Welcome back to Week 25 of our Patience or Panic series, where we take a look at three struggling players and provide recommendations on how you should react to their middling seasons and subpar performance. This week, I’ll be breaking down three players who haven’t performed up to par in the month of September. I should also note that it’s crunch time. Decisions will be made based on teams competing in their respective playoffs and championships and may not reflect the “overall outlook” on a player over the course of a season.
As always, feel free to let us know in the comments or by tagging us on social media what players you would like to see us focus on in the future! Let’s dive right in.
Drake Baldwin, C, Atlanta
Baldwin, 24, has enjoyed a sensational rookie campaign, slashing .268/.337/.439 with a 117 wRC+ (4th-best amongst NL rookies) while making quality contact, limiting strikeouts, and providing good defense at the catching position. He’s been a huge success for fantasy managers who were in need of a streamable catcher early in the year. Now, however, his production has slowed down at the most crucial point in the season.
Verdict: patience, mostly. Baldwin’s “slump” has mostly been just six games in the month of September. He went an absurd 1-for-23 over the span of a week, dragging his month’s numbers down quite a bit. Outside of his mini offensive drought, he’s been fine, going a combined 7-for-21 (.333) with two walks, two extra-base hits, and five RBI. Even when his bat was cold, Baldwin managed to stay consistent, posting good quality of contact numbers: a 92 mph aEV, .355 xwOBA, 10% barrel rate, 45% hard-hit rate, and a launch angle of 17 degrees. I said “mostly” in my verdict because some fantasy managers may prefer an available bat like Alejandro Kirk or Gabriel Moreno, with whom I’d be fine with replacing Baldwin, seeing as they are both hot at the dish. But overall? I think Baldwin will serve just fine. His 3-for-5 day with a home run and four RBI against the Nationals proves that point.
Shane Bieber, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
Will Warren, RHP, New York Yankees
26-year-old Warren has provided a good amount in his first full season of major league baseball, tossing 152 innings with a 4.44 ERA (3.97 FIP) and a 24% strikeout rate. As of late, however, the strikeout rate has started to dip, the WHIP has inflated, and the ERA simply isn’t ideal whatsoever.
Verdict: panic. Warren owns the T-12th-worst ERA in September among qualified arms (T-5th in AL). Since August 23rd, his ERA has somehow been even worse (5.40), and the FIP (5.47) doesn’t do him any justice. Not to mention, Warren’s 1.44 WHIP thanks to a .282 BAA (on .296 BABIP, so this is earned) won’t win you a category… nor will his abysmal 15% strikeout rate (9% K-BB) over that span. It’s going the wrong way for Warren, and I’d want no part of it.
Photo courtesy of Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Aaron Polcare (@abeardoesart on Bluesky and X)
