Major League Baseball
Covered by Will Thompson
‼️Kris Bubic, LHP KC (MLB)
7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Well turning Kris Bubic back into a starter couldn’t be going much better for the Royals, who might have developed another frontline starter. Through eight starts his ERA is down to 1.69 and he generated 16 whiffs in this outing against the White Sox. I love Bubic’s fastball, which doesn’t blow you away velocity wise but gets on average 18 inches of IVB, causing it to be a real swing and miss pitch. This breakout is for real.
Bobby Witt Jr, SS KC (MLB)
4-for-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI
It was going to be difficult for Witt to top his 10.4 fWAR season in 2024, but he’s off to yet another brilliant start. The over the fence power hasn’t shown up as much to start this year, but he leads the league in doubles with 16 so it seems like a matter of time before the home runs start coming in bunches, especially when the weather warms up. Witt is a superstar and is turning into one of the most consistently great players in the game.
Jack Leiter, RHP TEX (MLB)
5.1 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
This start is pretty representative of how Jack Leiter’s big league career has gone so far. The velocity is there, but the whiffs are not and his inability to put hitters away leads to long battles that eventually result in walks. That’s where I think more of his walk issues lie than actual control or command problems. On the bright side, he’s been difficult for hitters to square up this season and is not giving up much hard contact, but the slider and curveball have to improve for the results to get better.
Rafael Devers, DH BOS (MLB)
2-for-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB
In by far the biggest Rafael Devers news of the day yesterday, he had a great day at the plate that included a homer into the monster seats. Devers has settled into the DH role and his swing decisions have been elite so far this season, something he struggled with early on in his career. At the moment, we’re looking at a 16% walk rate and a career-low chase rate by far of 22.3%. Combine those swing decisions with a ridiculous 19.8% barrel rate and 60.4% hard-hit rate, you have yourself a superstar. Even if the actual results to reflect that haven’t fully shown up yet, they’re coming. This DH/1B situation is a mess though.
Ceddanne Rafaela, CF BOS (MLB)
2-for-2, 2B, R, BB
It has flown under the radar with all the other Red Sox headlines, but Rafaela has made some real strides offensively this season. He has by no means turned himself into a patient hitter, but the walk rate is up to 6.4% and his hard-hit rate has increased by 10%. The problem is those hard hit balls have mostly gone to center and right-center field, a literal death sentence at Fenway if a player doesn’t have enough opposite field home run power which Rafaela does not. If he ever starts pulling the ball more, it could be a much different story with the bat. He also had an unbelievable catch in the triangle in the 9th inning yesterday and has posted 7 DRS already in just 286 innings. Combine that with the fact the Red Sox elected to give him an eight-year $54 million pre-arb extension last year is exactly why Roman Anthony is still in Triple-A. The Red Sox aren’t touching Wilyer Abreu or Jarren Duran and the DH spot is locked with Devers (for now), but the team can’t justify benching/optioning Rafaela because of the money they’ve already committed to him and the improvements he’s made. I guess there’s worse problems to have, but it’s a real issue and until someone gets hurt or traded, Anthony is staying in Worcester.
Rece Hinds, RF CIN (MLB)
2-for-3, HR, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB, K
You know what the world needs right now? Another insane Rece Hinds home run barrage. In his second game with the Reds since being called up, Hinds launched a go-ahead two-run homer in the ninth off Braves closer Raisel Iglesias only for the Reds to blow it in the bottom of the inning and lose in extras. Hinds hit eight home runs with Triple-A Louisville in 33 games, but still strikes out way too much for sustainable big league success.
‼️Spencer Schwellenbach, RHP ATL (MLB)
6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Schwellenbach really needed a start like this after a few bad ones in a row. The righty had everything working, generating 13 whiffs in six strong innings, with seven of those whiffs coming on the curveball at a 47% rate. Schwellenbach is very good and I wasn’t very concerned with his recent rough patch, but hopefully this start gets him back more in line with his first few starts that were terrific.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP LAD (MLB)
5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR allowed
Okay so Yamamoto is human after all I guess. The righty ran into trouble the second time through the Diamondbacks order and after getting out of some jams early, Gabriel Moreno finally made him pay with a grand slam to blow the game open. There’s nothing to worry about with Yamamoto and honestly more of a credit to how good the Diamondbacks lineup is. Unfortunately for Arizona, they play in the NL West and the Giants seem to be back so coming in fourth is a real possibility. This Dodgers D'Backs series is a really fun one this weekend if you’re willing to stay up late on the east coast.
‼️Brandon Pfaadt, RHP ARI (MLB)
6.1 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
This was an awesome start for Pfaadt against a loaded Dodgers lineup and a nice bounceback effort after struggling against the Phillies last time out. The righty has a 3.28 ERA through eight starts but the peripherals are a little split on him. FIP (4.20) doesn’t like him as much because of low K rates and seven HR allowed already, xFIP (3.64) likes him because the HR rate probably isn’t sustainable and his walk rates are low, and xERA (5.52) thinks major regression is coming due to how much hard contact he’s given up (47% hard-hit). I throw all of those numbers out there to show that I have no idea if this start by Pfaadt is sustainable, but given Arizona’s rotation struggles they’ve really needed it.
