MacKenzie Gore’s 2025 season reads like a fantasy case study: a blistering first half that earned him an All-Star nod, then a shoulder injury and a late fade. Washington now faces a high-stakes call: extend him as a cornerstone or sell high while his value is elevated. Under the hood, fastball velocity and hard contact declined in the second half, even as whiff and strikeout rates showed flashes of the upside that made him a top prospect.

The plan moving forward hinges on adjustments to his arsenal and approach. Gore has leaned into off-speed offerings, with the slider delivering the strongest results and the four-seamer lagging. If he can re-emphasize the cutter and add a sinker to induce more grounders, he could reclaim 2025’s upside. For fantasy managers, health, workload, and a willingness to tweak mechanics determine whether he’s a long-term hold or a sell-high candidate.