Outlook Matt McLain
Matt McLain's recent power surge makes him a must-start middle infield option
McLain has been absolutely sizzling over the last seven days, batting .333 with three home runs and a massive 1.000 slugging percentage. His power surge is a vital lift for the fifth-place Reds (31-33), who are looking to break out of a four-game losing streak. With fellow infielder Elly De La Cruz sidelined on the injured list with a hamstring strain, McLain's role as the everyday second baseman is locked down and more critical than ever.
While McLain's season-long batting average sits at a cold .201, his recent tear shows flashes of his high-upside career baseline. Our models project him to finish with a .239 average, 12 home runs, and 12 stolen bases over 485 at-bats. While his current 1.412 weekly OPS will inevitably regress, his combination of pop and speed is highly sustainable as his overall ratios normalize.
The Reds have a six-game slate this week, starting on the road against San Diego where McLain gets look at Walker Buehler (4.53 ERA) and Lucas Giolito (4.86 ERA), followed by a home series against Arizona featuring a highly favorable matchup against Zac Gallen (5.74 ERA). Driven by his elite current form and secure volume, our model projects him for nearly 20 fantasy points this week. Start him.
Updated 1 day ago
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Outlook Kody Clemens
Kody Clemens is swinging a red-hot bat and locking down everyday at-bats in Minnesota.
Clemens has been on fire lately, batting .348 with two homers, six runs, and a stolen base over his last six games. This surge has been crucial for the third-place Twins (30-37), who are currently navigating a shoulder injury to outfielder Byron Buxton. Clemens has successfully cemented his role as the primary starting first baseman.
This hot streak is a massive step up from his career .217 batting average, and our rest-of-season projections expect some regression toward a .230 average. Still, his 26-game run of batting .291 with five home runs shows real growth. While his power is normally moderate, his increased playing time makes his projected eight homers and eight steals very attainable.
Minnesota has six games scheduled this week, featuring three on the road against Detroit and three at home versus St. Louis. Clemens faces a tough matchup in Troy Melton (1.74 ERA) but gets highly favorable looks against high-WHIP options like Framber Valdez (1.31 WHIP) and Matthew Liberatore (1.51 WHIP). Verdict: Stream
Updated 1 day ago
