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You should always have the big picture in mind when it comes to your season-long fantasy baseball leagues. Putting too much stock in a small sample size might cause you to make a decision that hurts you in the long run. That said, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be taking stock of what’s happened in the immediate past. It can be useful when it comes to weekly or especially daily lineup decisions, waiver wire considerations, tracking who might be coming into more playing time, etc.
The Rotoworld Player Rater is a handy tool that’s among the extensive offerings in Season Pass. Each week, I’ll be using the Player Rater to look at the hottest hitters, position by position, over the last week, and providing commentary.
*The following data is based on 5x5 Roto scoring and covers games played from May 20-26.
Editor’s Note: Stay ahead of the competition from wire to wire with rankings, customizable projections, trade evaluator, exclusive columns and more in our Season Pass. And start using optimized lineups on Yahoo!, DraftKings and FanDuel with our DFS Toolkit!
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Catcher
Rank | Player | Tm | Pos | ||||||
#1 | NYM | C | 2.07502 | 1.93020 | -0.43232 | 2.19607 | 3.02255 | 8.79 | |
#2 | PHI | C | 2.07502 | 1.05786 | 3.31089 | 0.03970 | 0.61994 | 7.10 | |
#3 | NYY | C | 2.07502 | 2.80254 | -0.43232 | 0.42699 | 1.10046 | 5.97 | |
#4 | SD | C | 1.12206 | 1.49403 | -0.43232 | 1.07249 | 0.13942 | 3.40 | |
#5 | CIN | C | 1.12206 | 1.05786 | -0.43232 | 0.96894 | 0.13942 | 2.86 | |
#6 | COL | C | 0.16911 | 1.05786 | -0.43232 | 0.95616 | 0.61994 | 2.37 | |
#7 | MLW | C | 1.12206 | 1.05786 | -0.43232 | 0.33621 | 0.13942 | 2.22 | |
#8 | WAS | C | -0.78384 | 1.05786 | -0.43232 | 1.44702 | -0.34110 | .95 | |
#9 | OAK | C | 0.16911 | 1.05786 | -0.43232 | 0.09078 | -0.34110 | .54 | |
#10 | BAL | C | -0.78384 | 0.18552 | -0.43232 | 1.83432 | -0.34110 | .46 |
Wilson Ramos’ fantasy owners finally got some power from the backstop over the weekend, as he went deep on Friday before clubbing a pair of bombs Saturday. He was 10-for-22 at the plate overall last week, with seven RBI and eight runs scored, and he’s batted cleanup for the Mets each of the last two contests. Ramos has always been a groundball hitter but has taken it to another level this season, as his 61.5 percent groundball rate is easily tops among qualifiers. Hopefully he can lower that number a bit to take advantage of a healthy 44.9 percent hard-hit rate … J.T. Realmuto has doubled his home run output for the season over his last seven games, going deep four times while also adding a pair of stolen bases. All of the Statcast data says that his numbers should be even better than they are, as he’s hitting the ball harder than ever (90.8 mph exit velocity) and there’s a significant gap between his xwOBA (.383) and WOBA (.336). This could be the beginning of a big run … Gary Sanchez beat up on the poor Orioles’ pitching staff last week with long balls in three straight games and back-to-back four-RBI showings. He remains tops in the game with a 16.2 percent barrel/PA rate and is tied for fourth with a 94.2 mph exit velocity. As is the case with Realmuto, the Statcast data says Sanchez’s output should be even better than it has been. He certainly remains the premier power threat at the position …
First Base
Rank | Player | Tm | Pos | ||||||
#1 | CHC | 1B | 2.07502 | 3.23871 | 1.43929 | 3.43598 | 2.54203 | 12.73 | |
#2 | TOR | 1B | 3.98092 | 2.80254 | -0.43232 | 0.03970 | 1.58098 | 7.97 | |
#3 | SD | 1B | 1.12206 | 1.49403 | -0.43232 | 1.56335 | 1.58098 | 5.33 | |
#4 | PHI | 1B | 1.12206 | 1.05786 | 1.43929 | 0.55609 | 1.10046 | 5.28 | |
#5 | PIT | 1B | 1.12206 | 0.18552 | -0.43232 | 1.43425 | 2.06151 | 4.37 | |
#6 | OAK | 1B | 2.07502 | 1.49403 | -0.43232 | 0.31067 | 0.61994 | 4.07 | |
#7 | LA | 1B | 0.16911 | -0.25064 | 1.43929 | 0.05247 | 2.06151 | 3.47 | |
