Major League Baseball

Covered by Smada

🍟🍔 Jackson Chourio, CF MIL (MLB)

3-for-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB

After a slow start to the season, Chourio has gotten mostly back on track. This was HR #10 and SB #12 through 62 games and OOPSY ROS projection still see him getting to a SB short of a 25 HR, 30 SB season. Last year Chourio didn’t get going until June and it seems that he may be peaking at the same time this year. There’s still probably a small buy-low window, especially in OBP leagues, if you want to get younger.

Ceddanne Rafaela, CF BOS (MLB)

1-for-5, HR, R, 2 RBI, 2 K

Make that 3 straight games with a HR for Rafaela, who hooked one around Pesky Pole for a walk off that’d only dong in Fenway. There’s some contact improvement here that makes him improved compared to last season, but the chase is still rough.

Mike Burrows, RHP PIT (MLB)

5.1 IP, 5 H, 6 K

Burrows had his first positive big league start in this one. His Triple-A numbers, especially in his last 3 outings, were solid. The fastball sits 95 mph and gets up to 97 but it’s been knocked around in previous starts. He got 6 whiffs on 9 swings with the changeup in this start and is rated the best by Stuff+ among the arsenal. Like many young starters the command/control will dictate success, but there’s at least a good base here.

Kyle Manzardo, 1B CLE (MLB)

1-for-4, HR, R, RBI

I had taken a little bit of a look under the hood on Manzardo in a late April Daily Sheet and came away with this:

My cursory conclusion is that Manzardo is simply selling out for pull-side power but being judicious in when to do it. Interestingly, the new Savant Batter Position has him setting up an inch and a half farther off the plate than last season, potentially giving him more space to attack and more visual reference to spit on pitches away.

It’s clear Manzardo has adjusted, but the league is going to adjust back, especially LHP who need to take more notice. Feed him offspeed and challenge him on the outer half of the zone. I’m a bit worried the approach will be exposed and now may be a good time to move him.

Since then, Manzardo has slashed .207/.281/.362 with 4 HR for a 82 wRC+ over 128 PA. OOPSY ROS projections are the harshest on the young 1B with a .223/.309/.404 slash and 21 HR per 600 PA. Others are more bullish but still illustrate a power-only player. He’ll need to show improvement at the plate if he wants to continue being a full-time player.

Mick Abel, RHP PHI (MLB)

5.1 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 K

After an extremely impressive scoreless 6 IP debut, Abel backed it up with another solid start against the Blue Jays. After such a long time in the prospect sphere (drafted in the 1st round in 2020!) it’s hard to believe that he’s still just 23 years old. Curiously, walks have been the issue for him throughout his minor league career and he was still posting a near 11% BB at Triple-A this season. I’m worried that he’ll come crashing down to earth.

Kumar Rocker, RHP TEX (MLB)

3.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K