J.J. Wetherholt-Cardinals-2B
J.J. Wetherholt went 2-for-5 with 1 R, 1 RBI, and 1 SB against the Phillies. Wetherholt is hitting .244 with 17 HR, 87 R, 48 RBI, and 14 SB across 571 PA, giving him a well-rounded fantasy profile despite the mediocre batting average. His 16% strikeout rate stands out as a major positive, while the 45% HardHit rate supports the idea that the power is legitimate even though his 8% Barrel rate is fairly ordinary. The combination of 17 homers, 14 steals, and 87 runs gives him plenty of ways to contribute, and tonight's stolen base was another example of that balanced production. He's a strong hold in all standard formats despite his average dropping to .244.
Dylan Crews-Nationals-OF
Dylan Crews went 2-for-4 with 1 RBI against the Marlins. Crews is hitting just .214 with 10 HR, 40 R, 29 RBI, and 8 SB through 322 PA, but the underlying contact quality gives reason to remain patient. His 24% strikeout rate is manageable, while a 10% Barrel rate and 44% HardHit rate suggest he has produced better contact than the batting average indicates. The .255 BABIP leaves some room for improvement, although there isn't enough here to expect the average to suddenly become a strength. Crews still has enough power and speed to hold in deeper formats, but he's more of a developmental hold than a player fantasy managers should be counting on right now.
Agustin Ramirez-Marlins-C
Agustín Ramírez went 1-for-3 with 2 R against the Nationals. Ramírez is hitting .240 with 2 HR, 23 R, 17 RBI, and 4 SB across 173 PA, with a strong 12% BB rate helping offset a 23% strikeout rate. The underlying offensive profile remains fairly modest, though, as his 4% Barrel rate and 39% HardHit rate haven't translated into much power so far. The .309 BABIP has helped keep the batting average respectable, but there isn't much evidence of a power breakout coming based on the quality of contact. The playing time and speed give him some fantasy value, but he's more of a deeper-league option until the power starts showing up.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.-Yankees-2B
Jazz Chisholm Jr. went 2-for-4 with a HR, 2 R, and 2 RBI against the Blue Jays. Chisholm is hitting .220 with 18 HR, 60 R, 51 RBI, and 34 SB across 474 PA, with the stolen bases continuing to carry a significant portion of his fantasy value. The 30% strikeout rate is the biggest issue with the profile, but the 9% Barrel rate and 42% HardHit rate show that there is enough quality contact to support the power. His .284 BABIP hasn't been particularly unlucky given the amount of contact he makes, so expecting a major batting-average correction is probably unrealistic. The combination of power and 34 steals still makes him a must-start despite the batting-average risk.
Chandler Simpson-Rays-OF
Chandler Simpson went 2-for-3 with 1 RBI against the Orioles. Simpson is hitting .310 with 50 R, 28 RBI, and 35 SB across 493 PA while striking out just 9% of the time, making his batting average one of the strongest parts of his fantasy profile. The trade-off is an almost complete lack of power, as he has yet to hit a home run and owns a 0% Barrel rate with only a 13% HardHit rate. That means his fantasy value is almost entirely tied to batting average, runs, and stolen bases, leaving very little margin for error if the batting average drops. Still, a .310 average and 35 steals over nearly 500 PA make Simpson a valuable option for fantasy managers looking for speed and batting-average help, but he hasn't quite delivered on the elite stolen-base totals as expected.
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