Rest of Season Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Hot Like Summer

This week marked the official beginning of the summer season. And as the mercury rises, several Major League players are doing the same in my rest-of-season rankings. Some of them are due to injury, while others are based more on recent performance. I want to focus on the latter this week by discussing two players who are heating up of late – Anthony Santander of the Baltimore Orioles and Tanner Bibee of the Cleveland Guardians. What has fueled their recent hot streaks, and can they keep it up going forward?

Bats as Hot as Summer

Anthony Santander

There was a point not too long ago when I was starting Anthony Santander in a league almost by default. As of Memorial Day, he was hitting .201 with nine home runs and 29 RBI. He was also seemingly beginning to lose his grip on a starting role. Manager Brandon Hyde benched Santander on Memorial Day, which was the third time Santander sat over a nine-game period. Upon returning to the lineup the next day, Santander raised his batting average to .211 by month’s end but did not increase his home run or RBI totals. Then the calendar flipped to June, and Santander turned into “Tony Taters”. So far in June, he is hitting .286 with 11 homers and 22 runs batted in. Suddenly he is a top-20 year-to-date fantasy baseball outfielder and at a season-long pace for 43 home runs and 109 RBI.

So, what does this mean going forward? Well, I have bumped Santander up this week. However, I do not think what he has done over the past three weeks is sustainable over the long haul. If that sounds obvious, tell that to the people who were complaining about my ROS ranking of Jared Jones for weeks on end. One great month does not a season make. And yes, I know Jones pitched well on Saturday. Congrats. Anywho, back to Santander. I think fantasy managers should enjoy the ride, as I plan on doing where I have him. Baltimore is the highest-scoring team in the Majors and is showing no signs of slowing down offensively. The Orioles have hit 44 home runs this month. Meanwhile, the Miami Marlins have scored 48 runs this month. Read that again.

Santander should at the very least be a solid compiler, even if the batting average is less than ideal. I am not sure he gets to 43-109, but new career highs in the counting categories (sans stolen bases) are well within reach. Santander would need 39 runs, 14 home runs, and 45 RBI to set career-highs in each category. That is roughly an 80-30-90 pace, and very close to his numbers (81-28-95) from last season. He finished as the OF22 overall last year, and that is more or less where I have him in this week’s ROS rankings. I consider Santander a borderline OF2 in 12-team leagues, and a fringe top-100 player overall.

Tanner Bibee

In his first 38 Major League starts dating back to last season, Tanner Bibee had failed to record double-digit strikeouts. He then struck out 11 Cincinnati Reds in a 4-2 loss on June 12. Bibee one-upped himself in his next start, fanning 12 Seattle Mariners in an 8-0 victory. Bibee has now struck out 30 hitters in three June starts. That is good for a 44.8-percent strikeout rate. His last two games have been against teams prone to striking out, but those are eye-popping numbers, nonetheless. The question is whether or not we can take away anything else from these past few starts.

Bibee threw more changeups than normal against Cincinnati and more curveballs against Seattle. In the start prior against Kansas City, Bibee went almost exclusively with a four-seam fastball and slider combination. So, it appears he is attacking opponents based on their weaknesses. Bibee is scheduled for a two-start week, including a meeting with the aforementioned Orioles on Monday. Baltimore has been a top-five offense against both fastballs and curveballs this month but ranks slightly lower against changeups and sliders. Bibee’s expected batting average against is .182 on changeups and .177 on sliders this year, so he may have more success than most pitchers have recently against Baltimore. This game and this week could go a long way in determining how we view Bibee going forward. For now, I am treating Bibee as a high-end SP3 in 12-team leagues, but he could approach top-20 status with a pair of gems.

