The weather and some of these hitters are GETTING HOT. Unfortunately, roster spots are limited, and we can’t pick up anyone and everyone willingly.
Decisions have to be made, and if you miss a heater (good lord, Joc Pederson), it’s not the end of the world. However, if you’re like me, bench Gerrit Cole a week because his first start is against the Athletics in Sacramento, but ended against the lowly Royals in Kansas City, arrogance is guaranteed.
Also, what happened to the Royals who walked their walls to get a better home run? I was expecting FIREWORKS from Vinnie Pasquantino, Maikel Garcia, Jac Caglianone, Salvador Perez, etc., but what we have is one big case of meh. At least Carter Jensen likes to break out, and Bobby Witt Jr. Are you an MVP candidate? I have to stop doing my best on side park improvements every off season…
1B Spencer Horwitz (PIT)
What’s not to love about a .292/.394/.470 slashline through 54 games?? Spencer Horwitz is having the best season of his career so far and just moved from the middle of the order to RHP!
The former Blue Jays outfielder is not hitting, but seven home runs is respectable for a guy who is hitting around .300. Combine that with his new lead role in front of top 10 offenses this season, and you have a nice quality bat. Think of him as a mix of Alec Bohm and Luis Arraez. They’re not the sweetest names, but they can work for fantasy programs in 12+ team leagues.
Horwitz also has more walks than strikeouts this season, making him a good option in OBP leagues. The points league could be better elsewhere, given his poor split with LHP.
THE TRUTH
1B/OF Gavin Sheets (SD)
Holy shit, Gavin hits second for the Padres?? The former White Sox DH is on pace for his first 20+ HR season and is hitting in a key spot for a Padres offense that should improve in the second half as Fernando Tatis Jr. continuing to get up.
Unfortunately, like Horwitz mentioned above, Sheets also struggles with LHP. He had 25 PAs against them all season and is likely to continue playing. Unlike Horwitz, Sheets has twice as many hits as walks, and is hitting .252 rather than .292.
Without deep formats, Spreadsheets are nothing but streaming in RHP.
FICTION
1B/2B/3B Curtis Mead (WSH)
2025 Spring Training darling and former trade piece CRISTOPHER SANCHEZ is finally making some noise.
Curtis Mead is having a breakout season with the Washington Nationals. He has a .250/.368/.508 slashline, a .385 wOBA supported by a .375 xwOBA, eight HR, three SB, and has just three more strikeouts than walks.
While Mead started the season at shortstop, he is hitting better against RHP (172 wRC+, six HR) than against LHP (110 wRC+, two HR). Normally, playing for the Nationals would be bad for most hitters, but he always bats second or third, between James Wood and CJ Abrams.
Now that Mead is an everyday player, he should be listed in 12+ team leagues, considering 10-team leagues where 3B is a weakness (or if you just lost Maikel Garcia).
THE TRUTH
UT Joc Pederson (TEX)
What a week for Young Joc. He now has eight homers this season, with five coming since May 26. Only UT/DH Pederson is a legendary gem when he hits, even in his club role.
Pederson, 34, is preparing for a lost 2025 season. His .203 BABIP and .147 ISO were both career lows, despite average plate direction numbers. Although luck was not on his side, his xwOBA was only .315, showing some decline. However, he returned to a quality .347 xwOBA this season, with a .354 wOBA.
Still, Pederson benefited the most from a big drop in bad RHP this week between the Astros and Royals. He could have another hot hit or two this season, but like Sheets, he’s primarily a pitcher who’s best left on the waiver wire unless he starts hitting .270+ in 2022 or 2024.
FICTION
SP Walbert Urena (LAA)
The Angels found a diamond in the rough with Walbert Urena. The 22-year-old hard-throwing RHP is flying under the radar because of his unorthodox approach and lack of pedigree (again, being the Angels’ SP).
Urena is like Framber Valdez on the right. He doesn’t strike out many (21.1%) and allows a lot of walks (12.9%), yet finds success by inducing weak contact on the ground (50.8% GB rate, 3.27 xERA).
Some of his peripherals are not perfect (4.38 xFIP, 4.58 SIERA), making regression impossible. However, there is enough to like about Urena to continue to hold her for now. His next start is against the Rockies in Anaheim. They should be fired by all means and tested weekly thereafter.
TRUTH (as broadcaster)
SP Gage Jump (ATH)
The Athletics called up top prospect Gage Jump this past week. Don’t say,,,you are doing a Jump,,,
Enough of that… Jumping is exciting, but he may not be ready yet. His first start wasn’t enough to make that claim, but it didn’t go well. He allowed four runs in five innings, with five strikeouts, nine hits, one walk, and one HBP, not a bad debut. However, the Mariners are the fourth worst offense against LHP this season.
This could be starting jitters, lack of seasoning, or the fact that Jump has to start all his home games on the bandbox. Sutter Field is not the ideal home park for any pitcher. It is the second-worst park since last season, just behind Coors Field.
Jump has been successful at each level in the minors (age 22 in High-A and Double-A, age 23 in Triple-A), yet we haven’t found enough in the minors to want him at any position. His 16.8% K-BB in Double-A improved to 21.3% in Triple-A, but we want more from the top starting prospect in MLB
Maybe he can take the plunge in 2027, maybe struggle until the Athletics make their home in Las Vegas in 2028. I won’t buy until we see the league with a few starts in a row, especially with a lot of home starts.
FICTION (this year)
SP Troy Melton (DET)
The Tigers were forced to shut down Melton before the season due to an elbow injury, but he’s back and recently posted two goals in Detroit. Melton threw 12 2/3 IP, with two ERs, zero HR, and only eight hits allowed. He owns a 1.42 ERA through those two starts.
Unfortunately, his ERA is supported by a 4.87 xERA, 5.16 xFIP, and a 5.80 SIERA. This is largely due to Melton having as many walks (four) as strikeouts so far. He has been very lucky to start this season, but it is close to saying that he will not be able to maintain the success. Melton struck out 16 batters and walked just two in 11 2/3 IP during the minors’ rehab season.
This start of the season could be to get his bearings after a significant period away from MLB hitters. There’s a lot to like about Melton, especially after his MLB takeover last season, where he excelled as a starter, but he was primarily a tall man.
Melton’s fastball velocity is a full under 2025 MPH (97.1), and he could return in future starts. Schedule him in his two starts against the Rays and Twins.
TRUE (if he stays healthy)
