Jackson Merrill-Padres-OF
Jackson Merrill broke out of his recent slump on Tuesday, going 3-for-5 with 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI, and 1 SB. The big game raised his season line to .213 with 8 HR, 32 R, 30 RBI, and 12 SB through 294 PA. Merrill has struggled to find consistency at the plate this season, but he continues to provide fantasy value with his speed. At just 22 years old, the talent is still obvious, and if Tuesday's performance is the start of a turnaround, he has enough power/speed upside to be a difference-maker over the second half. The skills are there (24% K, 8% BB, 10% Barrels, and 46% Hardhit).
Bobby Witt Jr.-Royals-SS
Bobby Witt Jr. was 1-4 with 1 RBI, 1 BB, and 1 SB against the Nationals. Witt Jr. hasn't shown much power over the last two weeks, but he continues to fill up the box score, hitting .321 with 0 HR, 8 R, 3 RBI, and 8 SB across 60 PA. Even without the home runs, he has remained an impact fantasy player by getting on base and wreaking havoc on the bases. On the season, Witt is batting .290 with 9 HR, 38 R, 20 RBI, and 28 SB through 335 PA. His combination of batting average and elite speed keeps him among the top overall fantasy assets despite the recent power drought. The power will come because he is still hitting the ball in the air (42% FB) and hard (12% Barrels and 52% Hardhit).
Eduardo Rodriguez-Diamondbacks-SP
Eduardo Rodriguez went 7 IP and gave up 1 ER on 6 H, 3 BB, and 5 K's against the Angels. Rodriguez has quietly turned in strong results, posting a 2.45 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 88.1 IP. Dig a little deeper, though, and the profile becomes less exciting with just an 18% strikeout rate and 8% K-BB%. He has benefited from a low .256 BABIP and an elevated 86% strand rate, which have helped keep runs off the board. His 4.77 SIERA points toward significant regression, making him a risky fantasy option despite the impressive ERA.
J.J. Bleday-Reds-OF
J.J. Bleday was 0-2 with 1 RBI and 1 BB against the Mets. Over the last two weeks, Bleday has hit .213 with 3 HR, 8 R, 7 RBI, and 1 SB across 55 PA. The batting average has been held down by a tiny .194 BABIP, but he has continued to impact the baseball with a .234 ISO and 112 wRC+. On the season, Bleday is hitting .265 with 13 HR, 27 R, 35 RBI, and 2 SB through 195 PA. His power gains look legitimate, and the recent stretch suggests there could be even more production coming if the BABIP normalizes. He has made the necessary changes to become a dangerous major league hitter. Bleday has cut his strikeout rate from 27% to 18% while hitting the ball harder than ever (12% Barrels and 47% Hardhit). The arrow is pointing up for Bleday despite the recent down stretch.
Peter Lambert-Astros-SP
Peter Lambert went 7 IP and gave up 1 ER on 2 H, 0 BB, and 5 K's against the Tigers. Lambert has been a solid contributor this season, recording a 3.23 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 64.0 IP. He has shown respectable strikeout ability (22% K), but an elevated 10% walk rate has limited the overall profile. Lambert's 4.37 SIERA suggests he has pitched a bit over his head, although he has done a good job avoiding damage with just 0.84 HR/9. He profiles as a useful streaming option rather than a set-and-forget fantasy starter.
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