2019 Fantasy Baseball ROS Rankings

Trout is looking as dominant as ever, and this year he has even set a new career high in home runs.

So much for Yelich not sustaining his power tear. After wrapping up the NL MVP with 21 homers in August and September, the outfielder already gone deep 41 times in 111 games. He's done so while hitting a preposterous .334/.426/.697 with 24 steals. Heavy ground-ball hitters aren't supposed to produce such prolific power, but Yelich is looking more like the exception. Expected to regress, he has instead improved. Treat him as a top-three stud who is making a reasonable case to usurp Mike Trout as the rightful No. 1.

Bellinger has emerged as a league-winning talent, batting .308/.411/.645 with 42 homers and 11 steals. Everything in his portfolio supports the stupendous season. The 23-year-old has slashed his strikeout rate while exchanging ground balls and pop-ups for line drives. An all-or-nothing slugger as a rookie suddenly touts a solid contact rate (77.9%). He's a stud who will likely go as a top-five pick in 2020.

Acuna has continued to meet and exceed the seismic hype in his sophomore campaign, batting .288/.371/.524 with 36 homers and 31 steals. Operating out of the leadoff role motivated him to swipe a dozen bases in July, cementing his case as a fantasy phenom. Christian Yelich is the only player capable of joining Acuna in the 30/30 club, so, the 21-year-old now looks like an easy top-three fantasy option alongside Yelich and Mike Trout. It won't be crazy when he receives No. 1 pick buzz in 2020.

Drafters know what they're getting in Arenado, who has batted no lower than .287 with at least 37 homers and 110 RBIs in the last four years. He has played all but 16 games in those four seasons, making him a durable beacon of consistency worthy of a first-round selection. He signed an extension during the offseason, so investors no longer need to worry about a midseason trade removing him from Coors Field. A lack of steals is an unfortunate, but acceptable tradeoff for locking in bankable production at every other category. This steadiness earned him the benefit of the doubt despite still not hitting a home run until April 14. He made up for lost time once the Rockies hosted more at Coors Field and now has 24 taters while hitting .305/.368/.539. It's a bit underwhelmed compared to past returns, but trust the stud to heat up once again after a slugging start to the second half.

Bregman is proving that last season's power breakout was no fluke, and he continues to display an excellent approach at the plate with a low strikeout rate and high walk rate.

Following an exceptional MVP campaign, Betts has looked more like the great, but not outstanding player from 2017. After mounting a .346/.438/.640 slash line in 2018, he's now batting .282/.390/.487 with 19 homers and 12 steals. He's still gunning for his fourth consecutive 20/20 season and has already eclipsed triple-digit runs, but he's not living up to the second-pick price tag. Although there's plenty of time for the career .300 hitter to up his average, Betts will eventually need to prove he's still a top-shelf superstar.

Repeating a redemptive 2018 would cement Story as a first-round pick, and he's on the right path with 28 homers and 19 steals in 118 games. Maintaining last year's contact improvements while generating more hard hits, regression in his .296 batting average may merely mean he hits .280. He's a shortstop who calls Coors Field home and should offer another 30/20 campaign despite missing time with a thumb sprain.

Martinez is having yet another elite fantasy season, and there are fewer hitters in the game more capable of producing big-time batting average, power, and run production numbers.

Verlander has benefitted from some good fortune this season, but that shouldn't overshadow just how dominant he's been. He's an obvious fantasy stud.

Turner's season started with such promise. Manager Dave Martinez's goal for 75-80 steals wasn't looking as outlandish after the Nationals shortstop swiped three bags on Opening Day. He then ended the inaugural series with a two-homer performance. Those hopes of Turner finally realizing his fantasy MVP upside ended abruptly, however, when he broke his finger on a bunt attempt. After playing all 162 games last season, he missed enough time to stand no chance of returning first-round value. When healthy, he has amassed 10 homers and 23 steals in just 75 games with his highest wRC+ (112) since 2016. Turner could make up for lost time with at least a 15/30 campaign and remains a first-round talent when on the field.

Blackmon's down year (.291, 29 HR, 119 R, 12 SB) was still far better than most players' best year. His 37 homers looked like the clear outlier who hadn't reached 30 in another season. He could reach that mark again, as he's currently batting .323/.367/.592 with 24 homers in 102 games. While he has stolen just two bases, the 32-year-old is once again a stud who has posted an absurd .511 wOBA in Coors Field. He's a top-25 player, but the steep splits could prove bothersome for head-to-head investors.

DeGrom was never going to repeat last year's 1.70 ERA, but he's been terrific again this year.

While's he's been quite good in his own right, Cole has been overshadowed by teammate Justin Verlander. But the peripheral numbers suggest Cole has actually been the even better pitcher.

Scherzer experienced all kinds of bad luck over the first couple months, dominated at mid-season, and then suffered through injuries in the second half. The overall numbers are still pretty terrific and it would shock no one if he was the best pitcher in fantasy the rest of the way.

Freeman is a perennial .300 hitter, but this year he has also topped 30 home runs for just the second time in his career. Even 40 HRs is possible, which would push him into truly elite fantasy territory.

Bogaerts sometimes gets overlooked because he doesn't steal many bases anymore, but he's emerged as a serious four-category stud.

For the third time in four seasons, Harper is proving to be a bit of a lag in terms of batting average. Thankfully he chips in solid enough production in the other four fantasy categories to remain a valuable -- if slightly overrated -- fantasy asset.

Fully recovered from the shoulder injury that derailed his 2018 season, Bryant is back to being the high-end hitter we've come to expect.

Machado's first season in San Diego has been terribly disappointing for fantasy owners. He hasn't been awful at the plate, but he hasn't stood out in any statistical category, either. It's fair to wonder if he'll be able to return to the elite production he produced in a more favorable hitting environment in Baltimore.

Soto was hitting .248/.368/.467 through April before going on the IL with back spasms. The young phenom is now sporting a .288/.399/.552 slash line right in line with his spectacular rookie campaign. This writer worried about home run regression entering the season, but he has slashed his ground-ball rate by over 12 points to hit 28 homers. He has also stolen 12 bases after swiping just five last year. Now that he's hitting more fly balls and barrels, the 20-year-old could approach 35 long balls and 15 steals with a high average despite missing time to start May. A strong finish will solidify his status as a top-20 pick, perhaps even a first-rounder, next year.

Devers started the season making contact gains diminished by a power funk. He then put it together with eight home runs and a .416 wOBA in May. Now he's hitting .326 with 28 homers, 111 runs, 104 RBIs, and eight steals, making him one of fantasy's five-category contributors. He's 22 years old. A rise in exit velocity and fall in strikeouts support the elevated average, and he's always had the look of someone who could swat-30 long balls in a season. The speed is an unexpected treat that has already faded, but managers should buy this breakout.

Rizzo is having another typical Rizzo season. He's often overshadowed by the select few first baseman capable of producing even more elite fantasy numbers, but he's one of the safest bets for upper-echelon production year after year.

Lindor missed the first few weeks of the 2019 season with ankle and calf injuries, but he's been his usual studly self since returning. Crucially for his fantasy value, the leg injuries don't appear to have sapped Lindor's ability or willingness to steal bases.

One of last spring's top breakout candidates, Castillo posted an underwhelming 4.30 ERA in 2018 because of an atrocious start. This time, he dominated out of the gate and is compiling a 3.21 ERA and 190 strikeouts through 160 innings. The elevated 9.6% walk rate is concerning, but he's too good at missing bats to significantly worry. No qualified starter has a lower contact rate, and Castillo is third in swinging-strike rate behind Max Scherzer and Gerrit Cole. He might be experiencing an inverse of 2018, however, with a 5.00 ERA after the All-Star break.

Rendon is having an outstanding season. We already knew he was a true .300 hitter, but this year he's also increased his launch angle and hard contact rate, which explains why he's experiencing a power breakout. He had never hit more than 25 home runs in a season, but he could get to 35 this year.

After posting a .390 wOBA through 20 games, Judge joined a dozen of his teammates on the IL with an oblique injury. It's not always the easiest ailment to recover from, and Carlos Beltran speculated that the Yankees star will never be back to 100% this season. Judge has performed well enough in his return, but 18 homers in 78 games isn't the power drafters anticipated. He's traded fly balls for live drives, which helps his batting-average floor but hurts his home-run ceiling. Although still an immense talent and top-flight option, he's not looking like a major game-changer in the power department. He did, however, snap out of a funk in late August, so don't be surprised if he makes up for lost time with a monstrous September.

Merrifield has picked up right where he left off last year as one of the best five-category producers in the game. He's even hitting for a bit more power this year.

Springer missed about a month with a strained hamstring, but quickly settled back in as the leadoff hitter in one of the league's best lineups.

Buehler has lived up to expectations early in his second season, recording a 3.31 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 166 strikeouts and 26 walks in 141.1 innings. That's despite a horrid outing at Coors damaging his ratios. As a former Tommy John recipient who tossed 153.1 professional innings last year and plays for the Dodgers, he's highly unlikely to push past 175 innings this season. While that's something to keep in mind down the road, the depleted pool of aces makes him a top-10 starter right now.

