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Contact Rate Risers and Fallers - Week 5

Welcome back, RotoBallers! We now have a decent enough sample size in the early MLB season to look at some key offensive trends. Among those trends we will follow each week is contact rate. A sudden increase or decrease in contact rate could signal the beginning of an extended hot or cold streak, leading to important waiver wire decisions for fantasy baseball managers.

Each week we will look at a few players on each side and compare their previous week's contact rate with their actual performance. We do this because we care about you, the fantasy player. Here are contact rate risers and fallers for Week 5 of the fantasy baseball season.

Top contact rate risers and fallers for each week can be found using RotoBaller's exclusive tool, which is part of our Premium MLB package.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Contact Rate Risers

Byron Buxton (OF, MIN) - 91% Contact Rate - last seven days

It's happening. It's finally happening. Buxton is not just making more contact, he's at a 91% clip over the last week and is hitting .364. Of course, that brought his season average UP to .147 with no homers and one RBI after a month of action. May could be a whole different story. He drew five walks and struck out just once last week and then Buxton smacked his first homer on Tuesday. This is a classic case where tracking contact rate and plate discipline could lead to a great buy-low opportunity. If he's out there on your waiver wire, grab him immediately. If you have a disgruntled Buxton owner who is still a non-believer, do what it takes to acquire him now.

Justin Bour (1B, MIA) - 83% Contact Rate - last seven days

Justin Bour's breakout didn't come with any subtlety. He racked up four hits, including a homer, double, two singles and six RBI altogether on Sunday. Bour's .226 season average is still low, but he's been never been a high contact hitter (75.4% career contact rate). Bour is the classic slugger at first base, who will struggle against lefties but bash righties. He finished April with 15 RBI, so the run production has still been there. He's another good waiver add or buy-low candidate in deep leagues.

Jose Bautista (OF, TOR) - 81% Contact Rate - last seven days

The Blue Jays offense has been a huge mess and Bautista has been asked to shoulder the load without the help of Josh Donaldson or Edwin Encarnacion. Bautista's pathetic .191 batting average has climbed thanks to a .375 BA in the last seven days. His .096 ISO is still unacceptable, but there are some signs that the power could come back. Bautista is currently at a career low 0.53 GB/FB and his 6.3% HR/FB rate is 10 points below his career mark. He's getting the ball in the air with less results, mainly because his pull rate has lowered. Chances are that things will equal out as long as he keeps making solid contact as he's started to do recently.

Ben Zobrist (2B, CHC) - 98% Contact Rate - last seven days

One of the most confusing players to own this season has been Ben Zobrist. He scored 94 runs last year for the world champs and finished with the second-best OBP of his career. So far, he's suffered a .237 BABIP despite holding an above average 86% contact rate. In the last week, he's making contact 98% of the time, but it's resulted in a .227 BA in that time. One would think his fortunes would turn around eventually, but at age 36 he still carries a bit of risk.

 

Contact Rate Fallers

Brandon Belt (1B, SF) - 60% Contact Rate - last seven days

After a big first week, Belt truthers were calling for a 30-HR season. He's only homered once since April 8, but most of us know that's not his game. Belt traditionally offers a strong OBP with 15-20 HR ability and 80 RBI potential. However, Belt has just one multi-hit game in the last 10 days and even wore the Golden Sombrero on Sunday versus the Padres. If he isn't making contact at a high rate, there isn't enough value in other areas to compensate for it. Belt is a fringe 1B option in mixed leagues.

Mookie Betts (OF, BOS) - 74% Contact Rate - last seven days

This bit of information won't affect anybody in rotisserie leagues because you're not sitting Betts even if his contact rate was zero over the past week. Betts is simply slumping, with a .190 average in the past week, one run scored and no other counting stats to speak of. If anything, it might be a good time to fade him in DFS play. A contentious series against Baltimore could wake him up, but wait until he snaps out of it before spending a large chunk of your budget on an outfielder.

Ryon Healy (3B, OAK) - 64% Contact Rate - last seven days

Healy was already off to a slow start, but it's only getting worse. Healy is slashing .190/.190/.238 in the past week with five K and no walks. Healy is striking out 26.5% of the time while maintaining last year's poor 4% walk rate. His .308 BABIP shows that his quality of contact isn't the problem, it's the amount that he is (or isn't) making. Healy has never really gotten going this season, leaving many to wonder if he's a sleeper that won't wake up.

Carlos Beltran (OF, HOU) - 61% Contact Rate - last seven days

One of the biggest contact fallers of the week, Beltran's 74.1% contact rate would be the lowest of his career. Is this the year the 40-year old falls completely off the fantasy radar? His .250 average is acceptable if he were providing power in exchange, but he's only homered twice and driven in eight runs. Three walks in 101 plate appearances and a career-high 25% K% are also ominous signs. It could just be a slow start, but tread carefully with this veteran - the Astros have plenty of young talent in the minors ready to take his place if he keeps sliding downward.

 

More Risers and Fallers




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Anthony Santander

Hoping to Hit Soon
Luis Robert Jr.

Returning in Short Order
Alex Bregman

Could Return Later This Week
Ketel Marte

Day-to-Day with Groin Tightness
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Hunter Greene

Suffers Setback on Monday
Philadelphia 76ers

Kyle Lowry Staying With 76ers
Kyle Anderson

Lands in Utah
Kevin Love

Traded to Jazz in 3-Team Swap
Norman Powell

Traded to Miami
John Collins

Dealt to Clippers
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Tied For 14 at Travelers Championship
Xander Schauffele

Finishes Tied For 61 at Travelers Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Robert MacIntyre

Finishes Tied For 17 at Travelers Championship
Si Woo Kim

Finishes Tied For 11 at John Deere Classic
Viktor Hovland

Withdraws From Travelers Championship
Tommy Fleetwood

Finishes Tied For Second at Travelers Championship
Brian Campbell

Wins John Deere Classic
Bronny James Jr.

Scores 10 Points
Harrison Ingram

Limited on Sunday
Golden State Warriors

Isaiah Mobley Drops 16 Points
Ryan Rollins

Staying with Bucks
T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Still Not Close on New Contract
Terry McLaurin

Still Not Pleased with Contract Situation
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Yu Darvish

to Make Season Debut on Monday
MLB

Nationals Fire Dave Martinez, Mike Rizzo
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
KaVontae Turpin

Arrested on Two Charges
Cole Ragans

to Begin Throwing on Monday
Theo Johnson

Prioritizing his Health this Offseason
Andrés Giménez

Andres Gimenez Hits 10-Day Injured List
Jermaine Burton

Continues to Show Growth
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
Austin Cindric

Remains an Overrated Road Racer
Cam Ward

"Not Expecting" to be handed Starting Job
Chase Claypool

Eager to Get Back on the Field
Wyatt Langford

Activated, Playing on Saturday
Jay Huff

on the Move to Indiana
Cam Whitmore

Wizards Acquire Cam Whitmore from the Rockets
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Jock Landale

Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Moritz Wagner

Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Jaxson Hayes

Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
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