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Eric Karabell
Every week in MLB is his own story – full of surprises, positive and negative – and fantasy managers have to decide what to believe and not to believe that it will proceed forward. Maybe we can help. If any of these thoughts come true … don’t be surprised!
Louis Cardinals FROM Victor Scott II was supposed to be a relevant possibility of imagination last seasonBut unfortunately, hitting baseball is not so easy and the well -known Speedster tried to get to the base. Finally, when Scott hit 0.085 to 65 Pa, the cardinals mercifully sent him back to the triple-A Memphis, where Scott surprisingly continued to spray and hit only 0.210 with 0.597 OPS. Fantasy managers In the formats of Roto/categories, they were so enthusiastic about the fact that newcomers steal the basics packages, sad. We were all quite sad.
Don’t be surprised … If Scott becomes 2025 The best fantasy hitter cardinals (at least in Roto leagues)
Okay, so it was one week and several veterans are also gone to the positive start on the plate and boast of the progressing force, including the underrated 3b Nolan Arenadostable Lars nootable and rejuvenated view of power Jordan WalkerBut Scott also excels. He enters Thursday 0.348 with home and four stolen bases in so many chances, all come, while (for now) he hits the eighth in the line -up.
Milwaukee Brewers 2b Brice Take was one of only three players who have achieved 50 stolen foundations last season Cincinnati Reds SS Elly de la Cruz And incredible Los Angeles Dodgers DH/SP Shohei era. Unlike these members, Turang did not interfere with strength, but only 62 Hitters ended with more fantasy Body ESPN. In Rota, however, we really loved him. Rays Tampa Bay SS/2b/3b Jose Caballero, KANSAS CITY ROYALS 3b/2b MAIKEL GARCIA and Seattle Mariners FROM Victor RoblesAmong the innumerable others, they also run a lot, but they do not hit baseballs hard or above the fences, and therefore these players have less value in the point leagues.
What if the current version of Scott, which did not hit much last season, can replicate what Turang has achieved last season or even more? This certainly feels legitimate. In the spring training he chased Scott with a partition Scott when he chased work in the field of the starting center that was seemingly promised to be defensive minded Michael Siani. Fantasy managers may have assumed that Scott would lose this battle or hit a modest 0.85 if he won it. Scott actually won the job – as he should have – thanks to the strength and improvement of CF defense. For fantasy purposes, stolen bases are a large differential. He just has to hit enough to run enough if it makes sense.
Arenado was probably too faded in the preseason designs. In several places, I balanced him, where the value of security and durability was simply too strong and I expect the season like 2023, with 25 Homer and 85 RBI. Nootbar, of Alec Burleson2b Nolan gorman And maybe Walker should hit all 20 home runs. WILLSON ContrarasC-Turned-1b, finally won his first hit on Wednesday and will be fine. /2b Brendan Donovan There is a possibility of Fine Points League, but only ordinary in the company. SS Winn will improve. This is a really deep offense.
Everything that said, no Hitter Cardinals is safe among the top-50 Hitters in ESPN ADP. If Scott can hit 0.260 with high contact with 10 home runs and 35 stealing – Trifecta that only meals and Cleveland guards 3b Jose Ramirez It achieved in 2024 (De la cruz was missing. Scott should be spread over 17.7% of the leagues, including the point leagues.
Don’t be surprised… if things do not get significantly Boston Red Sox 3b Rafael Devers
Devers is now a full-time DH-A team is not happy about it. Okay, so Devers got several interventions on Wednesday and reduced its 65% strike rate to 55%, but this is one situation where we may not trust the numbers on the back of his baseball card. Things have changed, with shoulder problems, its prolonged spring training delay in beating and controversy moved from the third base for Alex Bregman.
Devers looks threatened and in the smallest sample sizes does not mind contact or bat bat as fast and hard as in the past. Maybe he could still hit. I’m afraid we can do something like what Colon Coser or Riley Greene He made last season (0.240-angle, 24 hours, 75 RBI). This is fine and usable, but significantly below the expectation of devils.
Don’t be surprised… if it’s old Toronto Blue Jays SS Bo Bichette is back (to some extent)
I believe that players can have an occasional gross season (because of injury, personal things, anything) and then bounce back after a complete offseason. Maybe it will be amazing again in 2026. Bichette went from the years of hitting 0.290 with a modest 20 -hour energy to a terrible tab diameter of 0.225 with 0.322 percent in its campaign at the age of 26, mostly explained by Calf and finger injuries.
Yes, Bichette had a bad year. Maybe he won’t steal more than a few foundations, but when he saw him hit 0.300, with 20 Homer he feels like he’s been in the game again. His new partner with a double game, a former guardian Andres GimenezHe cleaned the launch and sought to prove his rank with three home runs in six games. While that It seems unlikely that it will take, 20 Homers for Gimenesis is not a reach because in 2022 hit 17. Yet the 20/30 season would be amazing. Toronto has an exciting middle infield again.
Don’t be surprised … if Athletics 1b Nick Kurtz very soon debut in large companies
Maybe even a month? Yes, it is an aggressive timeline because it has only been developed last season (No. 4 overall outside Wake Forest). However, after a fantastic university career that showed his discipline of strength and records, Kurtz proves that he is ready right now. Several homers hit the spring games, went more than slammed, and started 10-for-21 with three homery in Triple-A Las Vegas. There is little reason to leave it in minors.
Athletics DH Brent Rooker – Who will hit 50 explosions this season as I predicted in my preseason Bold Article – can play a corner place. The Miguel Andujar/Seth Brown Pressing the left field does not block him. I have already added Kurtz where I could in deeper formats – not for 2027, but for this summerAnd summer comes early.
Don’t be surprised… if I was wrong in confidence Atlanta Braves FROM JurCkon Profar
I expected Profar to slightly repeat his number 2024, so yeah, this 80-game suspension I have included me for violating drug policy. Profar, after years of disappointment, shocking in his season at the age of 31 has appeared with stunning numbers across the statistical album (and durability to play 158 games). He got his big contract and well, now look at him. See you at the end of June.
We will never know how many of the stunning 2024 numbers are a direct consequence of the “decisions”. When San Diego Padres FROM Fernando Tate Jr.. He was suspended in 2022 (and in the end I didn’t play the season), I wasn’t so skeptical about his future. He was 23, stolen bases, he would still be great. Profar? Step it in the shallow ESPN leagues with only three outfielders, and I will not trade for it even in deeper formats – not because I am angry with it, but because its future productivity is doubt.
By the way, you also don’t want Atlanta Alex Verduugo (or Jarred Kelenic, Bryan of Cruz, Stuart Fairchild) In the fantasy league. Braves, of course, will not lose all their games, but things have changed (see Reynaldo Lopez news And this team is no longer a NL play -off lock.
Don’t be surprised… if Colorado Rockies /C Hunter Goodman becomes Top-10 fantasy catcher
Why didn’t we believe it a few weeks ago? Well, I predicted Goodman to hit 24 home runs (and I only walked 12 times) but I did it and thought Colorado would be a midfielder on a defensive minded (and old) Jacob Stallings. Through five games, Goodman began four behind the plate and in the second game was DH. Fired two home runs and stretched a walk – but he playsAnd that’s the key.
Goodman remains an unfinished work behind the plate, but it is cleaned for a (terrible) team that plays half of their games one mile above the sea. We underestimated playing time. Now I think it will hit 0.230 over 450 Pa – with 30 Homers and Hmm, 24 walks? People would be a top 10 fantasy catcher.
