Kameron Misner (TBR): 3-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB.

Misner Misunderstood

 

In truth, I could have given the featured player of the day to the entire Rays lineup after their complete dismantling of Tanner Houck, but the man that stuck out the most to me last night was outfielder Kameron Misner. The 27-year-old product out of Missouri was drafted in 2019 but didn’t see his first big league action until 2024, and even then, he only accrued 15 plate appearances with the Rays. It’s taken until 2025 for Misner to get his first real shot in the big leagues, and he’s making the most of it thus far, slashing .400/.444/.775 through his first 45 PAs.

So, is Misner for real? At the very least, his expected stats mostly back up his performance thus far. A .314 xBA and .593 xSLG aren’t quite the stratospheric numbers we see in his slash line, but dipping down to those numbers would still make Misner an impressive player in 2025. It’s also worth noting that Misner’s spray chart shows him as a strong lefty pull hitter, which, as we’ve seen in Steinbrenner Field so far, means he has a great chance to take advantage of that short porch in right field.

All things considered, Misner assuredly won’t stay this hot all season, but I do think he’s worth an add if you have an outfielder you’re frustrated with or you have an open utility or bench spot. At the very least, Misner has shown he’s an intriguing stream while playing at his favorable home park, which he will be doing the rest of this week. Just be prepared to have a replacement in your lineup when the Rays face a left-handed arm.

Let’s see how the other hitters did Monday:

 

Tyler Fitzgerald (SFG): 3-4, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI.

Tyler Fitzgerald finished with a rare stat line that left him just a single short of the cycle, hitting his first homer of the season off Taijuan Walker before adding a double and triple later in the game. Fitzgerald hits near the bottom of the order for the Giants, but he possesses a power-speed combo that is rarely seen on waivers. He’s available in 75% of Yahoo! leagues (and 96% of ESPN leagues!) despite a .467/.500/.933 slash line over the past week. If you need help in the middle infield, he’s worth an add.

 

Austin Riley (ATL): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI.

Is everyone ready to move away from that panic button? Cool. Riley has a whopping SIX multi-hit games in the past week, and his five RBI last night nearly doubled his season total. This is why we don’t overreact to slow starts from proven stars, guys!

 

Nolan Arenado (STL): 3-4, 2 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.

Speaking of proven stars, Nolan Arenado isn’t quite the same guy he was in Colorado, but he dialed back the clock last night with three extra-base hits, including his second long ball of the season. Rostering Arenado at this point in his career is an up-and-down ride, but he still can turn in vintage performances like this. With how desolate the 3B landscape is, you likely won’t find a better option on waivers throughout the season, but if one of your league mates is struggling at the position and you own Arenado, last night’s performance might give you a decent chance to sell.

 

Enmanuel Valdez (PIT): 2-2, 2B, R, 3 RBI, 2 BB.

The Pirates are trying all sorts of things to figure out their lineup, and Enmanuel Valdez has hit at seven of nine lineup spots throughout the season. Last night was his first time batting cleanup, and he made the most of his opportunity by knocking in three runs and getting on base all four times. There’s much too small a sample size to recommend adding Valdez at this point, but it’s worth noting he hits the ball hard (52.4% rate) and has a much higher xBA (.311) than his real batting average (.207). Monitor the situation, but don’t rush to add him.

 

Luisangel Acuña (NYM): 2-3, 2B, 2 R, BB, SB.

Luisangel Acuña has a solid three-game hitting streak in a platoon role, including a pair of steals in his last three contests. Still, with Jeff McNeil set to return soon, it’s not likely Acuña will continue to see the same number of opportunities throughout the season. There are better middle infield options to add, even if you’re in an NL-only league (see Fitzgerald above!).

 

Fernando Tatis (SDP): 2-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB.

Now here’s a guy who’s scorching hot–Fernando Tatis Jr. has five home runs in his last six games played. Sometimes, it’s nice to take a detour from fantasy insights and just appreciate a superstar performing like a superstar. Please give us a full, healthy season, Fernando!

 

Kerry Carpenter (DET): 2-4, HR, R, RBI.

Kerry Bonds strikes again. The most notable thing about Carpenter’s night isn’t his home run, but that A.J. Hinch decided to start Carpenter against a lefty pitcher in Tyler Alexander. Of course, Carp’s homer came off a right-handed reliever, but the fact that Hinch is willing to start Carpenter against lefties at all is a crucial development. He should be owned in all formats and can be even more valuable if he sees more playing time against southpaws.

 

Ben Rice (NYY): 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB.

The Rice Man cometh. What else is there to say about Ben Rice that hasn’t been said yet? How about the fact that he’s still available in nearly 40% of Yahoo! leagues (and 70% of ESPN leagues) despite hitting at the top of the Yankees’ lineup? If he’s still available in your league, run, don’t walk, to the wire, and find a way to get this young slugger on your roster.

 

Miguel Amaya (CHC): 3-4, 2 2B, RBI.

Miguel Amaya is making strong improvements in his offense in 2025, and the opportunities may be more plentiful in the short term while Carson Kelly nurses a mild hand injury after being hit by a pitch. If you need a catcher to stream this week, Amaya is a strong option that should be available in plenty of leagues.