Outlook Samad Taylor
Samad Taylor rides a blistering hot streak into a busy six-game road trip
Taylor has been sizzling of late, posting a .379 batting average with a home run and two stolen bases over his last eight games. He has stepped into a vital role for the second-place Padres (37-33), who are currently on a two-game winning streak. With outfielders Ramon Laureano and Miguel Andujar both sidelined on the injured list, Taylor has secured a regular turn in the lineup.
While his current hot streak has caught the fantasy community's attention, our models expect heavy regression from his current .955 OPS, projecting a modest .231 rest-of-season average. However, his speed is entirely legitimate, recalling the eight stolen bases he swiped in limited action during the 2023 season.
This week, the Padres play six road games, beginning with highly favorable matchups against St. Louis hurlers like Kyle Leahy (4.64 ERA). The week finishes with a tough matchup against Texas ace Jacob deGrom (3.17 ERA), but Taylor's category-fusing hot hand makes him worth riding. Verdict: Stream.
Updated 1 day ago
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Outlook JJ Wetherholt
Rookie Sensation JJ Wetherholt Shakes Off Injury and Delivers High-End Production at Second Base
JJ Wetherholt is firmly entrenched as the Cardinals' everyday second baseman, shaking off a brief groin injury earlier this month to reclaim his spot atop the lineup. The stellar rookie has been on a tear, batting .348 over his last seven games and helping the second-place Cardinals (38-31) keep pressure on the division leaders.
While his raw career average sits at .255, Wetherholt's recent hot streak and .293 average over the last 30 days align nicely with our season projection of a .275 mark. His elite bat-to-ball skills and excellent speed (on pace to comfortably reach double-digit home runs and steals) make this breakout look entirely sustainable.
St. Louis has a six-game slate this week, starting at home against San Diego before visiting Kansas City. Wetherholt draws several highly exploitable matchups, including San Diego's Lucas Giolito (4.35 ERA) and Griffin Canning (7.17 ERA), making him an outstanding option at second base. Start him with complete confidence.
Updated 1 day ago
