Eric Karabell
Multiple Authors
Each week in MLB is its personal story — filled with surprises, each constructive and detrimental — and fantasy managers should determine what to imagine and what to not imagine shifting ahead. Perhaps we can assist. If any of those ideas come true… do not be surprised!
Don’t be surprised … if San Diego Padres RHP Mason Miller is the very best pitcher in fantasy baseball this season
It certain would not be daring to say Miller is the highest reliever, wouldn’t it? So, let’s shoot for the celebrities right here. It’s going to take some main statistical doing, however Miller, who entered Wednesday having permitted nary an earned run over his previous 29⅔ innings (relationship again to final August), is not merely shining in run prevention. He has confronted 27 hitters this season, allowing a Luis Arraez single, a Spencer Torkelson stroll — and that is it! Miller has fanned 20 out of 27 hitters, or 74.1%. No different aid pitcher has whiffed greater than 45%.
There is not any precedent for any aid pitcher — at the very least this century, with lowered innings as in comparison with the likes of Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers and Bruce Sutter — to complete forward of each beginning pitcher in fantasy factors or roto/classes codecs. Baltimore Orioles LHP Zack Britton famously posted a 0.54 ERA and 47 saves in 2016, however he completed second amongst relievers to Kenley Jansen and ninth amongst pitchers (credit score Tristan H. Cockcroft for the analysis). Seattle Mariners RHP Edwin Diaz was the No. 5 pitcher in 2018 when he saved 57 wins with a 1.96 ERA. Mariano Rivera by no means completed first amongst pitchers in fantasy. Eric Gagne, at the same time as he received the NL Cy Young award in 2003, did not do it, both.
However, baseball was totally different in 2003, when 44 pitchers reached 200 IP and 5 received 20 video games. Last season, solely three pitchers eclipsed 200 innings, and no person received 20 video games. This drop in quantity opens the door for a very dominant reliever to slip into the highest spot. If Miller continues to stay spotless (or near it) within the runs division over 60-or-so innings, that may be a actually large deal. If he continues to fan 70% of hitters, properly, that can be a actually large (and unprecedented) deal, as Miller is pacing towards 150-plus strikeouts. Only 43 pitchers fanned 150 final 12 months! Miller is unreal. Perhaps he may even win a couple of video games and surpass 40 saves, too.
Ultimately, there is a lengthy solution to go, nevertheless it’s truthful that we’re seeing baseball analysts focus on Miller as a professional contender to problem high starters resembling Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Paul Skenes for the NL Cy Young award. Focus greater, fantasy managers! I’d not commerce Skenes or Detroit Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal for Miller straight up (nor for in all probability 8-10 different starters for now), however that is making us suppose. Only Los Angeles Angels RHP Jose Soriano ranks higher on the Player Rater amongst pitchers and a mere 5 starters have extra fantasy factors. Perhaps Miller actually can obtain this.
Don’t be surprised … if Padres OF Fernando Tatis Jr. earns second base eligibility quickly
Perhaps you haven’t paid a lot consideration to early eligibility tendencies, however Tatis began a pair of video games at second base lately and, relying in your league guidelines, he could have already certified on the new place or could quickly achieve this. This is probably large information! Second base is not precisely loaded with fantasy expertise nowadays — definitely not like shortstop or outfield.
Seven shortstops have been simple top-100 picks in ESPN ADP and 20 outfielders have been. At second base, there may be Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte after which … questions. Chicago Cubs star Nico Hoerner is a pleasant participant, however he gives little energy. Houston Astros veteran Jose Altuve is outdated and trending down. Did you attain for Atlanta Braves 2B Ozzie Albies in drafts? Many in all probability did, sensing they could not wait too lengthy for competency.
Tatis is a legit top-10 fantasy choice, no matter format and, for the reason that Padres don’t make use of a legit backup center infielder on the lively roster, the group moved 2B Jake Cronenworth to SS for a couple of video games when Xander Bogaerts wanted a relaxation. Tatis, a former SS, moved to 2B. This would possibly happen extra usually and, to be clear, fantasy managers will need to benefit from this if/when Tatis provides eligibility, as a result of it’s far simpler to discover a free-agent outfielder so as to add to groups, particularly in ESPN leagues after we want solely three of them lively. Thank you, Padres.
As for different eligibility ideas, we knew St. Louis Cardinals rookie SS JJ Wetherholt would play 2B, and he’s now eligible there in ESPN codecs. Tigers rookie SS Kevin McGonigle has been taking part in 3B. Hey, we could by no means know when it’s going to assist, however including eligibility in-season can be an enormous deal. New York Mets SS Bo Bichette and Mariners 2B Brendan Donovan are eligible at 3B now, too. For these needing catching assist, Cardinals DH Ivan Herrera and Padres DH Luis Campusano (and probably Cleveland Guardians DH David Fry) will play their tenth video games behind the plate quickly. This issues!
Don’t be surprised … if Washington Nationals SS CJ Abrams delivers a 30-100-30 season
Yes, you learn that proper. Abrams, a comparatively skinny shortstop, has by no means hit greater than 20 residence runs or knocked in additional than 65 runs in any of his three full-time seasons. Yet, three weeks into 2026, we’re already predicting these monster numbers? Things have modified!
Abrams usually appeared like he was attempting to hit for energy in prior seasons, doing so on the expense of plate self-discipline and, actually, recreation scenario. Still, he wasn’t an influence hitter. Abrams has been extremely constant for the previous three seasons, with between 18-20 HR, 60-65 RBI and comparable batting averages and metrics resembling contact fee, strikeout fee and extra. He additionally was much better within the first half of seasons (.791 OPS) in comparison with the second half (.649 OPS).
This model of Abrams, by way of 16 video games, is hitting .356/.426/.695 with six residence runs, 19 RBI and 4 stolen bases — with a raised 8.8% stroll fee, a lowered 14.7% strikeout fee, extra contact and Barrels, extra fly balls, far fewer floor balls, a decreased chase fee and a considerably increased launch angle fee. In brief, Abrams, for years a leadoff hitter who stole myriad bases and went exterior his perceived ability set aiming for energy, is now hitting in the course of the lineup (with OF James Wood main off). After in depth offseason work with hitting coaches to regulate his technique, this new mixture of mechanics and self-discipline is working. We hope he can maintain it going.
It feels wild to even take into consideration a participant like Abrams, heretofore identified for pace and a few irritating on- and off-field transgressions, turning into a legit energy hitter, proper? A 30-100 season is not terribly uncommon (14 hitters did it in 2025), neither is a 30-30 marketing campaign (seven cases final 12 months). A 30-100-30 season, nevertheless, is uncommon. It has been achieved simply 45 instances in historical past, though six instances up to now three years, with Mets OF Juan Soto, Los Angeles Dodgers unicorn Shohei Ohtani, Guardians 3B Jose Ramirez, Kansas City Royals SS Bobby Witt Jr., Braves OF Ronald Acuna Jr. and Mariners OF Julio Rodriguez all doing so. Few questioned if these gamers had big-time energy. We’re not questioning it with Abrams anymore.
