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Jarod's fantasy baseball watch list -- hitters, pitchers, and relievers he's keeping an eye on for May 19 - May 25 (2025): hot bats, good matchups, pitchers on a roll, and more.
Welcome back to my weekly Players to Watch for the Week Ahead series for 2025 as we look ahead to the week of May 19 - May 25. In this article, I'll look at players like Cody Bellinger, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Spencer Strider, and others.
For those unfamiliar, I like to take a look around the league and pick out some players to discuss who might be under-owned in redraft leagues, potential DFS candidates, players returning from injury, or some names that are just flat-out hot.
Looking ahead to this week's action, we've got a handful of very impressive streaks to keep an eye on, a pitcher returning from injury, a reliever that's dominating, and more!
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Fantasy Baseball Players to Watch: Hitters
Will Benson, Cincinnati Reds
What I'm Watching: Home run streak
Will Benson was recalled from Triple-A on May 9 and has collected at least one hit in seven of the eight games he's played upon his return. Incredibly, as you might have heard, the 26-year-old had his fourth straight game with a home run on Sunday.
Will Benson is out of this world right now 🤯
He has 5 homers in has last 4 games! pic.twitter.com/gYqnc7lefg
— MLB (@MLB) May 18, 2025
It was actually a two-homer game on Sunday, giving him five in four games. The former first-round draft pick was also hitting well at Triple-A prior to his call-up, batting .289 with seven home runs, five doubles, and a triple in 31 games.
As a career .226 hitter in the majors with a 35.3 percent strikeout rate, we all know this won't last, although for what it's worth, his K% currently stands at 20.0 percent since his return, which is better than league average.
If you picked him up season-long or played him in DFS the past several days, congratulations. You surely got the peak of his 2025 season, but it will be fun to watch him over the next few days to see how long he can keep the HR streak going.
Buyer beware, however, as the Reds take on the Pirates and Mitch Keller on Monday, a pitcher that the left-handed slugger is 0-for-10 off of lifetime with six strikeouts.
Cody Bellinger, New York Yankees
What I'm Watching: Extra-base hit streak
Cody Bellinger was hitting below the Mendoza Line back on May 2 -- .196 to be exact. Since then, the left-handed slugger has pulled the batting average up to .258 thanks to a 13-game hit streak, during which time he's gone 20-for-53 (.377).
Cody Bellinger's GRAND SLAM breaks it open! #RivalryWeekend pic.twitter.com/S0T0IOk2Yi
— MLB (@MLB) May 19, 2025
The hits aren't all going for singles either. The former MVP has an extra-base hit in five straight games now, including four doubles and two home runs over that stretch.
The 2x All-Star will look to keep the streak going on Monday in the Bronx against the Rangers' LHP Patrick Corbin, whom Bellinger is 9-for-23 (.391) off of in his career, including one double.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
What I'm Watching: On-base streak
After collecting a single and two walks on Sunday, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extended his on-base streak to a league-best 20 games. Hopefully, this doesn't jinx it, as this article was clearly the reason Kyle Schwarber's streak ended last week after his then-40-game on-base streak was discussed.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is one of only 12 players with 30+ BB this season. pic.twitter.com/tm7YbBlRoJ
— BlueJays Muse (@TORBlueJaysMuse) May 18, 2025
He'll take on the Padres and Rays this week, with a bit more matchup history against the divisional foes' hurlers. The 26-year-old is having another fine season, slashing .288/.394/.424 with a .361 wOBA and 136 wRC+.
Dairon Blanco, Kansas City Royals
What I'm Watching: Stolen-base machine back off IL
This is your friendly reminder that Dairon Blanco (Achilles) is back from the IL as of May 16. As he doesn't receive many starts, the speedster is tough to roster in season-long fantasy leagues, but he did get a start on Sunday, and of course, he recorded a stolen base (as well as a double and an RBI).
It is something to monitor, because if the 32-year-old were to earn himself more playing time, the stolen bases would pile up. He's appeared in four games, but has logged only three at-bats, yet has three steals.
Key Matchups: Hitters
These hitters caught my attention when I reviewed batter vs. pitcher matchups. Most of these guys are already rostered in a majority of leagues, so you aren't running out to snag them off the waiver wire, but they could be targets for your DFS lineups.
While there isn't always enough matchup history to look at, there is a frequency to these, and with that comes familiarity. These batters have a history of collecting extra-base hits in these matchups, some with multiple home runs against the opposing hurler.
Fantasy Baseball Players to Watch: Pitchers
Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves
What I'm Watching: Expected to start Tuesday
Spencer Strider's long-awaited return from an internal brace procedure finally took place earlier this season when the righty made a start against Toronto, a game in which he struck out five batters in five innings of work, only to be derailed with a strained hamstring.
Now fully healed from that, the former All-Star will make another attempt to get his season underway, this time against the Nationals on Tuesday in D.C.
In his last full season of 2023, the former fourth-round draft pick posted a 3.86 ERA (2.92 xFIP), 1.09 WHIP, and a 29.2 K-BB% in 32 starts (186 2/3 IP).