Fantasy Baseball Rest of Season Rankings

RANK	PLAYER	TEAM	POSITION
1	Bobby Witt Jr.	KC	SS
2	Shohei Ohtani	LAD	DH
3	Aaron Judge	NYY	OF
4	Juan Soto	NYY	OF
5	Jose Ramirez	CLE	3B
6	Yordan Alvarez	HOU	OF
7	Fernando Tatis Jr.	SD	OF
8	Freddie Freeman	LAD	1B
9	Gunnar Henderson	BAL	SS/3B
10	Kyle Tucker	HOU	OF
11	Elly De La Cruz	CIN	SS/3B
12	Zack Wheeler	PHI	SP
13	Julio Rodriguez	SEA	OF
14	Bryce Harper	PHI	1B
15	Rafael Devers	BOS	3B
16	Austin Riley	ATL	3B
17	Matt Olson	ATL	1B
18	Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	TOR	1B
19	Tyler Glasnow	LAD	SP
20	Tarik Skubal	DET	SP
21	Corey Seager	TEX	SS
22	Francisco Lindor	NYM	SS
23	Corbin Burnes	BAL	SP
24	Trea Turner	PHI	SS
25	Pete Alonso	NYM	1B
26	George Kirby	SEA	SP
27	Freddy Peralta	MIL	SP
28	Marcus Semien	TEX	2B
29	Aaron Nola	PHI	SP
30	Ozzie Albies	ATL	2B
31	Chris Sale	ATL	SP
32	Luis Castillo	SEA	SP
33	Max Fried	ATL	SP
34	Marcell Ozuna	ATL	DH
35	Pablo Lopez	MIN	SP
36	Joe Ryan	MIN	SP
37	CJ Abrams	WSH	SS
38	Jose Altuve	HOU	2B
39	Dylan Cease	SD	SP
40	Corbin Carroll	ARI	OF
41	Logan Gilbert	SEA	SP
42	Kevin Gausman	TOR	SP
43	Emmanuel Clase	CLE	RP
44	Gerrit Cole	NYY	SP
45	Jazz Chisholm Jr.	MIA	OF
46	Logan Webb	SF	SP
47	Josh Naylor	CLE	1B
48	Christian Yelich	MIL	OF
49	Josh Hader	HOU	RP
50	Adolis Garcia	TEX	OF
51	Kyle Schwarber	PHI	OF
52	Teoscar Hernandez	LAD	OF
53	Luis Robert Jr.	CHW	OF
54	Ketel Marte	ARI	2B
55	Christian Walker	ARI	1B
56	Cody Bellinger	CHC	1B/OF
57	Sonny Gray	STL	SP
58	Cole Ragans	KC	SP
59	Randy Arozarena	TB	OF
60	Paul Skenes	PIT	SP
61	Oneil Cruz	PIT	SS
62	Framber Valdez	HOU	SP
63	Manny Machado	SD	3B
64	Andres Gimenez	CLE	2B
65	Anthony Volpe	NYY	SS
66	Royce Lewis	MIN	3B
67	William Contreras	MIL	C
68	Bryan Reynolds	PIT	OF
69	Seiya Suzuki	CHC	OF
70	Jarren Duran	BOS	OF
71	Ezequiel Tovar	COL	SS
72	Shota Imanaga	CHC	SP
73	Bo Bichette	TOR	SS
74	Willy Adames	MIL	SS
75	Adley Rutschman	BAL	C
76	Grayson Rodriguez	BAL	SP
77	Zac Gallen	ARI	SP
78	Evan Phillips	LAD	RP
79	Carlos Rodon	NYY	SP
80	Alec Bohm	PHI	1B/3B
81	Lane Thomas	WSH	OF
82	Will Smith	LAD	C
83	Alex Bregman	HOU	3B
84	Spencer Steer	CIN	1B/3B/ OF
85	Camilo Doval	SF	RP
86	Tanner Bibee	CLE	SP
87	Michael Harris II	ATL	OF
88	Clay Holmes	NYY	RP
89	Christopher Morel	CHC	3B/OF
90	Nico Hoerner	CHC	2B/SS
91	Justin Steele	CHC	SP
