 15.4%. However, a right groin strain cost him almost two months of the season, limiting his innings to only 107 2/3 in 19 starts. Looking at 2026, if the 26-year-old can make 30 starts, he has all the characteristics necessary to be a SP1 in fantasy. Greene is worth the risk.

Chase Burns flashed frontline bat-missing ability in his 2025 debut, posting a dominant 35.6% strikeout rate and 13.9 K/9 across 43.1 innings for Cincinnati. His 2.65 FIP sat nearly two runs below his 4.57 ERA, driven by a manageable 2.7% HR rate and elite swing-and-miss stuff, but a .364 BABIP and 45.7% hard-hit rate created volatility in the small sample. Burns' 8.5% walk rate was reasonable for a 22-year-old power arm, though his 0.56 GB/FB ratio suggests he'll need to sharpen command to limit damage in homer-friendly environments. Looking ahead to 2026, the projections lean into the strikeout upside while forecasting some ERA regression toward his underlying metrics as he secures a steadier rotation role. If the workload climbs into a full-season starter's range, Burns profiles as a high-K SP with ratios that may fluctuate week to week. In fantasy, he's best deployed as an upside SP3/SP4 in mixed leagues, with legitimate breakout potential if the command tightens and the batted-ball profile stabilizes.

Nick Lodolo finally delivered the healthy, front-line season managers have been waiting for in 2025, logging 156.2 innings with a 3.33 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and career-best 4.8% walk rate. The improved command was the separator, as his BB% dropped sharply while maintaining a strong 24.3% strikeout rate and suppressing hard contact (87.6 mph EV). His 3.81 FIP suggests the ERA was mostly earned, though a slightly elevated 3.4% HR rate and fly-ball lean in Cincinnati keep some volatility baked in. The 2026 projections forecast another step forward in workload with ratios that remain comfortably above league average, positioning Lodolo as a high-end SP2 with SP1 upside if the command gains hold. Durability is still part of the evaluation given prior injuries, but the underlying profile — plus control, above-average swing-and-miss and neutral batted-ball quality — supports drafting him confidently inside the top 25-30 starters with room for profit.