This is one of my favorite times of the year regarding fantasy baseball. The early-season slumping studs are heating up, and the surprise breakouts are either maintaining their production or falling back to Earth. Checking up on your team is essential, especially at this stage. For me, it's underlying metrics -- which can tell a lot of the story -- but maybe you're a tape guy or gal. I usually do better with that in terms of football, but if that works for you, go for it. If you have the eye, a batter's swing or a pitcher's delivery can offer valuable information and insight into struggles.

The injuries weren't as kind this week, as a few critical bats sustained late-week injuries. Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas (knee) left Friday's outing on a stretcher and is believed to have suffered a "significant knee injury," per manager Alex Cora. Keep an eye out, but it doesn't sound good. Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (ankle) also left his game on Friday after being hit in the back by a ball while running the basepaths. Ramirez may have picked up a mild ankle sprain while tumbling in the process. Expect an update on him over the next 24 hours. San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (forearm) was plunked in the forearm by a 93.3 MPH Mitch Keller sinker in Friday's appearance. Initial x-rays were negative, and it looks like a forearm contusion. Consider him day-to-day. Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (knee) was placed on the 10-day IL with a bone bruise in his left knee. Per Trout, he's optimistic it's a short stay on the list. New York Yankees outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (oblique) is facing a 4-to-6 week absence due to an oblique strain. It's of the "high-grade" variety, so not great. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow (shoulder) has been shut down from throwing for 10-14 days due to shoulder inflammation. Glasnow hasn't been spectacular, but it's still not good news. He'll be reevaluated in two weeks or so, but there is no current timetable for his return. Lastly, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day IL with a left hamstring strain. Hays had been electric recently, so hopefully, it'll be just a minimum stay.

Before we get into the adds, I'd like to note an interesting prospect call-up. Sacramento Athletics No. 15 overall prospect Gunnar Hoglund had a strong MLB debut on Friday, allowing six hits and one earned run while punching out seven batters in six innings -- earning his first big-league win. It was the Miami Marlins, so no need to get ahead of ourselves, but Hoglund pitched well in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League (six starts, 2.43 ERA) to start 2025. It may be a blip, but it could be something, and is worth monitoring in leagues where available.

As a reminder, this column typically assumes point formats and will only feature athletes at or around 50% ownership on Yahoo! A player will only appear on this list twice if he continues ranking from weeks prior. Happy hunting!

Waiver Adds

Andy Pages, OF - Los Angeles Dodgers (50% Owned)

I laid off writing up Andy Pages last week. He was wildly out-producing his xBA per Statcast, and I didn't want to risk endorsing him if his production was set to fall off a cliff. Well, he keeps hitting and has been a five-category monster over the past ten days. Pages is still out-pacing his xBA (.233), but it's impossible to ignore him any longer.

The Dominican native has been on an absolute tear, racking up five multi-hit efforts in his last eight outings, including three three-hit performances and a four-hit one. They haven't all been cheapies, either, as he's collected three doubles and four home runs to go along with nine RBI, nine runs scored, and three steals. Furthermore, he's struck out just thrice in his last 33 at-bats.

I expected that Pages' BABIP would be quixotic, but a .344 figure isn't too crazy. He won't produce like this for a full season, but he's worth an add considering his stat sheet stuffing ability.

Maikel Garcia, 2B/3B - Kansas City Royals (50% Owned)

After a hot start, Maikel Garcia was featured in my first column of the year, and I even rostered him a little while before he cooled off. There was a stretch in mid-April in which he didn't offer too much in a points league, despite maintaining his plate discipline improvements from the season's first week. He's come around again and been a very viable play for the last week or so.

Garcia hasn't hit a home run since his first appearance of the year, but he's been a double machine -- tallying five over his last nine games. Additionally, the 25-year-old is running quite a bit more often than he had over the first few weeks. After going 1-for-2 on stolen base attempts over the first 14 matchups, he's 7-for-10 over the last 13. It'd be nice to see him bat first more often, but even a slight move up in the order would do wonders for his counting stats.

He's still impacting the ball harder than ever, and holds the highest hard-hit rate of his career (53.8%[92nd percentile]). Chalk him up for another 30+ steals and a far better batting average than he sported in 2024.

Hunter Goodman, C/OF - Colorado Rockies (41% Owned)

I've had my eye on Hunter Goodman since the start of 2025, too. I'm always intrigued by a player who will take half of his at-bats at Coors Field in Colorado, and more so an asset that bolsters dual position eligibility alongside catcher. He qualifies for both of those stipulations and has been an everyday player for the better part of the last three weeks. 

The main draw here is his eligibility as a catcher, but Goodman has been solid. He's improved his plate discipline yet again while returning to the hard-hit ball metrics that he displayed in his first big-league stint. He's barreling the ball at a worse rate (8.1%) than he had previously, dipping under double-digits for the first time in his career. All while exceeding his 2024 walk total by two (ten) in 110 fewer at-bats.

Goodman tore up minor-league pitching at Triple-A over the last two campaigns, and while he isn't likely to hit .300+ like he did at the lower levels, I expect the power to start showing soon.

