Every week in MLB is its personal story — filled with surprises, each constructive and detrimental — and fantasy managers should resolve what to consider and what to not consider transferring ahead. Maybe we may help. If any of those ideas come true … do not be shocked!
We now have made fairly a couple of shocking predictions on this weekly house through the first half of the 2025 season, and a few of them (however actually not all!) have turned out to look fairly foolish. Then once more, the purpose is to transcend typical considering when making daring statements. Because the league will get prepared to begin the second half of the season, let’s first have a look again at a few of the extra notable, big-name conjectures from April and Could to see how issues are turning out.
Do not be shocked … if issues do not get considerably higher for Boston Purple Sox 3B Rafael Devers (from April 3)
Nicely, they did get higher. Devers famously started the season 0-for-19 in 5 March video games, placing out 15 occasions. Mixed with shoulder points from 2024 that compromised his spring coaching schedule, there was purpose for concern in fantasy. Then Devers hit .356 in Could with seven dwelling runs and 33 RBIs. What got here subsequent was gorgeous. Whomever one blames and for no matter purpose, Devers is now on the San Francisco Giants, and he’s hitting simply .202 for them with two dwelling runs in 25 video games. For the season, all seems to be regular. He is on tempo for greater than 30 dwelling runs and 100 RBIs, with what’s already a profession excessive in walks, and typical sturdiness. It has been a bizarre season, although in the end not one to run away from in fantasy.
Do not be shocked… if Washington Nationals OF James Wooden turns into a top-10 fantasy outfielder, identical to the $765-million man (Juan Soto) he was as soon as included in a commerce for (from April 10)
This one was all about roto/classes leagues, since Soto continues to be a stroll machine and thus, he’s way more useful in factors codecs. The implication right here, two weeks into the season, was that the rising Wooden could be a higher roto choice than the exalted Soto. To date, that has occurred. Wooden is the No. 10 hitter on the Participant Rater. Soto, thanks primarily to a depressed .262 batting common, is “solely” No. 15. Let’s agree that Wooden is an superior constructing block (though a excessive strikeout price scares us a bit), however there’s nothing to fret about with Soto. We recognize Soto having already stolen 11 bases, only one off his profession excessive. He ought to attain a career-best runs scored complete, too.
Do not be shocked … if Texas Rangers 2B Marcus Semien leads the most-dropped record quickly (from April 10)
This one didn’t occur “quickly” — or in any respect — and that is a very good factor. Semien, lengthy a fantasy favourite for middle-infield manufacturing and sturdiness, entered June hitting a tragic .193 with 4 dwelling runs and batting eighth or ninth in Bruce Bochy’s (nonetheless) underwhelming lineup. Some fantasy managers moved on. Then Semien hit .324 in June with 16 RBI and 18 runs scored. He’s the No. 15 second baseman on the Participant Rater, No. 4 over the previous 30 days. Dropping Semien was a nasty name, although it appears clear he’s not the participant he as soon as was.
One month later, on Could 8, we made the identical “most-dropped record” proclamation for Baltimore Orioles C Adley Rutschman. That was a greater name. He stays rostered in 88.4% of normal leagues, primarily as a result of he has that IL asterisk.
Do not be shocked … if Arizona Diamondbacks OF Corbin Carroll delivers 35 dwelling runs (from April 17)
Carroll enters the season’s second half with 21 dwelling runs, solely 4 off his profession greatest, and slugging a powerful .608 off right-handed pitching. Whereas we like the facility, Carroll’s general hitting trajectory is worrisome, as he’s placing out way more in 2025 than over he did the final two seasons, chasing pitches outdoors the strike zone. Plus, his 11 stolen bases over 80 video games is a disappointing determine, since he stole 54 bases as a rookie.
This model of Carroll, hitting .245 however on tempo for greater than 35 dwelling runs, stays fairly useful, however not almost as a lot because the 2023 model who was a top-10 fantasy hitter. This model ranks No. 37 amongst hitters in each roto and factors codecs — which is unquestionably not good worth for a top-10 decide. The house run prediction seems to be good, however the general worth has slipped.
