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

Well-Known Fantasy Baseball Players - Drop, Hold, or Sell Low for Week 2? (2025)

Felix Bautista - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MLB Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Joey discusses five well-known fantasy baseball hitters and pitchers who have not performed well heading into Week 2 of 2025. Is it time to drop, sell, or hold?

Welcome, RotoBallers, to our weekly article about well-known fantasy baseball players. During each week of the fantasy season, we will identify which big-time players are in a slump and determine what we should do with them in fantasy (drop, hold, or sell low). These difficult decisions could be the difference in winning your matchups every week. 

At this point in the season, though, most fantasy managers won't cut some of their well-known players. It is too early in the season to panic, and plenty of players can turn it around in the coming weeks. Still, several players are struggling in the early going. 

So, let's look at which five well-known players are off to slow starts to begin the 2025 campaign and determine if we should drop, hold, or sell them heading into Week 2 (April 7 - April 13). If you have any other questions after reading this, be sure to check out all the fantasy baseball content here at RotoBaller.  

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

 

Yainer Diaz, C, Houston Astros

Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz was one of the best fantasy options at the position last year. He hit .299 with 16 home runs, 29 doubles, 84 RBI, and two stolen bases in 148 games. His .299 batting average ranked eighth in the majors, and his 84 RBI ranked third among all catchers in 2024. That made Diaz a safe pick early in 2025 fantasy baseball drafts. 

However, the 26-year-old is off to a brutal start this season. He has just two hits across 26 at-bats and will enter Week 2 with a mere .077 batting average. That slow start has certainly made fantasy managers question what to do with the catcher in the early going.

Despite looking lost at the plate, he is a strong hold in all formats. We shouldn't totally panic after a seven-game sample size because we have seen what Diaz can do when he is at the top of his game.

He hit 23 home runs behind a .282 batting average in 2023 and followed that up with a solid all-around campaign last year. Therefore, we should expect the Astros catcher to post better numbers in the coming weeks, especially since his expected slugging (.452) and barrel rate (13.3 percent) both rank pretty well. 

 

Ronel Blanco, SP, Houston Astros 

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco was a popular regression candidate heading into the 2025 season. After finishing with a 2.80 ERA and 166 strikeouts across 30 appearances (29 starts) last year, Blanco wasn't getting much love in fantasy drafts. Part of the reason was that the right-hander had a 4.15 FIP and a 10.1 percent walk rate. 

In the early going, we are seeing why Blanco wasn't going near the top of drafts. He allowed three runs on three hits with six strikeouts across five innings against the San Francisco Giants in his first start before only lasting one 1/3 innings in his most recent outing against the Minnesota Twins. In that outing on Sunday, the right-hander gave up four runs on five hits with three walks. 

Blanco is definitely not off to the best start in 2025, and walks continue to hurt him. With his struggles early on and a 14.3 percent walk rate, he is someone fantasy managers should be looking to sell low in the coming days. Regression was always expected from the right-hander, so make sure to sell him because his fantasy value could tank even further. 

 

Junior Caminero, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays

It wasn't always going to be smooth sailing for Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero in 2025. Young hitters always seem to go through ups and downs throughout the year, and Caminero certainly falls under the latter through his first eight games this season. The 21-year-old is batting just .250 with two RBI and three runs scored. 

There's no doubt that Caminero hasn't exactly lit up the box score to begin the season and is just 2-for-18 at the plate in his last five games. Nonetheless, no fantasy manager should drop or sell the young third baseman in fantasy. Given his upside in that Rays offense, he is a firm hold in all formats. 

Although Caminero isn't off to the best start, there are plenty of encouraging signs from him so far. His 80.1 mph bat speed ranks in the 100th percentile, and both his whiff rate (13.6 percent) and strikeout rate (11.1 percent) rank in the top 10 percent of the league through the first week and a half. As a result, fantasy managers should be patient with the Rays' third baseman because there is potential for a 30-home run season. 

 

Felix Bautista, RP, Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Felix Bautista was one of the best closers in baseball back in 2023. The flame-throwing right-hander finished with a 1.48 ERA, 33 saves, and 110 strikeouts in 56 appearances. However, Bautista underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery toward the end of that campaign and missed the entire 2024 campaign as well

Therefore, seeing the 29-year-old struggle in his first couple of appearances back is not a total shock. He allowed a hit and one walk with three strikeouts in his first appearance and then allowed two runs on two hits with two walks in his second appearance on March 31. With Bautista only pitching twice through the team's first 10 games, some fantasy managers might already be looking to sell him.

The command hasn't been there, and he hasn't pitched in one week. But there is no need to panic just yet. The Orioles were always going to be cautious with the right-hander in his return from Tommy John surgery. In addition, Bautista is likely just getting off some rust since he missed the whole 2024 season.

