Marcus Semien DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien (illness) is back at second base and batting leadoff on Thursday in the Cactus League game against the San Francisco Giants. A stomach bug is going around the Rangers' clubhouse in camp, and the 34-year-old veteran wasn't feeling good enough to play on Wednesday. He's now back in there a day later and is hoping to pick it up offensively with Opening Day just several weeks away. In 12 spring games to this point, Semien has gone 6-for-32 (.188) with two home runs, a triple, three RBI and three runs scored in 34 plate appearances. It was a down year for him at the plate last year, too, by his standards as he slashed .237/.308/.391 with 23 home runs, 74 RBI and eight steals in 159 games. Semien's underlying metrics didn't dip, though, so he's still a strong second base target in fantasy that has been one of the most durable players in the league.

Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien (illness) was scratched from Wednesday's Cactus League lineup against the Cincinnati Reds due to "a little stomach virus," manager Bruce Bochy said. Sam Haggerty is replacing Semien in the starting lineup at second base and will bat seventh. Semien is a bit under the weather but should be fine in a few days. The 34-year-old has gone just 6-for-32 (.188) with two homers, a triple, three RBI and five strikeouts in 12 Cactus League games to this point, but fantasy managers shouldn't read too much into it. Although Semien disappointed fantasy managers in 2024, his underling metrics really didn't waver, giving him plenty of bounce-back potential in a strong Rangers lineup. He's also been one of the most durable players in the game. Semien is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 6 fantasy second baseman.

Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien has been an iron man in his career. In his 12-year major-league career, he has played a full 162 games three times and played at least 155 games an additional five times. Semien played in 162 games in 2023 and 159 games last year. The last time he played fewer than 159 games in a full season was with the A's in 2017, when he played in 85 games due to a wrist injury. Semien is entering his age-34 season, though, and hit .237/.308/.391 in 2024, his worst offensive season since the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. Manager Bruce Bochy said the team has discussed giving Semien some built-in off days and also moving him around in the batting order. Semien's underlying metrics were on par with his recent seasons, so a bounce-back is entirely possible, especially if some more rest days give him more juice for the entire season.