We’re just about done with another week of the 2026 fantasy baseball season. And for some players, the second half has been great. Just ask Wilyer Abreu or Caleb Durbin. However, some notables who excelled during the first half hit skids.
Risers
- OF Wilyer Abreu (Red Sox)
- OF Ronald Acuna Jr. (Braves)
- SP Sandy Alcantara (Marlins)
- 2B/OF Jose Altuve (Astros)
- SP Shane Baz (Orioles)
- INF Caleb Durbin (Red Sox)
It’s been a frustrating season for Ronald Acuna Jr. fantasy owners. Not because he’s been bad; in fact, with 12 home runs and 15 stolen bases, Acuna Jr. has not been. The struggle was getting him in the lineup, as the former NL MVP had multiple IL stints this season.
But he’s been great overall since the start of August. A hit in every game he’s played in this month. His 12th home run of the year came on August 8 against the Yankees, Acuna Jr.’s third of the month.
Wilyer Abreu is one of several Red Sox soaring amongst fantasy baseball outfielders. Abreu had four home runs in his last five games, giving him 20 on the season.
As for Caleb Durbin, he has been one of the most unheralded players amidst the Red Sox’s run through July & August. And over the last week, how about nine hits and 10 RBI from the Boston infielder. Plus, two stolen bases.
Jose Altuve is marching closer & closer to 2,500 career hits. His 10 hits over the last week were tied for the most in the Majors alongside Royce Lewis.
Moving on to pitchers, Sandy Alcantara picked up two wins and 13 strikeouts over 13 sterling innings across his last two starts. Shane Baz of the Orioles picked up nine strikeouts over eight innings against the Rangers on August 7.
Baz hasn’t allowed more than three runs in one start since June 23. And among his last seven starts, the Orioles righty did that just once.
Fallers
- OF Corbin Carroll (D-backs)
- SP Davis Martin (White Sox)
- OF Garrett Mitchell (Brewers)
- 1B Ben Rice (Yankees)
- OF Kyle Schwarber (Phillies)
- SP Justin Wrobleski (Dodgers)
Ben Rice cracked through on August 8, hitting his 32nd home run of the season. However, it has not been a good stretch for the All-Star first baseman, as Rice had just two hits (2-21) over his last six games.
Garrett Mitchell was a shining star for the Brewers for much of July. But over the past week, a 2-21 stretch for the Milwaukee outfielder.
Corbin Carroll (3-23) and Kyle Schwarber (3-20) also had down weeks. And how about this: Kyle Schwarber didn’t hit any home runs over the last week. In fact, Schwarber hasn’t hit a home run since July 18 against the Mets.
And for those who bought Davis Martin and Justin Wrobleski stock, this was a tough week for both.
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