Kershaw's no longer the big strikeout guy he once was, but his elite control remains. He also seemingly has the intangible characteristics of a pitcher who has mastered his craft: He has outperformed his peripherals each of the last two seasons and is well on his way to doing it again in 2019.

Alvarez has been absolutely tearing the cover off the ball since the day he arrived in Houston, much as he was doing to poor Triple-A pitchers. He certainly looks here to stay as a premier fantasy asset.

Morton has successfully carried over the improvements he made as a pitcher during his two seasons in Houston. His walk rate can be a bit of an issue at times, but he misses a ton of bats and is also quite adept at limiting hard contact. He's also managed to stay healthy this year, something that's been an issue for him in the past.

Oddly undervalued after hitting .290 with 27 homers and nine steals in 2017, Rosario replicated his breakout by batting .288 with 24 long balls and eight steals in 138 games. Yet he didn't fly up draft boards because of a miserable second half (.240/.262/.387) unnerved by a quad injury. He's once again off to the early races, batting .286 with 26 home runs and 79 RBIs through August 15. While the steals have dried up, he should be good to go as a borderline top-50 player after returning from a quad injury.

Alonso has been one of the biggest power hitter breakouts of 2019, and his Statcast numbers largely back up what he's doing at the plate.

Amid an up-and-down first season with the Nationals, Corbin still carries a stellar 3.34 ERA and 180 strikeouts in 153.2 innings. His slider continues to dominate, but his fastball has gotten clobbered. He has rebounded in resounding fashion after an ugly three-start stretch in late May and early June, so continue to treat him as a borderline top-15 starter living up to his draft-day cost.

Strasburg is having another one of his typically-dominant seasons, the only question is whether he can stay healthy. He's broken 200 innings just once in his career.

The perennially undervalued Cruz was hitting .270/.354/.508 with seven homers before going on the IL with a wrist injury. Before going down, those numbers actually represented a step down from his usual elite production. Then again, drafters didn't have to pay for that level of dominance because of his age (38) and DH-only status. Following a strong June and absurdly terrific second-half surge magnified by a pair of three-homer outbursts, his 164 wRC+ is now a career high. Unfortunately, he's back on the IL with a wrist injury. There's no table, but Cruz needs to be stashed after crushing 16 homers in his last 25 games.

Ryu has looked every bit as dominant as he was late last season. In a terrific season briefly interrupted by two short IL trips, he has posted a 2.35 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 157.1 innings. That gives him a 2.22 ERA in his last 40 starts. While his 137 strikeouts aren't spectacular for someone dominating at such an amazing rate, he has issued an astonishingly low 20 walks. Ryu has thrown more than 150 innings for the first time since 2014, so it's not surprising to see natural regression strike down the stretch. He has relinquished seven runs each in back-to-back starts, matching the total of earned runs allowed through his first 15 starts of 2019. Given these struggles, the Dodgers could limit his workload with a playoff berth already firmly in hand. There's nevertheless little recourse but to play the NL Cy Young Award candidate as long as he's healthy.

Mondesi's season has been derailed by injuries. But when healthy, he's shown that last season's breakout was no fluke, providing elite stolen base totals with a bit of power and a serviceable batting average.

It's time to reset our expectations for Altuve. He no longer can be counted on to steal bases, which was a huge part of his fantasy appeal. But he's certainly still capable of hitting .300 with solid power and good run production numbers.

Bell is one of the breakout players of 2019. With a massive spike in both his hard contact and fly ball rates, he's already surpassed his previous career high of 26 home runs, set in his first full Big League season in 2017. His batting average has predictably tailed off, but most of what he's doing is absolutely legit.

As one of just a handful of players who can realistically be expected to hit 20+ home runs and steal close to 30 bases, Marte is a key piece to winning rosters in standard 5x5 fantasy leagues.

Pham has not fully carried over last year's late momentum with the Rays, but he's once again in line to contribute across the bboard. He's now hitting .271/.373/.458 with 19 HRs and 16 SBs in 120 games this season. He has improved his strikeout and walk rates from 2018 while notably bolstering both his contact rate. The outfielder is an increasingly rare power/speed asset.

Hader is the best reliever in the game when he's on his game, but that has decidedly not been the case of late. Still, he could turn it around at any moment and will hold onto plenty of fantasy value as long as he's got the closer gig in Milwaukee.

The 25-year old Marte has been one of the single-biggest breakout stars of the 2019 season, displaying a keen eye at the plate and surprising power.

Giolito has finally arrived. After posting a 6.13 ERA last season, the former elite prospect now wields a 3.42 ERA and 1.13 WHIP through 23 starts. His strikeout rate has skyrocketed to 31.0% with help from a dominant changeup and slider. Having bounced back from recent hiccups to record 46 punchouts in his last five outings, the 24-year-old righty is poised to end 2019 as one of season's premier waiver-wire finds.

Greinke's not an elite strikeout pitcher, but he is a workhorse with pinpoint control who is on track to produce one of the best seasons of his career. That's saying something for a guy who has put up an ERA of 3.21 or better and WHIP of 1.15 or better six times in the last seven seasons.

Nola investors were undoubtedly getting antsy. After posting a pristine 2.37 ERA in 2018, he opened 2019 with a 4.89 ERA and 1.51 WHIP through 15 troubling starts. A command artist throughout his rise to ace status issued 36 walks in those 81 innings. Just when some were ready to the right flag, the righty kicked into high gear. Over his last 11 starts, Nola has notched a 2.09 ERA and tallied 83 strikeouts in 73.1 innings. His first-pitch and swinging-strike rates have returned to normal during this dominant stretch. Investors who withered the storm (or bought low) looked poised to enjoy a top-20 ace in the second half.

Finally taking a step toward the long-awaited breakout, Berrios has a 3.37 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 25 starts. Inconsistency, however, continues to plague him. Before anointing him an ace, his strikeout rate (22.7%) has fallen, and a 4.32 SIERA indicates some regression is still around the corner. Although Berrios has emerged as a top-25 SP, his tumultuous August (19 runs in 16 IP) could carry over through the end of 2019.

A strikeout liability in the minors, Chapman now has a 10.7% K rate. He has paired those superb contact gains with a 10.3% BB rate, 29 homers, and a .361 wOBA. If these gains stick, he's a four-category fantasy stud and a borderline MVP candidate for Oakland due to his elite defense at the hot corner. There's still a limited batting-average ceiling, but he should at least maintain his current .258 clip. Given all the power and potential to score triple-digit runs, he deserves to reside as a top-75 player.

Abreu's strikeout rate has risen to the extent that he's unlikely to hit .290-.300 like he used to, but he's still no slouch in that department, and he's on pace to top 30 home runs for the fourth time in six seasons.

Throughout the season, a low expected average suggested Hoskins could eventually hit a wall. He's regressed even harder than expected, going 6-for-57 in 16 August contests. He's now hitting .237, and 24 home runs isn't particularly special in 2019. While he still has a shot at reaching 100 RBIs in the heart of Philadelphia's lineup, Hoskins has dropped from a star slugger to one of several flawed power hitters.

Encarnacion has suffered through an injury-plagued second half, but he could still finish with a bang in September. His power bat is obviously enticing when put into the Yankees' potent lineup.

Baseball fans could soon think of that pop singer as the other Bieber. He has succeeded early in 2019 by trading more heaters for sliders, and the results are a much improved 3.23 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 30.8% K rate. He has also a bunch of hard contact, but the blow-up outings are becoming fewer and far between. The emerging ace is now a top-10 fantasy starter whose stock continues to trend upward.

Goldy is no longer the fantasy superstar he once was, but he has salvaged his season somewhat. Perhaps this is the new normal we should expect from him in St. Louis.

Bauer has had the most maddening season imaginable for a potential ace. He has already allowed five or more runs in eight turns, with one or zero permitted in 11 others. The walk woes also came back in July. The elite strikeout rate and off-the-charts upside keep him relevant, and he could be one tweak away from dominating again, but it's time to pump the brakes on Bauer as a reliable top-20 ace. That's especially the case now that he's pitching in Great American Ballpark with a 7.62 ERA as the newest member of the Reds.

Moncada has put it all together, batting .300 with 22 homers and seven steals through 101 games. Investors hit the jackpot on an elite young talent who was available in the middle of drafts. Although his strikeout rate is slowly rising, his 27.8% is still down significantly from last year's crushing 33.4% clip, and a more aggressive approach has yielded better contact. His breakout season went on hold because of a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, he returned to homer in his first two games back.

Syndergaard has had a frustrating start to 2019, posting a 3.86 ERA through 24 starts. Despite the subpar returns, he still wields a 3.44 FIP with 151 strikeouts and 42 walks in 154 innings. While those marks aren't the dominance onlookers expect from a hard-thrower nicknamed after a god, he has rebounded to post a 2.05 ERA after the All-Star break against a lighter schedule. The SP1 upside remains if he has repaired his slider.

Buoyed by a lethal slider and a curveball that didn't yield a single extra-base hit in his rookie campaign, there's easy 200-strikeout upside if Flaherty pitches a full season. He's on the right track with 162 in 140.1 innings. The other numbers hadn't followed for most of 2019, but he has lowered his ERA to 3.46 by allowing five combined runs in his last eight starts. He won't stay this hot forever, but Flaherty is looking a lot more like the burgeoning ace drafters took as a top-20 starter.