92	Salvador Perez	KC	C/1B
93	Yoshinobu Yamamoto	LAD	SP
94	Paul Goldschmidt	STL	1B
95	Raisel Iglesias	ATL	RP
96	Jeremy Pena	HOU	SS
97	Anthony Santander	BAL	OF
98	Maikel Garcia	KC	3B
99	Andres Munoz	SEA	RP
100	Nick Castellanos	PHI	OF
101	Edwin Diaz	NYM	RP
102	Bryson Stott	PHI	2B/SS
103	Ranger Suarez	PHI	SP
104	Gleyber Torres	NYY	2B
105	Taylor Ward	LAA	OF
106	Hunter Greene	CIN	SP
107	Riley Greene	DET	OF
108	Mason Miller	OAK	RP
109	Vinnie Pasquantino	KC	1B
110	Chris Bassitt	TOR	SP
111	Ryan Helsley	STL	RP
112	Steven Kwan	CLE	OF
113	Jack Flaherty	DET	SP
114	Luis Arraez	SD	1B/2B
115	Zach Eflin	TB	SP
116	Bobby Miller	LAD	SP
117	Garrett Crochet	CHW	SP
118	Blake Snell	SF	SP
119	Jhoan Duran	MIN	RP
120	Yandy Diaz	TB	1B
121	Bailey Ober	MIN	SP
122	Dansby Swanson	CHC	SS
123	Nolan Arenado	STL	3B
124	David Bednar	PIT	RP
125	Ryan McMahon	COL	2B/3B
126	Ian Happ	CHC	OF
127	Ryan Mountcastle	BAL	1B
128	Tyler O’Neill	BOS	OF
129	Jared Jones	PIT	SP
130	George Springer	TOR	OF
131	Ha-Seong Kim	SD	2B/SS/ 3B
132	Robert Suarez	SD	RP
133	Nathan Eovaldi	TEX	SP
134	Brandon Nimmo	NYM	OF
135	Jose Berrios	TOR	SP
136	Isaac Paredes	TB	1B/3B
137	Jordan Westburg	BAL	2B/3B
138	Nick Lodolo	CIN	SP
139	Tanner Houck	BOS	SP
140	Rhys Hoskins	MIL	1B
141	Starling Marte	NYM	OF
142	Lourdes Gurriel Jr.	ARI	OF
143	Zach Neto	LAA	SS
144	Luis Rengifo	LAA	2B/SS/ 3B/OF
145	Nestor Cortes	NYY	SP
146	Mitch Keller	PIT	SP
147	Alexis Diaz	CIN	RP
148	Craig Kimbrel	BAL	RP
149	Jake Burger	MIA	1B/3B
150	Michael King	SD	SP
151	Nick Pivetta	BOS	SP
152	Paul Sewald	ARI	RP
153	Matt Chapman	SF	3B
154	Jeimer Candelario	CIN	1B/3B
155	Carlos Correa	MIN	SS
156	Jorge Soler	SF	OF
157	Nolan Jones	COL	OF
158	Bryce Miller	SEA	SP
159	Wyatt Langford	TEX	OF
160	Yusei Kikuchi	TOR	SP
161	Hunter Brown	HOU	SP
162	TJ Friedl	CIN	OF
163	Luis Gil	NYY	SP
164	Cedric Mullins	BAL	OF
165	Justin Verlander	HOU	SP
166	Kenley Jansen	BOS	RP
167	Daulton Varsho	TOR	OF
168	Yu Darvish	SD	SP
169	Nathaniel Lowe	TEX	1B
170	Mike Trout	LAA	OF
171	Tanner Scott	MIA	RP
172	Brandon Pfaadt	ARI	SP
173	Max Scherzer	TEX	SP
174	Brice Turang	MIL	2B/SS
175	Brenton Doyle	COL	OF
176	J.T. Realmuto	PHI	C
177	Giancarlo Stanton	NYY	OF
178	Charlie Morton	ATL	SP
179	Ryan Pepiot	TB	SP
180	Thairo Estrada	SF	2B/SS
181	MacKenzie Gore	WSH	SP
182	Kutter Crawford	BOS	SP
