Fantasy Baseball Players To Watch For The Week Ahead (April 7 - April 13)

Jarod's fantasy baseball watch list - hitters, pitchers, and relievers he's keeping an eye on for April 7 - April 13 (2025). Hot bats, good matchups, pitchers on a roll, and more.

With the first week in the books, welcome back to my weekly Players to Watch for the Week Ahead series for 2025 as we look ahead to the week of April 7 - April 13. In this article, I'll look at players like Logan O'Hoppe, Riley Greene, Spencer Schwellenbach, and others.

For those who are not familiar, 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. This week, we also outline a prospect that should be on your radar.

Looking ahead to this week's action, we've got some very fantasy-relevant names putting up some eye-opening numbers thus far, a couple of pitchers dominating, and a couple of relievers that warrant discussion (again).

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Players to Watch: Hitters

Logan O'Hoppe, Los Angeles Angels

What I'm Watching: Home run streak

After watching Logan O'Hoppe go on a power binge in limited action during the 2023 season, we all knew the home run potential was there. He belted 14 home runs that season in 199 plate appearances with a 15.6 percent barrel rate and 21.5 percent HR/FB%; a 35 HR pace extrapolated out to 500 PA.

Last season was supposed to be his big breakout season, and in the end, he was given 522 PA. However, much to the dismay of fantasy managers who drafted the 6-foot-2 backstop, he hit only 20 long balls, and the counting stats left much to be desired.

Turn the calendar to 2025, though, and what we thought was going to happen last season appears to be taking hold this season. The right-handed slugger blasted a home run in his fourth consecutive game on Sunday, now with five homers on the year through just seven games played.

Logan O'Hoppe homers in a fourth straight game! pic.twitter.com/LqdTOKwatx

— MLB (@MLB) April 6, 2025

This is, of course, not a pace he can sustain all season, but clearing the 20-homer threshold from last season appears to be well within reach. A 37.5 percent barrel rate, 56.3 percent hard-hit rate, and 36.4 percent HR/FB% back this up as no fluke.

The 34.6 percent strikeout rate is a bit worrisome, and combined with a 71.4 percent contact rate, it would also be reasonable to expect that the .345 batting average is not here to stay, even though the power may be.

The former 23rd-round draft pick doesn't have a ton of history against many of the starters he'll take on this week, except Saturday when the Angels square off with Ronel Blanco and the Astros. O'Hoppe is 3-for-6 lifetime against Blanco with two doubles and a home run.

One final thing to consider is trading O'Hoppe. It's hard to find fantasy production at catcher, so it may be tough to part ways with the 25-year-old, but his trade value may not be any higher for the rest of the season than it is right now.

Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers

What I'm Watching: Extra-base hits

Expectations were high for Riley Greene as a fifth-overall draft pick in 2019, and he finally lived up to them in 2024, earning his first All-Star selection after carrying a .355 wOBA and 135 wRC+ over 137 games.

Now, in 2025, the 24-year-old is off to a blistering start. The left-handed slugger has a hit in seven of the eight games he's started (he came off the bench Sunday and went 0-for-1), with five multi-hit efforts.

It's not just singles, though. The youngster has seven extra-base hits thus far, including four doubles and three home runs, which puts him behind only Kyle Tucker and Aaron Judge for most XBH in baseball.

Riley Greene sent this baseball to the moon 🚀 pic.twitter.com/Q7qLGd5e84

— MLB (@MLB) April 4, 2025

Greene has a great opportunity to keep up the hot start as he goes up against the Yankees and Carlos Rodon on Monday, a pitcher he is 4-for-6 off of in his career with one double.

Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs

What I'm Watching: RBI streak

Nico Hoerner recorded an RBI for the fourth straight game on Sunday, up to six on the season now through nine games. If given 641 PA like last season, that pace would result in 96 RBI!

I know, that's silly to imagine for a guy who barely recorded that many the last two seasons combined (116 to be exact). But with the way these Cubs are scoring runs, it looks like surpassing his 50-ish RBI season projection is very doable.

Regardless, if you drafted the former first-rounder as your starting second baseman, you're starting him in season-long leagues, whether that holds true or not. But maybe now you're considering him more often in DFS, because the 27-year-old also has seven runs scored and six stolen bases as well.

A .361 BA aided by an 89.1 percent contact rate to go along with a 4:1 BB:K that's helped him to a .425 OBP should ensure the steals and runs will keep on coming.

Zac Veen, Colorado Rockies

What I'm Watching: MLB debut

Call-up alert! The Rockies will be calling up Zac Veen for his major league debut on Tuesday. The Rockies' eighth-ranked prospect nearly made the Opening Day roster after a strong spring season, but was ultimately sent to Triple-A for the start of 2025.