That makes him a firm hold in fantasy because better pitching days are indeed ahead for the former 2023 Reliever of the Year. 

 

Austin Riley, 3B, Atlanta Braves 

Austin Riley hasn't made much loud contact at the plate to begin the season. He is batting just .143 with one home run, three RBI, and 14 strikeouts through nine games. However, slow starts are nothing new for the two-time All-Star, as Riley struggled to get going early during the 2024 season. 

Riley batted only .225 with three home runs, 20 RBI, and 54 strikeouts across his first 51 games last season. The good news is that things eventually turned around for him. Following his rough offensive showing, the third baseman hit .284 with 16 home runs, 16 doubles, and 36 RBI over his next 59 games before suffering a season-ending hand injury in the middle of August. 

As a result, fantasy managers shouldn't be dropping or selling Riley for cheap at this point in the year. He will eventually figure things out and should finish with elite offensive numbers once again. The two-time Silver Slugger winner has hit at least 33 home runs and driven in over 90 RBI in three of the past four years.

We shouldn't expect that to change much in 2025, considering his barrel rate already sits at an elite 23.8 percent.



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

Yordan Alvarez

Resumes Swinging -- Return Imminent?
Jake Burger

to Miss an Additional 2-3 Weeks
TreVeyon Henderson

Signs Rookie Contract
Christian Watson

Goes on PUP List
Austin Riley

Hopes to be Activated Next Week
Ketel Marte

Lands on Restricted List After Burglary
Ricky Pearsall

Heads to PUP List
Brandon Aiyuk

Placed on PUP List
Luther Burden III

Signs Rookie Deal
Washington Nationals

Eli Willits Expected to Sign Contract on Saturday
Grayson Rodriguez

Being Shut Down Again - Will We See Him Again This Year?
Ezequiel Tovar

Activated and Back in Lineup on Friday
Max Fried

"Hopeful" to Pitch Next Week - Looks Like He'll Avoid IL Stint
Steven Kwan

Receives Injection in Wrist, Considered Day-to-Day
CJ Abrams

Back to Start Second Half
Alec Bohm

Back From Rib Injury on Friday
Trey Hendrickson

Holdout to Spill into Regular Season?
Jalen McMillan

Bucs Offensive Coordinator Not Forgetting About Jalen McMillan
Levi Onwuzurike

to Miss at Least Four Games
Nick Emmanwori

Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori Reach Agreement on Rookie Deal
Max Holloway

Set For Main Event
Brandon Lowe

Back From 10-Day Injured List
Dustin Poirier

Set For His Final UFC Fight
Roman Kopylov

Set For Co-Main Event
Paulo Costa

Returns At UFC 318
Luis L. Ortiz

to Remain on Leave for Another Month - Will he Pitch Again?
Daniel Rodriguez

Looks For Third Win In A Row
Kevin Holland

Set For His Fourth Fight This Year
Dan Ige

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
MMA

Patricio Freire Set For His Second UFC Fight
Daniel Zellhuber

Set To Open Up UFC 318 Main Card
Michael Johnson

Looks For Third Consecutive Win
Elijah Arroyo

Signs Rookie Deal
Jaydon Blue

Described as "Borderline Lazy"
T.J. Sanders

Bills Sign T.J. Sanders to Rookie Deal
Christian Wilkins

Raiders Put Christian Wilkins on PUP List
Jabari Small

Lions Add Jabari Small to Backfield
Quinshon Judkins

Remains Unsigned, Won't Report With Rest of Rookies
Mason Taylor

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Jets
Hendon Hooker

Leading Lions QB2 Battle Entering Training Camp
Ozzy Trapilo

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Bears
Tate Ratledge

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Lions
Jack Bech

Signs Rookie Contract with Raiders
Yegor Chinakhov

Requests Trade
Dakota Joshua

Maple Leafs Acquire Dakota Joshua
Lukas Dostal

Signs Five-Year Extension with Ducks
Shemar Stewart

Not Practicing With College Team
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Damian Lillard

Returning to Portland
Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
Brooks Barnhizer

Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
Jeremiah Fears

Scores 22 Points in Summer League Loss to Thunder
Isaiah Collier

Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
Caleb Houstan

Joins Hawks
AJ Johnson

Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
Washington Wizards

Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Connor Norby

Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Trey Alexander

Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Johni Broome

Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Jahmir Young

Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Tyrese Proctor

Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Cody Williams

Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
LeBron James

Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
Josh Hart

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
Rayan Rupert

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
Derik Queen

Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
GG Jackson II

Records 13 Points in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Johni Broome

Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
Kyle Schwarber

Named All-Star Game MVP
Harris English

Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
Daniel Berger

Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Clayton Kershaw

Retires Both Batters In ASG Appearance
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF