The second half of the baseball season is humming along. We have a solid base of at-bats to look for in-season risers and fallers. Exit velocity makes a great study for examining who’s been hot in the last ten days. September is the critical point for many fantasy teams. These statcast numbers can hopefully help you navigate.
In the chart below you see exit velocity broken out for games prior to 8/10 and then the last ten days, along with the change in each. These guys are tattooing the ball at the moment.
Player | Last 10 | <8/10 | Diff |
100.4 MPH | 94.2 MPH | 5.8 | |
100.1 MPH | 89.2 MPH | 10.8 | |
96.2 MPH | 91.8 MPH | 4.4 | |
96.2 MPH | 89.0 MPH | 7.2 | |
95.6 MPH | 89.8 MPH | 5.8 | |
95.5 MPH | 91.2 MPH | 4.3 | |
95.3 MPH | 92.2 MPH | 3.1 | |
95.2 MPH | 88.5 MPH | 6.7 | |
95.1 MPH | 87.5 MPH | 7.6 | |
94.9 MPH | 87.5 MPH | 7.4 | |
94.8 MPH | 92.3 MPH | 2.5 | |
94.6 MPH | 89.5 MPH | 5.1 | |
94.3 MPH | 90.9 MPH | 3.4 | |
94.3 MPH | 93.7 MPH | 0.6 | |
94.3 MPH | 88.2 MPH | 6.1 | |
94.2 MPH | 89.4 MPH | 4.8 | |
94.1 MPH | 90.0 MPH | 4.1 | |
94.0 MPH | 91.1 MPH | 2.9 | |
93.7 MPH | 92.6 MPH | 1.1 | |
93.6 MPH | 89.8 MPH | 3.8 |
Even for prolific mashers Nelson Cruz and Yordan Alvarez are smoking the ball. They’re mainstays on many winning lineups.
Max Muncy has been underrated all season just because he hasn’t gone a tear the way he did in 2018. He’s been producing and hitting the ball plenty hard.
If Jackie Bradley Jr. finds his swing he’s capable of going on a heater. I’d rather stash him on my bench than leave him on the wire for an opponent.
Jason Castro and Alex Avilla are a couple of low owned catchers that could help get you some ABs on your primary catchers day off.
Jonathan Schoop has always been a streaky hitter. He’s good for one thing primarily: home runs. If you need a middle infielder with a shot at helping there kick his tires and cross your fingers.
You can find all of this and more over at Baseball Savant. Roster decisions are more critical than ever in your push for fantasy baseball greatness. Remember that reward doesn’t come without risk.
Player News
Freddy Peralta (groin) threw off flat ground on Wednesday and expects to make his next start.
Peralta acknowledged that he may need one extra day of rest, which is in line with what Brewers manager Pat Murphy said on Monday as well. Fantasy managers should start Peralta as they would normally.
Brewers optioned RHP Elvin Rodríguez to Triple-A Nashville.
Rodríguez allowed six runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings on Wednesday and will now head back to the minors to allow the Brewers to bring up a fresh arm for their bullpen.
Astros manager Joe Espada said, “Hopefully we get [Yordan] back in the next week or so.”
Espada said this was an issue that Yordan has dealt with before, and it’s a good thing that the Astros “jumped on the issue early. Let it heal, time off, and get the real Yordan soon.” Yordan is eligible to be activated off the injured list on Monday, but it seems like later in the week may be a more realistic timeline.
Corey Seager is not in the starting lineup for the Rangers on Thursday against the Red Sox.
It seems like a routine day off for Seager with a day game after a night game. Josh Smith will start at shortstop with Joc Pederson at first base and Dustin Harris at designated hitter.
Sawyer Gipson-Long (elbow and hip) is starting a rehab assignment with Low-A Lakeland on Thursday.
Gipson-Long had Tommy John surgery last year and then later underwent hip surgery after suffering an injury during the rehab process. He hasn’t pitched since April 2024, so it will likely take a while for him to work his way back on an MLB mound. He looked good in his MLB debut in 2023 and could be intriguing for fantasy purposes in the second half of the season.
Orioles designated RHP Matt Bowman for assignment.
Bowman has a 5.19 ERA and 12:3 K:BB ratio in 17 1/3 innings for the Orioles so far this season. He’s unlikely to be claimed on waivers and could return to the Orioles’ minor league system.