183	Ke’Bryan Hayes	PIT	3B
184	Yainer Diaz	HOU	C
185	Brayan Bello	BOS	SP
186	Jake Cronenworth	SD	1B/2B
187	Kyle Finnegan	WSH	RP
188	J.D. Martinez	NYM	DH
189	Taj Bradley	TB	SP
190	Ceddanne Rafaela	BOS	SS/OF
191	Aaron Civale	TB	SP
192	Jon Gray	TEX	SP
193	Logan O’Hoppe	LAA	C
194	Eloy Jimenez	CHW	DH
195	Pete Fairbanks	TB	RP
196	Jackson Chourio	MIL	OF
197	Jonathan India	CIN	2B
198	Jordan Montgomery	ARI	SP
199	Andrew Vaughn	CHW	1B
200	Jackson Merrill	SD	SS/OF
201	Cristopher Sanchez	PHI	SP
202	Kirby Yates	TEX	RP
203	Jose Alvarado	PHI	RP
204	Mookie Betts	LAD	2B/SS/OF
205	Reynaldo Lopez	ATL	SP
206	Masyn Winn	STL	SS
207	Luis Garcia	WSH	2B
208	Nolan Gorman	STL	2B
209	Byron Buxton	MIN	OF
210	Bryan Woo	SEA	SP
211	Cal Raleigh	SEA	C
212	Bryan De La Cruz	MIA	OF
213	Jarred Kelenic	ATL	OF
214	Braxton Garrett	MIA	SP
215	Carlos Estevez	LAA	RP
216	Josh Lowe	TB	OF
217	Seth Lugo	KC	SP
218	Josh Bell	MIA	1B
219	Jason Foley	DET	RP
220	Marcus Stroman	NYY	SP
221	Jo Adell	LAA	OF
222	Brendan Donovan	STL	2B/OF
223	Josh Jung	TEX	3B
224	Brady Singer	KC	SP
225	Jesus Luzardo	MIA	SP
226	Masataka Yoshida	BOS	OF
227	Kodai Senga	NYM	SP
228	Sean Manaea	NYM	SP
229	Jake Fraley	CIN	OF
230	Merrill Kelly	ARI	SP
231	Gabriel Moreno	ARI	C
232	Joe Musgrove	SD	SP
233	Joc Pederson	ARI	OF
234	Zack Gelof	OAK	2B
235	Lance Lynn	STL	SP
236	Ryan O’Hearn	BAL	1B/OF
237	Brandon Marsh	PHI	OF
238	Jordan Romano	TOR	RP
239	Sean Murphy	ATL	C
240	Devin Williams	MIL	RP
241	Ronel Blanco	HOU	SP
242	Triston Casas	BOS	1B
243	Max Kepler	MIN	OF
244	Brent Rooker	OAK	OF
245	Lars Nootbaar	STL	OF
246	Leody Taveras	TEX	OF
247	Brendan Rodgers	COL	2B
248	James McArthur	KC	RP
249	Christian Encarnacion-Strand	CIN	1B
250	Justin Turner	TOR	1B
251	Chas McCormick	HOU	OF
252	Tommy Pham	CHW	OF
253	Jonah Heim	TEX	C
254	Alex Verdugo	NYY	OF
255	Jurickson Profar	SD	OF
256	Erick Fedde	CHW	SP
257	Francisco Alvarez	NYM	C
258	Miles Mikolas	STL	SP
259	Zack Littell	TB	SP
260	David Hamilton	BOS	SS
261	Andrew Abbott	CIN	SP
262	MJ Melendez	KC	OF
263	Kyle Gibson	STL	SP
264	Willson Contreras	STL	C
265	Brandon Lowe	TB	2B
266	J.P. Crawford	SEA	SS
267	Gavin Stone	LAD	SP
268	Keibert Ruiz	WSH	C
269	Reese Olson	DET	SP
270	Ryan Jeffers	MIN	C
271	Patrick Sandoval	LAA	SP
272	Max Muncy	LAD	3B
273	Eduardo Rodriguez	ARI	SP