Jorge Soler, OF - Los Angeles Angels (39% Owned)

Not many MLB batters have had wider season-long outcomes -- particularly in the long ball department -- than Jorge Soler. The veteran outfielder has had some impressive home run totals over the years, brandishing 48- and 36-homer years in 2019 and 2023. However, he's also gone yard 27 and 21 times in 149 and 142-game seasons in 2021 and 2024. It's an odd year, so it stands to reason that Soler should be useful in 2025.

Kidding, obviously, but Soler's production has started to tick up recently. Four of his seven doubles have come since Apr. 22, and he has a home run in back-to-back games. The Cuban native can launch no-doubters in bunches, and it looks like he's seen the ball better recently -- striking out "only" three times in his last 14 at-bats. It may not seem like it, but it's much more palatable than the 30.3% he's done thus far (21.4%).

Soler may not be hot for long, but is worth a look while he is. 

Kyle Stowers, OF - Miami Marlins (16% Owned)

Kyle Stowers' production has been a little spotty, but I'm a big fan of his batted ball metrics -- particularly, his ability to barrel the ball while putting it in play at the ideal angle (43.3% LA SwSp%). He's in the 92nd percentile of all batters with that number and is making exceptional contact while doing so.

Stowers showed prodigious power in the minor leagues and a discerning eye at the plate, though he still struck out quite a bit due to his all-or-nothing approach. That's another thing that stands out about the 27-year-old -- his swing, or more specifically, how fast he does so. He sits in the league's 87th percentile for bat speed (74.4).

I wouldn't be surprised to see him let loose on a bunch of home runs shortly. It may have already started with his 4-for-4 performance (two HRs) on Wednesday.

Deep League Options

Ty France, 1B - Minnesota Twins (10% Owned)

Ty France is another option in this column that can get hot with the best of them, though he typically doesn't streak for extended periods. However, he's doing some things in 2025 that we haven't seen. France is punching out at the lowest rate of his career (13.1%), and hitting the ball the hardest he ever has. His hard-hit rate is up (45.9%), his xSLG is a robust .558, and his xBA is a strong .303. If that wasn't enticing enough, he's barreling the ball at a respectable 13.3%. You guessed it -- the best mark of his MLB career. The San Diego State product raked once upon a time in the minors (2019).

Eli White, OF - Atlanta Braves (4% Owned)

Speaking of raking, Eli White has seen an uptick in usage over the last few weeks with the Braves looking to shake up the lineup. He's responded superbly, rocking a seven-game hit streak -- going 10-for-28 (.357) with seven extra-base hits (two HRs, four doubles, one triple), nine runs scored, and seven RBI. He added a steal for good measure, and is likely to gather more considering his 99th percentile sprint speed. The former eleventh-round pick has dropped his launch angle and, for the first time, garners an xBA above .230 (.294). It stands to reason he should rise in Atlanta's batting order over the coming days, though that isn't guaranteed. For now, at least, it seems he'll stick. Still, the situation becomes murky with Ronald Acuna Jr.'s (knee) looming return.

Two-Start Streamers

Tony Gonsolin, RHP - Los Angeles Dodgers (34%/63% Yahoo!/CBS)

Tony Gonsolin finally made it back from the injured list after battling his way back from Tommy John surgery and an injured back. He was exceptional in his season debut, allowing six hits and three earned runs over six innings pitched -- punching out nine batters and earning his first win. The former ninth-round pick induced 17 swings-and-misses on his 77 pitches (58 strikes) with an elite 43% called-strike plus whiff percentage. Gonsolin was particularly effective with his slider, splitter, and fastball -- which garnered six, five, and four whiffs, respectively.

Granted, this was against the Marlins. However, the St. Mary's product was uber-effective in 2022 when he bolstered a 2.14 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 24 starts (130.1 innings). He didn't strike out 37.5% of his batters that season, nor will he do so in 2025. Though he will face the Marlins again next week -- so that's nice. He'll square off against the Arizona Diamondbacks for a second start, which isn't as enticing. Still, I'm willing to bet on him for that outing if he pitches well again on Tuesday.

Shane Smith, RHP - Chicago White Sox (15%/40% Yahoo!/CBS)

I know what you may be thinking. Call me crazy, but I'm kind of into Shane Smith this week if you're desperate. Of course, always refer to Leonard's article if you're "desperate," but besides a lack of offense behind him, I think Smith could be a fine streamer in the upcoming week. The White Sox's No. 26 prospect has done well to limit the damage against him in 2025, allowing three runs or fewer in each of his six starts. He's probably over-performing metrics-wise a bit, but has two of the better upcoming games.

The Chi Sox will line up against the Kansas City Royals early in the week -- MLB's third-fewest run-scoring team per game -- so that's certainly a favorable chance for a decent line. Then, later in the week, they'll face the same Miami Marlins I mentioned above. Smith may not light it up in terms of strikeouts, but he offers a six-pitch mix with a curveball that garners an 83.3% whiff rate. Yes, you read that correctly.

Good luck next week!