-
Eric Karabell
Each week in MLB is its own story – full of surprises, both positive and negative – and fantasy managers must decide what to believe and what not to believe in the future. Maybe we can help. If one of these thoughts is realized … don’t be surprised!
New Chicago Cubs OF Kyle Tucker Hit 30 home circuits in the first two complete seasons with the Astric of Houston. Then he delivered his best figures in 2023, reaching. 284 with 29 explosions, 112 products produced and 30 stolen bases. Tucker, 26, was not the fantastic baseball option n ° 1 this season, but he got closer.
Don’t be surprised… if Tucker finishes 2025 as a fantastic option n ° 1
Tucker succeeded among his three strokes and stole two bases in the return of the return of 11-10 Tuesday on the Dodgers of Los Angeles. On Wednesday, he stole another base. Tucker currently has seven circuits, 25 products produced, seven interceptions and 25 points in his first 26 games with the Cubs. It strikes .314 with a 1,060 ops and five additional walks that stick withdrawals. It looks like one of the best game strikers, driving everyone (strikers and launchers) Fantastic points ESPN and after only New York Yankees OF Aaron judge on roto / oriented categories Miss players.
Tucker missed half of last season due to a fracture of Tibia (barely a recurring injury to worry in the long term), and he struck 0.289 with 23 circuits and 11 interceptions during the 78 games in which he played. Double these figures and wow – We see a hitter at its peak. The judge is still as great, hitting a babip .415 and Dodgers DH / SP Shohei Ohtani Always doing things in the form of Ohtani, with six circuits, five interceptions and the attraction awaiting pitching, but Tucker has long established himself as a fantastic option of the Top 10. Now, it may be time for him to direct the pack.
Another thing about Tucker and Cubs: they enter Thursday at 16-10 years old, after facing the Dodgers (7 times!), Arizona Diamondbacks (7 times), San Diego Padres (6 times) and Texas Rangers (3 times). The Cubs lead the League in racing per game and OPS. Just wait until Tucker (a free agent pending after the season) and his friends are starting to face the rest of the league, with a wonderful section in May against the Miami Marlins,, Chicago White Soxthe Marlins again, then the Cincinnati Reds And Colorado Rockies. I like the oppressed Milwaukee BrewersBut do not be surprised if the cubs run away with the central NL by July and end up winning more games than the Dodgers.
Don’t be surprised … if New York Mets 1b Pete Alonso blows for an average with higher stick than Juan Soto
Alonso between Thursday by hitting .341 with a 1,121 ops. He entered the season as a career striker .249 with a .854 OPS. It is clear that Alonso, 30, will not strike .341 all season and Soto should improve its current. 233 brand, but how much? Soto’s relatively slow start -up does not concern Babip. It strikes a lot more bullets on the ground, hunting throws outside the striking area and complaining about the protection of the alignment. Soto only reached .242 for the Padres / Nationals in 2022, although everyone forgets it. Ok, so he should hit closer to .280, but he would not be the first striker to fight a little after having signed a long -term contract.
Focus on Alonso here because he has made real changes to the plate. First of all, we notice its contact rate of 83.5%. It was 71.7% last season. Its withdrawal rate is decreasing, it attracts more walks and the bullets on the ground have turned into records. Alonso connected to a hard ground with two strikes at the end of the area for a double double of the 10th round on Wednesday – a land that it would have been more likely to miss during past seasons. This season, he protects the plate better, and it shows.
Alonso is not a quick man, but he is known for hitting the baseball bullets hard and far, having struck 53 circuits as a recruit, and exceeding 40 explosions in two other seasons. This season, he does quite other than launching home circuits. It is more complete, with an average of the stick of .346. Can he continue? I would not project Alonso to strike .240 from now on. It should be more .275 with 35 circuits. Will Soto have reached. 275 in the last five months? This can be an interesting race.
Don’t be surprised … if Philadelphia Phillies Rhp Aaron Nola finishes as a fantastic launcher of the top 25
Well, of course, it came. Nola is among the most decorated starters because it is 0-5 with an MPM of 6.43 and a whip of 1.61. Last season, he won 14 games with an MPM of 3.57 and a whip of 1.20, and his 197 stick withdraws were the 13th in baseball. He is undoubtedly the most sustainable starting launcher since 2017 and, although he abandons Home Runs and his career 3.75 ERA is not great, Nola is reliable and offers a volume. The right sleeves count, even if they are rarely excellent.
Only four qualified departure launchers have a higher babip than the brand of .364 of Nola, and we could really end the section here. He was unlucky. Also Braves of Atlanta LHP Dirty chrisRhp Padres Dylan stops and a myriad of others. Here is a sample of excellent starters who entered in May 2024 with an era on the wrong side of 4.80, whether infused by Babip or not: Garrett Crochet,, Michael King,, Pablo Lopez. They all rebounded. It happens.
Nola has a reduced fast ball speed, but that doesn’t seem to be the problem. It is among the leaders of the league in the lowest output speed, the least barrels and, despite its six circuits, the ball level on the ground. Nola may not present the rest of the season to an ERA of 3.75, but it is much more likely than a brand of 6.43. Now is the time to go get Nola, not to throw it for anything and allow a bonded to enjoy good things. (Don’t let Marlins Rhp fall Sandy Alcantara,, Cleveland goalkeepers Rhp Tanner Bibee,, Kansas City Royals Rhp Seth Lugo or Diamondbacks RHP Zach Gallen, either.)
One more thing: Nationals of Washington LHP Mackenzie Gore To a .397 Babip, third higher among the qualifications. Last April, Son .392 Babip was also the third highest rate. He continued to have a good season. (In 2023, his April Babip was a more typical thing. 293.) Things happen just in April, I suppose.
Don’t be surprised … if the Yankees of Jasson Dominguez struggle to keep a full -time role
Dominguez, 22, a massive international signature of hype at the age of 16, was a notable perspective for a good reason, because it offers a strong combination of power, speed and ability to make walks. Who wouldn’t want that? Dominguez made his debut in 2023, awarded Tommy John surgery and everyone expected a big 2025 season – perhaps even a myriad of recruit votes of the year. It can happen. It may not be.
The fantasy managers began to go from “The Martian” to the shallow ESPN standard format, where it is not registered in only 25% of the leagues. However, even in typical deeper formats with five field players, it may not be such a big investment in 2025.
Several things jump by regularly looking at Dominguez, things that prospect the experts may not expect. A switch stroke, Dominguez seems lost compared to the left -handed pitch. OK, he therefore only has 187 PA in a career as a large fever, but there are 6 for 54 (.111, and a .428 ops, although with a .177 babip) against the left -wing. Compared to right -handers, Dominguez has her eight home runs, but still a high withdrawal rate. This season, Dominguez is withdrawing a clip of 32.2%, the higher seventh among the qualifications. He also walks, but the pitches pivot him with out -speed stuff, and it works. Overall, it is a low output speed (87.5 MPH) and a hard blow rate, few barrels and an expected mealing average .222.
It is far too early to abandon Dominguez in any league with five places on the ground, but it does not seem that it will establish enough contact to strike even for an average of the stick of. 200. He must improve against left -handers, where Yankees will have to find a peloton partner. As it is, rejuvenated Trent Grisham deserves to play, and there is little comparison between the two defensively. Dominguez looked horrible in the central field last season, which cost him the playing time, and he was not better in the left field in 2025. Give Dominguez 500 PA and he can reach 20 circuits and steal 20 bases, but he may not reach 500 PA without improvement with discipline and defense of the plate.