RADIO
There is nothing quite like the ebbs and flows of fantasy baseball. Every at-bat of every game is the final straw based on that moment whereas in reality, players will have hundreds more across the next dozen weeks to neutralize whatever outcome came about.
Across the past two months, plenty of recently unknown players have thrived in fantasy baseball while many perennial All-Stars have disappointed. Below, I discuss which known commodities should work their way back to fantasy stardom and which flavor of the month may stick.
For all complaints, contact Kev Mahserejian on X (@RotoSurgeon). Without further ado, here are your risers and fallers for Week 15 of the fantasy baseball season!
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Fantasy Baseball Risers
Heston Kjerstad, Baltimore Orioles
39% Rostered on Yahoo!
The former second overall pick is finally getting his fair shake in the league. Kjerstad has two HRs, three runs, eight RBI, and a .438 AVG since his promotion last week. In this span, he has struck out as many times as he has walked and started in all but one game. Notably, the lefty hitter made a start against a fellow lefty on Sunday!
Kjerstad's 1.488 OPS since getting called up is unlikely to sustain, but he is a very talented hitter playing almost every day on one of the league's best offenses. Despite Ryan Mountcastle's absence due to an illness, Kjerstad should have his lineup spot locked in moving forward.
Verdict: Roster in all formats moving forward.
Jake Meyers, Houston Astros
12% Rostered on Yahoo!
This year's Chas McCormick Award goes to Jake Meyers! The fellow Astros OF is having a very under-the-radar fantasy season. Meyers has eight HRs, seven SBs, and a .256 AVG through 75 games and hits in the heart of the order. The Astros offense is not as potent as years prior, but they still rank top eight in wRC+ and wOBA.
With Kyle Tucker on the mend from injury, reinforcement will arrive soon to bolster this already strong offense. Seeing Yainer Diaz and Yordan Alvarez heating up of late helps as well.
Verdict: Target in all 12+ team leagues with AVG. Do not bother in OBP.
Garrett Mitchell, Milwaukee Brewers
6% Rostered on Yahoo!
Garrett Mitchell sought to build on a hot start to his MLB career last season, but a shoulder injury cut his season short. He returned toward the season's end and was fully healthy come spring training this year. However, a finger fracture followed by a hamstring strain landed him on IL again, delaying his 2024 season until now.
The former first-round pick has a special mix of power and speed. Through 48 MLB games, he's knocked five HRs and stolen nine bases while hitting .281. Nevertheless, there was a bit of luck in this stretch as he carried a .449 BABIP while striking out at a 38.2% rate. Mitchell held a strong strikeout-to-walk rate in his most recent Triple-A stint and posted a 160 wRC+. He appears ready to reenter the major leagues and provide solid fantasy value.
Verdict: Pick up in all 12+ team formats.
Fantasy Baseball Fallers
David Hamilton, Boston Red Sox
52% Rostered on Yahoo!
The David Hamilton ride is potentially coming to a halt. Boston's speedy infielder set the fantasy world ablaze early last month and carried on that heat for a few weeks, but the sizzle is simmering. Hamilton, a lefty, has sat versus right-handed pitching in recent games and is already not starting versus left-handers. He is hitting .167 with just one HR, two runs, three RBI, and two SBs over the past two weeks.
Hamilton had been hitting well beyond his xwOBA initially, but now, his wOBA nearly matches it. Nevertheless, with 21 stolen bases in 57 games, Hamilton is in rare air and deserves a longer leash, especially in roto formats and leagues that utilize AVG rather than OBP.
Verdict: Hold on until the All-Star break. Make a decision afterward.
James Paxton, Los Angeles Dodgers
45% Rostered on Yahoo!
4.28 ERA
4.81 xERA
5.18 xFIP
5.35 SIERA
4.6% K-BB
This is the end of the line for James Paxton. Yes, he is on the Dodgers and has performed well in some outings, but the wins he can provide will not compensate for the damage he does to ERA and WHIP while not providing any strikeouts. His velocity is down nearly 2 mph on his fastball...it's over.
Verdict: Drop in all formats. He is a streamer at best in the easiest matchups versus LHP.
Rhys Hoskins, Milwaukee Brewers
63% Rostered on Yahoo!
Rhys Hoskins before hitting IL:
38 games, 9 HRs, 17 runs, 27 RBI
.233 AVG, .340 OBP, .474 SLG
Rhys Hoskins since returning from IL:
26 games, 2 HRs, 8 runs, 11 RBI
.211 AVG, .284 OBP, .300 SLG
Hoskins is a talented hitter but returned from a torn ACL to begin this season. He may not be affected by the knee in terms of pain, but comfort and room rhythm are massive factors for hitters and he may be out of it. Trying to play while thinking about staying healthy can cause paralysis for hitters, especially those who struggle to make consistent contact.
Verdict: Hold onto Hoskins through the All-Star break and reassess from there.
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