{
  "id": 1713601,
  "title": "Fantasy Baseball: Second-half stats you need to know to prepare for the stretch run",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/fantasy-baseball-second-half-stats-you-need-to-know-to-prepare-for",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-18T13:07:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/article/fantasy-baseball-second-half-stats-you-need-to-know-to-prepare-for-the-stretch-run-130738468.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "After a month of second-half action in MLB, fantasy baseball managers must be aware of key stats to prepare for the stretch run and fantasy playoffs. Several underrated players have remained available in over 50% of Yahoo leagues, including Ty France, Nolan Arenado, Alec Bohm, Luis Rengifo, Jeff McNeil, Lawrence Butler, Tyler Stephenson, Griffin Conine, Joc Pederson, and Willi Castro.\n\nFrance's excellent contact and .381 BABIP have contributed to his .381 BABIP, while Arenado's resurgence with the Diamondbacks has led to 20 homers and a high OPS. Bohm's consistency and high exit velocity have kept him a reliable pick, while Rengifo's improved performance with the Padres has made him a solid option in 15-team leagues.\n\nMcNeil's aggressive baserunning and exceptional batted-ball luck have earned him a spot on the list, while Butler's potential for homers and steals make him a valuable fantasy asset. Stephenson's crushing of the ball and high exit velocity have resulted in an impressive .960 OPS, making him an excellent choice for many fantasy managers. Conine's power production, supported by his high exit velocity and barrel rate, has led to a .581 SLG and he is a power-play option for the season.\n\nPederson's leadoff damage and high batting average make him a strong candidate for streamers, while Castro's versatility and hot bat make him a must-have for any five-position roster. Finally, Pfaadt's return to the rotation and improved strikeout rate make him a valuable addition to fantasy teams.",
  "summary": "What do we make of these players and teams for fantasy baseball in the second half?",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "2026 Fantasy Baseball Top 300: Ronald Acuña Jr. joins top three; Joshua Báez, Pedro Ramírez debut",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/2026-fantasy-baseball-top-300-ronald-acuna-jr-joins-top-three-joshua",
        "published": "2026-08-18T00:05:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}