Torres is a premier talent hitting in a stacked lineup, and his combination of power and batting average has translated to a lot of fantasy value.

Suarez was never all that likely to match last season's .283 batting average, but he's already blown past the 34 home runs he hit in 2018. He's a fairly one-dimensional fantasy asset, but there's no doubt that the power will play.

Santana looked like a prime regression candidate, but it just hasn't happened. At this point it makes sense to ride out his terrific season and then reassess his long-term outlook next spring.

After a slow start to the season, Albies has really come on of late, and there's nothing in his underlying numbers to suggest he can't keep it up.

Escobar is in the midst of a huge fantasy season, particularly in terms of home runs and RBIs. It's fair to question whether he can repeat the trick next year, but just enjoy the production down the stretch of 2019.

After staying healthy throughout a bounce-back 2018, Brantley's contact-oriented skill set was undervalued by drafters seeking flashier power or speed. They're missing out on a tremendous season. He's batting .328/.387/.525 with 16 homers in 489 plate appearances while mimicking last year's elite strikeout and contact rates. While his prolific power has slowed down over the last two months, he's a force who should bat above .300 with around 20 homers. Although one of Houston's few stars to stay on the field so far, health remains the only concern.

Great in every category but not spectacular in one, a player of Benintendi's ilk typically doesn't merit top-25 consideration. But 20/20 candidates are hard to come by, especially if they provide a high batting-average floor and can score 100 times atop a loaded Red Sox lineup. This upside coerced drafters to pay a steep price for the 24-year-old, who's merely been just OK across the board with a .284/.359/.465 slash line, 12 homers and nine steals. The rise in strikeouts is discouraging, and he's running out of time to return to his 20/20 pace with one big hot streak. While he'll fall well short of his draft cost, Benintendi at least isn't hurting managers anywhere.

Last season's 160.1 IP comfortably set a personal high for Paxton, and he may not exceed it in 2019. After an up-and-down start that included back-to-back shutouts with 12 strikeouts apiece, the southpaw went on the injured list with knee inflammation. He returned on May 29 to toss four hitless innings with seven strikeouts and has since looked shaky with a 7.15 ERA in June and 5.68 ERA in July. Health was supposed to be his only detriment to stardom, so a 4.53 ERA and 4.33 FIP in 22 turns is highly disappointing. Yet an elite 28.8% K rate should still lead to dominance near the finish line.

A dirt-bike accident in 2017 and broken hand suffered last spring limited Bumgarner to 240.2 combined innings in the past two seasons. He had previously exceeded 200 in each of the last six seasons. While he has regained his workhorse label in 2019, the 29-year-old's 3.71 ERA is far above his current season high of 3.37. He has, however, reversed last year's declines in velocity, swinging strikes, strikeouts, and walks. Although no longer an ace, the southpaw still looks like a high-floor SP3 who has excelled since a rough turn against the dangerous Dodgers on June 20. Staying in San Francisco is also tremendous news for his rest-of-season outlook.

While the velocity has stayed down, the whiffs and strikeouts are way up for Price, who has garnered a 10.77 K/9 in 21 starts. The ERA, however, skyrocketed to 4.36 after allowing 20 earned runs in four starts. The Red Sox placed the 33-year-old on the IL with a TFCC cyst in his left wrist. He's expected to return September 1, at which point he'll need to re-earn everyone's trust before using down the stretch.

Chapman's average fastball velocity has plummeted all way down to 98.3 mph. He still has 77 strikeouts in 51.2 innings, but he forfeited early walk gains by issuing 11 free passes during a messy July in which he allowed nine runs in 8.2 innings. Don't panic; he has bounced back with 18 strikeouts and three walks in 10 scoreless innings in August. He's still one of the top closers around.

After replacing Brad Hand as San Diego's closer late last year, Yates is ascending into a top-tier fantasy reliever. He has converted 38 of 41 save opportunities while allowing just eight earned runs in 54 frames with a 35.8 K-BB%. After staying put through the deadline, he's the No. 1 closer with ample job security.

Puig became every drafter's friend after getting shipped from the Dodgers to Reds. Some of those investors may have turned into enemies when he batted .218/.268/.391 through May. Yet he has since made amends by hitting .289/.346/.531 with 14 home runs and nine steals. With 24 homers and 16 steals on the season, he could end 2019 in the exclusive 30/20 club. The buy-low opportunity has vanished, so it's time to sit back and enjoy the top-100 player we anticipated this spring. Moving from Cincinnati to Cleveland marks a park downgrade, but Puig has also gotten to bat cleanup behind Francisco Lindor.

Everything went right for Ray in 2017, when he registered a 2.89 ERA despite a 3.94 BB/9 and 3.72 FIP. An oblique strain limited him to just 123.2 innings in 24 starts last season, and 70 walks led to a 3.93 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. After initially resembling the better model, he carries a 3.86 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. He remains just as tough to hit with a .221 batting average, but a 4.10 BB/9 continues to cause him trouble. Enjoy the strikeouts, but expect a volatile ERA and bloated WHIP. Despite all the speculation, he stayed in Arizona through the trade deadline and has returned from a back injury.

Now healthy from shoulder surgery that cost him part of 2018, Conforto hasn't returned completely back to 2017's top form. Despite a strong start, he only hit .244 at the All-Star break. Yet he's turned a corner again, upping his slash line to .257/.362/.492 as of August 29. He's still a strong bet to clear 30 homers with a high OBP, but he'll need to regain past hard-hit rates to up his average and spark a true breakout.

Not everyone rookie can be a superstar right away. Bestowed with immense expectations after making the White Sox's Opening Day roster, Jimenez hit just .241/.294/.380 with three homers and a 29.4% K rate in 21 games. After missing three weeks with an ankle sprain, he began to display his sky-high upside in June, batting .284/.340/.602 with eight home runs. Those who stayed patient should receive the elite power prospect promised for the remaining three-plus months. He also shown much better contact skills throughout the minors, so a .240 batting average and 27.6% strikeout rate should improve. Jimenez suffered a right ulnar nerve contusion after colliding with Charlie Tilson, prompting his second IL stint of the season. He's hit for power, but not much else since returning.

Vazquez is well on his way to a third-straight year as a dominant ninth inning man in Pittsburgh. Save opportunities has been hard to come by, but he makes up for it with excellent ratios.

Hand has suffered through a bit of a second half swoon, but he's fully capable of getting back on track down the stretch.

In yet another season derailed by injuries, Correa is hitting .278/.358/.556 with 19 homers and a 140 wRC+ in just 72 games. Not long after returning from a rib injury caused by a massage gone wrong (or at least that's his story), the 24-year-old shortstop is back on the IL with a back injury. There's no concrete timetable, but any missed time is bad in late August. Correa will now go his third straight season without playing more than 110 games.

Although no longer the premier closer in town, Jansen is still a top-tier option. A 3.73 ERA would top last year's 3.01 as a new career-high, but he has also recorded 68 strikeouts and 12 walks in 50.2 innings with a .218 opposing batting average. Health is his primary concern after undergoing heart surgery over the offseason.

Polanco needed 77 games to post six homers and nine barrels in 2018. 121 games into 2019, he has six 19 homers, and 29 barrels. His launch angle and hard-hit rate are both way up, so this is no mere blip. The 25-year-old is breaking out in a major way, easing the sting of stealing just four bags. Undervalued as a solid middle infielder on draft day, he now looks like one of many formidable star shortstops.

Smith looked like the real deal when submitting a 2.38 ERA and 0.89 WHIP through nine starts. He then surrendered 11 runs in three starts spanning just 13 innings before going on the IL with left-hip discomfort. Initially hope of a short stay, he instead missed a month. The 27-year-old had emerged into a top-25 starter before getting hurt, sporting a 31.2% K rate and 14.2% swinging-strike rate behind a stellar slider. After the All-Star break, however, he has a 4.83 ERA with 25 walks in 50.1 innings. It's getting a lot tougher to trust him down the stretch, and it's possible Miami shuts him down if he continues to falter.

A calf injury limited Donaldson to just 52 games last season. He also wasn't his dominant self when healthy, batting .245/.352/.449 with his lowest wOBA (.345) since 2012. Still yet to rediscover his MVP gear, he's once again a high-end power option hitting .259/.374/.526 and .376 wOBA. Yet the arrow is ticking upward. He has collected 25 of his 32 home runs since June 1 and is sporting his highest average exit velocity in the last five years. If he stays healthy, managers are looking at a .260, 35-HR hitter who still offers a stout OBP and plenty of counting numbers in Atlanta's strong lineup.

The only first basemen to bat at least .290 in each of the last two years? Freddie Freeman, Paul Goldschmidt, and Yuli Gurriel. Houston's career .291 hitter is an underrated stabilizer who's also has 88 RBIs in a loaded Astros lineup. After more of the same for the first three months, he has suddenly added elite power to his game. The 35-year-old has belted 17 of his career-high 25 home runs since the start of July. He hit 13 all of last year. Pairing that pop with his usual .306 average makes him a formidable player rather than a boringly productive depth piece.

