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Jarod's fantasy baseball watch list -- hitters, pitchers, and relievers he's keeping an eye on for April 28 - May 4 (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 April 28 - May 4. In this article, I'll look at players like Agustin Ramirez, Hunter Brown, Luke Weaver, 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 couple of hitters collecting extra-base hits in bunches, a pitcher returning from injury that should be on your radar, a new closer in the Bronx, and more!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:- Fantasy baseball trade analyzer
- BvP matchups data (Batter vs. Pitcher)
- PvB matchups data (Pitcher vs. Batter)
- Who should I start? Fantasy baseball comparisons
- Daily MLB starting lineups
- Fantasy baseball closer depth charts
- Fantasy Baseball live scoreboard
- Fantasy baseball injury reports
Fantasy Baseball Players to Watch: Hitters
Agustin Ramirez, Miami Marlins
What I'm Watching: Historic start to career
Agustin Ramirez was called up for his MLB debut on April 21, and all he's done since then is hit. But he's not just collecting bloop singles, the 23-year-old is making loud contact and collecting extra-base hit after extra-base hit.
Sunday was no different after he smacked two home runs in the same game, now 9-for-19 (.474) to begin his career, with seven of the nine hits going for extra bases (four doubles, three home runs).
Agustin Ramirez did it again. pic.twitter.com/3PLp1Oo6eP
— Isaac Azout (@IsaacAzout) April 27, 2025
His 94.3 mph average exit velocity would put him just outside the top 15 average EV leaders if he qualified, and just ahead of the likes of Marcell Ozuna (94.2 mph) and Yordan Alvarez (93.8 mph).
This didn't come out of nowhere either; the young backstop walloped 25 home runs last season in the minors and recorded a .221 ISO. In limited action before his call-up this year, he had already tallied more extra-base hits (10) than singles (eight).
I haven't even remarked on the other impressive attributes. The right-handed slugger displays a patient approach, owning a career 11.1 percent walk rate in the minors, and had 22 steals in 2024, which is not something you typically see from the catcher position.
Sunday marked the second time he's started at DH already, so the Marlins are going to continue to get the Dominican's bat in the lineup even when he's not catching.
The 6-foot-1 backstop is still available in over 60 percent of Yahoo! leagues and offers both C and 1B eligibility, so this could be your last chance. Go grab him before he's gone!
Andy Pages, Los Angeles Dodgers
What I'm Watching: Who is hotter than he is?
No one, that's who! Not even the aforementioned Ramirez. Andy Pages' performance over the past five games has been incredible. After a four-hit effort on Sunday, Pages is 13-for-20 (.650) over his last five games, including three doubles, three home runs, six RBI, five runs scored, and a stolen base.
Andy Pages has three straight 3-hit games 💥 pic.twitter.com/pG6GxkENiz
— MLB (@MLB) April 27, 2025
Of course, the 6-foot-1 Dominican can't stay this hot for long, but how about for the next three days? The Dodgers take on the Marlins in a three-game series starting on Monday, with Miami sending Edward Cabrera, Sandy Alcantara, and Cal Quantrill to the mound.
There's something all three of those pitchers have in common: they all have an ERA above 6.00. Sandy Alcantara has the best WHIP of the bunch at 1.33.
Pages looks like a viable waiver wire option in deep season-long leagues, at least in the short term, and should be a DFS consideration early in the week.
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
Hunter Brown, Houston Astros
What I'm Watching: Going for seventh straight quality start
Hunter Brown has logged six starts so far in 2025, and each one of them has been quality. After another dominant outing on Sunday, the righty is now the owner of a 1.22 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and a strong 24.7 percent K-BB rate.
Hunter Brown's 2Ks in the 1st. pic.twitter.com/N3x9el4VWH
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 27, 2025
The beginning of 2024 was a little rough for Brown, however, since his start on May 5 of last year, the 6-foot-2 hurler has been one of the best pitchers in baseball.
Over the 31 games since then, he's 15-6 with a 2.25 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 19.4 percent K-BB%. The 2.25 ERA is behind only Blake Snell (2.04) and Paul Skenes (2.06) for pitchers with at least 15 games started over that timeframe.
This week's matchup presents an excellent chance to extend the streak to seven straight quality starts to open the season as Brown draws an extremely favorable matchup against the Chicago White Sox later in the week.
The former fifth-round draft pick is rostered in most leagues, so you aren't going out and picking him up, but he'd be a fine trade target if you're looking to upgrade your rotation, and have confidence to pencil him into your DFS lineups when he's starting.
Tony Gonsolin, Los Angeles Dodgers
What I'm Watching: Returning from the IL
Tony Gonsolin hasn't pitched in a major league game since August 2023, after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He then injured his back this spring, preventing him from making a regular-season start. But if you're looking for pitching help, Gonsolin is expected to return this week and could potentially start against the Marlins on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old made four rehab starts at Triple-A Oklahoma City during April, allowing five earned runs over 14 innings of work (3.21 ERA), with a 1.29 WHIP, and 17.2 percent K-BB rate.
Perhaps most importantly, the righty worked his pitch count up to 79 in his latest outing, so there should be little to no limitations in terms of workload once he returns.
The 6-foot-3 hurler was an All-Star as recently as 2022 and owns a career 3.19 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 14.4 percent K-BB rate. Pitching for the Dodgers gives him a good chance to pick up some wins along the way, and he's available in about 90 percent of Yahoo! leagues for the taking.
Weaver was superb when given an opportunity to close for the Yankees late last season, posting a 0.00 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, and a 3:24 BB:K over his final eight regular-season appearances (11 IP), recording four saves in the process.
That stretch looks a lot like 2025, still with a 0.00 ERA in the young season, following a scoreless appearance on Sunday, along with a 0.57 WHIP, a 5:14 BB:K, and already two saves.
The 31-year-old is still available in around half of Yahoo! leagues and is worthy of a roster spot in all formats.
