Outlook Moises Ballesteros
Moises Ballesteros mired in deep slump as Cubs search for offense
The fourth-place Cubs are on a three-game losing streak, and rookie designated hitter Moises Ballesteros has hit a wall, batting just .150 with no home runs over his last 14 days. This slump is part of a longer 30-day stretch where he hit just .087. Despite these struggles, he remains the primary designated hitter with teammate Matt Shaw on the injured list.
This icy stretch is a far cry from his season baseline of six homers and a .229 average over 49 games. Our models project Ballesteros to rebound toward a .261 average and a stellar .363 on-base percentage rest-of-season. His elite contact profile and career .283 mark from 2025 suggest this cold spell is a temporary rookie speed bump rather than a permanent regression.
Looking at the remaining four games this week, the Cubs face Oakland’s J.T. Ginn before hosting three Giants pitchers, including Robbie Ray and Landen Roupp. While San Francisco's starters offer vulnerable targets with ERAs over 4.20, Ballesteros's severe slump makes him too risky to trust in active lineups right now. Sit him for this week.
Updated 3 days ago
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Outlook Jac Caglianone
Jac Caglianone's Recent Power Surge Makes Him a Favorable Start
Caglianone is finding his rhythm, batting .304 with an impressive .407 on-base percentage and a home run over his last seven days. His recent hot streak provides a welcome boost to the fifth-place Royals (24-38), who are looking to build momentum in the AL Central. He remains locked in as Kansas City's everyday right fielder, making him a fixture in the heart of their batting order.
While his 14-day batting average of .209 shows some of his rookie-year volatility, Caglianone's improved plate discipline and elite raw power align well with our season projection of 14 home runs and a .236 average. The 23-year-old's prodigious exit velocities suggest his current upward trend is legitimate rather than a fluke. Expect his power production to stabilize and match his solid rest-of-season projections.
For the remainder of the week, the Royals play four road games against the Twins. Caglianone draws highly favorable matchups against Andrew Morris, Zebby Matthews, and Connor Prielipp, all of whom carry ERAs above 4.50, with only Joe Ryan presenting a true challenge. Given this highly exploitable pitching slate, he is an excellent fantasy option. Verdict: Start.
Updated 3 days ago
