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 2 days ago
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Outlook Tristan Gray
Tristan Gray's Red-Hot Surge Makes Him a Premier Corner Infield Target
Tristan Gray is swinging a blistering bat for the third-place Twins (30-37), hitting .467 with eight RBIs, a stolen base, and a home run over his last seven games. Fully locked in as Minnesota's everyday starter at third base, Gray's elite run production has provided a massive lift to an offense currently navigating several key lineup injuries.
This incredible surge has pushed his season average to .266 with four home runs, pacing well ahead of our models' modest pre-season projections of a .206 average. While his career metrics suggest regression is coming, his secured everyday role makes him a highly productive corner infield option while he maintains this elite plate discipline.
Minnesota has six games scheduled this week, featuring road matchups against Detroit and a home series against St. Louis. He will face several highly exploitable opposing pitchers, including Framber Valdez (4.21 ERA), Kyle Leahy (4.42 ERA), and Matthew Liberatore (4.48 ERA). Weekly Verdict: Stream.
Updated 2 days ago
