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Eric Carabelle
multiple authors
Each week in MLB has its own story – full of surprises, both positive and negative – and imaginary manager Moving forward we will have to decide what to believe and what not. Maybe we can help. Don’t be surprised if any of these ideas come true…!
Don’t be surprised… If Houston Astros Of yordan alvarez Return to top-10 hitter status
It wasn’t long ago that the fantasy world regarded Alvarez as a top-10 hitter and, even though we’re only a week into the 2026 season, he certainly feels like he’s that player again. Alvarez homered in his second game of the season against Los Angeles Angels And then he scored home runs in each of the first two games of the next series. boston red sox. Alvarez has three multihit games in six chances, with more walks than strikeouts. Welcome back, Alvarez! He is a monster fantasy hitter in both point and roto/range formats.
Alvarez averaged 34 home runs and 96 RBI from 2021 to 2024. Only six players hit more home runs during those four seasons, and New York Yankees Of aaron judge The only player with a higher batting average than Alvarez, who hit .296. Alvarez neither stole many bases nor appeared in 150 games in a season, but was one of the few hitters who displayed his consistency in both power and plate discipline. His 2025 season being missed due to a hand fracture and ankle sprain should be quickly forgotten, although he was given several rounds off time in this year’s ADP.
Some call Alvarez the most risky because during his four years of greatness he averaged only 135 games and then, last season, he missed 114 games. In fact, some consider Alvarez, who is the only DH in many leagues (but not on ESPN), to be “fragile” – just as they view the Angels of mike trout Or minnesota twins Of Byron Buxton. OK, so we can’t guarantee Alvarez (or Trout… or Buxton, LOL) will bat .500 this season. They probably all fell short of 30 home runs. I choose to look at 2025 as an atypical Alvarez season. If no one in your league believes in Alvarez, bring him on.
Don’t be surprised… If los angeles dodgers DH/SP shohei ohtani Is actually a viable NL Cy Young Award candidate
While we should all agree that Ohtani is amazing and one of the most special players on the baseball diamond, I have to admit that I haven’t always been so positive about his pitching. Well, to be clear, it has always been expected volume. After all, Ohtani has made more than 23 starts in only one of his nine MLB seasons. While his career ERA after an impressive six innings of one-hit, shutout ball on Tuesday was cleveland patron Sitting at 2.96 (with a 1.07 WHIP and a solid 11.9 K/9), we should look at him as a hitter first. Whatever we get from the mound also adds to the fun.
The news is that Ohtani considers himself a pitcher first and foremost and after earning the Rookie of the Year award and three MVP awards, he wants a cy youngVery. Could this be the year? Again, I doubt that the mighty Dodgers, endowed with unparalleled pitching depth and capable of sleepwalking during the next six months in anticipation of the October playoffs, will risk anything physical with any of their pitchers, especially their MVP leadoff hitter. Ohtani may force the issue. Based on rate, he definitely looks like a top-10 pitcher, maybe not. pittsburgh pirates ace Paul SkenesBut sometimes strange things happen to even the best players.
Last season, I predicted the Dodgers would be extremely cautious when Ohtani returned after Tommy John surgery, and he played just 14 of 47 innings, mostly short starts. His rating stats were great, but fantasy managers probably weren’t happy overall. Ohtani made 28 starts and pitched 166 innings for the 2022 Angels. His 2.33 ERA and 1.01 WHIP (and 219 strikeouts) earned him the No. 4 AL Cy Young Award. no one was beating detroit tigers rhp Justin Verlander (1.75 ERA) that season. Maybe no one could surpass Skenes this year, but I’m sure Ohtani finally succeeded, maybe even getting back to 166 innings. This may be enough. Depending on your league’s rules, this could be his most valuable fantasy season ever.
Don’t be surprised… If Arizona Diamondbacks ss geraldo perdomo Is the team’s top fantasy option — again
What about Arizona’s extremely popular OF? corbin carrollYou tell? This is the right thing. Carroll may even win an MVP award or Hall of Fame in the future. Perdomo was never considered a great fantasy option and then last season he hit .290 with 20 home runs, 100 RBI, 27 stolen bases and more walks than strikeouts in 161 games. Carroll was very good last season, hitting 31 home runs, stealing 32 bases and driving in 107 runs… and Perdomo still outclassed him in the ESPN league 70 points. Some of it was volume, but mainly it’s about plate discipline. Why can’t this happen again?
Maybe it doesn’t matter, since Perdomo and Carroll are both universally rostered, but I read and heard from fantasy analysts all spring how Perdomo “could never do it.” it Again” and I wanted to say, um, why not? Perdomo singled to third right off Carroll for the Diamondbacks. He homered off the Dodgers’ ace yoshinobu yamamoto In the early game, perhaps a reminder that his stun power was legal from 2025 onwards. Plate discipline and speed is still real.
I wouldn’t count on Perdomo finishing fifth among all hitters in ESPN points again this season (Carroll finished 14th), but I expect them both to finish well in the top 20. Yes, Perdomo really is, and perhaps (since he went five rounds after Carroll in the ESPN ADP) he’s still underrated.
Don’t be surprised… If the Pirates O.F. oneil cruz Hit .259 this season
This number may seem pretty typical, but that’s what Cruz hit in 2024. Last season, he hit .200. Obviously, there is a big difference between the .259 and the .200. The flashy Cruz boasts immense raw power and rotten plate discipline, but when he makes contact, baseballs often fly too far. One went too far on Tuesday, when the lefty-hitting Cruz blasted one 444 feet. cincinnati reds LHP brandon williamson. On Tuesday, Cruz launched a three-run shot 407 feet away from the Reds LHP Andrew Abbott. Hmm, this could be important.
cruise hit only one home run Left-handed pitching in 2025. Today, he has two! In fact, one could easily claim that this player, interesting as he is, should Never Confront the leftists. He was 11-of-108 (.102/.224/.176) for a .400 OPS last season. Yes, the .159 BABIP played a role, but Cruz looked Terrifying Against the leftists. His .178 career batting average against lefties is 23rd worst for any qualified batsman this decade. There has been little change in a handful of plate appearances against some Reds lefties this week, but we can still be optimistic.
Meanwhile, the former shortstop was moved to center field in the fall of 2024 and, honestly, he looks like the worst center fielder in the game. He has already had a number of embarrassing games this season, including some that cost Skane the opening match. One could argue that Cruz should have learned how to play the outfield in the minor leagues as well. However, this does not seem likely.
Look, hitters constantly adjust their mechanics and strategy and perhaps Cruz, with the lefty’s few homers in the first week, did the same. After all, he hit a far more palatable .224/.266/.420 against left-handed pitching (six of his 21 home runs) in 2024. It’s still bad, but not as cruel.
I admit that I do not own hypothetical shares of Cruz anywhere. He played over 30% of his playing time both last season. He has yet to reach 30 home runs in a season, nor has he hit 75 in any season, though that’s not entirely his fault. I have him fade out, but that doesn’t mean he can’t get back to hitting .259 overall after all these strikeouts. Still, I suggest that, armed with this recent news about his homers from lefties, you try to trade him.
