Outlook Brandon Valenzuela
Brandon Valenzuela snaps recent slump but remains limited by backup role and light schedule
Valenzuela recently broke out of an 0-for-18 slump, hitting .375 over his last two appearances, though he has struggled with a .200 average over the last month. He remains the primary backup catcher for a fifth-place Blue Jays squad currently sitting at 45-51 in the AL East. While his highlight reel includes multiple walk-off hits this season, he continues to slot in behind Alejandro Kirk in the catching hierarchy.
While his recent cold stretch is concerning, his overall season marks of seven home runs and a .322 on-base percentage reflect the promise that saw him graduate from the top prospect list earlier this summer. The significant uptick in strikeouts lately—14 in his last 35 at-bats—suggests he is still adjusting to major league pitching, but his season-long performance indicates his power is legitimate for the position.
Toronto has a light schedule this week with only three games on the slate, all coming at home against the White Sox starting on Friday. Given the limited volume and his role as a backup, Valenzuela is only projected for roughly nine at-bats and will likely see only one or two starts. With fewer opportunities to provide counting stats compared to everyday starters, he is not a viable play this week. Sit.
Updated 4 days ago
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Outlook Tyler Stephenson
Tyler Stephenson provides a steady bat heading into a favorable weekend in Colorado
Stephenson has been a consistent source of contact lately, posting a .304 batting average over the last 14 days and an even more impressive .327 mark over the past month. The fifth-place Reds currently sit at 43-52 and continue to rely on him as their everyday starter behind the plate and a primary middle-of-the-order threat. While the team is dealing with several injuries to key players like Matt McLain and Nick Lodolo, our data confirms Stephenson’s role is secure.
Under the hood, the recent batting average surge is a significant jump from his current .238 season mark and our projection of .237. While the contact is elite right now, his power has leveled off with just one home run over his last 52 at-bats. Given his career history of fluctuations in average, fantasy managers should expect some regression toward his baseline, though his ability to limit strikeouts recently makes this a higher-floor stretch than usual.
The week concludes with a very attractive three-game road series at hitter-friendly Coors Field against the Rockies. Cincinnati only has three games remaining on the schedule this week, but playing in the thin mountain air against a struggling Colorado pitching staff provides a massive ceiling for Stephenson to rediscover his power stroke. With high-upside matchups in the best hitting environment in baseball, he remains a locked-in option. Start.
Updated 1 day ago