#8 | SF | 1B | 2.07502 | 0.62169 | -0.43232 | 0.09078 | 1.10046 | 3.46 | |
#9 | OAK | 1B | 1.12206 | 0.62169 | -0.43232 | 1.05972 | 0.61994 | 2.99 | |
#10 | NYY | 1B | 1.12206 | 0.18552 | -0.43232 | 0.53055 | 1.58098 | 2.99 |
Anthony Rizzo completed a ridiculous homestand with a .500/.563/.929 batting line, three home runs and 10 RBI over seven games. Really, though, he’s been on an absurd run for over a month now. After his OPS fell to a season-low .629 on April 17, Rizzo has since posted a .353/.449/.733 batting line with 11 dingers and 30 RBI across his last 30 contests. While Rizzo’s hard-hit rate is actually down a bit at 36.2 percent, he’s sporting easily his best ever barrel rate (11.4 percent) … Where there’s Smoak, there’s fire. (Sorry.) Much of the attention with the Blue Jays recently has been rightfully focused on their youngsters, but Justin Smoak has quietly gone on a power binge in recent days, hitting five over the boards in his last five games, including his first multi-homer game of the season on Sunday. The hot stretch has allowed him to boost his OPS from a so-so .747 to a healthy .834. Along with a career-best 13.9 percent barrel rate, Smoak has taken big strides with his plate discipline this season with a career-high 17.9 percent walk rate and career-low- 19.4 percent strikeout rate … It’s been well-documented how Eric Hosmer has alternated good and bad years at the plate during his career. Thanks to a .352/.396/.489 line in May, it’s looking like he might keep that trend going with a bounce-back season following a disappointing first year in San Diego. Hosmer continues to pound the ball into the ground (54.2 percent groundball rate), but he’s posted his best hard-hit rate (45.8 percent) in the Statcast era …
Second Base
Rank | Player | Tm | Pos | ||||||
#1 | BAL | 2B | 0.16911 | 1.05786 | 3.31089 | 2.31240 | 2.06151 | 8.91 | |
#2 | TOR | 2B | 2.07502 | 0.62169 | -0.43232 | 1.73076 | 1.10046 | 5.10 | |
#3 | KC | 2B | 0.16911 | 1.05786 | 1.43929 | 0.68519 | 0.61994 | 3.97 | |
#4 | NYY | 2B | 0.16911 | 1.05786 | -0.43232 | 1.17605 | 1.58098 | 3.55 | |
#5 | MLW | 2B | 0.16911 | 0.18552 | 1.43929 | 0.96894 | 0.13942 | 2.90 | |
#6 | BAL | 2B | 0.16911 | 1.05786 | -0.43232 | 0.41422 | 1.58098 | 2.79 | |
#7 | NYM | 2B | 1.12206 | 1.49403 | -0.43232 | -0.18019 | 0.61994 | 2.62 | |
#8 | ARZ | 2B | 0.16911 | 0.62169 | -0.43232 | 1.08526 | 1.10046 | 2.54 | |
#9 | NYY | 2B | 0.16911 | 0.62169 | 1.43929 | 0.59441 | -0.34110 | 2.48 | |
#10 | MIN | 2B | 1.12206 | 0.62169 | -0.43232 | -0.42561 | 1.58098 | 2.47 |
Hanser Alberto has been playing a lot lately for the Orioles and just completed an 11-for-25 week with a home run and a couple stolen bases. He’s even been leading off against left-handers. While the role and possible multi-position eligibility could be enough to make him relevant in AL-only leagues, there’s little to get excited about here … Welcome back, Lourdes Gurriel! Yuli’s brother didn’t hit a single home run in his first 13 games of the season before being sent down to the minors last month, so naturally he’s gone deep in all three tilts since being recalled. That includes a 4-for-4 effort on Sunday. Gurriel has started in left field each of those three games and already looks more comfortable out there than he did on the infield. The 25-year-old is worth a speculative pick-up, but I do wonder whether he’ll ultimately provide enough from a power and speed perspective to be a must-own in mixed leagues … I was skeptical coming into the season about DJ LeMahieu being mixed league-relevant. Pegged for a utility role, no longer at Coors Field and also no longer stealing many bases, there just wasn’t much to get excited about. Well, the rash of Yankees injuries has made LeMahieu an everyday player, and while he’s still not really running (2-for-2 in stolen base attempts), LeMahieu has maintained a high average thanks to just a 12.8 percent strikeout rate and healthy 48.1 percent hard-hit rate. I’ll be interested to see whether he continues to bat leadoff after the Yankees get healthier …
