Wyatt Langford-Rangers-OF
Wyatt Langford was 0-3 with 1 RBI and 3 BB against the Athletics. Langford came into the game swinging a hot bat (.356 AVG, 3 HR, 16 R, 6 RBI, and 2 SB in his last 14 GP). He is hitting .250 with 19 HR, 65 R, 55 RBI, and 18 SB in 500 PA. It hasn't been a bad season because he is going to join the 20 HR/20 SB club, but fantasy owners were expecting more from him. He hit .253 with 16 HR/19 SB in 2024. The thought was that he could challenge 25 HR/25 SB with above-average counting stats, but that failed to account for the Rangers' lineup taking a major step back this year. Langford has also seen his strikeout rate jump from 21% last year to 27% this year. He has also been more patient (12% BB). He needs to figure out the right combination between being patient and aggressive because he has shown the ability to make contact and hit the ball hard (13% Barrels), but has done it all together. Hopefully, he can finish the year strong and have a true breakout season in 2026.
Juan Soto-Mets-OF
Juan Soto was 1-4 with a stolen base against the Marlins. The narrative around Soto has been disappointing, given the large contract that he signed in the offseason. He is hitting .254 with 35 HR, 102 R, 84 RBI, and 26 SB. From a fantasy perspective, he has produced another massive season. The average hasn't been there, but a realistic chance at a 40 HR/30 SB season with 200+ R+RBI is anything but a disappointment. His plate skills remain elite (19% BB and 19% K) as well as his quality of contact (18% Barrels and 56% Hardhit). A bounce back in his BABIP (.260) would push his average to the .270 range, which isn't the .300+ many expect but would push him into true five-category territory. Soto has currently produced the fifth most roto value behind only Cal Raleigh, Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Kyle Schwarber.
Cody Bellinger-Yankees-OF
Cody Bellinger was 1-5 with an RBI against the White Sox. Bellinger is hitting .279 with 26 HR, 75 R, 83 RBI, and 11 SB in his first season in the Bronx. It has been what we expected for Bellinger. Yankee Stadium is a great place for left-handed hitters and those who hit the ball in the air. Bellinger has hit .306 with 17 HR at home compared to .251 with 9 HR on the road. Yankee Stadium is the perfect fit for Bellinger because he makes a ton of contact (13% K), hits a lot of fly balls (48% FB), and makes just enough hard contact (8% Barrels and 39% Hardhit) to be a 30 HR bat. Bellinger is a top 25 hitter by auction dollars earned thanks to his five-category production.
Byron Buxton-Twins-OF
Byron Buxton was 2-5 with a HR (29), 2 R, and 2 RBI against the Padres. Buxton is hitting .271 with 29 HR, 81 R, 70 RBI, and 21 SB. This has been a career year for the 31-year-old. It has been a mixture of health and improved skills. Buxton has found the perfect balance between contact (26% K and 8% BB) and hitting the ball hard (17% Barrels and 55% Hardhit). He has also done a good job lowering his launch angle, which has resulted in fewer fly balls. This has improved his batting average without sacrificing his power. Buxton currently ranks as the 20th most valuable hitter, which is a huge value given where he was drafted.
Brandon Woodruff-Brewers-SP
Brandon Woodruff went 4.1 IP and gave up 5 ER on 10 H, 2 BB, and 3 Ks against the Blue Jays. This was Woodruff's first dud of the year. He came into the game with a 3.10 ERA and 0.87 WHIP through 49.1 IP (9 GS). Woodruff now has a 3.69 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. He has been better than expected, given the injuries he was returning from and how long it took him to get back this year. Woodruff is missing bats (33% K), and it is backed up by his swinging strike rate (13% SwStr). He has also been able to maintain excellent control, just like in past years. His Stuff+ numbers are down from past seasons, but the results speak for themselves. He is currently at 95.1 IP for the season between the minors and his time with the Brewers. The last time he eclipsed the 100 IP mark for 2022. The Brewers have no plan to shut him down and have slow-played his return to keep him healthy heading towards the playoffs.
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