Outlook Brandon Valenzuela
Brandon Valenzuela is catching fire as Toronto's everyday starter, making him a highly coveted catcher option.
Valenzuela has been tearing the cover off the ball, hitting .400 with three home runs over his last seven days for the third-place Blue Jays, who are currently on a two-game winning streak. With Alejandro Kirk still sidelined on the injured list with a thumb fracture, Valenzuela has firmly secured his role as Toronto's everyday catcher.
While his 1.604 OPS over the last week is unsustainable, his overall season growth is highly encouraging. He is currently outperforming his career .256 batting average, but his excellent contact skills and strong underlying hard-hit data suggest he will remain a highly productive fantasy asset even when his hot streak cools down.
The Blue Jays have a six-game home stretch this week, though they face tough matchups against the Phillies and Yankees. While squaring off against elite arms like Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sanchez caps his upside, Valenzuela's volume and red-hot bat make him a viable option. Verdict: Start.
Updated 1 day ago
Latest News Brandon Valenzuela
Outlook Ceddanne Rafaela
Ceddanne Rafaela's hot bat makes him an appealing weekly option despite mixed matchups
The fifth-place Red Sox (27-36) have enjoyed a massive offensive surge from their primary center fielder. Rafaela is absolutely sizzling at the plate, hitting .318 over his last 14 days and an eye-popping .400 over his last five games. Although he dealt with minor lower back tightness late last month, his return to daily action has stabilized a Boston lineup currently missing key injured bats like Trevor Story.
Our data suggests Rafaela is experiencing a true offensive breakout, though some regression to his baseline is expected. While his current .282 season average is a massive step forward from his .245 career mark, our models project him to settle around a .249 average rest of season. Still, with his rare blend of burgeoning power and speed—projected for 12 homers and 10 steals—he is proving to be a highly valuable multi-category asset.
Boston plays six games this week, starting with three on the road against Tampa Bay before returning home to face Texas. Matchups will be a mixed bag; he will face vulnerable arms like Ian Seymour (5.65 ERA) and Jack Leiter (4.85 ERA), but must also navigate elite options like Jacob deGrom and Drew Rasmussen. Given his superb form and steady playing time, he is a recommended fantasy option. Verdict: Start.
Updated 1 day ago
