Outlook Austin Riley
Elite Pedigree Makes Austin Riley a Premium Corner Infield Investment
Austin Riley enters the season securely locked in as the everyday starter at third base for a powerhouse Atlanta lineup. At 29 years old, Riley is in the absolute physical prime of his career, boasting an exceptionally clean health record and an elite everyday role that guarantees him maximum plate appearances. Batting in the heart of one of baseball's most relentless offenses, he is positioned to run driving counts and pile up massive runs and RBI numbers while benefiting from excellent protection in the batting order.
Our projections expect Riley to be a major five-category contributor, highlighted by nearly 22 home runs, 78 runs scored, and 78 RBIs over 573 at-bats. While our model projects a highly productive .260 batting average and a .309 on-base percentage, his career metrics suggest even higher upside, having previously registered seasons with a .283 average and 39 homers. His power is legitimate to all fields, making him a safe bet to easily clear the 20-homer threshold while providing stable ratios that won't sink your team's average.
Given his ADP hovering around the early-to-mid rounds, Riley represents an incredibly safe floor with an elite ceiling. He is a premier target for managers looking to anchor the third base position early with a proven contributor who lacks the playing-time risks of younger prospects or platoons. Draft him with confidence as a cornerstone of your fantasy infield.
Updated 3 days ago
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Outlook Travis Bazzana
Travis Bazzana's red-hot bat and secure leadoff role make him a must-start option.
The rookie has taken the league by storm, posting a superb .320 batting average with eight stolen bases over his last 30 days. He has firmly locked down the everyday second baseman role for the first-place Guardians, who currently pace the AL Central with a 34-27 record. With outfielder Steven Kwan temporarily away from the team, Bazzana's presence at the top of the Cleveland lineup is more crucial than ever.
While our season-long models projected a solid .275 average, Bazzana is currently outperforming those expectations with a .294 career average and a robust .389 on-base percentage. Given his elite minor league track record and premium exit velocities, this impressive debut looks entirely legitimate rather than a fluke. Expect his excellent plate discipline to keep his floor remarkably high even when the batting average experiences natural rookie regression.
Cleveland embarks on a six-game road trip this week, facing the Yankees and Rangers. He will run into some challenging matchups, including Gerrit Cole and Jacob deGrom, but gets a softer landing against Jack Leiter and his 4.50 ERA. Despite the tough opponents, Bazzana's steady volume in the leadoff spot makes him a mandatory Start in all formats.
Updated 3 days ago
