This week we will get right into looking at three players who are under-rostered based on the production they are providing across points leagues.
Last 7 Days Rank: 29th ; Last 14 Days Rank: 18th ; 14% Rostered (Yahoo)
Known mostly as a struggling offensive team in 2024 with stellar starting pitching, the Seattle Mariners‘ lineup has awakened in 2025 to the tune of 5.22 runs per game (fourth in the league). After hitting ninth for most of the young season, J.P. Crawford was recently rewarded for the solid campaign he has put together so far with four straight games in the lead-off role for this hot offense. The veteran shortstop, drafted straight out of high school 16th overall way back in 2013 by the Philadelphia Phillies, is currently having one of the best stretches at the plate in his career at age 30, and there are reasons to think that his success is sustainable. Hitting for a .287 average with 17 runs, 17 RBI, and three home runs, Crawford is showing a handful of underlying metrics that supplement his actual statistics quite well.
It’s always encouraging to see a combination of elite walk rate mixed with either elite whiff and/or chase rate, and Crawford checks that box here with a walk rate that is better than 94% of his fellow batters, and a whiff rate also in a lofty 88th percentile. Though Crawford’s barrel and exit velocity rates are both below average, he makes up for this by leveraging a 76th percentile launch angle sweet-spot rate of 38.8%, meaning he is making contact often at an angle that is expected to lead to success (i.e. base hits) even if they are not scalding line drives. A look at Crawford’s Process+ rolling chart for all of his 2025 at-bats so far also confirms that he is performing as an above-average hitter.
While lacking a bit in the power department (again, the lower barrel and exit velocity rates are to thank for this), he is more than making up for it through consistently impressive decision-making, which he has more recently paired with an uptick in the quality of contact that he is making. Now hitting lead-off in front of a scorching hot Jorge Polanco (.395 batting average) and the surprise league-leader in home runs (Cal Raleigh), Crawford should continue to pile up counting stats as long as he continues to get on base. His 17 runs and 17 RBI are already impressive for someone who has spent the majority of the season hitting ninth, and a 100-run season looks well in reach now that he is hitting first.
Last 7 Days Rank: 31st ; Last 14 Days Rank: 77th ; 31% Rostered (Yahoo)
Brayan Bello has returned from a season-starting stint on the IL with a trio of impressive outings for the Boston Red Sox to the tune of a 2-0 record, 2.55 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. His 12 strikeouts in 17 innings leave a bit to be desired in the categories department, but for points leagues, Bello is performing at an above-average level and should be rostered while his current form holds. Having pitched into the 7th inning in his most recent outing in a win against the Minnesota Twins, Bello is delivering quality starts and innings immediately upon his return from the right shoulder inflammation that caused the Red Sox to keep him down in Fort Myers, Florida at their spring training facility to continue rehabbing when the regular season began.
Now back with the big-league club, and without the pressure of previous seasons when Bello was the Red Sox’s opening day starter, the 25-year-old right-hander will look to continue his success against the Texas Rangers early in Week 6. After a good start to the year, the Rangers have been scuffling a bit of late, and this should be another good opportunity for a win and a quality start for Bello. Unable to rely on an overpowering four-seamer (Bello’s four-seamer PLV of 4.17 is one of the lowest in the league), he instead mixes sinkers, sliders, and changeups to keep hitters off balance and keep the ball in the park. Bello is inducing grounders at a rate of 55.8%, which places him in the 88th percentile of the league for this very important run-suppressing metric, and it’s the biggest reason why he has been able to go deep into games right away off the IL. The Red Sox are also clearly confident that Bello’s early-season rehab in Florida was enough to build him up to full strength, as evidenced by his pitch count in each of his first three outings—97, 99, and 102 pitches, respectively.
An arm expected to throw 100 pitches every five days for an above-.500 club deserves to be rostered in all points leagues.
Last 7 Days Rank: 277th ; Last 14 Days Rank: 83rd ; 34% Rostered (Yahoo)
Justin Verlander’s 2025 season started with a handful of laboring outings that flashed some warning signs that he might not be of much value any longer in the fantasy world. He has since righted the ship, however, to the tune of three straight quality starts in which he gave up a total of four runs across 18.1 IP, lowering his ERA from 6.75 to 4.38 in the process. In his latest start against the Colorado Rockies (currently a historically bad offense, it must be noted), Verlander only struck out four batters across 6.1 IP, but he induced an impressive 11 groundballs and mostly limited hard contact. His average exit velocity against on the season is only 87.9 mph (73rd percentile), and his hard-hit rate is equally impressive at 35.7% (72nd percentile).
Verlander still relies primarily on a four-seamer that he throws 50% of the time, and though the pitch has dipped a bit in velocity this season, its PLV value is still holding firm at 5.16 (70th percentile). Verlander’s sweeper, used only 8% of the time, is his only secondary offering currently grading out above-average, but he has been able to limit the damage from these pitches nonetheless. His slider, for example, grades out at only a 5.03 PLV (38th percentile), but he is getting a Str% of 68.9% (83rd percentile) and SwStr% of 18.5% (73rd percentile) out of the pitch. That slider has also seen an insane BABIP of .429, hinting both at some bad luck involved in its performance and in some positive regression occurring in the near future in Verlander’s favor.
Week 6 admittedly could feature another bump in the road to Verlander’s path towards regaining consistent success, as he’s slated to face the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Cubs’ offense has been nothing short of a machine this season, outpacing the rest of the league by a half run per game (6.12 runs/game compared to the second-place New York Yankees at 5.52 runs/game). This does not look like a start that is lining up for success for Verlander, but if he can leave Wrigley Field at least still in one piece, it would not be the least bit surprising to then see him string together another run of quality starts. He should also consistently be in a position to win games, as the Giants are showing no signs of slowing down from their hot start to the year, maintaining an impressive 21-13 record at the moment. With a lack of reliable starting pitching available in most points leagues right now, Verlander is worth grabbing as a savvy veteran with a legendary competitive drive.
Even at 42 years old, he is looking like there are still quality starts left in the tank.
