The season has flown by so far, but the best is yet to come for both fantasy owners and those playing the actual games on the field. By now, you should know exactly where you stand in your league and have chosen a clear direction as a buyer or seller.

Now is the time to start sizing up the trade market or grab any of the players discussed below if they somehow remain on the waiver wire.

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Fantasy Baseball Risers

Hitters

Maikel Franco (3B, PHI) - Franco has 11 hits in his last 22 at-bats, including a home run in four straight games entering Thursday. He is up to 17 home runs and 49 RBIs and looks primed to continue his recent breakout into the second half. The Phillies have a decent lineup and Franco is the centerpiece. The 23-year-old hit .280 with an .840 OPS in 304 at-bats in 2015. Watch out for this dude.

Jake Lamb (3B, ARI) - Lamb swatted his 20th home run of the season on Wednesday, and now has 61 RBIs to go with his .293 average. He does not get the attention he deserves out in Arizona, but Lamb has broken onto the scene in a big way. He is just 25 years old and figures to remain entrenched in the Diamondbacks lineup for the duration of the season.

Pitchers

Danny Duffy (SP, KC) - Duffy has been lights out in his last two starts, with nearly identical statlines in each. His last time out, he recorded 26 of the 27 outs, allowing two runs with eight strikeouts and zero walks. Prior to that outing, he allowed just two runs over eight innings with another eight strikeouts and zero walks. His 10.39 K/9 over 75.1 innings on the season is a very solid mark and quite better than the 6.72 K/9 he posted in 2015. Grab Duffy now if you can.

R.A. Dickey (SP, TOR) - Dickey has been very good for the Blue Jays all year, and finally got a win to show for it on Wednesday. He fired eight shutout frames against the Royals with eight strikeouts and three walks. He trimmed his ERA to 3.94 and picked up his sixth win. He closes out the first half at home against Detroit, and he's worth the start in that one too.

Anthony DeSclafani (SP, CIN) - DeSclafani has been excellent in five starts since returning from the disabled list. He picked up a win against the Cubs on Wednesday, allowing three runs over six innings. He struck out six and did not walk a batter in winning his third straight decision. He has a 2.23 ERA and will remain in the rotation for the second half.

Lance McCullers (SP, HOU) - McCullers is finally flashing the dominant form we have been waiting for. He allowed just one run on five hits over seven innings with 10 strikeouts against the Mariners on July 4. He's allowed just two runs over his last 12.2 innings with 16 strikeouts. The Astros bats have been heating up lately as well, and it looks like McCullers is in line for a potentially huge second half. His future looks bright.

Fantasy Baseball Fallers

Hitters

Salvador Perez (C, KC) - Perez has been atrocious over the last 15 days, hitting just .109 (5-for-46) with 17 strikeouts and one walk. His average is now down to .269 and he has been very streaky this season. Regardless, he is still a top tier catching option. If you don't own him, try sending out some feeler offers in a buy-low attempt. Do not offer anything too valuable though.

Pitchers

Steven Wright (SP, BOS) - Wright had his second straight poor outing on Wednesday, giving up five runs on nine nits in six innings against the Rangers. That's now nine runs and 17 hits in his last 11 innings pitched. He still owns a tremendous 2.68 ERA on the season, but he has finally shown a little chink in the armor. He will rest until after the All-Star break.

Jason Hammel (SP, ChC) - Hammel got torched by the Mets last weekend, surrendering 10 runs on nine hits in just four innings. The Mets offense erupted the entire weekend, but it was still the second time in three starts that Hammel had given up four runs in fewer than six innings. He is likely still a valuable pitcher to own, but the window to sell high has slammed firmly shut.

John Lackey (SP, ChC) - Lackey gave up five runs on six hits and five walks in six innings against the Reds earlier this week. He saw his ERA balloon to 3.50 and he's now allowed 14 runs over his last 16.2 innings. It would have been difficult for him to keep up the pace he set for himself in May and June, so expect this poor stretch to level off soon. He gets the Pirates on the road on Sunday.

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