We’ve nudged past the halfway point in the baseball schedule, so it’s a good time to unpack some of the major themes of the fantasy season.
Washington builds the best offense in baseball
The Nationals are a fantasy dream, with the most runs, the second-most homers and the most stolen bases. Superstars James Wood and CJ Abrams are driving the story, but the depth of the lineup is underrated. Armed with a slew of left-handed hitters and switch-hitters, the Nationals are especially dangerous against right-handed pitching (.267/.345/.435). And as we often talk about, it’s a right-handed world.
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Misiorowski’s stat page is too good to be true — he’s first in ERA, strikeouts and WHIP. He’s the hardest to get a hit off, the hardest to hit a home run off. The Miz also has a low walk rate, allowing his K/BB rate to be first, and his ground ball rate is well above average. Given his 6-foot-7 frame and his elite extension, it almost looks like Misiorowski is handing the ball to the catcher.
The radar gun pops for The Miz (100.4 mph average fastball), which can be a gift and a curse. It’s hard not to worry about injury with this sort of max-out style. But sometimes you have to whistle through the chaos and just try to enjoy it.
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What happened to the first round?
While many dream about their first-round pick dominating baseball, I’m more measured in my hopes. I just want those players to set a foundational brick. If they’re megastars, sure, I’m thrilled. But if they merely get on base, I mark it as a win.
Wins haven’t been easy to find in this year’s top dozen. Injuries have mucked things up for Aaron Judge, Tarik Skubal, José Ramírez, Elly De La Cruz, Garrett Crochet and Ronald Acuña Jr. That’s half the round! Kyle Tucker hasn’t launched in Los Angeles, and Paul Skenes is mired in a shocking slump. Fernando Tatis Jr. (a second-round pick) has been an enigma, too.
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On the plus side, Shohei Ohtani and Bobby Witt Jr. have met expectations, although Ohtani has shut down the running game and Witt’s teammates haven’t offered him much lineup support.
The kids are (more than) alright
This year’s rookie class has been a dream, with several players producing right out of the box. Kevin McGonigle and JJ Wetherholt are the current Rookie of the Year favorites, strike-zone savants who also offer category juice. Sal Stewart is a star in Cincinnati. Cleveland badly misses Ramírez, its signature player, but Travis Bazzana and Parker Messick have helped break the fall. The White Sox made a shrewd signing with Munetaka Murakami.
Maybe the Mets are a mess, but Carson Benge, Nolan McLean and A.J. Ewing can all play. Chase Burns is a spectacle. And it’s really something that we’ve talked this long without mentioning Konnor Griffin, the real deal in Pittsburgh. Samuel Basallo, Payton Tolle, Bryce Eldridge, the cup feels bottomless. This looks like a historic class.
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The Brewers and Rays, still smarter than everyone else
The Rays have the best record in the American League, though that’s less impressive than you might think — only five AL clubs are over .500. The Brewers are the second-best team in the NL, behind the expected Dodgers. It’s another check point for how shrewd franchises can overcome resource disadvantages.
To be fair, let’s not pretend these teams don’t have superstars. We talked about Misiorowski above, and Junior Caminero (26 homers, 154 OPS+) is a monster. But Milwaukee and Tampa Bay also specialize in finding under-appreciated assets. The Brewers stole Kyle Harrison from Boston and are getting nifty production from Jake Bauers. Tampa Bay’s staff is helmed by a handful of 30-something surprises like Nick Martinez and closer Bryan Baker.
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Post-hype sleepers, wide awake
Player development isn’t always linear, and although this year’s rookie class has been amazing, such immediate success isn’t the rule. If you were patient with players like Jordan Walker, Miguel Vargas, Max Meyer and Harrison, you’re reaping the rewards now. These are the types of players who make for perfect late-round picks, or proactive waiver-wire grabs early in the year after some positive play.
The Dodgers are still the Dodgers
Sometimes it feels like they’re playing with their food a bit, treading water, biding time until the real games start in October. Mookie Betts is having a down year, Will Smith wasn’t great before his injury, and a number of pitchers are also hurt. It’s shocking to see Tucker struggling like he is.
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And yet the Dodgers are second in runs, third in ERA, first in wins and first in run differential. The path to the World Series obviously runs through these guys.
There are plenty of wins at Chavez Ravine. Ohtani’s having his best pitching year in four seasons, and he has running mates with rubber-armed Yoshinobu Yamamoto and improving lefty Justin Wrobleski. Andy Pages has been a surprise breakout in the outfield. Dalton Rushing has helped to offset the Smith injury. Freddie Freeman continues to defy career-arc concerns.
Also Receiving Votes
We can’t write up every fantasy story, but let’s offer some other stars a quick pat on the back. … Yordan Alvarez is healthy again and mashing in Houston. … The Rockies are still broken, but Hunter Goodman and Jake McCarthy are smashing. … Pete-Crow Armstrong will have a say in the NL MVP race, a five-category star who’s also a defensive wizard. … Kyle Schwarber is motoring towards another home run title, and he’s no longer a batting-average risk. … Braxton Ashcraft and Bryan Reynolds are two hits from the competitive Pirates. … Cam Schittler’s partial-season breakout from 2025 has been validated this year. … Saves on a budget always feels workable, with Louis Varland, Baker, Riley O’Brien and Jacob Latz leading the way. Is Tyler Wells going to join this group in the second half?
Here’s to baseball.
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