‼️Casey Mize, RHP DET (MLB)
Game 1: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
Yes it’s against the Rockies, but Mize continues his breakout and looks like the number one overall pick the Tigers drafted. The righty has introduced a curveball into his repertoire this season and now has a consistent five-pitch mix. Chris Fetter continues to work his magic in Detroit.
Colt Keith, 2B DET (MLB)
Game 1: 0-for-1
Game 2: 2-for-5, HR, R, 2 RBI
Colt Keith is starting to get hot. After a rough April, he’s gone 7-for-21 in May so far with three home runs including a 450 foot blast at Coors Field yesterday. While this development is very helpful for the Tigers, I would not rush to pick him up in fantasy because he’s likely a platoon player with the amount of position player depth and platoons the Tigers run. Keith also is just 2-for-21 this season against lefties.
Brewer Hicklen, CF DET (MLB)
Game 2: 2-for-3, 2 R, BB, K
What an awesome story Brewer Hicklen is. The 29-year-old minor league veteran got called up for the Tigers doubleheader yesterday and delivered with two hits in the nightcap. This is Hicklen’s third big league stint, but the first two were very brief with the Royals (2022) and Brewers (2024) and he did not record a hit. He finally got his first big league hit yesterday though and added another one for good measure in Detroit’s blowout win over the Rockies. Hicklen isn’t a prospect, but a fun story nonetheless.
‼️Keider Montero, RHP DET (MLB)
Game 2: 8.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Montero had gotten off to a tough start with the Tigers this season and had fallen out of the rotation, but you can’t get much better of a spot start than what he gave yesterday. I’m not a huge fan of the profile overall and you can probably file this outing under the “it’s the Rockies” category, but nice for Detroit to seemingly have depth everywhere.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr, 1B TOR (MLB)
3-for-4, 2 R, BB, K
Every Vladdy season seems to start the same. He gets off to a slow start, then starts to make a lot better contact but the home run power doesn’t show yet, and then he explodes. We’re at stage two currently, and Guerrero is red-hot at the plate and it continued in the Jays win over the Angels last night. Over the last week, the $500 million man is hitting .435 but with just one XBH. The power will come though and he’ll end the season with the 25 to 30 home runs at least that we expect of him every season.
Daulton Varsho, CF TOR (MLB)
3-for-4, HR, 2B, R, 3 RBI, K
Varsho has had quite the interesting first week back since returning rotator cuff surgery. In 26 plate appearances, he has three home runs, a double, two singles, three walks, and 11 strikeouts. The strikeouts will come down as he starts to get his timing more in-sync, but good to see him driving the baseball immediately. How quickly the strikeouts come down though will be something to pay attention to.
Ryan Johnson, RHP LAA (MLB)
0.0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Can the Angels please send Ryan Johnson to the minors so he can actually develop? This experiment has not worked at all and Johnson has a 7.36 ERA and a 5.49 FIP through his first 14 appearances. Stop this madness and let the kid improve in the minors instead of continuing to struggle in the big leagues.
Triple-A
Covered by Rhys White
C.J. Kayfus, RF CLE (Triple-A)
1-for-4, 3B, R, RBI, BB
Kayfus playing a corner outfield position is interesting because that is his best way to get any playing time, due to the Kyle Manzardo Carlos Santana of it all. Kayfus could lengthen a lineup that needs a bit of power in the middle while not sacrificing contact. Kayfus’s calling card would be his well-rounded bat, and this Cleveland lineup could use some help.
Graham Ashcraft, RHP PIT (Triple-A)
4 IP, 5 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 6 K
Ashcraft for Coby Mayo, who says no in a real-life trade? This is a trade that makes sense for all parties. Ashcraft’s sinker is a pitch I would love to see him throw more often. But the four-seamer has been really good. He matches the current pitching meta of throwing multiple fastballs to go along with a good breaking ball in there, that he can mix and match to both-handedness of batters. Ashcraft’s floor is a solid back-end starter that Baltimore could really use.
Joe Boyle, RHP TB (Triple-A)
6 IP, 5 H, 3 R (ER), 2 BB, K
I was told Joe Boyle was fixed, and that going to the Rays was going to be what he needed. If his command indicates he is a reliever, and if his pitch mix suggests he is a reliever, then maybe he is a reliever.
Hurston Waldrep, RHP ATL (Triple-A)
5.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 10 K, HR Allowed
Speaking of relievers, Huston Waldrep. The fastball shape leaves a lot to be desired, but the slider and splitter are nasty, and he could spam those two pitches. Thirteen of his whiffs came off the slider, with seven other whiffs coming off the splitter.
