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Connelly's fantasy baseball risers and fallers for Week 19 of 2025. He assesses hitters and pitchers performing well and poorly to determine their future value.
Welcome, everyone, to a special trade deadline edition of RotoBaller’s Fantasy Baseball Risers and Fallers article series for Week 19 of the 2025 season! Today, I'll look at players like Jesus Sanchez, Jhoan Duran, Randy Rodriguez, and Gavin Sheets.
Keeping up with the latest hitter and pitcher trends is a key component for a successful season, and RotoBaller is here to help fantasy managers! Each week, I will select a few players who have performed well recently and a few who have not, and I will analyze their performances to determine how their future outcomes may be affected.
This week, I will focus on players whose perceived fantasy value rose or fell due to being traded or due to the effects of trades. The format for this week will be slightly different, and you can check out more RotoBaller fantasy trade analysis here. Fantasy managers may need to make some post-deadline adjustments, so let's get into it!
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Fantasy Baseball Hitter Riser
All stats are current as of Sunday morning, August 3, 2025.
Jesus Sanchez, Houston Astros (OF)
.256/.319/.415 Slash Line, 10 HRs, 36 RBI, 9 SBs
While some well-known fantasy hitters did find new homes, not many of them received a significant boost to their fantasy value. Sanchez stands out as a player who could benefit from moving from the Marlins to the Astros.
The Marlins have performed surprisingly well this season, but the Astros are in first place in the American League West despite having a thin outfield and missing a left-handed bat in their lineup. Sanchez is an above-average fielder and should slot nicely into a roster role that the Astros were missing.
Jesus Sanchez singles in his first non-Marlins AB!
Unfortunately, he tried to go first-to-third on a errant pick-off attempt by Criswell and was thrown out at third base.
The full Jesus Sanchez experience in one inning! pic.twitter.com/gccvfXA1zs
— Isaac Azout (@IsaacAzout) August 1, 2025
Sanchez has provided a bit of everything this season from a fantasy perspective. His .256/.319/.415 slash line, 40 runs scored, 36 RBI, and nine stolen bases aren’t eye-popping, but those stats are solid across five categories. His batted-ball profile is also solid. His 9.4-degree launch angle leaves something to be desired, but his exit velocity and hard-hit rate are nearly in the top-30 percentiles of baseball.
Sanchez still may not see everyday at-bats, as he is a career .177 hitter against left-handed pitching. However, this shouldn’t hurt his fantasy value, as he has managed solid production while hitting almost exclusively against righties. He may not be the most exciting name for fantasy, but he is moving to a stronger lineup and filling a need the team was lacking.
Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Risers
All stats are current as of Sunday morning, August 3, 2025.
Jhoan Duran, Philadelphia Phillies
17/19 Save Opportunities, 1.97 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 25.4% Strikeout Rate, 50 1/3 IP
Relief pitchers were all the rage this trade deadline, and one who may benefit the most from being traded is Duran. Duran was traded from the scuffling Twins to the Phillies, who are competitive but have lacked a consistent closer all season.
The 27-year-old served mainly as a closer during his time with the Twins, but manager Rocco Baldelli never fully turned the reins over to him. Griffin Jax saw a considerable number of save opportunities himself over the past couple of seasons (he will not benefit from Duran's leaving, as he was traded to the Rays, who already have Pete Fairbanks as their closer).
The Phillies have dealt with underperforming relievers in Jordan Romano and Matt Strahm and lost Jose Alvarado for 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. Duran’s reception in Philadelphia during his first appearance (in which he locked down the save with a 1-2-3 outing on four pitches) should be a strong indication of how happy the organization is to have him.
Jhoan Duran kept his entrance from when he was with the Twins and introduced it to the Bank. pic.twitter.com/LU1NvVHgyk
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 2, 2025
From a skills perspective, Duran is an electric reliever. He pairs a 100 mph fastball and 97.5 mph splitter with a nasty knuckle-curveball. His 25.4% strikeout rate has been a career low, although his 14.6% swinging-strike rate is in line with his 2024 value. The good thing is he has managed a 1.97 ERA, about half a run lower than his career average.
While many relievers who were traded may find themselves in line for unknown roles with their new teams, Duran is a clear lock for the Phillies. Hopefully, he will finally have the opportunity to operate as a full-time closer on a competitive team.
Randy Rodriguez, San Francisco Giants
3-2, 13 Holds, 1.17 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 35.8% Strikeout Rate, 46 IP
New opportunities opened up for some players in the aftermath of trades. Rodriguez has been fantastic all season long, but he had to contend with Camilo Doval (more to come on him later) and Ryan Walker. Doval was traded to the Yankees, and Walker pitched his way out of the closer's role, leaving the opportunity to Rodriguez.
The 25-year-old has all the makings of a dynamic closer. His arsenal comprises a deadly duo of a four-seam fastball and a slider. His fastball averages 97.5 mph with a 10.9% swinging-strike rate, and his slider has generated a 19.4% swinging-strike rate. His slider has a ton of horizontal movement, averaging 5.6 inches more than similar pitches throughout the league.
