We asked our group of Featured Pros for their best, boldest predictions for the second half of the 2023 MLB season. Here is what they said.
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10 Bold Predictions for the Second Half
What is one BOLD prediction you have for a hitter in the second half and why?
Jorge Soler (OF – MIA)
“Jorge Soler will lead the National League in home runs. He has always been a player that can hit for unmatched power, but this year he also has a career-low strike-out rate and career-high walk rate, suggesting he’s seeing the ball extremely well. His xSLG, wOBA, & xwOBA are all his highest since 2019, when he set a career, and AL-high, 48 home runs for the Royals. He is the type of player that can go on a massive power binge and could provide a big boost if he can sustain his improvements.”
– Tristan Davis (SEMO Fantasy Sports Podcast)
Ronald Acuna Jr. (OF – ATL)
“Ronald Acuna becomes the first hitter to start the 40-50 club. Acuna continues his magical season by hitting over 40 homers and stealing 50+ bases. The Braves outfielder already broke records this season by hitting 20+ homers, stealing 40 bases, and driving in 50 runs before the All-Star break. Acuna has a sizeable lead in multiple offensive categories and continues to get stronger, including hitting nine homers in June. He is the catalyst of the Braves’ offense leading the league in hitting, and his career season leads to breaking records and winning the NL MVP. ”
– Dennis Sosic (Fantasy Six Pack)
Sean Murphy (C – ATL)
“Sean Murphy finishes the year as a top-20 overall fantasy hitter. Of course, saying a batter hitting .306 with a .400 on-base percentage and 17 home runs so far will be one of fantasy’s best hitters come the end of the season is a smidgen obvious, but Murphy has just been that good. The 28-year-old is making all kinds of elite, quality contact, finishing the first half with a .428 xwOBA and a 19.4% barrel rate, both of which ranked in the top five in the league among qualified hitters. Locked into the middle of a productive Atlanta lineup, Murphy has also been catching fire at the plate lately, at least where the long ball is concerned. After hitting just three home runs from May 6 through June 25, Murphy has connected on five home runs in his last 30 plate appearances, including one in each of the last three contests before the All-Star break.”
– Ben Rosener (Tigers Rebuild)
Tyler O’Neill (OF – STL)
“I boldly predict that St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tyler O’Neill (back) comes off the injured list and has a torrid second half in 2023. O’Neill has been sidelined since early May due to lingering back issues. He is progressing well from his back injury and is expected to be reinstated from the injury list soon after the MLB All-Star break. Before landing on the IL, the 28-year-old struggled this season, slashing .228/.283/.337 across 29 games. O’Neill’s power/speed combo makes him an intriguing fantasy option when healthy. The Cardinals’ slugger has had a huge second half before, hitting .296 with 19 home runs, 43 RBI, 51 runs, and eight stolen bases over 285 plate appearances in 2021. O’Neill will bounce back and has done it before with a surging second half to lead fantasy managers to a championship in 2023. ”
– Brad Camara (RotoBaller)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B – TOR)
“I predict Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will finish in the top 3 in the AL MVP voting. I’ve written before that he is a great player to target in a trade because he has underperformed so drastically that the regression should be a boon to fantasy teams. His xwOBA is .395 (current .342), and his slugging is 102 points lower than expected. While Ohtani for MVP should be a lock, I think Guerrero’s second half will be enough to easily catapult him into the top 3.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)
What is one BOLD prediction you have for a pitcher in the second half, and why?
Zack Wheeler (SP – PHI)
“Zack Wheeler will win NL Cy Young. It’s supposed to be bold, right? Wheeler has a career-best swinging strike rate and walk rate in the first half of 2023. His K% is even slightly better than his career average, leading to a great K-BB%. So why is he sitting at a 4.05 era and 1.19 whip? He has a career-worst .328 BABIP, but his pitches all individually look pretty good in terms of velocity and individual swinging strike rate. The Phillies have been disappointing in the first half, but I would look for them to make a wild card push and Zack Wheeler to lead the way in the second half. ”
– Tristan Davis (SEMO Fantasy Sports Podcast)
Spencer Strider (SP – ATL)
“Spencer Strider becomes the first NL pitcher since Max Scherzer in 2018 to surpass 300 strikeouts in a season. Strider has produced an MLB-best 166 strikeouts at a 14.3 K/9 across his 18 starts. His slider and changeup are producing over 50% whiff rates, leading to an MLB-best 11-2 record. Strider has followed his excellent 2022 breakthrough season with an even more impressive display of pitching dominance this season. The Braves are limiting the length of his outings to save their ace for the Braves playoff push, with Strider averaging only under six innings per start. This bodes well for the right-hander to finish strong on his way to an NL Cy Young. ”
– Dennis Sosic (Fantasy Six Pack)
Bryan Woo (SP – SEA)
“Bryan Woo will be a key player in a significant number of fantasy pennant chases. One of a number of impact fantasy starters in the Seattle Mariners’ rotation, Woo might fly under the radar a bit purely based on how good the likes of George Kirby, Bryce Miller, and Luis Castillo are – he really shouldn’t, though. In 34.2 innings this season, the right-hander has pitched to a 3.63 ERA, a 3.08 FIP, 43 strikeouts, and just nine walks allowed, while opponents haven’t logged an xwOBA over .300 against any of Woo’s four pitches – four-seamer, sinker, slider, and cutter – with a usage rate above 6.0%. Elsewhere, the rookie ranks in the 84th percentile or better in xSLG (84th percentile, .335), xBA (86th percentile, .208), K% (86th percentile, 30.5%) chase rate (85th percentile, 32.5%), and xwOBA (93rd percentile, .262). And while he has just one pitcher win in his first seven Major League starts, he should see plenty more if he keeps pitching like this. ”
– Ben Rosener (Tigers Rebuild)
Sandy Alcantara (SP – MIA)
“My bold prediction is that Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara becomes the ace fantasy managers drafted to become the best starting pitcher in the second half of 2023. The 27-year-old has struggled mightily in 2023, posting a 4.72 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and a 94:33 K: BB over 114 1/3 innings, a far cry from what Alcantara did in 2022. Alcantara had a career year by posting a 2.28 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, a 23.4 K% over 228 2/3 innings. The 2022 NL CY Young Award winner was among the few pitchers to surpass 200-plus innings in the past two seasons. Although his Statcast numbers are down across the board in 2023, Alcantara will figure it out and bounce back to be the fantasy ace that leads managers to a title. ”
– Brad Camara (RotoBaller)
Blake Snell (SP – SD)
“Blake Snell will win the NL Cy Young Award. I want this to be Clayton Kershaw, who has the storyline to make it happen and is currently taking his regular mid-season vacation. However, what Snell is doing will have voters’ attention for the rest of the year. This qualifies as bold, given that Zac Gallen is currently +200, whereas Snell is at +950 for the award. I think the lefty has rediscovered the pitch mix that led him to the award in Tampa, and as long as he sticks with this, he could become the seventh player ever to win the Cy Young in both leagues.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)
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