Midseason Strategies in Fantasy Baseball
As the fantasy baseball season reaches its midpoint, owners are busy scouring the waiver wire for undervalued assets and evaluating which established stars might be overvalued heading into the stretch run.
One name that has consistently popped up in trade discussions is Brandon Marsh of the Philadelphia Phillies. The outfielder is batting .305 with 46 RBI and 15 home runs, numbers that have helped him climb into the top tier of fantasy outfielders.
Yet a closer look at his recent performance reveals a sharp dip in July, where his average fell to .143, suggesting that the current surge may be unsustainable and that his value could plateau if the regression continues.
Sell‑High Targets
Another pitcher generating sell‑high chatter is Eduardo Rodriguez of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Rodriguez boasts a 2.25 ERA, but his strikeout rate of 6.19 per nine innings is modest, and his best outings have been confined to a 1.60 ERA in May and a 2.02 ERA in June.
Buy‑Low Opportunities
Midseason analysis points to Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers as a prime buy‑low candidate. Smith’s offensive rating sits at a career‑high plus‑24.3 in 2025, and he has never posted a below‑average rating, indicating a strong underlying skill set.
Despite a .270 average in March/April, a .239 mark in May and a .154 slump in June before a mid‑season injury, Smith’s recent form hints at a potential rebound that could make him a bargain in the second half.
Jesus Luzardo, once a longshot Cy Young candidate, started the year with a 5.50 ERA in the first two months but has steadily trimmed that figure to 3.03 in May, 2.97 in June and an eye‑catching 1.50 in his most recent start.
The downward trend in his early numbers appears to be reversing, and many analysts expect a second‑half surge that could turn him into a high‑upside starter for fantasy lineups.
For owners looking to capitalize on these dynamics, the key is to monitor the regression indicators while keeping an eye on the upward trajectories of players like Smith and Luzardo, who may offer the best return on investment as the season progresses.