Jake Even Analysis
Jake Meyers (HOU): 4-4, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 2 R, 7 RBI.
The White Sox can help pull a player out of a fantasy rut.
Jake Meyers sported a .250 average at the end of April with a .599 OPS. In 78 plate appearances in April alone, he had a .314 slugging and had collected only four extra-base hits, all doubles. Furthermore, of his 96 plate appearances this year, 91 came in either the 7th, 8th, or 9th spot in the Astros’ batting order.
Safe to say, going into May, Meyers was not seen as much of an offensive option for either the Astros or fantasy managers, even in the deepest of league formats.
Two games into May, however, the University of Nebraska standout has gone through a resurgence.
After collecting two hits on Friday against the White Sox, Meyers went four-for-four with a double, triple, two home runs, and seven RBI in Saturday’s 8-3 win on the South Side (he was only missing a partridge in a pear tree). The standout performance over the last two days improved his batting average to .295 and his OPS to .780.
The reality is that Meyers may not be an .800 OPS hitter for the remainder of the season, especially in the No. 9 spot in the batting order (as he was on Saturday night). His hard-hit rate of 40% is a three percent improvement from last year, and his average exit velocity on batted balls is up by 2.2 mph (90.4 mph). That said, his barrel rate is only 3.1%, a 3.7% decline from 2024, and his 24.6% Launch Angle Sweet Spot percentage is also a 10.2% regression from last year.
Meyers has benefited from a favorable opponent this weekend, who is in year two of a significant rebuild. Even though he has defensive prowess, his low launch angle and high-strikeout approach (22.8% K rate) make him a bit of a gamble in nearly every season-long fantasy format.
For teams looking for a Sunday stream or in daily fantasy formats, he could be an option for a boost in head-to-head matchups. However, it’s likely that this two-homer, four-hit performance will be the peak for Meyers fantasy-wise in 2025.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Saturday.
Kyle Stowers (MIA): 2-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 6 RBI.
Stowers has made the most of his opportunity in Miami and showed that on Saturday night. He not only hit two home runs and collected six RBI, but he also launched a game-winning walk-off grand slam off Athletics closer Mason Miller. For the year, the 27-year-old outfielder is hitting .324 with a .944 OPS and six home runs in 120 plate appearances. He’s a must-add if still available.
Daniel Schneemann (CLE): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI.
Schneemann didn’t have a walk-off grand slam, but his grand slam in the top of the ninth gave the Guardians the lead against Toronto. He also launched a solo home run in the top of the eighth. In 65 plate appearances, the former BYU product is hitting .276 with an .896 OPS. He also has four home runs, one away from his 2024 total (that was in 221 plate appearances). Schneemann was more known for his glove while in the Guardians system. That said, he’s off to a tremendous start with the bat in his second season at the MLB level.
Amed Rosario (WSN): 3-6, 2B, HR, R, 4 RBI.
It was a big night for Rosario in the Nationals’ 11-6 win in Cincinnati. He hit his second homer of the season and collected four RBI to boot. The 29-year-old utility player is hitting .276 for the season with a .736 OPS in 59 plate appearances. After posting sub-700 OPS marks for multiple teams in the past couple of years, Rosario is rebounding a bit at the plate in the Nation’s Capital.
J.T. Realmuto (PHI): 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
Realmuto looked like his vintage self on Saturday. He collected two hits, had three RBI, and hit his third home run of the year in the Phillies’ 7-2 win over the Diamondbacks. It’s been another season of decline for the 34-year-old catcher. His .240 average is 26 points down from a season ago, and his OPS is 50 points down. There’s still a lot of time left this season, but it’s not looking encouraging for the Phillies’ catcher fantasy-wise.
Matt Chapman (SFG): 1-3, HR, R, 4 RBI, BB.
After losing the lead in the top of the sixth, the Giants scored five in the bottom of the sixth, which helped guide them to a 6-3 win on Saturday in San Francisco. Chapman was one of the catalysts in that inning, as he launched a grand slam that gave the Giants the lead for good. The 32-year-old third baseman is only hitting .207 in 144 plate appearances. However, he has a .773 OPS, primarily due to an 18.6% walk rate and seven home runs.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (ARI): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI.
The Diamondbacks lost again, but Gurriel had a strong day with two hits, two RBI, and a home run. It hasn’t been a memorable year for the 31-year-old outfielder, as he is hitting .214 with a .634 OPS in 125 plate appearances. The latter metric is a significant regression from his OPS marks in 2023 (.772) and 2024 (.752). Arizona is 17-16, which is not good enough in a brutal NL West division. If the Diamondbacks want to return to being relevant in the NL West race, they’ll need more from Gurriel.
Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC): 1-4, HR, R, 3 RBI.
Another day. Another PCA highlight. After hitting two home runs on Friday night against the Brewers, Crow-Armstrong hit another on Saturday night, his ninth of the year. In 143 plate appearances, he is hitting .271 with an .871 OPS. He continues to be a menace on the basepaths with 12 stolen bases this season. After being primarily known for his defense and baserunning last year, Crow-Armstrong has done enough with the bat to show that he has the potential to be an All-Star this season.
Aaron Judge (NYY): 2-4, HR, R, RBI.
In the bottom of the first inning, Judge hit his 11th home run this year, which puts him one behind league-leader Cal Raleigh. It’s not just home runs, though, where Judge has excelled this year. He is also hitting .434 with a 1.312 OPS in 148 plate appearances. We think someone will unseat Judge from the AL MVP throne every year. However, he’s on pace for another MVP season in 2025.
Kody Clemens (MIN): 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI.
Clemens was back in his dad’s old stomping grounds (Fenway Park), and he hit his first homer of the year with friends and family in attendance. It was a nice moment for a player with an inconsistent career at the MLB level (career .196 average and .613 OPS). The Twins are going through all kinds of injury issues (per usual), so Clemens will get some at-bats for now. That said, he’s a streamer at best in most fantasy formats (and that’s putting it nicely).