Third Base
Rank | Player | Tm | Pos | ||||||
#1 | BOS | 3B | 3.02797 | 2.36637 | 3.31089 | 3.06145 | 2.54203 | 14.31 | |
#2 | COL | 3B | 3.02797 | 2.80254 | -0.43232 | 3.69418 | 2.06151 | 11.15 | |
#3 | MIN | 3B | 3.02797 | 1.49403 | -0.43232 | 0.58164 | 2.06151 | 6.73 | |
#4 | OAK | 3B | 2.07502 | 1.93020 | -0.43232 | 0.67242 | 1.58098 | 5.83 | |
#5 | MIA | 3B | 2.07502 | 2.80254 | -0.43232 | 0.05247 | 1.10046 | 5.60 | |
#6 | WAS | 3B | 1.12206 | 1.05786 | -0.43232 | 0.80152 | 2.54203 | 5.09 | |
#7 | ARZ | 3B | 1.12206 | 2.36637 | -0.43232 | 0.91785 | 1.10046 | 5.07 | |
#8 | KC | 3B | 1.12206 | 1.49403 | -0.43232 | 1.33069 | 0.61994 | 4.13 | |
#9 | STL | 3B | 1.12206 | 1.05786 | -0.43232 | 1.20159 | 1.10046 | 4.05 | |
#10 | CIN | 3B | 0.16911 | 1.49403 | -0.43232 | 1.44702 | 0.61994 | 3.30 |
What a week it was for Rafael Devers, who posted an even 1.500 OPS while slugging four home runs. He also added two more stolen bases, giving him a career-high seven steals already this season. I don’t know that we can count on him continuing to run considering his history and his league-average-ish sprint speed. Devers did remake his body over the offseason, though, so it’s possible he’s feeling spry enough to continue being aggressive on the bases. I wish he’d hit more balls in the air – his flyball rate is just 28 percent – but Devers is tied for seventh in baseball in exit velocity (93.3 mph) and he’s taken huge strides with his plate discipline with just a 15 percent strikeout rate. It’s certainly looking like a breakout season for the 22-year-old … Miguel Sano has been what we should have expected since returning from the injured list, as he’s hitting home runs (five), barreling the ball (25 percent barrel rate) and swinging and missing a lot (35.1 percent strikeout rate). We know he’ll be a zero for you in two categories, but he should remain one of the bigger power threats in the game for as long as he’s able to stay healthy … The Cardinals finally decided to move Matt Carpenter down in the batting order from leadoff to fifth, and he’s gone 6-for-12 with a home run in his new spot (Dexter Fowler, though, is 0-for-10 with five strikeouts after being elevated to the top of the order). The Cards are counting on Carpenter heating up after a cold start like he did last season. It could very well happen, but the Statcast data isn’t as promising this time around with a hard-hit rate that’s over 10 percentage points lower (44.7 percent to 34.6 percent) and barrel rate that over five percentage points lower (13.7 percent to 8.6 percent). Carpenter does continue to hit a ton of flyballs (48.6 percent flyball rate) and his HR/FB rate (10.4 percent) is likely to improve a bit …
Shortstop
Rank | Player | Tm | Pos | ||||||
#1 | NYY | SS | 3.98092 | 2.36637 | -0.43232 | 0.16880 | 2.54203 | 8.63 | |
#2 | ATL | SS | 2.07502 | 1.49403 | 1.43929 | 1.55057 | 1.58098 | 8.14 | |
#3 | COL | SS | 2.07502 | 1.05786 | -0.43232 | 0.54332 | 2.06151 | 5.31 | |
#4 | BOS | SS | 1.12206 | 1.05786 | -0.43232 | 1.04695 | 1.58098 | 4.38 | |
#5 | LA | SS | 0.16911 | 1.05786 | 1.43929 | 0.43977 | 1.10046 | 4.21 | |
#6 | PHI | SS | 0.16911 | 0.62169 | 1.43929 | 0.28512 | 1.58098 | 4.10 | |
#7 | OAK | SS | -0.78384 | -0.68681 | 3.31089 | 0.55609 | 1.58098 | 3.98 | |
#8 | ARZ | SS | -0.78384 | -0.68681 | 1.43929 | 2.19607 | 1.10046 | 3.27 | |
#9 | KC | SS | -0.78384 | 0.62169 | 1.43929 | 1.18882 | 0.61994 | 3.09 | |
#10 | MIN | SS | 0.16911 | 1.05786 | -0.43232 | 0.18157 | 1.10046 | 2.08 |
