Hitters trimming chase rates, boosting contact, and pulling the ball with more authority have posted stronger results in the second half. Nick Kurtz surges to a 220 wRC+ since mid-June, batting .342 with a .453 on-base and .743 slug since July 1, and 24 homers. Brayan Rocchio and Kyle Stowers follow, with Rocchio at 95 wRC+ since July 1 and Stowers at .306/.391/.634 in 39 games with 12 long balls.

Lenyn Sosa shows the biggest three-way gains, while Mike Trout adds power through increased Pulled Air%, even as overall numbers lag. Bo Naylor and Pete Crow-Armstrong post improved swing data but fall in results, underscoring the through-line: better plate decisions don’t always yield immediate fantasy dividends. The piece frames these process gains as bets for 2025 rosters.

In short, track O-Swing, Contact% and Pulled Air% as you project next season’s fantasy values, since those adjustments have real, trackable upside beyond the current season.

The Guardians rolled to an 8-1 win at Fenway as Joey Cantillo spun six solid innings with seven strikeouts, flashing a crisp changeup and improved control that boosts his ceiling toward a #3 starter. George Valera notched his first big‑league hit and carried himself with poise. Gabriel Arias delivered a two‑run homer, Bryan Rocchio kept producing, and Steven Kwan joined the multi‑hit parade with a 3-for-5 night. CJ Kayfus and Bo Naylor added two doubles apiece, while Jose Ramirez cooled off but remains a longtime fantasy asset. Cantillo’s breakout vibe, Valera’s arrival, and the offense’s depth headline a strong push as Cleveland heads to Tampa for four with implications for prospect timelines and late-season fantasy moves.

The Guardians and Diamondbacks traded blows in a tense Game 2, with Cleveland and Arizona answering every score in a see-saw duel that swung on offense and bullpen depth. José Ramírez sparked Cleveland’s early offense with a walk that helped set up Carlos Santana’s RBI single and Nolan Jones’s run-scoring hit, while Ramírez later delivered his 26th homer of the year. Brayan Rocchio showed patience at the plate, working a six-pitch walk in a critical late-inning sequence. For Arizona, Corbin Carroll’s fourth-inning triple and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s late-two-RBI single flipped the script and handed the Diamondbacks a precarious lead they would hold to the finish. In a game where every rally mattered, Diamondbacks relievers navigated the eighth, while Guardians late threats fizzled with runners at the corners and two outs. For fantasy managers, this one underscored how quickly momentum can shift in a volatile ballpark series and highlighted a few players whose rosters and matchups should be weighed with priority and risk in upcoming games.

Key moments included a read-and-score sequence on a Ramírez read on a quick David Fry development, a sixth-inning stand by Cleveland’s starter Tanner Bibee before Arizona rallied, and back-to-back offensive bursts that stretched into extra innings of regulation. The Guardians showed resilience but left the decisive opportunity on the table in the eighth as Arizona closed the door. The result tightens the series to a nail-biter, with both clubs carrying impactful fantasy implications at the plate and on the mound.