Eric KarabellApr 30, 2026, 09:21 AM ETCloseEric Karabell is a senior writer for fantasy baseball, football and basketball at ESPN. Eric is a charter member of FSWA Hall of Fame and author of “The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments”.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Each week in MLB is its own story — full of surprises, both positive and negative — and fantasy managers must decide what to believe and what not to believe moving forward. Perhaps we can help. If any of these thoughts come true… don’t be surprised!
Don’t be surprised … if Los Angeles Angels OF Mike Trout remains a top-10 fantasy hitter all season
Perhaps expecting top-10 production isn’t bold enough. What a gift for the Angels and fantasy managers alike!
The pool of rookies in the National League seems to be quite stacked and most people probably expected Pittsburgh Pirates SS Konnor Griffin to run away with this award. Perhaps he will, but Griffin (.226, 29.3% K rate) isn’t off to a great start. However, New York Mets RHP Nolan McLean is thriving and St. Louis Cardinals 2B/SS JJ Wetherholt has certainly impressed as well.
Don’t be surprised … if New York Yankees RHP Cam Schlittler joins LHP Max Fried as a top-10 fantasy hurler
Fried is enjoying another stellar season, after winning 19 games and finishing ninth in fantasy pitching points last season. Rodon was seventh. How many Yankees can end up in the top 10 this year? Rodon and Cole probably cannot get there due to starting their respective seasons late due to injury, but Schlittler and Fried are well on their way. This is an elite rotation, with a strong defense behind it. Nothing Schlittler is doing looks the least bit fluky.
Schlittler, 25, posted a 2.96 ERA (3.73 FIP) and 27% strikeout rate over 14 starts as a rookie last season, and he thrived during two tense, elimination playoff starts, permitting just two earned runs over 14⅓ innings (1.26 ERA). Armed with a hard cutter and a harder sinker, this 2022 seventh-round selection has permitted three or fewer runs in 21 out of his 23 career starts, including the playoffs. Few recognized Schlittler as being close to a top prospect entering last season, but he enters Wednesday only two fantasy points behind sudden Angels ace RHP Jose Soriano for the most fantasy pitching points.
Tuesday night’s expected showdown with Texas Rangers ace RHP Jacob deGrom was all Schlittler, as he permitted three hits over six shutout innings, lowering his ERA to 1.51 and his WHIP down to 0.74. Right-handed batters are just 7-for-62 (.113) against him. There is a little BABIP love here, but Schlittler’s swinging-strike percentage is up from 12.1% to 16.2%. He leads baseball with a 1.52 FIP. Fried (2.72 FIP) and RHP Will Warren (2.77 FIP) are also among the FIP leaders. Perhaps LHP Carlos Rodon and RHP Gerrit Cole will soon join them there.
Eric KarabellApr 30, 2026, 09:21 AM ETCloseEric Karabell is a senior writer for fantasy baseball, football and basketball at ESPN. Eric is a charter member of FSWA Hall of Fame and author of “The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments”.Follow on XMultiple Authors
CloseEric Karabell is a senior writer for fantasy baseball, football and basketball at ESPN. Eric is a charter member of FSWA Hall of Fame and author of “The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments”.Follow on X
Don’t be surprised … if Cincinnati Reds 1B Sal Stewart wins the NL Rookie of the Year award