No one has taken advantage of the Orioles’ historically-bad pitching staff more than Gleyber Torres. He’s sporting an lol-worthy .465/.540/1.233 batting line with 10(!) homers in 12 contests versus the O’s this season, which includes a couple two-homer games against them last week. Torres has also been drawing more walks of late with five across his last eight tilts, which is encouraging given that he had only three free passes over his 29 contests prior to that … It’s been an up-and-down season for Dansby Swanson, but it was on the upswing this past week when he went 10-for-27 with three long balls and a stolen base. The 25-year-old’s barrel rate (13 percent), hard-hit rate (42.9 percent) and launch angle (15.2 degrees) are all way up this season, and he’s accomplished that while also cutting his strikeout rate all the way down to 17.8 percent. Each of Swanson’s last 15 starts have come in the No. 2 spot in the Braves’ batting order … Corey Seager’s first season back from Tommy John surgery hasn’t gone as well as hoped, but he has been pretty good over his last 11 games with an .882 OPS, three dingers and 12 RBI. Seager’s flyball rate is way up this season at 43.7 percent, but perhaps he should revert back to what he had been doing because his exit velocity (87.4 mph) and hard-hit rate (35.5 percent) are way down. I still believe in the talent even if the batted ball data isn’t backing him, so Seager is someone I’d buy low on …
Outfield
Rank | Player | Tm | Pos | ||||||
#1 | MIN | OF | 2.07502 | 3.23871 | 1.43929 | 3.33242 | 3.50307 | 13.59 | |
#2 | MIN | OF | 2.07502 | 3.23871 | 1.43929 | 2.55783 | 2.06151 | 11.37 | |
#3 | NYY | OF | 2.07502 | 2.80254 | 1.43929 | 1.05972 | 2.06151 | 9.44 | |
#4 | TB | OF | 1.12206 | 1.49403 | 5.18250 | 0.94339 | 0.61994 | 9.36 | |
#5 | DET | OF | 1.12206 | 1.49403 | 5.18250 | 0.68519 | 0.13942 | 8.62 | |
#6 | WAS | OF | 1.12206 | 2.36637 | -0.43232 | 3.19055 | 2.06151 | 8.31 | |
#7 | TB | OF | 1.12206 | 1.05786 | 5.18250 | 0.42699 | 0.13942 | 7.93 | |
#8 | ARZ | OF | 2.07502 | 1.49403 | -0.43232 | 2.05420 | 2.54203 | 7.73 | |
#9 | PHI | OF | 1.12206 | 1.93020 | 1.43929 | 1.29238 | 1.58098 | 7.36 | |
#10 | SD | OF | 2.07502 | 1.49403 | 1.43929 | 0.94339 | 1.10046 | 7.05 |
The first half of May didn’t go well for Max Kepler, who put up a lowly .476 OPS with just one dinger over his first 15 games of the month. Since then, though, he’s been unstoppable with a 1.496 OPS, four home runs, 14 RBI, 14 runs scored and a stolen base in eight contests. Statcast has Kepler’s exit velocity at a healthy 91.4 mph and his hard-hit rate at a career-best 44.5 percent, all the while he’s striking out at just a 14.5 percent clip. The 26-year-old is currently on pace for 37 home runs and over 100 runs and RBI for the red-hot Twins … Clint Frazier entered last week in the midst of a 12-game stretch where he produced just a .384 OPS. It’s amazing what a week of facing the Baltimore and Kansas City pitching staffs can do for you, as Frazier posted a 1.206 OPS while homering three times and driving in nine runs over six contests. I do worry some about Frazier’s long-term playing time outlook once the Yankees are at full strength, as he’s been prone to streakiness and is a poor defender in the outfield … Kevin Kiermaier has played 47 games this season without so much as a hint of an injury, which in and of itself is quite an accomplishment. He’s also been coming through for fantasy owners lately with three long balls, three steals and a 1.201 OPS over his last seven games. Statcast continues to not be a big fan of Kiermaier, as he’s below average in everything other than sprint speed. He’s also yet to bat higher than sixth this season after routinely hitting leadoff in past years. Still, it’s mostly about health with the 29-year-old, as he should be a solid power/speed guy as long as he can stay on the field … Juan Soto has managed to lift his OPS from .759 all the way up to .901 following a 10-game stretch that’s seen him bat .486/.535/.838 with two bombs, 11 RBI and eight runs scored. Soto’s strikeout rate is up a bit and walk rate down a bit from last season, but a 25 percent and 13.8 percent, respectively, that’s still awfully impressive for a 20-year-old (especially the walk rate). The wunderkind’s exit velocity (90.1 mph), barrel rate (13.2 percent) and launch angle (11.5 degrees) are all up from last year …