Jonathon Long, 1B CHC (Triple-A)
2-for-5, R, RBI
Matt Shaw, 3B CHC (Triple-A)
1-for-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB
Matt Shaw’s season has not gone how he would have wanted, getting demoted to Triple-A, and many of his struggles have carried down to Triple-A. But at the very least, he is drawing walks and running like he bites people. The third-base position for the Cubs is still semi-open, so maybe if he starts making more contact, we could see him come up. Then there is Jonathon Long, who has long been one of my favorites. He is a second-baseman and a first-baseman. I don’t know, he just hits. He will probably be moved this trade deadline as the Cubs look to upgrade their rotation or even the back end of the bullpen. Long can be an interesting second-division regular.
Ryan Weathers, LHP MIA (Triple-A)
5 IP, 2 H, 3 K
The carnivore diet does not come with strikeouts, apparently. But that is fine, for the rehabbing big leaguer.
Aaron Civale, RHP MIL (Triple-A)
4 IP, H, BB, 3 K
Speaking of rehabbing big leaguer, Aaron Civale, the Brewers need you and your innings.
Logan Henderson, RHP MIL (Triple-A)
4 IP, 4 H, R, (ER), 5 K
Speaking of possibly needing innings, Logan Henderson wen’t 6 innings with 9 punchouts in his brief taste of big league ball. The ability to change eye levels with the fastball and changeup from his low release point gives him a high floor as a five-and-dive sort of starter, with upside for more if he can develop a third pitch. He features a slider and a cutter but he uses them so infrequently. I would love to see a splitter or something in a different velocity band that the 92ish range for the fastball and the 81ish range for the changeup.
Miguel Ullola, RHP HOU (Triple-A)
5 IP, H, B, 10 K
The rare pitcher’s double-double with 10 punchouts and 10 swings and misses. Ullola should be on the shortlist of the next men to be up for the Astros. He has done a good job of not letting the PCL dominate him. Will Thompson has gotten a chance to see him, which is exciting. The walks have been an issue until this most recent outing, and the Astros might need some help in their rotation, or even as a long reliever. Ullola has always been a Matt guy, making Matt look right, as he usually is.
Double-A
Covered by Matt Thompson
Damon Keith, DH LAD (Double-A)
2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, K
We pretty much know what Keith is at this point, a cheap source of power that will post strikeout rates pushing 30%. He’s an impressive athlete but the swing and miss is the achilles heel here and now he’s repeating Double-A despite a solid 75 game stint there last season. Keith carries no fantasy value right now IMO.
Creed Willems, 1B BAL (Double-A)
3-for-4, 3B, 2B, 2 RBI, K
Back-to-back players I’ve seen in person now with Keith and now Willems. I saw both in the AFL at one point. If we are comparing the two I’ll take Willems, and I don’t think it's all that close. Willems is hitting a very respectable .299/.367/.546 with 15 extra base knocks in just 26 games. He’s already had a double dong day this week and is in the middle of a nice offensive stretch. Willems could be something similar to Ryan O’Hearn, that’s how much I love the bat.
Trei Cruz, OF DET (Double-A)
3-for-5, 2B, R, RBI
Cruz is really trying to get out of Erie. He’s raking right now while also striking out less and walking more than ever before. He can play up the middle in the dirt or on the grass and even offers some speed, despite poor instincts, on the bases. I’m rooting for Cruz to get his first look at Toledo. A really nice utility option that could become a future manager one day.
Robert Moore, 3B PHI (Double-A)
3-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
Moore tied the game with a homer in the top of the ninth. Are we in the middle of a breakout here for Moore? I know about the Reading power bump that some guys get, so I’m a little skeptical, but dude is hitting .279/.398/.559 with five homers in 21 games. His career high for homers in a season is nine. The former Arkansas Razorback is hitting himself onto the prospect map. I’m still not that in from a fantasy perspective because of the small frame. He’s likely something like a Caleb Durbin type at best.
Jean Cabrera, RHP PHI (Double-A)
6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Cabrera is an undersized fastball/changeup arm with a much improved sweeper. He’s striking out just about a batter per inning this year but the walks are far too high. He’s getting away with it because he’s been tough to square up, but he needs to throw more strikes. He’s allowed more walks than he has hits this season to opposing hitters. The six innings and eight strikeouts are both Double-A career highs for Cabrera and he looks like a completely different guy than he did last year in Reading. He is more poised, more confident and he’s attacking hitters. He was getting ahead in the count often and giving guys problems with the sweeper.
Ryan Clifford, 1B NYM (Double-A)
2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI, 2 K
This is Clifford’s second run at Double-A and is going worse than his first stint. The strikeouts are up, walks are down and he’s getting into less power. Not good. I still think there’s a big league future here but likely not an impact one.
Travis Bazzana, 2B CLE (Double-A)
3-for-5, 2B, 3 R, 2 K
Bazzana now has a hit in six straight games as well as nine of his last ten. The Aussie is hitting .310/.333/.517 in May so far, a far cry from his .238/.347/.393 April. Bazzana is looking more like a solid big league regular than a star and that’s still great, but lets see where we are at in a month or so as the weather is starting to warm up and the bat is getting more active. I might be floating him in some trade offers right now for some of the top shelf dynasty prospect bats or something.