The National League All-Star was thrown into the mix right away in Friday's extra-inning win against the Mets. There may have been some nerves, as Rodriguez hit a batter and then walked another batter to load the bases. However, he earned the save, ending the game with a strikeout on a 100 mph fastball.
Randy Rodriguez tosses 💯 to close it out 🔥 pic.twitter.com/v1l00Jorcg
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 2, 2025
Rodriguez has the stuff and the results to make him a closer, and now he has the opportunity. He is currently rostered in just 43 percent of leagues, although that number will likely spike over the upcoming fantasy waiver week. The Giants have played .500 ball this season, so Rodriguez should have plenty of chances to provide fantasy value the rest of the way.
Fantasy Baseball Hitter Faller
All stats are current as of Sunday morning, August 3, 2025.
Gavin Sheets, San Diego Padres (1B/OF/DH)
.249/.312/.423 Slash Line, 15 HRs, 54 RBI
As I mentioned earlier, the hitters who were traded mainly were moved to fill roster gaps. However, the Padres, who were one of baseball's busiest teams at the deadline, brought in Orioles hitters Ryan O'Hearn and Ramon Laureano. While these players will enjoy better lineup context, Sheets may endure less playing time.
Sheets is having the best season of his career, slashing .249/.312/.423 with 15 home runs, 39 runs scored, and 54 RBI while getting playing time at first base, outfield, and designated hitter. He's been impacting the ball better than ever with a 91 mph average exit velocity and a 14.9-degree launch angle.
Sheets has done an admirable job for the Padres this season, but O'Hearn served a similar role with the O's, and Laureano should sure up an outfield spot. Laureano has been solid offensively this season, and O'Hearn earned himself a place on the American League All-Star team.
Mike Shildt was asked if he's spoken with Gavin Sheets and Ryan O'Hearn about their roles and how he intends to deploy Elias Diaz and Freddy Fermin: pic.twitter.com/mc64bcEGkb
— 97.3 The Fan (@973TheFanSD) August 1, 2025
It could be possible that all three players' fantasy values take a hit in the second half, but given the price the Padres paid for Laureano and O'Hearn, it seems likely that Sheets may suffer the most.
Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Fallers
All stats are current as of Sunday morning, August 3, 2025.
David Bednar, New York Yankees
17/18 Save Opportunities, 2.72 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 32.5% Strikeout Rate, 39 2/3 IP
Camilo Doval, New York Yankees
15/20 Save Opportunities, 3.26 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 25.5% Strikeout Rate, 47 IP
Ryan Helsley, New York Mets
21/26 Save Opportunities, 2.92 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 27.2% Strikeout Rate, 37 IP
The state of New York had an influx of saves on Thursday. The Yankees and Mets both did a great job bulking up their bullpens. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, they lost three solid closers to much more unknown fantasy futures.
Bednar and Doval will join a Yankees bullpen that already has one of baseball's top closers over the past several seasons in Devin Williams. Williams has converted 17 of 19 save opportunities this season, but he has been erratic with a 5.01 ERA. Luke Weaver has also picked up eight saves this season, although he has been employed more in the seventh and eighth innings.
Bednar, who has been a strong fantasy option outside of 2024, is now the best reliever on paper for the Yankees among their closing options. Doval started the season with a demotion from the Giants, but he played his way back into the closer's role. Walks have continued to be an issue for him, and his strikeout numbers have dipped.
Fantasy managers who were relying on consistent saves from Bednar and Doval will now be out of luck, although those who roster Williams will also need to be on edge. The Yankees have numerous options to close out games, which is a luxury for their team, but it muddies the fantasy waters significantly.
As a quick check on the state of things for the Pirates (I discussed the Giants earlier), it seems that the next in line for saves would be Dennis Santana. He has had a career season so far, but he had an awful outing in Friday's wild game against the Rockies and has poor team context overall.
Things aren't quite as convoluted for the Mets, but they still present a frustrating fantasy situation. Edwin Diaz has returned to being a lights-out closer for the Mets with 23 saves, a 1.44 ERA, and a 37.6% strikeout rate. Helsley has been ineffective by his standards and owns a bloated 1.41 WHIP, but he had 21 saves for the Cardinals and racked up 49 last season.
First strikeout as a Met for Ryan Helsley 🔥 pic.twitter.com/W5x6pEx5Uq
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 2, 2025
Diaz had a bit of a rough stretch last season, but he has been one of baseball's best closers for many seasons. Helsley hasn't been as good, but was also a higher-end fantasy option. The Mets could choose to deploy somewhat of a mix-and-match approach to saves if they wanted, but it doesn't get much better than Diaz.
JoJo Romero converted the first post-deadline save opportunity for the Cardinals on Saturday. He has hardly any closing experience, but could be worth a speculative flyer in deep roto leagues, at least for now.
Fantasy managers now in need of saves should keep their eyes on who sees the next couple of save opportunities for the Pirates and Cardinals. Unfortunately, even if consistent options do emerge, they won't be as good as the above guys who were traded.
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