So far at Triple-A this season, the 23-year-old is 12-for-27 (.444) with six extra-base hits, eight RBI, six runs scored, and a stolen base through seven games.

The former first-round draft pick has some decent power that will play well at Coors Field, but it is the 70-grade speed that makes him intriguing for fantasy. He stole as many as 55 bases back in 2022 in the minors, so if he can get regular at-bats and find his way on base, he'll be a threat to run.

He's not a must-grab off the waiver wire in most leagues, but he's worth monitoring with how hot he was swinging the bat at Triple-A. His first three games will come at home at Coors.

Key Matchups: Hitters

These hitters caught my eye when looking over 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 sometimes there isn't enough matchup history worth looking at, there is frequency with these, and with frequency comes familiarity. These batters have a history of collecting extra-base hits in these matchups, some with multiple home runs against the opposing hurler.

Players to Watch: Starting Pitchers

Spencer Schwellenbach, Atlanta Braves

What I'm Watching: Scoreless streak

If you drafted Spencer Schwellenbach, you are one happy fantasy manager so far. Not much has gone right for the Braves so far in 2025, but Schwelly has been a bright spot. Er, more like a supernova.

Through two starts and 14 innings pitched, the righty has yet to allow a run. He's yielded only three hits and has a sterling 1:14 BB:K. That's a 0.29 WHIP and a 28.3 percent K-BB%.

The 6-foot-1 hurler was given a chance in the rotation last season at the end of May and hasn't looked back. Some here at RotoBaller thought the kid could be a dark horse Cy Young candidate before the season began.

Spencer Schwellenbach's last 17 starts dating back to 7/6/24...

106 IP, 2.21 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 3.7% BB, 26.7% K#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/iFPocNH68N

— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) April 5, 2025

Well, don't look now, but the former second-round draft pick has the third-best odds in the National League behind only Paul Skenes and Zack Wheeler.

Speaking of Phillies, Schwellenbach's next start will likely come against Philadelphia this week, which should be a true test for the burgeoning star.

Kris Bubic, Kansas City Royals

What I'm Watching: Dominant start to the season

Like Schwellenbach, there was a contingent who saw good things coming from Kris Bubic this season, and like Schwellenbach, Bubic has been fantastic.

After another dominant start on Sunday, the lefty has allowed just one earned run on eight hits and three walks while striking out 16 batters through his first two turns (12 2/3 IP). That's good for a 0.71 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and a 26.6 percent K-BB%.

The southpaw's next start lines up with Cleveland next Friday. Both Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez have had success against him in the past, but this is not the same pitcher, so it will be interesting to see how it goes.

Oh, and the 27-year-old is rostered in only 34 percent of Yahoo! leagues, so those needing pitching help should navigate as quickly as possible to the waiver wire and scoop him up.

Players to Watch: Relief Pitchers

Dennis Santana, Pittsburgh Pirates

What I'm Watching: Is he the new closer for Pittsburgh?

This one isn't too exciting, but for those in need of saves, Dennis Santana may be of interest to you. If you read this article last week, I noted that David Bednar was on shaky ground, and before you know it, he's in the minors.

Colin Holderman and Santana's names were tossed around as potential fill-ins, but Holderman just hit the IL on April 6 with a sprained knee. It would seemingly leave Santana alone atop the closer depth chart.

The 29-year-old recorded a save earlier in the week to back that projection up, but the problem is wins. The Pirates may not be in a position to provide the righty with save chances, as they are tied for last in the NL Central with a 3-7 record.

Nevertheless, those scraping the bottom of the barrel for saves should consider Santana, who is available in over 80 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Ryan Pressly, Chicago Cubs

What I'm Watching: Is it Porter Hodge time?

Ryan Pressly was also mentioned in last week's article, but after taking the loss on Sunday, it's worth noting him here again. Technically, it was a throwing error that doomed the Cubs on Sunday, not Pressly.

Then again, the 36-year-old put runners on at the end of the game, so it was by no means a clean inning as the righty walked the first batter he saw and a single two batters later before the throwing error occurred on a ground ball to short.

Still, the veteran has allowed a hit or a walk in each of his five appearances in 2025, culminating in a 4.50 ERA, 2.50 WHIP, and an ugly 6:2 BB:K.

Hodge hasn't been perfect, but he's certainly been better. The 24-year-old also allowed a run on Sunday, but it was his first of the year, owning a 1.59 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and a 3:6 BB:K.

Hodge saved nine games down the stretch last season for the Cubs and is also available in about 80 percent of Yahoo! leagues for stashing.

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