X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

5 Fantasy Baseball Cut Candidates: Players On the Hot Seat Who Need To Produce In Week 3 (2025)

Mark Vientos - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Ryan's potential fantasy baseball cuts, drops and bust candidates for 2025. These struggling fantasy baseball players are on the hot seat heading into Week 3.

When all we have to react to in a fantasy baseball season is two weeks of data, it's hard not to draw quick conclusions. Just because a player is on a hot streak or cold streak to start a season doesn't mean that's what the next six months will look like. But for some players who had high expectations (and projections) coming into 2025, it's time to start putting up numbers.

This list of players includes those who are all rostered in more than 50 percent of fantasy leagues, and in some cases, they are close to universally rostered. But just because every league drafted a player, does that mean he should remain on a roster no matter how bad it gets?

In some cases, a player's track record and past fantasy success offer them a longer leash than others. But there are a growing number of players who need to produce now or risk being replaced by names on the waiver wire. All stats and rostered rates (taken from Yahoo! Fantasy leagues) are up to date through games on April 8.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Mark Vientos, 3B, New York Mets

90% rostered

After going 0-for-2 with a walk in Wednesday's embarrassing loss to the Miami Marlins, third baseman Mark Vientos is now hitting .119 with a .412 OPS on the season. Not a .412 on-base percentage or a .412 slugging percentage, a .412 OPS.

That number ranks in the bottom 10 of all qualified batters this season, which means there is the double insult of poor production plus a large number of plate appearances to go with it. Vientos has no home runs, no stolen bases, and just one RBI this season. According to Statcast, everything looks out of whack.

Apart from his sweet spot rate and his walk rate, everything is below the 60th percentile of all major league hitters. His hard-hit rate, exit velocity, launch angle, and barrel rate have all regressed since 2024. It's sapping all of the power gains from his strong season last year.

Could it be bad luck? He has just a .161 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) so far. But he is also swinging at way fewer pitches than last season. Drafted as a top-10 third baseman inside the top 100 picks in drafts, Vientos deserves a bit of a leash, but he is getting close to running out.

 

Spencer Steer, 1B/OF, Cincinnati Reds

72% rostered

After moving from a 23-home run, 15-steal season in 2023 to a 20-home run, 25-steal season in 2024, expectations were sky-high for Spencer Steer. Playing in a hitter's haven and with a secure role, Steer was drafted in the top 140 picks among spring drafts and given a spot in the top six in the Cincinnati lineup.

Just 27 years old, Steer was supposed to come into 2025 amid his prime years, but his start has left a LOT to be desired. He is hitting .161/.235/.323 with one home run, three RBI, and no steals through his first 34 plate appearances this season.

His strikeout rate is up to 24 percent from 20 percent last season, and his walk rate has dropped almost three points. The result has been a demotion to the No. 7 spot in the order. If he isn't careful, he is going to fall out of the Reds lineup, and fantasy lineups will follow.

Blake Dunn and Christian Encarnacion-Strand have both played well and have jumped ahead of him in the order. Having only played designated hitter this season, Steer is the easiest part of that lineup to replace.

Somehow, Steer's hard-hit rate is in the first percentile of players in 2025. Essentially, every player in baseball is hitting the ball harder. That's a terrible sign to start the season and not one we want on our fantasy rosters long-term.

 

Yandy Diaz, 1B, Tampa Bay Rays

73% rostered

Yandy Diaz has never been a true power hitter during his time in the major leagues. Despite the body of a Greek god, Diaz has hit more than 14 home runs one time and has never even driven in 80 runs in a season.

What he does do well is get hits and get on base. Whether in an OBP league or an average league, Diaz has been an asset. He is a career .286 hitter with a .370 on-base percentage over eight seasons heading into 2025. That production is what makes his slow start so shocking.

Through 45 plate appearances, Diaz has a .143/.178/.190 line. He isn't getting hits OR drawing walks. The 4.4 percent walk rate through his first 10 games is far lower than any other season. His BABIP is .158, so the average should improve, but there are other troubling signs for the 33-year-old.

Last season, Diaz swung at just 22 percent of pitches outside the zone. That was a top-10 number in all of baseball. So far in 2025, Diaz is swinging at 30 percent of pitches outside the zone. That is troubling. Did you draft Diaz as a corner infielder to help with your team's batting average? It might be time to start looking on the waiver wire for a replacement.

 

Bailey Ober, SP, Minnesota Twins

93% rostered

It's been a tale of two starts for Bailey Ober to start the 2025 season. In his opener against St. Louis, he was tagged for eight earned runs in 2.2 innings, including three walks and two home runs allowed. He only struck out three batters and barely threw half of his pitches for strikes.

Fast forward to start No. 2, and he was ... just alright. Against Houston, Ober allowed one earned run and struck out five batters, but he only lasted four innings. It took him 84 pitches to get through that much of the game, and he was pulled for the relief corps after that.

