theathleticuk
Nick Kurtz entered the season with massive potential but also as a risky pick in fantasy baseball, given a high strikeout rate and small track record at his average draft position (ADP).
Hes been even better during his second season despite a somewhat slow first month.
Kurtz entered Tuesday leading MLB with a 198 wRC+ and much-improved plate discipline (24.7 K%, 18.3 BB%) since May 1.
Hes batting .304 since July 1, while cutting down his strikeouts and running more than expected.
Advertisement Kurtz undoubtedly benefits from his home park (and a recent series in Las Vegas), but the As will remain in Sacramentos hitters paradise in 2027, when hell be a first-round fantasy pick.
Here are 10 pressing questions throughout the league.
How high will Jacob Misiorowski be drafted in 2027? Misiorowski has a 0.17 ERA and a 0.52 WHIP with an 80:9 K:BB ratio over 54.1 innings since April ended.
Hes coming off arguably the most efficient pitching performance of all time when he also recorded the fastest pitch (104.5 mph) by a starting pitcher in MLB history.
Jacob Misiorowski.
15 STRIKEOUT MADDUX.
9 innings, 0 runs, 15Ks, 1 hit.
0 BBs.
95 pitches.
Most Strikeouts EVER in a Maddux! pic.twitter.com/TslplMsGvQ Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 13, 2026 Hes shown a big leap with improved control this season while easily leading the league in K-BB% the difference between his 33.1% and No.
2 on this list (25.5%) is greater than No.
2 and No.
22.
Tarik Skubals was 27.8% last season.
Misiorowski is allowing the lowest opposing batting average and slugging percentage in MLB history by wide margins.
He doesnt have a long track record and ostensibly carries a heightened injury risk given his extreme velocity, but hes quickly developed into baseballs best pitcher.
Where SPs are taken depends on format, but Misiorowski looks like a top-five pick in NFBC Main Event drafts in 2027 (assuming health).
He may even go first overall in some.
When will Kyle Tucker start hitting? Tucker had a 10.8 composite ADP during draft season, but he entered Tuesday as the OF25 in FanGraphs Player Rater.
He was viewed as an injury risk, but Tuckers expectations were high given his move to Los Angeles.
Instead, he owns a career-low wRC+ despite staying healthy and moving to a new home park thats among the best at boosting power for lefties.
Advertisement Tucker is batting just .195 with a .322 slugging percentage at Dodger Stadium, which has increased homers for LHB by 25% over the past three seasons his performance at home is sure to regress.
Tuckers counting stats have still been helpful thanks to the Dodgers loaded lineup, and hell likely go on a hitting tear soon once hes fully acclimated in Los Angeles.
Can Byron Buxton stay healthy? Buxton has returned first-round fantasy value this season, as hes been able to escape a trip to the IL so far.
He entered Tuesday with a 154 wRC+ and on pace to swat 50 homers.
A healthy Buxton is simply one of the leagues best hitters.
However, Buxton has never eclipsed 140 games during 12 seasons in the league, and last years 126 were his second-most ever.
Hes made at least 17 trips to the IL during his career.
Buxton isnt running at the same rate this season, but his 98th-percentile sprint speed suggests hes fully healthy fantasy managers will accept the tradeoff if it means continued avoidance of injury, but history says an IL stint is coming.
Can Dillon Dingler keep this up? Dingler was drafted as the C20 and outside the top 250 in composite ADP.
Few bought into his mini-breakout as a 26-year-old last season, but Dingler has been a top-15 fantasy player in 2026.
He may see fewer fly balls leave the yard (19.3 HR/FB%) moving forward, but Dingler has greatly improved his plate discipline and is due for better BABIP (.272) luck.
He also plays terrific defense, helping keep his bat in Detroits lineup.
Dingler is a catcher posting an expected slugging percentage in the top 3% of the league, and he has the most hard hits in baseball over the past 100 swings.