Do not be shocked … if Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Paul Skenes fails to win 10 video games this season (from Could 22)
This one, fairly sadly, is sort of real looking, as Skenes hit the break with a 4-8 file in 20 begins. He’s not on tempo for double-digit victories. All the things else, after all, seems to be superior, as Skenes made his second consecutive NL All-Star sport begin this week. No beginning pitcher has a greater ERA. Skenes may strike out 200 hitters. Blame Pittsburgh’s offense. Comparatively, wins matter extra in roto leagues, and Skenes is “solely” the No. 9 beginning pitcher (excluding Shohei Ohtani) on the Participant Rater. He’s fourth amongst beginning pitchers in factors scored. It feels ridiculous that 103 pitchers have extra wins — by way of no fault of Skenes — nevertheless it’s nonetheless true, and wins do matter in most fantasy leagues.
Do not be shocked … if Los Angeles Dodgers DH/SP Shohei Ohtani breaks the trendy mark for runs scored in a season (from Could 29)
Ohtani enters the second half main the game with 91 runs scored, having finished so over 95 video games. Ohtani has missed two Dodgers video games this season — a notable achievement regardless of pitching in 5 video games, protecting 9 innings. There’s no person else like Ohtani. Whereas it stays potential that Ohtani will rating extra runs than video games performed, it is not doubtless. Nonetheless, the lone participant to attain 150 runs in any season since 1950 is Houston Astros 1B Jeff Bagwell in 2000. Ohtani can do that.
As I wrote in Could, I doubt Ohtani helps many fantasy groups along with his pitching, because the Dodgers are a near-playoff lock and can cautiously stretch this ace out for significant October motion, worrying little about August. Nonetheless, on the plate, even with the anticipated sharp decline in stolen bases, Ohtani stays a fantasy monster.
Different scorching takes from early within the season
Chicago Cubs OF Kyle Tucker appears unlikely to complete because the No. 1 fantasy choice (from April 24), primarily as a result of New York Yankees OF Aaron Decide and Ohtani won’t allow it. Nonetheless, Tucker is having a top-10 season, and no matter which crew he performs for in 2026, he needs to be a top-10 fantasy decide.
Astros RHP Hunter Brown additionally appears unlikely to complete because the No. 1 pitcher in fantasy (from Could 1), although he’s No. 4 amongst starters on the Participant Rater. As with Decide/Ohtani, maybe Detroit Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal and Philadelphia Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler merely would not allow it.
In the meantime, Athletics rookie 1B Nick Kurtz did the truth is debut throughout April (from April 3), and he’s on his method to 30 dwelling runs.
Colorado Rockies C/OF Hunter Goodman appears properly on his method to being among the many high 10 catchers in fantasy (from April 10), as he’s a robust No. 3 on the place.
Diamondbacks 3B Eugenio Suarez retains blasting dwelling runs, solidifying his spot among the many high 50 fantasy hitters (from Could 1).
It is fairly the understatement to notice issues look constructive for Seattle Mariners C Cal Raleigh to complete among the many high 25 hitters this season (from Could 8). He ranks No. 5 on the Participant Rater!
Very similar to Semien, once-sputtering Astros 2B/OF Jose Altuve turned his season round, so the prediction that he’s not a top-100 participant (from Could 15) was not a clever one. Altuve is again to being the No. 1 second baseman in fantasy, though dynasty/keeper traders ought to use this chance to hunt a commerce.
Sadly, engaging Atlanta Braves RHP AJ Smith-Shawver won’t win the NL Rookie of the 12 months award (from Could 22). He underwent Tommy John surgical procedure two weeks later.
Kansas Metropolis Royals LHP Kris Bubic is 2-4 with a 4.24 ERA since we forecast that he would end a top-10 hurler (from Could 29). Time to scrub this crystal ball a bit earlier than we get again into the prediction sport for the remainder of the season!