After serving a suspension for a domestic violence charge, Osuna got traded to the Astros and was closing within a month. His K/9 has improved from last year's middling 7.58 to 9.56, and he misses enough bats to keep fanning over a batter per frame. He has yielded just 38 hits, 10 walks, and 18 earned runs over 53.2 spectacular innings to secure Houston's closing gig. Those comfortable rostering Osuna will get elite ratios and perhaps more strikeouts, which will fortify his positioning as one of the game's finest fantasy options.

A popular preseason breakout pick, Laureano stumbled with a 76 wRC+ through April. He has rebounded to even exceed expectations, batting .284/.334/.518 with 21 home runs and 12 steals through July. Although still a free-swinger that will leave him vulnerable to more slumps, the 24-year-old looked like the 30/20 threat before going on the IL with a right shin stress reaction. He's already missed all of August a tough blow this late in the season. He shined enough to stash in most leagues, and there's still a chance he returns in early-to-mid September.

Wheeler was nearly as good as Jacob deGrom after last year's All-Star break, boasting a 1.68 ERA and 20.4 K-BB% in 11 starts. All that promise made his up-and-down start all the more disappointing. He has an underwhelming 4.41 ERA through August while notching 160 strikeouts in 161.1 innings. Although continually did in by home runs and one bad inning, he has emerged into a rare workhorse averaging over six innings per start. Armed with a 3.70 FIP, he's not far off from the breakout candidate many drafted as a top-25 starter.

Signed without a clear opening, LeMahieu was practically the Yankees' only healthy player early in the season (and once again in early August). He has come through in a big way, batting .333/.380/.526 with 17 home runs, 77 runs, and 75 RBIs in 100 games. Early playing-time issues have abruptly vanished, and the Bronx Bombers continue to play LeMahieu as their leadoff hitter across the diamond. The career .302 hitter is well on his way to plating 100-plus runs with a high average, over 20 long balls, and a handful of steals. One of this season's most unheralded first-half studs may now be a sell-high candidate, but only if getting an astronomical return.

Paddack registered an absurd 120 strikeouts to eight walks in 90 innings between Single-A and Double-A last season. Following an equally dominant spring, the Padres put their prized prospect on the Opening Day roster. He quickly proved he belongs, posting a 3.69 ERA and 20.1 K-BB% through August. The newcomer assumed a limited workload last season after undergoing Tommy John in 2016, so he still may not toss more than 145 major league innings. At 124.1 innings despite a vacation disguised as a demotion, the righty could get sent down again or shut down in September. That seems far likelier after posting a 7.50 ERA in August, so don't bank on Paddack putting the finishing touches on a strong rookie campaign.

Mancini has quietly put together a breakout season for the bottom-feeding Orioles. His numbers don't jump off the page, but his solid four category production plays quite nicely in fantasy leagues.

Villar is having easily his best fantasy season since his career year in 2016. There simply aren't many players capable of going 20-30 in today's game, and Villar is one of them.

An underrated stud when healthy, Turner touted a higher wRC+ (141) than Paul Goldschmidt, Giancarlo Stanton, Nolan Arenado, and Manny Machado from 2016-18. He has recovered from an early power drought to bat .293/.374/.509, and he'll compile plenty of runs and RBIs in a prolific Dodgers lineup. He has also stayed healthy, which has proven the main detriment to his fantasy value. Turner may never hit 30 homers in a full season, but there are few safer bets to bat around .300.

All reasonable onlookers expected regression from Ozuna's .312, 37-homer outburst in 2017, but they still wanted better than .280 and 23 long balls. While his average has once again tumbled (.270), he has found more power with 24 homers (10 in April) through 102 games. He has even stolen a career-high 12 bases, and hitting in the heart of St. Louis's lineup led him to produce 77 RBIs despite missing all of July with fractured fingers. The outfielder has swung a hot bat upon his return while setting personal-bests in multiple Statcast metrics. He's in store to finish a superb season on a high note.

Soroka has surrendered 33 earned runs over 21 starts this season, bringing his career ERA to 2.52 in 26 big league turns. He's benefited from a .274 BABIP and 8.0% HR/FB rate this season, but the righty also boasts one of baseball's lowest exit velocities against. Even with some regression, he should continue to positive ERA contributions. The strikeouts are nothing special, but the elite command (5.8 BB%) makes him a trustworthy starter going forward.

His success defies common convention, so it was hard not to freak out over Hendricks surrendering a 5.33 ERA through five starts. Could the bottom finally be falling out for a finesse pitcher who operates in the mid-80s? Nope. A .405 BABIP and 58.8% strand rate fueled that rough beginning, and The Professor has quickly corrected course. His ERA has recovered to 3.47, once again cementing him as a dependable SP3 to use with full confidence.

As many observers predicted based on his underwhelming exit velocity, Robles' slash line has tumbled to .238/.312/.417 following a strong start. He still has 14 homers and 17 steals, but both columns have dried up since April. Moved down to the order once Trea Turner returned, Robles went over a month without swiping a bag. While gamers should temper expectations, he could still commence his career with a 20-20 campaign, a rare skill set at any position.

Investors have received the full Tanaka experience. Elite at his best, he has yielded just one or zero earned runs in nine starts. Only one of those have come in the last two months. He has also allowed at least four runs in 11 turns, including a 12-run calamity against the Red Sox on July 25. Anyone who has rostered the Yankees righty is used to this volatility, but they have stomached it in exchange for elite strikeout rates. This season, however, his K rate has dipped to a career-low 19.2% with a drop in swinging-strike rate (10.4%). His ERA has risen to 4.68, and the down days are becoming far too common (and damaging) to trust as anything more than a back-end matchup play.

In a season mired by hip injuries, Davis has swatted just 19 homers after exceeding 40 in each of the last three seasons. The most telling sign of his sub-standard struggles? He's hitting .221 instead of .247. The 31-year-old DH is certainly the type of slugger who can heat up in a hurry, but it's tougher to suffer much more through his 46 wRC+ after the All-Star break. He should be benched, and perhaps even dropped in the typical mixed league barring any signs of life.

Andrus went from 20 homers and 25 steals to six and five, respectively, last year. The speed drop-off was especially jarring, as he had reached at least 20 steals in each of his last nine MLB seasons. This year, the 30-year-old has already bounced back with eight homers and 23 steals. That's despite serving a short IL stint due to a hamstring strain. However, he's cooled off considerably and gone a month without touching them all. With the running back in tow, he's still a solid shortstop who can go 12/30 with a batting average at or above his career .276.

Hendriks has been the most valuable relief pitcher in standard 5

Guerrero hasn't had quite the impact as a rookie that many fantasy managers were expecting, but he's done nothing to weaken his long-term outlook. He still looks like one of the best bets for power and batting average for years to come.

Sanchez has proven to be capable of producing truly difference-making numbers at fantasy baseball's weakest position, and this year is no different. He always looked like a good bet to deliver 30+ home runs.

Cain joined Mookie Betts and Whit Merrifield as the only players to hit .300 with 10 homers and 30 steals last season. He set career highs in walk and hard-hit rates atop Milwaukee's lineup, leading to 90 runs scored in 141 games. This season, however, he hasn't met the hype with a .252 average, eight homers, and 16 steals in 122 games. There's no major drop in contact rate to support the sudden average dip, but he's running out of time to catch up to his .286 xBA. Although the 33-year-old is slowing down, he could finish strong and make for an interesting buy-low target in 2010.

German missed some time with a hip flexor strain, but has has an excellent season otherwise. He should continue to pile up the wins in New York.

Upton, who opened the season on the IL with what sounded like a minor toe injury, instead missed more than two months. There goes his streak of three straight 30-homer seasons and eight seasons with at least 145 games played. He hasn't proven worth the wait, hitting an underwhelming .213/.302/.404 with seven homers in 39 games since returning. Although durability was a major selling point, he can still offer plenty of power down the stretch. Managers, however, can't afford to exhibit much more patience this late into the season.

Voit has crushed 33 home runs in 133 games since joining the Yankees. While he was never going to match last year's .322 batting average with a contact rate below 70%, 2019's superb version looked fully sustainable, before he went out with a sports hernia shortly after returning from an abdominal strain. He avoided season-ending surgery and returns in time to help fantasy managers in September. If healthy, he's worth trusting during the final weeks.

A broken thumb marked the third different injury to besiege Pollock in as many years. An elbow infection suffered in late April makes it a fourth. The Dodgers placed him on the IL after he batted .223/.287/.330 with two homers and no steals in 28 games. The situation escalated quickly when he underwent surgery on May 3. His return has gone batting than expected, as Pollock is batting .309 with six homers and two steals in 19 second-half contests. Start him in all formats as long as he's healthy.

Smith is one of the most underrated fantasy closers in the league, and the fact he stayed put at the trade deadline ensures he'll remain a top closer the rest of the way.

DeJong looks poised to turn a profit on his diminished draft stock despite slowing down substantially from a stellar start. He has improved his strikeout and walk rates while generating more hard hits and setting a career high with six steals. Although no longer batting third for the Cardinals, fifth isn't a bad lineup spot either. The shortstop has strangely scored far more runs despite batting in an RBI conducive spot, so he could plate 90-100 runs with around 25 long balls. The 25-year-old has made enough legitimate gains to hang tight beyond the shallowest of mixed leagues.

