Brent Rooker has emerged as a power hitter for the Athletics, tying for fifth in the MLB with 39 home runs last season. This season, he’s already hit 7 homers, with the latest coming against the Texas Rangers. Rooker’s upcoming matchup against Jacob deGrom, who has allowed five home runs in just four starts despite a respectable 3.32 ERA, is generating buzz among fantasy enthusiasts.

Rooker’s odds of +400 to hit a home run against deGrom at BetMGM indicate strong potential value. SportsLine’s data model has been successful in predicting home runs this season, providing insights into various player prop bets. Alongside Rooker, Wyatt Langford of the Rangers and Junior Caminero of the Rays are also highlighted for their favorable home run odds this week. Langford is hot with a recent home run streak, while Caminero’s high bat speed offers explosive potential against a pitcher known for allowing home runs.

April 18 presents a 11-game MLB DFS slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Players are advised to monitor injury news and starting lineups diligently as they build their fantasy rosters.

Pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto stands out against Texas, boasting a high strikeout rate and excellent run prevention metrics. Alternatives include MacKenzie Gore at Coors Field, who has shown solid metrics and faces a struggling Rockies lineup.

Among infielders, Ozzie Albies is a strong pick against Chris Paddack, while Junior Caminero is heating up with power against Carlos Rodon. Ryan Mountcastle is another value option against Andrew Abbott.

In the outfield, Randy Arozarena shows promise against Bowden Francis, while Austin Hays and Sal Frelick are expected to perform well given their favorable matchups. Stacking the Baltimore Orioles against Andrew Abbott is recommended due to the high projected run total.

The MLB is facing a significant drop in offensive production as the season progresses, with cold weather exacerbating the issue. The league has already witnessed 36 shutouts this season, a stark contrast to previous years, suggesting a troubling trend for hitters. The Tampa Bay Rays have been particularly impacted, losing key player Junior Caminero in critical late-game situations in favor of defense, while others like Jeimer Candelario and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. struggle offensively.

In response to the slow offensive start, teams are increasingly relying on the running game, with stolen base attempts up by 21% compared to last season. The Angels, for example, are leading in home runs while lagging in steals. For fantasy players, identifying speedsters like Oneil Cruz, who remains a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts, could be crucial during this offensive slump. As the season continues, it may be wise to capitalize on the current pace of stolen bases while they are trending upward.

On April 14, the Boston Red Sox (8-9) clash with the Tampa Bay Rays (7-8) at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Tanner Houck takes the hill for Boston, aiming to improve on his 0-1 record and 4.41 ERA, following a strong outing against the Blue Jays. Conversely, Tampa's Shane Baz boasts a stellar 1.39 ERA and a win against the Angels in his latest start. The Rays recently dominated Atlanta, while the Red Sox struggled to find offensive rhythm during their series with the White Sox.

The betting lines reflect a competitive matchup. The Red Sox are slight favorites at -100, while the Rays sit at -119. The over/under is set at 8 runs. Notably, Rafael Devers is currently struggling, going hitless in his last 10 at-bats, which could impact Boston's offensive strategy against Baz.

As we approach Week 3 of the 2025 fantasy baseball season, trade discussions begin to heat up. Noteworthy candidates for fantasy managers include both undervalued players to target and overvalued players to consider trading away.

Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers is a prime buy candidate despite his slow start due to injuries, having posted two home runs and four RBIs in just three games. Similarly, Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays is highlighted for his potential, boasting a .282 batting average and impressive bat speed, suggesting he is on the verge of a breakout.

On the flip side, Los Angeles Angels' Kyren Paris and New York Yankees' Ben Rice are deemed overvalued due to unsustainable early-season performances. Each has benefitted from a hot start, but their statistics indicate a regression is likely. Max Fried, another Yankee, is also mentioned as a sell-high candidate despite a solid ERA due to the challenges ahead in a tough division.