Outlook Liam Hicks
Liam Hicks' sophomore power surge keeps him locked in as an elite fantasy catcher.
Liam Hicks has cooled to a .200 average over his last 14 days, though he rebounded with a .300 mark and six walks over his last seven games. The fourth-place Marlins (29-34) are on a three-game winning streak and rely on Hicks as their primary designated hitter and backup catcher. His everyday offensive role is completely secure despite his backup classification behind the plate.
Hicks' sophomore campaign has featured a major power breakout, with 12 home runs in 61 games easily eclipsing the six homers he hit in 120 games last year. While our models expect his current .268 average to settle closer to his projected .241 mark, his elite plate discipline keeps his floor remarkably high. The power jump is legitimate, establishing him as a top-tier fantasy asset.
Looking at the remaining schedule, Miami hosts Tampa Bay for a three-game weekend series. Hicks faces challenging matchups against Drew Rasmussen (3.36 ERA) and Shane McClanahan (2.45 ERA) before a highly favorable draw against Griffin Jax (4.83 ERA). Because of his elite on-base skills and persistent power, he must remain in active lineups. Verdict: Start.
Updated 1 day ago
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Outlook Eugenio Suarez
Eugenio Suarez Struggles in Return from IL but Retains Everyday Role in Cincinnati
Since returning from a back injury, Suarez has struggled at the plate, batting just .171 with one home run and 13 strikeouts over his last 14 days. The fifth-place Reds (31-30) desperately need his bat to warm up, especially with teammates Ke'Bryan Hayes and Elly De La Cruz currently sidelined on the injured list. Despite the slump, our data confirms he remains a lineup staple, slotting in as Cincinnati's primary designated hitter.
While his recent form is discouraging, it represents a small-sample dip compared to his massive 52-homer campaign last year. Our models project him to rebound and finish the season with 22 home runs and 67 RBIs, indicating that his current power outage is a temporary fluke. Fantasy managers should remain patient, as his underlying power metrics suggest a regression toward his career norms is coming.
With the first half of the week already behind us, Suarez and the Reds head to St. Louis for a three-game weekend series starting June 5. He faces favorable matchups against Kyle Leahy (4.25 ERA) and Matthew Liberatore (4.35 ERA) before a tougher Sunday duel with Michael McGreevy. However, due to his cold bat, he is best left on fantasy benches for now.
Updated 1 day ago