A popular candidate to win the NL batting title in Colorado, Murphy injured his hand less than a week into the season. Avoiding severe tendon damage, he returned from the IL in late April, but stumbled mightily through May. With the help of home cooking, he batted .344 in June and .306 in July. The perennial .300 hitter is back up to .300 on August 6. His recent turnaround is reminiscent of last year's late surge after working off the rust from an injury, so the 34-year-old should regain everyone's trust as a top-100 player.

Moustakas rejoined the Brewers on his second straight one-year deal, so early drafters likely snagged a power bat at a discount. Playing mostly at second base, he has already crushed 31 homers with a 116 wRC+ through 121 games. While the ultra-high launch angle limits his batting-average upside despite a career 16.5% strikeout rate, he could tally 35-40 long runs in a full season with the Brew Crew.

Gordon already stole a dozen bags in 45 games before getting sidelined with a right wrist contusion, and three home runs represent a seismic power tear for the slap-hitting second baseman. Because of Mallex Smith's resurgence, Gordon has returned to the bottom end of Seattle's depleted lineup. When healthy, he's a one-category asset who could potentially regain some value in the runs and average column.

Coors Field has claimed another victim. A source of heated debate before and during the season, Marquez overcome his surroundings with help from a favorable early schedule featuring trips to Miami and San Francisco. More exposure to his home park has deflated the breakout potential; he has a 6.26 ERA and .317 opposing average at Coors Field compared to a 3.67 ERA and .209 opposing average on the road. He may be a top-20 ace if pitching for another team, but the high altitude won't allow him to flourish as a top fantasy option. After placing him on the IL with an arm injury, the Rockies are considering shutting Marquez down for the season. This late into the campaign, managers could cut him now before receiving an official decision.

Following a breakout 2018, Castellanos waited until April 25 to hit his first home run of 2019. Despite a tumultuous start, his slash line has quietly risen to .293/.343/.509 with 76 runs scored. He has notched eight homers and a 184 wRC+ in 23 games since getting traded to the Cubs. Playing every day in a better lineup as the No. 2 hitter, he's on track to nearly replicate last year's results. He's once again someone to trust in all formats.

Following a stellar start, Boyd's ERA has risen to 4.47. He still, however, boasts a 3.51 SIERA with 208 strikeouts and 42 walks in 159 innings. He also ranks among the top starters in swinging-strike rate by relying heavily on his wipeout slider. This isn't a fluke, as he also punched out a batter per frame in 2018's second half. The Tigers southpaw looked like one of the season's biggest waiver-wire additions who could finish as a top-25 starter like Patrick Corbin in 2018. Now he's a high-strikeout option getting killed by the long ball.

Regardless of how the league's host site manages the Ohtani dilemma, he'll only contribute as a hitter after undergoing Tommy John surgery last season. He looks more than capable of helping in that capacity, batting .306/.364/.528 with 16 homers and 11 steals in 90 games since his return. It turns out he doesn't even need to pitch to be a game-changing talent.

Hiura crushed five home runs in his first 17 big league games, but Milwaukee nevertheless sent him back down when activating Travis Shaw from the IL. Less than a month later, the premier prospect was back from Triple-A, where he batted .329 with 19 homers and seven steals in 57 games. Now hitting .299 with 14 homers and seven steals in 55 games for the Brew Crew, he isn't going anywhere this time. While his strikeouts have risen this year, the 22-year-old still profiles as someone who can hit for contact and power. He's a potential league-winning find.

A rising star came crashing down when Contreras cratered to .249/.339/.390 with 10 homers in 544 plate appearances. He again hit grounders on over half of his batted balls, but this time it came with fewer hard hits (28.9%) and more pop-ups (10.3%). A terrible second half (.264 wOBA) derailed this season, so it wasn't even a full year of regression. He has pressed reset to start 2019, batting .286/.381/.556 with 18 homers and far more fly balls through the All-Star break. Without too much competition, Contreras re-earned his spot as a top-five catcher before landing on the IL with an arch strain. As expected, he only missed the minimum 10 days, but a hamstring strain sidelined him again August 4. He's beginning a rehab assignments in hopes of returning in early September.

Finally given a featured role in Tampa Bay, Meadows has promptly reminded everyone of his past elite prospect pedigree. He has popped 20 long balls with nine steals -- often from the leadoff role -- despite a right thumb sprain interrupting the 24-year-old's breakout campaign. He cratered in June (.248 wOBA) after returning from the IL but has turned the corner (.372 wOBA) after the All-Star break. He's still a dangerous five-category threat with a real shot of pursuing a 25/15 campaign.

Having batting .300 or better with at least 10 homers and 20 steals in each of the last two seasons, Segura seemed like a value in 2019 drafts. More than five months into the season, however, he's hitting .280 with seven steals. While the average has slowly improved, it's troubling to see him run so infrequently. At least he still has a chance to compile plenty of runs and RBIs for the Phillies. He has also already surpassed last season's HR tally at 11. Without the speed, however, Segura has fallen behind baseball's loaded influx of talented shortstops.

Following a tame rookie showing, Dozier has torn the cover off the ball in 2019. The 27-year-old first baseman is batting .286/.364/.550 with 22 homers. Initially expected to avoid the IL, he ended up missing three weeks in June. While some regression hasn't been surprising, he has made enough improvements not to completely dismiss the breakout. A .365 xwOBA isn't far below his actual .381 mark, but it still matches Shohei Ohtani and Ketel Marte in the top-85th percentile. He's now a mixed-league mainstay.

Four starts into the season, Mikolas had yet to record more strikeouts than runs allowed. While he has looked better on occasion, some rough starts have kept his ERA at an inflated 3.94 with a middling 6.6 K/9. Even though he has settled down to post a 2.92 ERA since the start of July, the lack of strikeouts makes him more of a deep-league arm unlikely to recoup his high draft cost.

Lynn has a 2.85 FIP and 170 strikeouts in 148 innings, tossing 13 quality starts in his last 16 outings. Perhaps this is for real. Let's not forget about his 3.43 ERA in 2017 before signing late in 2018 and never finding the strike zone. He also only has a 3.71 ERA and is set to pitch in the Arlington heat this summer, but the 32-year-old has firmly pitched his way onto all mixed-league rosters as a near top-30 starter.

A clear regression candidate, Lester once again got off to a tremendous start before unraveling. Despite posting a 1.16 ERA through seven starts, it has ballooned to 4.36. It's accompanied by improvements in walks and strikeouts, but his contact and swinging-strike rates are alarming. There's still a chance he turns the corner. After falling off the map last year, he rebounded with a stellar September. Lester is a decent depth piece for those who temper expectations and play the matchups.

Once deemed a future superstar, Buxton spent most of 2018 in Triple-A after batting .156 with a -3 wRC+ in 94 dreadful big league plate appearances. It was understandable to write him off, but he remained an elite defender who posted Statcast's highest sprint speed. Now he's once again showing signs of a legitimate breakout by batting .262/.314/.513 with 10 homers and 14 steals. The strikeout rate is down to a tenable 23.1%, and he has substantially elevated both his launch angle and exit velocity. Unfortunately, the 25-year-old is still struggling to stay healthy. Minnesota placed him on the IL on June 18 with a wrist contusion. He returned in late June but went back on the shelf a month later with a concussion. A shoulder injury will now sidelined him in August, and there's no timetable for his return after suffering a setback. It wouldn't be out of line to cut him in redraft leagues.

Desperate for outfield help, Cleveland finally promoted its best in-house option. Mercado hit .294/.396/.496 with four homers and 14 steals prior to his call-up, so he offers plenty of fantasy appeal across the board. He has exceeded somewhat modest expectations by batting .270 with nine homers and nine steals in 76 big league games. Now batting second behind Francisco Lindor, he has gone from a deep-league add to a rookie worth rostering in leagues of all sizes despite hitting a proverbial rookie wall in August.

The Royals as a team collected six saves through May, so most fantasy managers wrote off the situation entirely. Kennedy, however, has emerged as the undisputed closer by racking up 17 saves since the start of June. He also wields 56 strikeouts and 11 walks in 47.1 innings, leading to a 2.17 FIP underneath his 3.04 ERA. He should be rostered in all leagues.

Having hit 20 homers in each of his first three MLB seasons, Mazara has yet to validate his high prospect pedigree as an above-average hitter. Drafters who paid for upside have instead received nearly identical numbers from 2018. Despite some positive early signs, his career-high .197 ISO is still underwhelming. The 24-year-old still has breakout potential, but investors may have to settle for another .260, 20-homer campaign. At least it will come with plenty of RBIs and runs as Texas' cleanup hitter. Now out with a strained left oblique muscle, he's droppable in three-outfielder mixed leagues.

Although he started slow, the Statcast data suggested Reyes was in store for a massive breakout. He appeared to make good on that potential, but a summer slump has him now batting .241/.295/.513 with 31 home runs. He still hasn't caught up to his .357 xwOBA, so the Padres outfielder could very well up his average a tad while pursuing 35-40 long balls. Given his limited contact, gamers should properly just appreciate his current production, which makes him a solid power find for those who grabbed him off the waiver wire in April. He'd move to a revitalized Cleveland lineup, where he has played DH regularly.

