We have made it through another week of the MLB season, and we made it past the All-Star Break. Like every other week, there were some awe-inspiring and rough performances to dig into. This weekly column will help highlight some hot and cold players for fantasy purposes. Some players are already rostered in many places, so trades may be in order. Other players may be widely available, making a potential waiver wire claim in the cards.
With only a few games this past week, we will look at the likely risers and fallers for July.
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Fantasy Baseball Risers & Fallers
Risers
Jarren Duran (OF – BOS)
Jarren Duran’s breakout season has finally arrived. After a bit of a slump, Duran has been locked in since June 1 and is playing even better in July. Since July 1, Duran is hitting .500 with 10 extra-base hits, including a home run. Duran is leading off for the Red Sox and has scored 11 runs while stealing two bases. He has a 10.3% barrel rate and 44.8% hard-hit rate, and it doesn’t look like he’s slowing down any time soon.
William Contreras (C – MIL)
William Contreras was off to a slow start in his first season in Milwaukee but has been on fire entering the second half. He is riding a 10-game hitting streak in July, which was good for a .429 batting average. Contreras is hitting second most days and has two home runs with a .214 ISO and 1.099 OPS. He’s only striking out 15.2% of the time, which means a decent amount of balls in play, which is good with a 61.1% hard-hit rate. Expect a big second half of the season from Contreras.
Mike Ford (1B – SEA)
Mike Ford has been quite the journeyman in his career but, for now, looks to be established with the Mariners finally. Ford has been highly locked in this July, hitting .361 with three home runs, a .361 ISO and a 1.161 ISO. The power-hitting Ford is making opposing pitchers pay with a 12% barrel rate and a 56% hard-hit rate. Ford has not produced like this for an entire season, but he is locked in right now, which means locking him into your fantasy lineups.
CJ Abrams (SS – WAS)
The 22-year-old CJ Abrams plays daily, and his Minor League promise is finally living out in the Big Leagues. Abrams is producing so well that he is leading off for the Nats, and that should not stop any time soon. Since July 1, Abrams has been hitting .395 with six extra-base hits, including a home run and seven stolen bases. Abrams is only striking out 10.6% of the time and has scored 12 runs. If he continues these improved skills, Abrams could be a fantasy game-changer in the second half.
Andres Gimenez (2B – CLE)
It took some time this season, but Andres Gimenez has found his 2022 form with the Guardians. In July, Gimenez is hitting .250, which is not crazy, but he has two home runs and seven stolen bases. The improved power and all the steals bring fantasy goodness. He’s only striking out 17% of the time with a .225 ISO. He’s even barreling the ball 12.5% of the time, which will continue to bring fantasy goodness.
Fallers
Ty France (1B, 3B – SEA)
Ty France has been having a disappointing season, and July has been no exception. He only has four hits for the month for a .114 batting average. France is striking out nearly 31% of the time with a .029 ISO and 7 wRC+. His quality contact could be better, with a 4.3% barrel rate and a 30.4% hard-hit rate. With Ford hitting so well and the Mariners competing for a playoff spot, France must start producing quickly.
Myles Straw (OF – CLE)
We were expecting little power from Myles Straw, but batting average skills, leading to stolen bases, were still somewhat expected. In July, Straw is hitting .205 with zero stolen bases while striking out 33.3% of the time. Straw has a .045 ISO to go with zero barrels. Straw is unrosterable in all formats right now.
J.D. Davis (1B, 3B – SF)
At one point this season, it seemed J.D. Davis would be a lock-and-load fantasy starter, but those days are well behind us. In July, Davis is hitting .195 with a home run while striking out 29.5% of the time. He has a .122 ISO and .567 OPS, which will not cut it for a fantasy power bat. Davis is only barreling the ball 3.6% of the time with a 39.3% hard-hit rate. The Giants have many platoon options, so Davis must start producing to keep playing daily.
Harrison Bader (OF – NYY)
Harrison Bader was swinging it well before getting injured again. Since returning from his latest injury, Bader has cooled down at the plate. Bader only hit .195 in July with a home run and a stolen base. Bader is striking out 20% of the time, only walking 2.2% to go with a 2.9% barrel rate and 29.4% hard-hit rate. The Yankees’ offense is struggling, and Bader is falling in line.
Max Kepler (OF – MIN)
Max Kepler will go streaking at times and become fantasy-relevant. Sadly, right now is not one of those times. In July, Kepler hit .237 with eight singles and a home run. He is striking out 31% of the time with a .079 ISO. He does have an 8% barrel rate and 64% hard-hit rate, but the lack of consistent contact makes it tough to produce regularly. Kepler is a streamer at best, and right now, he’s best left for the waiver wire.
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