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Jarod's fantasy baseball watch list -- hitters, pitchers, and relievers he's keeping an eye on for June 2 - June 8 (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 2 - June 8. In this article, I'll look at players like Jazz Chisholm Jr., Robbie Ray, Kumar Rocker, 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
Ernie Clement, Toronto Blue Jays
What I'm Watching: Multi-hit game streak
The Toronto Blue Jays are suddenly scoring runs in bunches. When that happens, you might automatically assume the damage is coming from some of the heavy hitters in that lineup, like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and George Springer.
While they have certainly been a big reason for the outburst of offense, Ernie Clement has done his part as well. After a two-hit effort on Sunday, Clement has now recorded at least two hits in four straight games, going 11-for-18 (.611) over that stretch, including four doubles and two home runs.
May fWAR Leaders Among MLB Third Baseman:
1. Jose Ramirez (1.8)
2. Ernie Clement (1.3)📹
3. Maikel Garcia (1.3)
4. Manny Machado (1.2)
5. Addison Barger (1.2)#LightsUpLetsGopic.twitter.com/R7Ch5YDSAD— Tobey Schulman (@tschulmanreport) June 1, 2025
The 29-year-old has also driven in six runs and scored five runs in that time. All that makes him worthy of waiver wire consideration, and couple that with the fact that he's eligible at 2B, 3B, and SS on Yahoo!, the right-handed slugger becomes even more appealing.
He's available in most leagues and could be a hot bat to use in the short term, even in DFS. The former fourth-round draft pick will have a tough time keeping it going Tuesday against Zack Wheeler, though.
Jazz Chisholm, New York Yankees
What I'm Watching: Return from IL
Despite not playing since April 29, Jazz Chisholm is 97 percent rostered, so you can't go pick him up in season-long leagues. However, he was batting in the middle of the New York lineup before he was injured, which can be a highly fruitful place to hit from, so he should soon be back on the DFS radar.
Even though the 27-year-old was hitting just .181 when he was injured, the left-handed slugger still had seven home runs and six steals in 30 games. Hopefully, he can improve his BA once he returns, which should help with the counting stats, too.
A better-than-average walk rate of 12.0 percent should help keep the stolen bases flowing as well. Manager Aaron Boone stated that Chisholm could return as soon as Tuesday.
Mike Tauchman, Chicago White Sox
What I'm Watching: Consecutive games with an extra-base hit
Mike Tauchman has missed most of the year with a hamstring strain that he suffered in early April, but he's been back in the lineup for a week and has already knocked off the rust.
With a triple and a home run on Sunday, the 34-year-old now has an extra-base hit in four straight games, going 8-for-17 (.471) with six extra-base hits during that time (four 2Bs, one 3B, one HR).
Tauchman goes outta the park 🤩 pic.twitter.com/Go6HHXeb3U
— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) June 1, 2025
If you're in the market for a cheap outfielder or looking for a waiver wire add that's swinging a hot bat, consider the left-handed slugger who is just two percent rostered.
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
Robbie Ray, San Francisco Giants
What I'm Watching: Quality start streak
I thought about discussing some lesser-owned options like Mitch Keller and Noah Cameron, who each have tossed a handful of quality starts in a row, but their K/9 ratios just don't cut it for fantasy, so I ended up at the top of the list.
Robbie Ray has been one of the best late-round value picks so far this season, currently riding a streak of seven straight games recording a quality start, pitching to a 1.57 ERA (1.56 FIP), 0.87 WHIP, and a 10.37 K/9 (23.6 percent K-BB%) over that time.
The southpaw will take on the Padres next, who have struggled to score runs as of late, tallying the third-fewest runs scored over the last three weeks. San Diego also has the third-worst OPS and wRC+ against LHP during that time, and has the absolute worst wOBA, so it appears to be a good matchup for Ray.
Kumar Rocker, Texas Rangers
What I'm Watching: Return from IL
Ok, so Kumar Rocker's start to the season might not have you wanting to run out to the waiver wire to add him, posting an 8.10 ERA and 1.75 WHIP over five starts (20 IP), but many of us can use pitching help at this point in the season.
Seeing that the righty's FIP, xFIP, and SIERA were no worse than 4.34, maybe the results should have been better, though. The 11.6 percent K-BB% doesn't exactly inspire confidence either, but perhaps some solace can be found in the 8:1 K:BB (30.4 percent K-BB%) that the 25-year-old posted in two rehab starts at Triple-A.
MLB's No. 39 prospect Kumar Rocker dominates in his latest rehab start, this one for the Triple-A @RRExpress.
4 IP | 0 H | 0 R | 1 BB | 5 K@Rangers | @TEXPlayerDev | @MLBDevelops pic.twitter.com/gZuMfVX7mt
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 30, 2025
The 6-foot-5 hurler is expected to be activated this Wednesday and start against the Rays. He's just 13 percent rostered, so managers who need pitching help should consider stashing him ahead of time.
Maybe he isn't a must-start right away, especially with a possible innings limit in his first game back, but fantasy managers could see how Wednesday goes and take it from there.
Brad Keller, Chicago Cubs
What I'm Watching: Scoreless innings streak
Last week, I discussed Drew Pomeranz, who didn't allow a run all week again, now up to 13 2/3 scoreless innings in a row, but he's not the only Cub with such a streak.
Brad Keller had a rough start to the season, allowing seven earned runs in 9 1/3 IP, but since April 25, the 29-year-old has not yielded a single earned run in 19 IP.
The righty owns a 16:3 K:BB over that time, recording six holds and even picking up two wins. For the season, the 6-foot-5 hurler has 28 strikeouts in 28 1/3 IP, so he could be a viable reliever that could help improve ERA and WHIP, while adding some Ks and recording a lucky win or two here and there.