Kepler's incremental raises in home runs (17, 19, 20) and wOBA (.313, .315, .316) suggested he was still a boring player not progressing nearly rapidly enough to target in most mixed leagues. Yet he made some gains in 2018 that pointed to more significant development. Surely enough, he appears to have expedited his growth by hitting .258/.337/.536 with 32 home runs. He's also batting leadoff against righties for one of baseball's hottest lineups while carrying over 2018's improvements in strikeouts, and fly balls. Enjoying a full-fledged breakout, Kepler is now a must-start option even in shallow three-outfielder leagues.

Aquino has introduced himself to the masses by towering eight home runs in 11 games. The 25-year-old rookie outfielder is threatening to break Statcast with some of his moonshots. Just beware a big swing and aggressive approach eventually leading to a big drop in batting average. He should still be grabbed in all leagues due to the immense power upside. Think along the lines of Franmil Reyes.

After undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery, Seager also had arthroscopic surgery on his hip last August. He got off to a slow start to 2019, batting .230/.333/.364 with two home runs (one on Opening Day) through April. He then notched a 123 wRC+ in May with 17 hits (seven doubles and a HR) in 10 games to start June. Unfortunately, a Grade 2 hamstring strain halted his momentum and sidelined the 24-year-old shortstop for a month. He struggled upon his return before a bounce-back August, but he's hitting .270 with 12 homers and one steal. The career .295/.366/.486 hitter could still heat up if he finally gets healthy, but Seager isn't offering any power or speed at a deep position.

Diaz's velocity and strikeout rate are just fine, but there's simply no sugarcoating how bad he's been this season.

Continuing his every-other-year pattern, Hosmer is once again bouncing back from a rough year. Following a down 2018, he's batting .283/.330/.448 with 19 homers and 85 RBIs near the end of August. Managers in deeper leagues will especially derive value from a locked-in starter who's on pace to record at least 667 plate appearances for the fifth straight season. He is a solid corner-infield compiler piling up counting stats.

Arthroscopic elbow surgery limited Darvish to eight starts in 2018. Adding insult to injury, he wasn't even good (4.95 ERA) in his brief time on the mound. He looked just as bad for most of 2019. The righty has relinquished a 4.36 ERA and 23 homers in 23 starts. Yet he has resoundingly reversed terrible early-season command with just seven walks in his past 10 outings. Also lost in his early troubles, the oft-injured righty has stayed healthy. He's the ultimate boom-or-bust starter whose diminished value is rapidly rising back to the SP3/4 drafters anticipated.

Kingery, who batted .226/.267/.338 in his rookie campaign, is now hitting .275/.336/.503 with 14 homers and 10 steals through 351 plate appearances. He has turned on the jets again in August after predictably fading from an unsustainable stellar start in July, and the 25-year-old has grown exponentially from 2018's disappointing debut. He's comfortably emerged as a top-200 player to roster in all mixed leagues.

Clevinger looks on the cusp of joining Cleveland teammate Shane Bieber as an elite ace. He opened 2019 with 22 strikeouts over two scoreless starts before suffering a back injury. Shortly after returning on June 17, he went back on the IL after one start. He got shelled by the Orioles (1.2, 7 ER) in his return but has since posted a dominant 1.86 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 67.2 innings. Now healthy, he has quickly vaulted his way back into a top-12 option with an even higher ceiling.

Maeda has maintained a 9.52 K/9 while limiting hard contact, but managers haven't been able to trust him during an erratic campaign. The Dodgers put him in the bullpen near the All-Star break despite turning the corner, and he returned to the rotation to allow 14 runs in three truncated starts. He could at least pitch to his career 3.92 ERA when given the chance, but he's only 10 innings away from matching last year's tally. He's a top-50 starter when given the chance.

Before most of the majors even started the season, Olson got hit on his right hand by a pitch in Tokyo. He underwent hamate surgery, which kept him out of action for all of April. Although a tricky injury from which to recover, he has quickly rediscovered his form with 26 homers and a .297 ISO in 99 games. There's ample power upside from someone who slugged .651 as a rookie and clubbed 29 home runs in an underwhelming 2018. Just don't expect much help in batting average.

Although he spent months as the quintessential sell-high candidate, Anderson was batting .317 with 11 home runs and 15 steals before going on the IL with a right high-ankle sprain. The power or speed haven't come back just yet, but he has collected 28 hits in 18 games back. With 10 walks all season, the free-swinger is still due for some average regression. He has, however, lowered his strikeout rate while amassing more hard hits, so his breakout isn't entirely a flash in the pan.

Colome is having a very strong season as the White Sox closer, and the fact he wasn't traded was a big boon to his fantasy owners.

Hitting .280/.361/.389, a strong batting eye has kept Eaton in Washington's second slot between Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon. Having already scored 70 runs, he could reach 90 with double-digit home runs and steals if his body cooperates. He's a boring, but steady contributor when healthy, which he has been more than midway through 2019.

Sean Doolittle was a borderline top-10 closer to begin the season, but injuries and inconsistency have taken a toll on his rest-of-season outlook.

Iglesias has had a rocky season, as hasn't even been used as the Reds' exclusive closer. But he's really turned it on in the second half, which shouldn't be surprising given his excellent track record.

Pederson seemed on the cusp of a major breakthrough, but it appears he merely opened the season with a hot streak. He smashed 17 home runs through May but has just seven more as of August 6. His average has fallen to .232, and his 114 wRC+ is lower than last year's 126. The 27-year-old has at least played well enough to stick in the Dodgers' lineup as the starting first baseman (and often leadoff hitter) against righties after A.J. Pollock returned. Pederson probably has another hot streak in him, too, but managers can't keep hoping for batting average or steals.

Martinez has become St. Louis' closer with Jordan Hicks (torn ACL) out for the season. The former ace has collected 13 saves with a 3.41 ERA and recovered from a rough patch right after the All-Star break. While he hasn't realize the strikeout upside some would have expected from the bullpen move, he's a potential top-20 closer with plenty of upside.

Giles has had a major career resurgence north of the border and looks to be a top-15 fantasy closer going forward.

This looks like a different Minor than the man who posted a 4.18 ERA and 20.6 K% last season. He now sports a 3.17 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 167.2 innings. Bolstered velocity and an elite spin rate have led to better success with his four-seam fastball, and all three of his other offerings (slider, changeup, and curveball) have a double-digit swinging-strike rate. Even if a 4.32 SIERA and rough July suggest regression is coming, the southpaw has shown more than enough to confidently deploy in all leagues.

Kimbrel hasn't been great since joining the Cubs at midseason, but he's been too good for too long to be concerned at this point. He should still be viewed as a top-10 closer down the stretch.

Another strong 2019, in which he has hit 20 home runs and even set a career high with five steals, has fortified Grandal's status as a top-five catcher. Even though he has fallen back to earth, the 30-year-old will hit around the .250 range with a high walk rate and around 25-30 homers. That will look a lot better behind the plate, and he's especially valuable in two-catcher or OBP leagues.

Despite entering 2018 with health woes and batting .155 in April, Carpenter went scorched earth to hit .257/.374/.523 with a career-high 36 homers. Those who bet on a 2019 repeat are running out of time. The third baseman entered the All-Star break batting .216/.325/.381 with 10 homers in 77 games. He went on the IL with illness and back spasms. Shortly after returning, he went back on the shelf with a foot injury and didn't get activated until August 4. MLB's leader in hard-hit rate last year is now in the bottom-30 percentile, and his xSLG has dropped from .546 to .404. We saw his ability to adjust and heat up in a seismic way last year, but it's getting tougher to hold out hope.

Soler won't hit for a high average or steal any bases, but he has already tallied 37 home runs and 96 RBIs in 135 games. He has already smashed 14 homers after the All-Star break while significantly upping his walks and slashing his strikeouts, signs that Soler may be more than one of many empty power sources in 2019. Now that he's healthy with no competition for playing time in Kansas City, the 27-year-old has finally realized his potential (and then some) in a full season. He's blossomed from a cheap source of power to legitimate top-100 overall player.

Expected to serve the light side of a committee when lefties emerged in the ninth, Rogers leads the Twins with 17. Perhaps a 2.10 ERA and 26.9 K-BB% have earned him a fuller closer share. The Twins added Sergio Romo and Sam Dyson, but Dyson went on the IL after fumbling his first save chance. Rogers now looks like a worthy top-20 reliever.

Gallen garnered a 1.77 ERA, 112 strikeouts, and 17 walks in 91.1 Triple-A innings before getting promoted on June 19. Despite the initial hype, he hasn't received much attention for his 2.40 ERA and 49 strikeouts in eight starts. A surprising midseason trade to Arizona should give him more run support, but it also takes him away Miami's spacious park. The rookie's stock is still on the rise. Just beware a September shutdown (or lessened workload) if the Diamondbacks fall out of the playoff picture.

Maybe Gray just needed to get away from the Yankees. The righty has rebounded from a lost 2018 with a 3.10 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 23 starts. The 28-year-old has recorded 144 strikeouts in 127.2 innings with a 55.3% ground-ball rate and 3.47 FIP. Gray, who owns of a career 3.59 ERA, has gone from a sneaky waiver-wire find to an unheralded ace.