Hes likely playing a bit over his head, but the underlying stats reveal a hitter who should remain incredibly helpful to fantasy managers for the rest of the season.
Advertisement Has Drew Rasmussen graduated to fantasy ace? Excuse Rasmussen if he struggled in a tough start in Los Angeles on Tuesday night, as the Dodgers have the highest wRC+ against righties by a significant margin.
He entered the outing having emerged as a fantasy ace this season, ranking sixth in K-BB% (22.7) and fourth in SIERA (3.00) among starters, behind only Misiorowski, Cristopher Sanchez and Paul Skenes.
Rasmussens 9.49 K/9 ranked 20th among starters, but his K% (27.3) ranked 12th.
Rasmussen has benefitted from the Rays returning to Tropicana Field, but hes been even better on the road (0.80 WHIP).
Rasmussen was drafted as the SP50 in composite ADP, but he entered Tuesdays start as the SP11 in fantasy value during a rough season for starting pitchers.
Where are Chandler Simpsons steals? Simpson hit .308 with 14 steals over his first 40 games, but he entered Tuesday slashing .185/.242/.239 with zero stolen bases over his past 99 plate appearances.
His last steal came on May 11, and hes been caught four times since.
Improved defense (and injuries to Tampa Bays outfield) has helped keep his bat in the lineup against righties, but Simpson cant disappear on the base paths while offering zero in power for fantasy managers.
Simpson stole 104 bases over 110 games during his last full season in the minors in 2024, but the massive SB upside has gone missing in the majors.
Can Matthew Boyd return healthy? Boyd developed shoulder soreness while rehabbing a knee injury, but the Cubs expect him to return to Chicagos rotation soon.
An injured Boyd remains available in some fantasy leagues, but his peripherals were highly intriguing before hitting the IL.
Boyds 6.00 ERA was accompanied by a 2.88 SIERA that would rank fourth-best among qualified starters.
He posted a 25.0% K-BB rate that would rank behind only The Miz and Skenes Boyd would also rank top 10 in CSW%.
His sample was relatively small (five starts), but Boyd is worth rostering in all formats with results that impressive.
Has a closer finally emerged in Sacramento? Elvis Alvarado has allowed zero runs with a 0.19 WHIP and an 11:0 K:BB ratio over 5.1 innings since being recalled to Sacramento on June 6.
Hes also recorded two of the teams past three saves (Hogan Harris was used against lefties in the other).
He struggled in April, but Alvarado has a 21.0 K-BB% on the season and stands out in Sacramentos bullpen.
Advertisement His control is shaky, but Alvarado looks like the favorite for saves on an As team fighting for first place.
Saves are gold in fantasy leagues, yet Alvarado remains widely available in many.
Will Jasson Dominguez take advantage of his opportunity? Dominguez is suddenly looking at regular playing time with Aaron Judge expected to miss multiple months, Giancarlo Stanton suffering a setback during his recovery and Trent Grisham also hitting the IL.
Dominguez recently returned from his own injury (a sprained AC joint), and the Yankees have no choice but to put up with his shaky defense in right field (or use him at a now open DH).
Dominguez didnt start Tuesdays game after having a tooth pulled, but hell be given a real opportunity as a regular given all the injuries in New York.
Dominguez has real power/speed upside and plays in a terrific park and lineup, especially if he continues to bat second.
He should be added in all non-shallow fantasy formats, but Dominguez remains available in more than 85% of Yahoo leagues.
Will Cole Ragans return this season? Ragans entered the year with Cy Young upside but also red flags that included a rotator cuff strain in 2025.
He was the best pitcher in baseball when on the mound last season (30.4 K-BB%) and seemingly ended the season healthy, but hes backfired on those who gambled on him in 2026 fantasy drafts (raises hand).
Ragans performance was way down this season before hitting the IL, as he was almost certainly pitching injured.
Hes sidelined with an elbow impingement and recently suffered a concerning setback.
I hope Im wrong, but Ragans looks droppable in fantasy leagues..