On the mound in Miami on Sunday, it certain appeared prefer it was 2021 over again for the Milwaukee Brewers rotation.
Brandon Woodruff, the No. 5 finisher in Nationwide League Cy Younger Award balloting and the No. 18 general participant when it comes to fantasy factors throughout mentioned 2021 marketing campaign, returned from October 2023 surgical procedure with a flourish. He scored 24 fantasy factors, his most since Sept. 11, 2023, finishing six innings on 70 pitches.
That is to not say that all the pieces was again to classic type for Woodruff, as his 93.3-mph common fastball velocity was his lowest in any single begin in seven years, however he loved loads of success with the pitch nonetheless, producing 4 swings-and-misses (a 33.3% whiff fee) and 5 of his eight strikeouts on the day with the pitch. Woodruff earned good marks on three of his major choices (four-seam fastball, sinker and changeup), and he added a top quality cutter to the combo, with the sum of the entire producing 80.0% first-pitch strike, 61.4% zone and 29.4% whiff charges.
As Woodruff works himself again to full energy and boosts his pitch depend nearer to 90-95 within the coming weeks, he might have top-25 fantasy beginning pitcher worth through the season’s second half. Primarily based on his observe document, which throughout his 2019-23 peak noticed him put up the fifth-best WHIP (1.02) and common the sixth-most fantasy factors per begin (14.9) and ninth-best Ok fee (30.0%), amongst pitchers with at the least 75 begins, he is properly definitely worth the pickup within the 54.7% of ESPN leagues during which he stays obtainable.
Additionally contemplate including…
Jurickson Profar, OF, Atlanta Braves: He was talked about on this area last week and stays broadly obtainable (63.2% of leagues) regardless of his having hit .286 (6-for-21) with two dwelling runs throughout his first 5 video games since coming back from suspension — all of them coming from one of many high 5 spots within the Braves lineup. In ESPN commonplace factors leagues, he is an efficient must-add.
Cam Smith, 3B/OF, Houston Astros (obtainable in 73.4%): His statistical returns for the primary two months had been fairly peculiar, however throughout his final 26 video games, Smith has considerably picked up the tempo, batting .349/.389/.547 with 4 dwelling runs, 21 RBI and 18 runs scored to emerge as a middle-of-the-order hitter for the Astros. He has executed that, partly, due to a extra aggressive strategy on the plate, swinging at 57% of the pitches (together with 36% outdoors the strike zone) he has seen throughout that point span, up from 45% (and 25%). Nonetheless, Smith appears to be making it work.
Rotisserie-style gamers so as to add
Ronny Henriquez, RP, Miami Marlins (obtainable in 90.4%): Equally talked about right here final week, the Marlins have considerably picked up the tempo throughout the previous four-plus weeks, successful 16 of their previous 24 video games. Which means extra save alternatives for the nearer, and Henriquez seems to be rising throughout that point as a singular selection for the function. He has retired each one of many final 13 batters he has confronted, hanging out six. He has 4 of the group’s six saves in addition to a 1.13 ERA and 50.0% Ok fee throughout his final eight appearances. Between his 96.4-mph fastball and 46% whiff fee sweeper, he has the abilities to contribute saves often to fantasy groups.
Ceddanne Rafaela, OF/SS, Boston Red Sox (obtainable in 82.8%): Whereas a lot of the eye to Boston’s kids has been targeted on high prospects like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer, Rafaela has settled in properly as a constant contributor for the group. He is a .333/.356/.754 hitter with 5 dwelling runs, 12 RBI and 13 stolen bases over his final 15 video games. Maybe most significantly, he has developed into one of many sport’s finest defensive middle fielders, solidifying his taking part in time. That may solely pad his plate look whole contemplating he is a bottom-of-the-lineup hitter.
Two-start pitcher so as to add
Brady Singer, SP, Cincinnati Reds (obtainable in 64.6%): He ought to be loads rested for his pair of begins this week, after having his flip final Tuesday shortened by rain. Singer begins each video games at dwelling, towards the “scorching, however nonetheless below-average” Marlins bats and the “merely horrible” Rockies offense. And, whereas his dwelling venue (Nice American Ball Park) is likely one of the sport’s most hitter-friendly environments, he has been considerably extra productive there than on the street this season, with an ERA greater than six-tenths of a run decrease, a wOBA 26 factors decrease and strikeout fee greater than 4 proportion factors larger than in his street video games.
Deeper-league pickups
Cameron Schlittler, SP, New York Yankees (obtainable in 100%): The information that Clarke Schmidt will possible require Tommy John surgical procedure is devastating for the Yankees rotation, which has now misplaced three-fifths of its initially projected members (Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, Schmidt). It has pressed them to advertise considered one of their hottest minor-league pitching prospects, Schlittler, who has a 2.77 ERA and a 34.4% Ok fee throughout his final eight begins between Double-A Somerset (3) and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (5). He is sporting a professional career-best 8.4% stroll fee for the season, and is properly value a speculative pickup given the brand new alternative.
Joe Boyle, SP, Tampa Bay Rays (obtainable in 94.8%): Talking of improved management, Boyle’s stroll fee throughout his 13 appearances between a pair of MLB stints was 9.7% — properly beneath the 16.8% profession fee he has posted general as an expert. That performed an enormous half in his weekend promotion. Whereas he does not presently have a agency rotation spot with the Rays, the truth that he pitched properly as a piggyback to Drew Rasmussen on Sunday bodes properly for him receiving additional begins or bulk reduction alternatives. A pitcher along with his uncooked stuff ought to be rostered in all AL-only and 15-plus-team blended leagues.
Trevor Rogers, SP, Baltimore Orioles (obtainable in 79.4%): Although initially recalled as extra of a brief time period fill-in than one thing larger, Rogers has emerged as a dependable rotation member for the Orioles, posting a 0.90 ERA (and backed by a good 2.99 FIP) over his final three begins. He has added fairly a little bit of velocity to his fastball this season, averaging 93.3 mph with the pitch (after 91.9 final 12 months), and is producing elite whiff charges along with his breaking pitches (slider and sweeper). Rogers’ endurance seems a lot larger now than it has at any earlier level on this Orioles profession, and he is now almost on the usual blended radar.