274	Walker Buehler	LAD	SP
275	Andy Pages	LAD	OF
276	Alec Burleson	STL	OF
277	Triston McKenzie	CLE	SP
278	Noelvi Marte	CIN	3B
279	Dane Dunning	TEX	SP
280	Evan Carter	TEX	OF
281	Sal Frelick	MIL	OF
282	Davis Schneider	TOR	2B/OF
283	Gavin Williams	CLE	SP
284	Jordan Hicks	SF	SP
285	Tyler Stephenson	CIN	C
286	Hector Neris	CHC	RP
287	Trevor Megill	MIL	RP
288	Joey Ortiz	MIL	2B/3B
289	Luis Severino	NYM	SP
290	Wilyer Abreu	BOS	OF
291	Michael Kopech	CHW	RP
292	Colton Cowser	BAL	OF
293	Kyle Harrison	SF	SP
294	Yimi Garcia	TOR	RP
295	Matt Vierling	DET	3B/OF
296	Matt Strahm	PHI	RP
297	Dean Kremer	BAL	SP
298	Jose Siri	TB	OF
299	Kenta Maeda	DET	SP
300	Nick Gonzales	PIT	2B/SS
301	Reid Detmers	LAA	SP
302	David Fry	CLE	C/OF
303	Willi Castro	MIN	2B/SS/ 3B/OF
304	Jason Adam	TB	RP
305	Heliot Ramos	SF	OF
306	Tyler Freeman	CLE	3B/OF
307	Michael Wacha	KC	SP
308	Frankie Montas	CIN	SP
309	Jesus Sanchez	MIA	OF
310	Jack Suwinski	PIT	OF
311	Brandon Drury	LAA	1B/2B
312	Tyler Anderson	LAA	SP
313	Christian Scott	NYM	SP
314	Ty France	SEA	1B
315	Nolan Schanuel	LAA	1B
316	Jose Quintana	NYM	SP
317	Will Benson	CIN	OF
318	Shea Langeliers	OAK	C
319	Bo Naylor	CLE	C
320	Jacob deGrom	TEX	SP
321	Orlando Arcia	ATL	SS
322	Harrison Bader	NYM	OF
323	Mitch Garver	SEA	C
324	Matt Waldron	SD	SP
325	Jameson Taillon	CHC	SP
326	Michael Conforto	SF	OF
327	Griffin Jax	MIN	RP
328	Jeff McNeil	NYM	2B/OF
329	Eugenio Suarez	ARI	3B
330	Vaughn Grissom	BOS	2B/SS
331	Tylor Megill	NYM	SP
332	Danny Jansen	TOR	C
333	James Paxton	LAD	SP
334	Jake Meyers	HOU	OF
335	Joey Meneses	WSH	1B
336	Logan Allen	CLE	SP
337	Luis Campusano	SD	C
338	Clayton Kershaw	LAD	SP
339	Andrew Heaney	TEX	SP
340	David Robertson	TEX	RP
341	Ryan Pressly	HOU	RP
342	Anthony Rizzo	NYY	1B
343	Jose Leclerc	TEX	RP
344	Charlie Blackmon	COL	OF
345	Kerry Carpenter	DET	OF
346	Spencer Arrighetti	HOU	SP
347	Jeff Hoffman	PHI	RP
348	JP Sears	OAK	SP
349	Ryan Weathers	MIA	SP
350	Andrew Benintendi	CHW	OF
351	Reed Garrett	NYM	RP
352	Daniel Hudson	LAD	RP
353	Mark Canha	DET	1B/OF
354	Javier Assad	CHC	SP
355	Tim Anderson	MIA	SS
356	Jake Irvin	WSH	SP
357	Chris Paddack	MIN	SP
358	Cole Irvin	BAL	SP
359	Ben Lively	CLE	SP
360	Nelson Velazquez	KC	OF
361	Connor Wong	BOS	C
362	Ryne Stanek	SEA	RP
363	Jorge Polanco	SEA	2B
364	Jordan Walker	STL	OF
365	Drew Rasmussen	TB	SP