Fantasy Baseball: The Numbers Do Lie – Analyzing Misleading Stats for Top Players

Shohei Ohtani is off to an incredible fantasy start — and things could get even better

Shohei Ohtani has been turning heads with his outstanding performance on the field this season. Despite his impressive numbers, there are some stats that may be misleading when it comes to evaluating his overall impact.

One such stat is Ohtani’s RBI total, which currently stands at 10. While he has been hitting .360 with a 178 wRC+ and a career-low strikeout rate, Ohtani has struggled with runners in scoring position, hitting just .053 in those situations. However, with Mookie Betts hitting in front of him and providing plenty of RBI opportunities, Ohtani is poised to start racking up RBIs in bunches soon.

On the other hand, Bobby Witt Jr. has already hit four home runs this season, but he has been caught stealing three times and has been unlucky in the home run department. Despite leading the league in barrels/PA% and contact quality, Witt has a significant difference between his actual home runs and expected homers. With his impressive power and ability to hit fly balls, Witt is expected to hit 30-plus home runs this season.

Pitcher Blake Snell has struggled with a 12.86 ERA in his first two starts, but his underlying numbers suggest that he is due for positive regression. With a high velocity and a favorable pitcher’s park in San Francisco, Snell is expected to bounce back and perform like a top-10 fantasy starter moving forward.

In conclusion, while some numbers may be misleading, it is important to look beyond the surface stats to truly evaluate a player’s performance. With the season still young, there is plenty of time for players like Ohtani, Witt, Snell, and others to make a significant impact in fantasy baseball.