Maybe he builds up to 90 pitches and five or six innings in his subsequent starts, but do you trust him? So far, he has lost over 1 mile per hour off his fastball since 2024. His slider (which he has thrown 35 percent of the time) also hasn't been effective despite gaining 2 miles per hour since 2024.

His next three starts will likely come against Kansas City, the New York Mets, and the Atlanta Braves. I can tell you one thing about my Ober shares. He better come out and deal against Kansas City because if he doesn't, there is no way he is making my starting lineups against the Mets and Braves bats.

 

Ronel Blanco, SP, Houston Astros

51% rostered

Further down draft boards was Ronel Blanco, who was selected around pick 240-245 by the time draft-season dust settled. He came out of nowhere last year to post a 2.80 ERA, nine strikeouts per nine innings, and 13 wins as a 30-year-old with seven career starts to his name.

That performance, and especially his nasty changeup, put him on the fantasy map, and more than half of the teams ended up taking Blanco while looking for a repeat. So far, it appears that lightning will not strike twice as Blanco has a 9.45 ERA through two starts.

The problem has been all the walks. After walking just about three-and-a-half batters per nine innings last season, he is at a wild 8.1 walks per nine innings through his first seven innings this season. That means even though he hasn't allowed a home run, he is getting into trouble almost every inning he pitches.

The velocity on his fastball and changeup is also down a tick this season compared to last year. If we don't see velocity increase and walks decrease over the next start or two, Blanco will be an easy drop for someone who is performing well on the waiver wire.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Fantasy Baseball Advice




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Kerry Carpenter

Leaves Game with Apparent Hamstring Injury
Day'Ron Sharpe

Heads to Free Agency
Santi Aldama

Receives Qualifying Offer
Moritz Wagner

has Team Option Declined
Jabari Smith Jr.

Signs Massive Extension
Jusuf Nurkić

Hornets Trading Jusuf Nurkic to Utah
Collin Sexton

Heading to Charlotte
Cam Thomas

Set for Restricted Free Agency
Bobby Portis

Staying in Milwaukee
Jonas Brodin

Expected to Miss Start of Next Season
TB

Conor Sheary Placed on Waivers for Contract Termination
James Harden

Clippers Agree on a New Contract
Dante Fabbro

Stays with Blue Jackets on Four-Year Deal
Joel Hofer

Commits to Blues for Two More Years
Kevin Bahl

Signs Long-Term Extension with Flames
Oneil Cruz

Smacks Two Homers
Jordan Spence

Traded to Ottawa
Petr Mrazek

Heads to Anaheim
John Gibson

Red Wings Acquire John Gibson
Matthew Knies

Inks Six-Year Extension with Maple Leafs
Aaron Judge

Blasts Two Homers, Dealing With Back Issue
Claude Giroux

Signs One-Year Deal with Senators
Yordan Alvarez

has Chance to Return Next Weekend
Julius Randle

Signs Three-Year Extension
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Opts into Player Option
Luis Robert Jr.

Heads to Injured List
Gabriel Arias

Carted Off on Sunday
Bryce Harper

Faces Live Pitching
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Remains Out on Sunday
Utah Jazz

Bojan Bogdanovic Retiring From Basketball
Dorian Finney-Smith

Declines Player Option
Jaylin Williams

Signing Three-Year Extension
LeBron James

Accepts Player Option
Anfernee Simons

"a Possible Re-Trade Candidate"
Chase Elliott

Ends Winless Skid With Atlanta Victory
Brad Keselowski

Falls Short of Atlanta Victory
NFL

NFL Won't Hold Supplemental Draft This Year
Damon Arnette

Getting Second Chance With Texans
Deommodore Lenoir

Arrested for Obstruction of Justice
Yordan Alvarez

Eyeing Return Before All-Star Break
Kevin Porter Jr.

Declining Player Option
Carson Hocevar

Recovers From Big One to Finish 10th at Atlanta
William Byron

Caught up in Atlanta Big One but Retains Points Lead
Denny Hamlin

Top In-Season Challenge Seed Denny Hamlin Eliminated in Lap 70 Crash
Ty Dillon

Bottom Seed Ty Dillon Upsets Denny Hamlin to Advance in In-Season Challenge
Quinn Priester

Fans 11 in One-Hit Gem
Garrett Temple

Returning to Toronto
Nicolas Batum

Declines Player Option
Spencer Schwellenbach

Dominant in Victory
Keon Johnson

Gets Team Option Picked Up
Rayan Rupert

Staying in Portland
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Expected to Make Second-Year Jump
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Out of Lineup Saturday
Jalin Hyatt

Looking to Flip the Script in 2025
Garrett Mitchell

to Undergo Shoulder Surgery
José Ramírez

Jose Ramirez in Guardians Lineup on Saturday
Kyle Larson

Don't Expect Kyle Larson to Win First Drafting Track Race on Saturday
Christopher Bell

