Outlook Dalton Rushing
Will Smith's injury opens the door for a surging Dalton Rushing.
Rushing has been blistering hot, batting .500 (7-for-14) with a home run over his last seven days for the first-place Dodgers (42-24). While he typically slots in behind Will Smith, an active neck injury to the starting catcher opens the door for immediate playing time.
Rushing's recent surge has raised his 2026 average to .287 with eight home runs, a major step up from his .203 rookie campaign. While our models expect regression toward a .227 baseline with 10 projected homers rest-of-season, his elite current form is worth riding.
The Dodgers have six road games on tap, beginning with Pittsburgh's Paul Skenes (3.21 ERA) before facing highly vulnerable arms like Jared Jones (4.82 ERA) and David Sandlin (8.10 ERA). With heavy volume expected due to the open catcher slot, he is a premier play. Verdict: Start.
Updated 1 day ago
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Outlook Keibert Ruiz
Keibert Ruiz has established himself as an everyday starting catcher with a high-contact profile.
Ruiz enters the season locked into the primary starting catcher role for the Washington Nationals, providing excellent volume at a premium position. At just 27 years old, Ruiz has plenty of experience under his belt and is entering his physical prime. His solid health history and durability give him a high floor for playing time in a lineup that will rely heavily on his veteran presence.
Looking at his career stats, Ruiz has consistently demonstrated elite bat-to-ball skills, holding down a career strikeout rate well below the league average. Our season projection models expect him to hit around .243 with eight home runs and 50 RBI over 304 at-bats. While his power projections are modest, his ability to put the ball in play makes him a solid average asset who won't tank your ratios, unlike many other options at the bottom of the catcher pool.
For fantasy drafts, Ruiz represents a safe, reliable option. He is a stable floor play for managers who choose to wait on the catcher position, offering steady at-bats, a respectable batting average, and decent counting stats without the risk of major category drag.
Updated 1 day ago