Repairing his strikeout rate to 13.8%, Hernandez has upped his batting average to .280. His contact rate is up, but his walk rate has also plummeted from 12.3 to 5.4%. As a result, he's no longer leading off for the Phillies despite losing Andrew McCutchen. That mitigates what could have been a lofty run ceiling. He has also stolen just eight bases, jeopardizing his four-year streak of amassing at least 15 steals. The second baseman is now a steady hand who can help a little everywhere as deep-league depth.

While Hamels didn't have the most consistent start to 2019, he carried over last year's turnaround with the Cubs by compiling a 2.98 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 99.2 innings. He was one of few veteran workhorses paying off their draft capital, but an oblique injury sent him to the IL to start June. After tossing five scoreless innings in a promising return, he has yielded 13 runs and 21 baserunners in two starts spanning just five combined frames. Diminished velocity creates some legitimate concern for the 35-year-old, but he still sports a solid 3.69 ERA despite the two blow-up outings.

After a slow start to the season, Realmuto has really turned it on. There's no longer any doubt that he is the best fantasy catcher out there.

With power at such a high supply, five-by-five managers won't derive much value out of a .229 hitter like Schwarber. There's hope, however, in an average exit velocity up 2.5 points leading to a .254 xBA. If his quiet contact gains can even lead to a .245 average, gamers can get some utility out of a 35-HR slugger who will score plenty of runs atop the Cubs' lineup. He's still more valuable in OBP leagues.

Remember when Odorizzi allowed seven earned runs over 10 starts from April 17 to June 9? He undid all that good will by surrendering nine runs to the Yankees on July 24. He has recovered from a brutal July, however, to bring his overall ERA to a still strong 3.57. That's especially good considering his 137 strikeouts in 131 innings. He's a usable piece who's sporting a career-best 12.1% swinging-strike rate and 74.8% contact rate. Keep starting him, but maybe not against dangerous lineups like the Yankees.

After a frustratingly long delay, Keuchel signed with the Braves on June 6. He has since posted a 3.78 ERA in 13 starts. Despite his fastball already operating below 90 mph, the southpaw hasn't regained his full velocity. Still a capable veteran who's excellent at inducing ground balls, he'll help the Braves more than fantasy managers, but it's encouraging to see him notch seven strikeouts in each of his last three outings.

Wood, initially expected to return from a back injury in April, continued to suffer setbacks that pushed back his timetable. Although he initially looked like an intriguing piece to round out the rotation, most of that appeal came from the potential of logging more innings for the Reds. Since returning on July 28, he has gotten shelled to a 6.07 ERA and 6.05 FIP in six starts. He can't be trusted at the moment, which is a shame for anyone who waited all this time for a potential late-season impact arm.

Early in the season, it appeared Gabe Kapler was going to play the ninth inning by ear. While Neris didn't receive many opportunities early in the season, that was has only because the Phillies kept either winning big or losing. Clearly the undisputed closer, he has recorded 21 saves. While his ERA ballooned to 4.08 in July, it has dropped back to 3.44 alongside an elite 17.8% swinging-strike rate. He's still a tremendous source of strikeouts who has eliminated any possible closer controversy by tossing nine straight scoreless innings.

Injuries were always part of the deal for Hill, who missed time early in the season due to an MCL injury. Since returning in late April, he recorded a 2.55 ERA, 61 strikeouts, and 12 walks in 10 starts before landing back on the IL with a forearm injury. The 39-year-old began playing catch in mid-July and is aiming for a September return, but he's likely to come back as a reliever. That news should compel managers to move on in all mixed leagues.

Heading into 2019, Happ owned a 3.49 ERA and 8.45 K/9 over the past four seasons. Many drafters nevertheless scoffed at him going around the pick-150 range, which seemed like a reasonable price for someone who accompanied his career-high 193 strikeouts with a career-high 10.3% swinging-strike rate and career-low 78.3% contact rate in 2018. Yet it appears the skeptics were right. The 36-year-old has coughed up a 4.86 ERA and 5.11 FIP, which is especially concerning since he has faced the Orioles four times through Mau. A velocity decline has led to a markedly depreciated strikeout rate (20%) and more hard hits. Happ could still turn the corner to post a low-fours ERA and stockpile wins for the Yankees going forward, but he's no more than an unreliable streamer in 12-team mixed leagues.

Not given much attention in 2019 drafts, Stroman made the All-Star team and sported a 2.96 ERA and 56.3% ground-ball rate before getting traded to the Mets. The strikeouts (117 in 144.1 IP) are nothing exciting, and a 3.70 FIP is a more reasonable expectation than his current 3.17 ERA. Even that could be optimistic given the Mets' woeful defense and their pitching staff's collective struggles with their sliders. At least he gets to move from the AL East to the NL. Expect a bit of a second-half decline that would make the 28-year-old righty more of a SP4 to use in the right spots.

Chirinos piggybacked off the opener early in the season before settling into Tampa Bay's rotation. He posted a 3.62 ERA and 1.06 WHIP at the All-Star break before going down with middle finger inflammation. He's expected to miss at least a month, so there's no reason to stash him in re-draft leagues in hopes of a September return.

 

This is why managers need to maintain the long view. Braun ended April batting .196, but six hits in an 18-inning marathon on May 4 raised his average to .263. Just like that, his early returns look just fine. He has relatively stayed healthy, played regularly, and belted 18 homers with 57 RBIs, 57 runs, and 10 steals for the Brew Crew. He may never return to All-Star form, but the 35-year-old still looks like a solid contributor who can pair 20-plus homers with 10-15 steals and a strong batting average.

Robles is now the Angels' undisputed closer. Gamers can't ignore someone compiling saves with a 2.86 ERA and 23.4% K rate. Just beware that his fly-ball woes could eventually lead to catastrophe. His 6.6% HR/FB rate is well below his 11.1% career norm, and that's especially improbable to last in a season where everyone is homering at historic rates. He should be rostered in all leagues, but don't be shocked if he's hit hard in a couple of blow-up outings during the second half.

Following a breakout 2017 and down 2018, Schoop has found some middle ground by batting .253 with 17 homers in 95 games. He's losing playing time to Luis Arraez and batting eighth or ninth when starting, so the second baseman is turning into waiver-wire fodder in mixed leagues.

Despite reports of Nathan Eovaldi returning from the IL to seize the ninth inning, Workman appears to remain Boston's front-runner for saves. A 1.95 ERA and 34% K rate has made him a tremendous option with just six saves, but a 15.8% walk rate and .190 BABIP should pump the breaks on too much excitement. He's nevertheless worth rostering in mixed leagues.

Quintana appeared to turn a corner early in 2019, posting a 2.33 ERA in eight starts after getting clobbered for eight runs at Milwaukee. He slowed down before catching fire again in August. The lefty has continued his up-and-down season as a mid-tier option with a 3.91 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 21.8 K% right in line with expectations. He's a solid play in standard mixed leagues.

Rodriguez is an intriguing option when healthy, and he's exceeded 140 innings for the first time in his career. The results have been shaky, as his 3.97 ERA and 1.36 WHIP have yet to fully recover from a brutal start. He has still recorded 160 strikeouts through 165.2 innings and is among MLB's leaders in soft contact. There are still signs of a breakout, but the southpaw lacks the consistency to reach his ceiling anytime soon. If he stays healthy, Rodriguez is more a high-strikeout SP4 to use carefully in the right matchups.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, well, look at all those strikeouts. Fool me three times … but what about his FIP? Archer looked poised to finally reverse his fortune before ceding six runs to the Dodgers, ballooning his ERA back to familiar heights at 4.33. He then went on the IL with right thumb inflammation. He has gotten shelled since returning and now has a 5.19 ERA with a 5.02 FIP. While Archer continues to strike out over a batter per frame (10.75 K/9), his command has waned (4.14 BB/9) while trading ground balls for fly balls. The 30-year-old's mixed-league viability is officially in the danger zone, especially after going on the IL once more due to shoulder soreness. He could come back in September, but the reward probably isn't strong enough to stash him in standard mixed leagues.

Shortly after getting optioned to Triple-A, Senzel suffered a sprained ankle that sidelined him for a few weeks to start the season. This seemed like a convenient excuse to park him in the minors for longer, so it was a pleasant surprise to see the Reds call him up at the start of May. Finally making his long-awaited debut, the 23-year-old has made an immediate mark across the board with 10 homers and steals apiece in 87 games. Most of those, however, came earlier in his debut. His rapid ascent has stalled out with two homers and two steals since the start of August.

Renfroe has pounded his way to regular playing time, clubbing 31 home runs with a .513 slugging percentage through 121 games. His breakout into an elite power asset stemming from late 2018, however, has come crashing down this summer. He's batting .174 with four homers and 56 strikeouts in 40 games since the All-Star break. Managers at least need to bench him until he heats up again.

While Lucchesi hasn't taken the leap yet, he once again brandishes promising numbers behind a 4.19 ERA. The 26-year-old lefty has tallied 119 strikeouts, 39 walks, and a 47.5% ground-ball rate in 122.1 innings. His changeup/curveball hybrid remains a terrific putaway pitch, but his cutter has only led to trouble. Given the strikeouts, simply pitching to his 3.95 FIP would make him a worthy fantasy option. Although he might remain a bit of an enigma, there's upside.

