The squad today is Smada at MLB, Samuel Gomez at AAA, Tom Gates on AA, Nate Rasmussen on A+ and Rhys White at A.

Major League Baseball

Covered by Smada

Pavin Smith, 1B ARI (MLB) 

3-for-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, K 

I became enamored with Pavin Smith after diving in a bit after his three homer game last season. Other than being utilized as a strong side platoon player, he checked all the boxes to be a very-post-hype breakout player in 2025. As Joc Pederson exited the scene, the DH position opened up for him. Aside from Opening Day, Smith has hit 3rd in the D-backs lineup against every right handed starter thus far. While it was Smith’s 1st HR of the season, he’s running a BABIP-aided 218 wRC+. Smith has been whiffing quite a bit more than his career average, but will likely come down towards career averages, as will that BABIP. I’m not sure there is hope in the short term for Smith to shed the platoon label, especially given they have Randal Grichuk there specifically to work into that short side of the platoon. An injury in the corner outfield or to Naylor at 1B could open opportunities vs. LHP, but it’s not something to hope for or bank on. Still, Smith profiles as useful in 15+ team leagues, especially in daily formats, and leagues with OBP.

Corbin Carroll, RF ARI (MLB) 

2-for-4, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB, K 

The first half of 2024 created an all-time buying opportunity for a superstar fantasy player and those who reaped the benefits are now sitting pretty. Not only has Carroll hit 5 HR to start the season, but if you pull back to July of last year, Carroll has 25 HR in the last 395 PA. Surprisingly, Carroll has yet to steal a bag this year, but historically we know 30+ are there. So we’re now on watch for a Corbin Carroll 30/30 season.

Jake McCarthy, LF ARI (MLB) 

1-for-4, 2B, R

To say it’s been a disaster of a start to the season is putting it mildly. Yesterday in his 9th game of the season he recorded his first hit. Many thought, myself included, that he’d be given the lion's share of the CF playing time, but it’s been a 50/50 split with Alek Thomas thus far. Thomas has hit well in the small sample and it’s yet to be seen how the playing time will evolve in the coming weeks. But McCarthy needs to start hitting or he’ll end up in a bench role or optioned back to AAA again (one option remaining).

Matt Mervis, DH MIA (MLB) 

2-for-5, HR, R, 3 RBI, 2 K 

Mervis got his 3rd HR of the season off Edwin Diaz in a non-save situation. Diaz pointed to the sky but the ball carried over the right field fence anyway. Mervis is still running that 40% K and likely still in that platoon so still not a crazy amount of value here outside of deeper leagues.

Max Meyer, RHP MIA (MLB)

6.1 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K

It’s great to see Meyer having success after so many injury setbacks. All three of his starts this season have been positive and he’s been able to keep the HR/FB and BB% in check and has run a 54% GB thus far . The slider-first approach continues to work for Meyer. The health history continues to linger in the back of the mind, but there’s nothing to take away but encouragement to start 2025.

Ben Rice, DH NYY (MLB) 

1-for-5, HR, R, 2 RBI, 2 K 

Rice broke open the scoring in the 7th with a blast against the lefty reliever Tyler Holton for his 3rd of the season. Love to see Rice hitting a lefty and potentially work his way completely off the bench against them. There is a 30 HR, OBP league monster lurking here. The time to acquire at a decent price is beginning to run out.

💣💣 Corey Seager, SS TEX (MLB) 

2-for-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 K 

Wyatt Langford exits the lineup and Corey Seager decided to hit the “on” button. This double dong catapulted him across the 100 wRC+ line after a sluggish start to the season. Let’s see if this game kickstarts him into form.

CJ Abrams, SS WSN (MLB) 

1-for-5, HR, R, RBI, SB

Look at Abrams flex that power muscle and add another bag on the same day. The end of 2024 spooked people quite a bit as he was sent down for the last 10 days of the season for disciplinary reasons. It does look like Abrams has put that behind him though and has made strides towards replicating or exceeding his 20 HR, 31 SB season. Abrams gave has given us peaks and valleys throughout his career but there’s still an extraordinary amount of promise as he’s still just 24 years old.

Landon Knack, RHP LAD (MLB)

2.1 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 2 K

Knack got an opportunity to start and just couldn’t find the zone. When he did, the Nats hit him hard. Tony Gonsolin is rehabbing in AAA so Knack may only get one more turn in the rotation.

Triple-A

Covered by Samuel Gomez

Who wants the funk? Unorthodox deliveries were out on full display today and they absolutely dominated. 

Tyler Callihan, 2B CIN (Triple-A) 

2-for-4, HR, R, 2 RBI

I recently wrote about Callihan in our top 20 prospects list for the Reds, where he came in 19th. He has solid raw power that he’s never really tapped into, but it looks like he may finally be doing that now. He hit his 3rd home run of the year and is starting to look like the guy the Reds expected him to be after giving him a nearly $1.5 million bonus out of the draft. The Reds have good depth through the middle infield, so Callihan will have to continue to prove that the power is here to stay before he seriously pushes for a permanent major league spot.

🔜 Alexis Diaz, RHP CIN (Triple-A) 

IP, 2 H, ER, BB, K

Diaz looked a bit shaky in his third rehab appearance of the year. The shape of his pitches were okay, but his velocity remained down and he gave up some hard contact. Hopefully we see an uptick in velocity from Diaz before he returns to the Reds.

Agustin Ramirez, DH MIA (Triple-A) 

2-for-4, HR, R, RBI, 2 K, SB

Ramirez finally got his first home run of the year out of the DH spot. He’s striking out too much at the moment, but the Marlins don’t have much standing in front of him on the depth chart and we should see him some time later this year.