We’re just about done with two months — yes, a third — of the 2025 fantasy baseball season. With ample numbers to evaluate players, we have a good idea of who’s real & who’s not. Now that certain players are healthy, like Corbin Burnes and Zach Neto, they’ve become key fantasy assets.

Risers

• 2B/3B Brett Baty (Mets)
• SP Corbin Burnes (Diamondbacks)
• SS Zach Neto (Angels)
• 3B Isaac Paredes (Astros)
• OF Taylor Ward (Angels)
• SP Will Warren (Yankees)
• SP Gavin Williams (Guardians)

We did not do a Week 7 list, so this one will encompass two weeks. Needless to say, a lot has changed in terms of fantasy value.

Two notable risers over the last two weeks were Brett Baty and Isaac Paredes, one expected be a fantasy player — and the other, not so much.

Paredes finished top ten in the league in RBI (13) and tied for third in home runs (6) with Taylor Ward, the latter of whom has been an underrated asset in fantasy for years. For Paredes, the message is simple: the value’s always been there.

He’s been an extreme pull hitter for years and yes, that matters in Houston. Paredes crushed six of his 10 total home runs at Daikin Park, thanks in large part to his pull power and more specifically, his ability to crush breaking balls.

The 26-year-old has a long swing, doesn’t blast the bat through the zone, and possesses a good eye. That’s led to five homers over the breaking balls.

As for Baty, the former first-round pick was buried deep in the Mets’ depth chart heading into 2025. But with Mark Vientos not putting up loud numbers, Baty’s been given looks both at second and third. And, he’s been productive, with four home runs over the last two weeks.

Look, Baty is still a volatile fantasy asset; he still strikes out a lot. But, he’s put himself back on the radar for the first time in years.

Lastly, those who were patient and held on to Zach Neto have to be excited (I know, I am one). Neto, over the last 15 days, led the Majors in runs scored (14) and tied for 20th in RBI (10).

Moving on to the pitchers, Corbin Burnes is back. His cutter velocity has returned since his IL stint, as it’s up .7 MPH on average in May compared to April. That pitch, coupled with the curve, had led to impressive results. Over his first three starts in May, Burnes posted 23 strikeouts over 20 innings, along with a 1.35 ERA.

Yankees pitcher Will Warren, meanwhile, is second in the Majors in strikeouts (26) over the last two weeks, behind only Tarik Skubal.

Fallers

• SP Brayan Bello (Red Sox)
• 2B/OF Kristian Campbell (Red Sox)
• OF Adolis Garcia (Rangers)
• SP Zac Gallen (Diamondbacks)
• SS Matt McLain (Reds)
• OF Kameron Misner (Rays)
• SP Aaron Nola (Phillies)

Red Sox rookie Kristian Campbell was a star last month, both in Boston and among fantasy owners. That, however, has significantly reversed in May. Campbell posted a month to forget in May. The 22-year-old (as of 5/22) slashed .094/.127/.151 (.278 OPS) with just five hits in 55 PA.

Overall, Campbell has been patient this season but broken down by month, one can see the swing decisions are getting worse & worse. Thus far in May, 32 of Campbell’s 105 swings (30.5%) have been on pitches out of the zone. In March/April? 27.6%.

As for other bats in the skids, Kameron Misner long struggled with whiffs in strikeouts dating back to his college days. After a hot start, Misner struck 20 times over his last 36 plate appearances.

Matt McLain (18 K, .182 AVG over the last two weeks) and Adolis Garcia (17 K, .157 AVG), two other bats with high expectations, have put up similar numbers.

Moving on to the pitchers, this has been a nightmare-ish season for Zac Gallen. Gallen gave up 10 earned runs over his last 10.2 IP.

This is one of those situations where one needs to see the full picture rather than part of it. Gallen’s problem has not been the pitch movement metrics or the strikeouts. He’s still striking out batters, with 59 over 56 frames.

But more often than not, Gallen gets himself into too much trouble with walks. His BB% jumped to 10.3% in 2025, almost double what it was in 2023 (5.6%). That’s alarming to say the last, especially when taking into account A) the D-Backs are hunting for a playoff spot and B) Gallen is a pending free agent.

Lastly, Aaron Nola imploded over his last two starts. He conceded 18 hits over his last 8.2 IP — but he does get a pass. Nola went on the injured list with an ankle injury, sustained earlier this month.

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