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 2 days ago
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Outlook Lawrence Butler
Lawrence Butler is heating up at the plate, making him an intriguing weekly option as he takes over everyday outfield duties.
Lawrence Butler is surging, batting .375 over his last seven days and raising his 14-day average to .308. His power is returning with a pair of massive home runs recently, and he has secured a secure everyday role in right field for the 35-36 Athletics, especially with Brent Rooker currently sidelined on the injured list.
While Butler's overall 2026 average sits at a disappointing .186, this hot streak aligns much closer to his 2024 and 2025 career baselines where he averaged over 20 home runs and 18 stolen bases. Our projection models expect a rest-of-season rebound toward a .241 average with double-digit homers and steals, indicating his early-season slump is behind him.
The Athletics have a busy seven-game week at home against Pittsburgh and Los Angeles. Butler faces favorable matchups against struggling starters like Mitch Keller (5.14 ERA) and Grayson Rodriguez (8.42 ERA), making him an excellent plug-and-play option. Verdict: Start.
Updated 2 days ago
