The MLB season’s second half is here, and fantasy baseball players are scrambling to rethink their preseason predictions. Breakout performances, injuries, and a few wild surprises have forced everyone to adapt on the fly.
Eric Karabell, an expert in the field, takes another look at those bold preseason projections. Some players have soared, others have crashed, and a few have just sort of… existed. From Rafael Devers’ struggles to James Wood’s breakout and Marcus Semien’s unexpected comeback, the fantasy landscape is as unpredictable as ever.
Fantasy Wins and Losses: Who Surprised and Who Stumbled?
Preseason forecasts always look a bit silly in hindsight, don’t they? Some players have blown past expectations, while others fizzled out right when it mattered most.
Let’s dig into a few of the storylines that have shaped this year’s fantasy baseball world. There’s plenty to unpack.
Rafael Devers: Power vs. Pitfalls
Rafael Devers’ season has been a wild ride. He started the year struggling with the Red Sox, then got traded to the San Francisco Giants.
His power numbers haven’t disappeared, but his fantasy value took a big hit thanks to a rough .202 batting average with the Giants. Managers who bet on Devers have to weigh his home run potential against that streaky bat. High risk, high reward? Most folks would probably say so.
The Rise of James Wood: A Roto Game-Changer
James Wood has exploded onto the scene as a top-10 roto outfielder. He’s even outperformed big names like Juan Soto in certain formats.
Wood’s all-around game makes him a fantasy manager’s dream. Soto still shines, especially in points leagues, which just goes to show—scoring format really does matter.
Turning Tides: Marcus Semien’s Rebound Story
Marcus Semien’s turnaround has been one of the season’s best surprises. He was almost dropped from countless fantasy teams during his early slump.
But then June happened, and Semien caught fire. Now he’s hanging with the top-15 second basemen, and anyone who kept the faith is feeling pretty smart right about now.
Corbin Carroll: Power Over Speed
Corbin Carroll keeps showing off his impressive power, and he’s on pace for over 35 home runs. That’s no small feat for a rookie.
Still, his batting average dipped, and he’s not stealing as many bases as some hoped. Carroll’s value remains high, but managers need to adjust their expectations a bit.
Pitching Shake-ups: Skenes Stars but Falls Short
Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes has put up eye-popping pitching stats and even snagged an NL All-Star spot. He’s been a strikeout machine.
But the Pirates’ weak offense has capped his fantasy ceiling. It’s tough to rack up wins when your team can’t score, no matter how good your ERA and strikeouts look.
Ohtani’s Historic Runs—But What About Pitching?
Shohei Ohtani keeps rewriting the record books, leading the majors in runs and threatening some long-standing marks. He’s an absolute force at the plate.
His pitching contributions, though, have been limited this year. Even so, Ohtani’s dual-threat status makes him a fantasy cornerstone, even when he’s not at his absolute best.
Rookies, Comebacks, and the Unpredictable
This season has seen several under-the-radar names become fantasy gold. Rookies like Nick Kurtz and Hunter Goodman, plus comeback catcher Cal Raleigh, have all stepped up.
These unexpected stars have boosted both their real teams and fantasy lineups. It’s a reminder that preseason projections only tell part of the story.
What Went Wrong: Misses on Big Predictions
Fantasy baseball’s unpredictability showed up with players like AJ Smith-Shawver and Kris Bubic. Smith-Shawver didn’t come close to a Rookie of the Year campaign.
Bubic also missed the mark on top-10 pitcher hopes. Even the experts get it wrong sometimes—there’s just no way to predict everything in this game.
Fantasy Takeaways for the Stretch Run
The season’s winding down fast, and fantasy managers have to stay sharp. Things change quickly—one week you’re riding high, the next you’re scrambling to fix a lineup.
Breakout players like James Wood keep popping up. Meanwhile, stars like Devers hit rough patches, and legends like Ohtani force us to rethink what’s possible.
Rookies are making noise, and a few comeback stories are turning heads. The second half? It’s probably going to be wild.
Are you ready for your fantasy team to step up?
Here is the source article for this story: Should we have been surprised? A look back at the season’s first-half predictions
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