Unlikely to Complete Atlanta Sweep
Brad Keselowski

Seeks Another Clutch Win for Hail-Mary Playoff Bid
Chris Buescher

Unlikely to Lead Enough to Have Much DFS Value
Alex Bowman

Qualifies Best Among Non-Fords but Unlikely to Contend at Atlanta
Ryan Preece

Will Probably Run Better Than Usual at Atlanta
Austin Dillon

Consistently Mediocre at Atlanta
Ty Gibbs

Slightly Faster Lately but Unlikely to be a Factor at Atlanta
Erik Jones

a Low-Key Strong DFS Option
Noah Gragson

Could Have DFS Value as One of the Lowest-Qualifying Fords
Riley Herbst

Unlikely to Replicate February Atlanta Finish
Ty Dillon

Could Benefit from Kaulig Speed
Cody Ware

Rarely Enough Attrition at Atlanta for Cody Ware to Seriously Contend
Ryan Blaney

Is Always Strong at Atlanta
Joey Logano

Wins Pole, Looking for Third Atlanta Win
Chase Burns

Slated to Make Next Start on Monday
Dylan Sampson

Being Used as a Receiver
Carson Schwesinger

Figures to be in Full-Time Role in 2025
Cedric Tillman

Should Have Full-Time Role
Bryce Young

Looking More Comfortable, Showing More Intensity
Charlie Coyle

Blue Jackets Acquire Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood From Colorado
Jack Quinn

Signs Up for Two More Years with Sabres
Brandon Saad

Stays in Vegas on One-Year Deal
Trent Frederic

Inks Eight-Year Extension
Josh Naylor

Exits Friday's Contest Early with Neck Stiffness
Emil Heineman

Shipped to the Islanders
Noah Dobson

Traded to Montreal
John Tavares

Agrees to Four-Year Extension with Maple Leafs
Sam Bennett

Signs Eight-Year Extension with Panthers
NYI

Islanders Select Matthew Schaefer With No. 1 Pick in NHL Draft
José Berríos

Jose Berrios Tosses Seven Scoreless Innings in Fourth Win
Nick Martinez

Flirts With No-Hitter, Settles for Win
Gary Sánchez

Gary Sanchez Homers, Reaches Five Times in Onslaught
Trea Turner

Blasts Two Homers, Steals Base
Los Angeles Angels

Ron Washington to Remain on Medical Leave for Rest of the Season
Aaron Rodgers

Roman Wilson Could Fit Nicely With Aaron Rodgers
Josh Simmons

on Schedule to Open the Year as a Starter
Micah Parsons

Contract Length an Issue for Cowboys, Micah Parsons
Denver Broncos

Broncos Unsure How Their Running Back Room Will Look
Russell Wilson

Not the Only Leader in Giants Clubhouse
Jihaad Campbell

to Begin at Inside Linebacker
Josh Conerly Jr.

to Play Right Tackle for Now
Tyleik Williams

Expected to Fill Big Role Right Away
Malaki Starks

Should Make an Immediate Impact
James Pearce Jr.

Impressing the Falcons
Jaxson Dart

has "Excellent" Spring
Donovan Jackson

has Inside Track on Starting Job
Charles Oliveira

Can Become A Two-Time Lightweight Champion
Ilia Topuria

A Favorite At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Can Become The New Flyweight Champion
Alexandre Pantoja

Set For Fourth Title Defense At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Looks For His Third Win In A Row
Renato Moicano

Returns At UFC 317
Beneil Dariush

An Underdog At UFC 317
Payton Talbott

Looks To Bounce Back
Felipe Lima

Set To Open Up UFC 317 Main Card
Daniil Tarasov

Panthers Bring in Daniil Tarasov
Frederick Gaudreau

Kraken Pick Up Frederick Gaudreau From Wild
Michael Thorbjornsen

Returns in Detroit at Rocket Classic
Adam Hadwin

Could Struggle Over the Weekend in Detroit
Cam Davis

Hopes Detroit Magic Can Spark Turnaround
Matt Wallace

a Boom-or-Bust Option at Rocket Classic
Joel Dahmen

Not Cutting it Lately
Michael Kim

Searching for Spark at Rocket Classic
Rasmus Hojgaard

a High-Ceiling Play in Rocket Classic
Matt McCarty

a Wild Card Heading into Detroit
Emiliano Grillo

Rolling into the Summer Season
Rickie Fowler

Looking for More Magic at Rocket Classic
Wyndham Clark

Brings High Upside to Detroit Golf Club
Max Greyserman

Could Make Noise at Rocket Classic
Akshay Bhatia

a Strong Value Play at Rocket Classic
Eric Cole

Hoping for Better Times at Rocket Classic
Beau Hossler

Searching for Form at Rocket Classic
PGA

Byeong Hun An in Good Form Heading into Rocket Classic
Cameron Young

Looking For Redemption and Possible First Career Victory in Detroit
Collin Morikawa

is The Headliner This Week in Detroit For Good Reason
Si Woo Kim

Back in Competition After Last Week's Withdrawal
PGA

Alex Noren Finishes Tied For 30th at Travelers Championship
Kurt Kitayama

Misses The Cut at RBC Canadian Open
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF