Fantasy Baseball Players To Watch For The Week Ahead (June 9 - June 15)

Jarod's fantasy baseball watch list -- hitters, pitchers, and relievers he's keeping an eye on for June 9 - June 15 (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 June 9 - June 15. In this article, I'll look at players like Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Jacob Wilson, Ranger Suarez, and others.

As a reminder of what this article is all about, 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 getting called up from the minors, or some names that are just flat-out hot.

Looking ahead to this week, we've got a few impressive streaks to keep an eye on, a couple of players returning from injury, and more!

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Fantasy Baseball Players to Watch: Hitters

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Cincinnati Reds

What I'm Watching: Home run streak

Christian Encarnacion-Strand (CES) missed over a month with what was described as lower back inflammation, finally returning on Friday.

The 25-year-old wasted no time making his presence felt, going 3-for-5 with a double and a home run in his first game back in the lineup. He followed that up with a 2-for-5 day at the plate on Saturday, which included another home run.

Then on Sunday, the right-handed slugger went 2-for-3, including a home run in his third consecutive game.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand - Cincinnati Reds (5)
pic.twitter.com/CqAX4j3xul

— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) June 8, 2025

The former fourth-round draft pick's calling card is his big-time power, so while he won't homer in every game from here on out, this recent power surge is not uncharacteristic of him.

Back in 2023, when the Oklahoma State product debuted, he smacked 13 home runs in just 222 at-bats, a 32-homer pace if given a full-season's worth of at-bats.

The first baseman is available in over 70 percent of leagues, but he's actually played third base in the last two games, so it won't be long until he earns 3B eligibility on Yahoo!, which will make him even more appealing for fantasy. With the power upside, CES is worthy of a roster spot in most 12-team mixed leagues.

Jacob Wilson, Athletics

What I'm Watching: Multi-hit games streak

Now hitting .372 after Sunday's game, it feels like we are watching a truly special season from Jacob Wilson. At this point, it might be more newsworthy if he went hitless or collected just one hit.

With two hits on Sunday, the former sixth-overall draft pick now has at least two hits in five straight games and seven of his last eight.

Jacob Wilson can't be stopped 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ThsyFq8FI4

— Athletics on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) June 8, 2025

The 23-year-old did hit a rough patch back on May 14 through May 17 when he went 0-for-14 over four games, but since then, the right-handed hitter has gone 35-for-76 (.461) over the last 19 games. The hot stretch includes five doubles and three home runs, along with three stolen bases.

Slashing .372/.408/.528 on the season, he's the leading candidate for AL Rookie of the Year at this point, and even if there's a power slowdown due to the 3.0 percent barrel rate and 27.2 percent hard-hit rate, he should remain very productive for the remainder of the season.

Nick Kurtz, Athletics

What I'm Watching: Return from IL

Nick Kurtz got off to such a hot start at Triple-A this year that it wasn't long before we saw him in the majors. The left-handed slugger collected a hit in 12 of the first 15 games he played, but recorded zero home runs during that time.

He finally hit his first MLB home run in his 17th game, only to go into an 0-for-20 slump following the achievement. But, don't forget how hot he got before suffering a hip injury that put him on the injured list.

Nick Kurtz homered in his first rehab game.

Should be back with the #Athletics early next week and was heating up before landing on the IL.pic.twitter.com/QF81fylAJu

— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) June 8, 2025

The 22-year-old went 7-for-17 (.412) with four home runs, nine RBI, five runs scored, and a 5:5 BB:K over the five games leading up to the IL stint.

Some managers might shy away from the 6-foot-5 first baseman, recalling his high 33.3 percent strikeout rate and .245 batting average, which could explain the low 24 percent rostership.

However, power-needy managers should consider picking the Wake Forest product up, as he looked like he was really starting to settle in at the plate, and could do so again upon his return. Kurtz even homered in his first rehab game over the weekend.

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

Ranger Suarez, Philadelphia Phillies

What I'm Watching: Can he make it seven straight quality starts?

Ok, Robbie Ray has eight straight quality starts, so I'll be watching him to see if he can make it nine in a row, but I outlined him in last week's article, so this week I'll take a look at Ranger Suarez instead.

Suarez got tagged for seven earned runs in his first start after coming off the injured list in early May, but has recorded six straight quality starts since then.

Ranger Suárez, 91mph Paint. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/TjaXJRDlzt

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 7, 2025

Over that time, the southpaw pitched to a 1.36 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a 14.6 percent K-BB%. The 29-year-old could have a tough time making it seven straight, though.

He'll take on the Toronto Blue Jays in his next turn through the rotation on Friday. Toronto owns the second-highest wOBA (.383) and wRC+ (151) against left-handed pitchers over the past three weeks.

Eury Perez, Miami Marlins

What I'm Watching: Return from IL

Eury Perez debuted in 2023 as a 20-year-old, posting a 3.15 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 20.6 percent K-BB% over 19 starts and 91 1/3 innings pitched. He looked primed for a prosperous 2024, but Tommy John surgery derailed his season and has kept him out of 2025 to this point.

However, now fully recovered, Perez is set to make his season debut on Monday against the Pirates. The 6-foot-8 hurler pitched well in his rehab, registering a 1.99 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 27:10 K:BB over 22 2/3 IP.

Eury Perez will make his return next week after missing all of 2024 and the first two months of 2025.

I still have him as a Top-10 dynasty SP right now which should speak volumes. It wouldn't surprise me if he's the dynasty SP3 at the end of the season.pic.twitter.com/3xhZHzjbRx

— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) June 4, 2025

With starting pitchers dropping like flies recently, fantasy managers could surely use some reinforcements, and Perez is rostered in less than half of Yahoo! leagues.

The matchup with the Pirates will come on the road, but Pittsburgh is averaging the second-fewest runs per game in MLB this season at 3.15, second only to the lowly Rockies (3.14).

Lance McCullers Jr., Houston Astros

What I'm Watching: Another shot against the White Sox

After working three straight strong outings in which McCullers tallied 27 strikeouts in 16 1/3 IP compared to five walks, the righty gets a rematch against the White Sox.

The 31-year-old faced Chicago in his first start off the injured list, going just 3 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out four.

Welcome back Lance McCullers! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/X3D6K6ETVQ

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 4, 2025

With the rust shaken off, a home game against the Sox sets him up to exceed those results this time around. Chicago owns the fifth-worst runs per game average at 3.53, and on the road, it is even worse, coming in at 2.94, which is second-worst in the majors behind only the Rockies (2.50).

McCullers is rostered in just around half of leagues, but could provide some much-needed ratio help, especially in the strikeout department, even if only in the short term.

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