Signed by Seattle this winter, Kikuchi hasn't shown much upside to start his MLB career. A 4.78 ERA, 16.7 K%, and 5.30 FIP portray the 27-year-old southpaw as no more than a matchup play rather than a solid mid-rotation piece, but the book isn't closed just yet.

This wouldn't be the first time Lopez fooled us all, and it won't be the last. The righty tossed a 14-strikeout gem on April 28, only to allow six runs in his last turn. He was dropped just about everywhere before allowing four runs with 25 strikeouts in three stellar July outings. Lopez is the ultimate boom-or-bust gamble to add with caution. He has issued a 4.30 ERA with eight walks and 15 strikeouts in August, so toss him back on the waiver wire.

A sneaky breakout candidate for years, Gibson has procured 124 strikeouts and 35 walks in 123 innings. He is missing more bats while tossing far more first-pitch strikes, both of which create a blueprint to sustained success. His 4.02 ERA and 1.25 WHIP are both playable during this season of enhanced power, especially since the Twins hurler is getting loads of run support and can constantly feast on feeble AL Central offenses. The righty should at least be rostered in all leagues.

Nunez has gone from hot to cold, back to scorching hot, and then back to cold one more. He homered six times over an eight-game window in late May. After cooling down again, he went deep three times in four games. He now has 28 long balls, 76 RBIs, and a .479 SLG this season. He may barely keep his OBP over .300 or hit higher than .240, but playing time should lead him to over 30 homers and 85 RBIs. He's a nice power source to roster in deeper leagues.

Everyone kept assuming regression to strike, but Bassitt still boasts a 3.59 ERA in 22 starts. While a 4.48 FIP supports a downturn, he has a 2.45 ERA and 16.0 K-BB% after the All-Star break. Oakland's remaining schedule is soft enough to stick by the 30-year-old through the finish line.

Matz had allowed five runs through three combined starts before ceding eight runs (without recording a single out) at Philadelphia on April 16. His ERA jumped from 1.65 to 4.96. That catastrophic risk comes with the territory for the Mets southpaw, who allowed seven runs in a similarly disastrous turn at Washington last year. Even after a couple of gems against the light-hitting Pirates and Marlins, his 4.49 ERA and 1.40 WHIP aren't particularly appealing. He's a fringe option better saved for streaming in the typical 12-team mixed league.

 

Musgrove initially pleased drafters who felt they snagged the perfect late-round flier with sneaky upside. They have since (this writer included) learned a valuable lesson about taking early victory laps. He exited April with a pristine 1.54 ERA, but it has jumped to 4.69 with a handful of blow-up outings. Although he still possesses an 11.3% swinging-strike rate, he has yet to translate it into an elite strikeout rate. After getting shelled by the Mets for eight runs on August 4, a tough schedule makes him someone to drop in standard mixed leagues.

As always, Grichuk is providing some pop to go with runs and RBIs. There is, of course, a batting average well below .250 to accompany the benefits in the other categories. This makes him a fringe candidate for a roster spot in standard-sized leagues.

Having recorded just eight saves through four months, Givens hasn't helped much as the leading closer in Baltimore's committee. Even those scarce opportunities will vanish if the Orioles trade him. A handful of saves and strikeouts aren't worth the ERA (4.28) hit beyond deep leagues.

Pitching in San Francisco certainly helps any starter, and while you might not want to use Samardzija on the road, he can be relied on for strong ratios and some Ks in half his starts.

The Blue Jays promoted Bichette after trading Eric Sogard to Tampa Bay. One of baseball's finest prospects has taken off running, batting .320/.364/.650 with seven homers in 24 games. The 21-year-old is a blue-chip prospect who stole 32 bases in 2018, so he has a sky-high ceiling. Just don't expect him to maintain a .379 BABIP throughout his debut.

Teheran is chugging along once again for the Braves with an ERA below 4.00 and a WHIP below 1.30. He won't strike out a batter per inning and doesn't have many wins yet but with the strong ratios, he is worth owning as a depth piece.

Given how quickly the Brewers moved on from Eric Thames last year following a breakout 2017, it wasn't surprising to see them do the inverse and abandon Aguilar. A year after he pounded 35 homers, the first baseman got stuck in the light side of a platoon before getting traded to the Rays, who made room at first base by demoting the more productive Nate Lowe. The Rays have given Aguilar more playing time, but he's hit just one home run in 74 plate appearances. He's at least cut down on his strikeouts to submit a .351 OBP, so the 29-year-old remains a viable option in deeper mixed leagues.

Recovering from Tommy John surgery, Gregorius made tremendous strides and returned in early June. The shortstop has looked a bit rusty with a sub-.300 OBP, but he's also tallied 11 homers in 56 games. Coming off a 27-homer, 10-steal campaign, the 29-year-old should offer plenty of pop and counting numbers in a loaded Yankees lineup. Don't give up on him just yet.

It's been a rocky path back to the ninth inning for LeClerc, but there's no doubt he's capable of being a dominant closer when he doesn't get himself into trouble with walks.

Early elbow discomfort pushed back Heaney's 2019 debut. While he had a 5.09 ERA and 4.79 FIP through nine starts, he also registered 54 strikeouts in 46 innings. The 28-year-old southpaw showed the upside that made him popular after notching a 4.15 ERA with a strikeout per frame last season. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury sent him back on the shelf. Back in mid-August, he's worth re-adding after accruing 14 strikeouts at Texas on August 20.

 

The Rays keep shuttling McKay back and forth from Triple-A to the majors. The two-way star batted .273/.394/.582 in Triple-A. More impressively, he has posted a 1.22 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 66.2 minor league innings. Like Shohei Ohtani, he's separated into a hitter and pitcher in Yahoo leagues. Despite collecting 41 strikeouts in 35.2 major league innings, McKay got demoted once more with a 5.55 ERA. He should return soon as a September call-up and makes for a high-upside stash in deeper leagues.

Looking like a lost cause in Pittsburgh, Glasnow was taking a seismic leap into ace territory with the Rays. He went 6-1 with a 1.86 ERA, 55 Ks, and nine BBs in eight starts before suffering a forearm strain that was supposed to sideline him four-to-six weeks. The Rays transferred him to the 60-day IL, and he has suffered a setback in late June weeks before his potential return. He's now likely to at best return as a reliever or opener in September, meaning he's droppable in all redraft leagues.

Pagan may never take control of Tampa Bay's closer committee, but he's still worth rostering in most mixed leagues. He wields a 1.95 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts in 50.2 innings. Even a handful of saves - he currently has 13 -- makes him a viable asset in all mixed leagues.

Treinen has already allowed nine more walks (30) and more than triple the earned runs (26) than in all of his breakout 2018 (seven). His K% also dropped from an elite 31.8% to 23.1% before going on the IL with a strained rotator cuff. Although he quickly returned, he surrendered Oakland's closer role to the red-hot Liam Hendriks. Treinen has allowed nine runs in 11.2 second-half innings, so it's time to abandon hope of him reclaiming the role and drop him in all leagues.

While Miller could work his way into the closer mix with Jordan Hicks out, he hasn't looked his old self this season. The lefty has 52 strikeouts in 36.1 innings, but it's come with a 3.47 ERA and 5.04 FIP. Allowing a bunch of walks and home runs is a dangerous combo for anyone. However, he could keep vulturing a couple of saves from Carlos Martinez.

Lauer has had some dreadful outings in Coors this year, but other than that, he has consistently been producing strong performances. You can use him in the vast majority of his starts as a SP5.

Given a clear path to saves with Brandon Morrow on the shelf, Strop went on the IL with a hamstring injury. Bothered by the issue, he had posted a 5.06 ERA following a three-run flare-up against the Marlins. He immediately recorded a save upon returning on June 4, but the Cubs signed Craig Kimbrel the next day. Strop could see some save chances in the next week or two before the free-agent signing is ready.

Eovaldi posted a 6.00 ERA before undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow in April. Out for multiple months, the hard-throwing, but erratic righty was not an essential stash in standard mixed leagues. That, however, was before news of Boston planning to bring him back as its closer. He gave a small taste of what he could accomplish in that role when allowing three hits and one earned run in eight postseason inning. Back from the IL, he stumbled as Brandon Workman took over the role instead. Eovaldi is now scheduled to return to Boston's rotation.

Another year, another season of Fiers defying the peripherals. A year after posting a 3.56 ERA and 4.75 FIP, he now has a 3.46 ERA and 4.78 FIP. He also has just 102 strikeouts in 153.1 innings, but perhaps this is another Wade Miley situation. The 34-year-old hadn't allowed more than three earned runs in a single start since April 20 until the imposing Astros tagged him for five on August 15.

Off to a strong start, Castillo ceded four walks, four hits, and six runs in two outings before going on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. Don't dismiss the 25-year-old righty because of a 3.93 ERA; it was 2.48 prior to those two blow-up outings. He's set to return right after the All-Star break and should factor prominently into Tampa Bay's maddening closer committee with Jose Alvarado sidelined.

Bradley looked like the overwhelming favorite to close in the desert, but then the Diamondbacks signed Greg Holland in January. With Holland now out of the picture, Bradley is finally getting his shot and should be a serviceable closer down the stretch.