Outlook Pete Crow-Armstrong
Pete Crow-Armstrong is heating up at the plate just in time for a highly favorable homestand.
The fourth-place Cubs are looking to climb the division standings, and their everyday center fielder is doing his part with a strong .300 batting average over his last seven games. Crow-Armstrong, who secured his long-term future in Chicago with a massive extension, is showing excellent growth with a .382 on-base percentage over the past week.
While his current .237 season average reflects some contact volatility, his blend of power and speed aligns well with our rest-of-season projection of 20 home runs and 28 stolen bases. After his spectacular 30-30 campaign last year, his recent uptick in hard contact suggests his premium fantasy profile is secure.
The Cubs play six home games this week, starting with a highly favorable matchup against Oakland's Gage Jump and his 7.20 ERA. Facing several vulnerable starters later in the week, including Robbie Ray, makes Crow-Armstrong an elite option to run wild on the basepaths. Verdict: Start.
Updated 3 days ago
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Outlook Dominic Smith
Dominic Smith continues to rake as a vital cog in the first-place Braves lineup
Dominic Smith has been a steady contributor for the first-place Braves, who lead the NL East with a stellar 40-20 record. Over his last 30 days, the veteran has maintained a superb .310 batting average with a 14-to-10 hit-to-strikeout ratio. With key injuries taxing Atlanta's depth, including Kyle Farmer on the shelf, Smith has firmly secured the everyday designated hitter role.
While our season-long projections originally pegged Smith for a modest .237 average, his actual performance tells a far more encouraging story as he is currently slashing .325/.359/.496 on the season. Though some regression toward his career .251 baseline is likely, his elite contact skills and high-level fastball hitting suggest his resurgence is legitimate enough to sustain deep-league utility.
Atlanta hosts six home games this week against Toronto and Pittsburgh. Smith will face a mixed bag of matchups, featuring tough tests against Kevin Gausman and Braxton Ashcraft, but also highly favorable spots against Patrick Corbin and a struggling Bubba Chandler. With six starts on tap, he remains a strong weekly option to boost your batting average. Verdict: Start.
Updated 3 days ago
