Fantasy Baseball News

Michael Wacha took the mound Wednesday and delivered a decent performance, albeit in a losing effort, as the Royals fell 2-1 to the White Sox.

Fantasy Impact: He allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four over six innings. Despite the loss, Wacha's season ERA sits to 3.75, and his WHIP remains commendable at 1.04.

Erick Fedde delivered a solid outing, allowing no earned runs on three hits and three walks while striking out five over 5.2 innings in Wednesday's 2-1 win against the Royals.

Fantasy Impact: This performance marked a significant improvement for Fedde, who entered the game with a concerning 4.30 ERA and 1.43 WHIP from his first three starts of the season. His ability to keep runs off the board in this outing should provide a slight boost to his fantasy value, especially in leagues where ERA and WHIP are critical factors.

Gavin Sheets went 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI in the White Sox's narrow victory over the Royals.

Fantasy Impact: His solo shot contributed crucially to the team's win, showcasing his potential to deliver in key moments. With this performance, Sheets continues to build on a solid start to the season, now boasting a .250 average and a .915 OPS through 14 games. His power has been evident with three homers and four doubles, indicating potential for significant RBI totals if he maintains this pace. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Sheets for consistent power contributions, though his high strikeout rate could be a concern.

Bryce Miller delivered an impressive performance in Wednesday's 5-1 victory over the Reds.

Fantasy Impact: He allowed just one earned run on one hit and one walk while striking out seven over six innings. This outing underscores Miller's strong start to the season, now holding a 1.85 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP through his first four starts. His ability to maintain a high strikeout rate (8.9 K/9) while keeping runners off base highlights his fantasy relevance, especially in leagues valuing strikeouts and WHIP. The low BABIP (.172) suggests some luck, but fantasy managers should consider Miller a reliable option, particularly in matchups against weaker lineups.

Josh Rojas went 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI in the Mariners' 5-1 victory over the Reds.

Fantasy Impact: The third baseman's solo shot marked his first homer of the season, contributing to his solid .343 batting average through 12 games. Rojas's performance today could hint at emerging power potential, which has been largely absent thus far.

Mitch Garver went 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI in the Mariners' 5-1 victory over the Reds.

Fantasy Impact: His performance included a walk and he scored once. This game marked Garver's first home run of the season, a much-needed boost for both him and fantasy managers given his sluggish start to the year. With a batting average still hovering around the Mendoza Line, this power display provides a glimmer of hope but isn't enough to consider him a reliable fantasy starter yet. Owners should keep an eye on whether this sparks a turnaround, but expectations should be tempered given his overall performance so far this season.

Cal Raleigh went 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBI, and a run scored in the Mariners' 5-1 victory over the Reds.

Fantasy Impact: Raleigh's performance, highlighted by his third homer of the season, provided a much-needed boost to his otherwise lukewarm .208 batting average. His ability to draw walks, as evidenced by his two in this game, helps offset his high strikeout rate and contributes positively to his on-base skills. While his power is evident, consistent contact remains an issue, limiting his fantasy upside. However, games like this show his potential value in deeper fantasy leagues, especially those that reward power-hitting catchers.

Andrew Abbott took the mound Wednesday, enduring a tough outing as the Reds fell 5-1 to the Mariners.

Fantasy Impact: He allowed two earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out six over six innings. Despite the loss, Abbott's season ERA remains a respectable 2.70, and his WHIP stands at an impressive 1.07. However, his strikeout rate of 6.6 K/9 might raise concerns for fantasy managers looking for more punchouts from their pitchers. Abbott's performance this season has been solid, but his low strikeout numbers could limit his upside in leagues that heavily reward strikeouts. His ability to limit walks and maintain a low BABIP suggests he can be a reliable option, but don't expect him to be a major source of strikeouts moving forward.

Elly De La Cruz went 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI in the Reds' 5-1 loss to the Mariners.

Fantasy Impact: While the Reds struggled overall, De La Cruz managed to contribute with his five homer of the season, adding a bit of silver lining to an otherwise disappointing game. Despite striking out twice, his season stats remain solid, boasting a .277 batting average and a .956 OPS. His power-speed combination continues to make him a valuable asset in fantasy leagues.

Jordan Wicks delivered a mixed performance in the Cubs' 5-3 win over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact: He allowed two earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five over 4.1 innings. Despite not factoring into the decision, Wicks's outing was a slight improvement over his troubling start to the season, marked by a high 5.68 ERA and 1.89 WHIP. His impressive 13.7 K/9 continues to be a silver lining, suggesting potential for fantasy relevance if he can find more consistency and control. However, his elevated .408 BABIP indicates some bad luck, which might regress to the mean. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his next starts for signs of adjustment and improvement.

Cody Bellinger went 2-for-4 in the Cubs' 5-3 win over the Diamondbacks with a home run, two runs scored, and one RBI.

Fantasy Impact: This performance could be a sign of awakening for Bellinger, who has struggled significantly at the plate this season with a mere .200 batting average. His power stroke, evidenced by his third homer of the season, offers a glimmer of hope for fantasy managers looking for signs of a turnaround.

Brandon Pfaadt delivered a quality start but took the loss in Wednesday's 5-3 defeat to the Cubs.

Fantasy Impact: He pitched seven innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits, striking out six without issuing a walk. Despite the loss, this performance was a step in the right direction for Pfaadt, who entered the game with a bloated 6.48 ERA and 1.38 WHIP from his first three starts. His ability to avoid walks and maintain a high strikeout rate was on display, which should provide some comfort to fantasy managers rattled by his rocky start to the season. However, his elevated BABIP and ERA suggest there might still be some bumps ahead.

Joc Pederson went 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI in the Diamondbacks' 5-3 loss to the Cubs.

Fantasy Impact: This performance marks Pederson's second home run of the season, bringing his RBI total to five and maintaining a strong .333 batting average through 16 games. Despite the team's loss, Pederson's ability to connect for power is a positive sign for fantasy managers.

Ketel Marte went 3-for-4 in the Diamondbacks' 5-3 loss to the Cubs, delivering a home run, a double, and driving in two runs.

Fantasy Impact: This performance underscores Marte's consistent hitting prowess, as evidenced by his solid .325 average this season. His ability to contribute across multiple categories, including power and run production, makes him a valuable asset in fantasy lineups. While the Diamondbacks struggled in this game, Marte's individual success continues to bolster his fantasy relevance, especially in leagues that reward extra-base hits and RBIs.

Mason Miller delivered a sharp performance, securing his fourth save of the season as the Athletics topped the Cardinals 6-3.

Fantasy Impact: Miller threw 15 pitches, allowing no hits and striking out two while walking one in a scoreless inning. This outing continues a strong season for Miller, who now boasts a 2.00 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. His impressive 17.0 K/9 and 4.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio highlight his dominance and reliability in high-leverage situations. Given his consistent performance and ability to shut down opponents, Miller remains a valuable asset in fantasy leagues, particularly for those in need of saves and strikeouts.

Paul Blackburn earned the win Wednesday, allowing three earned runs on six hits and five walks while striking out seven over 5.2 innings as the Athletics topped the Cardinals 6-3.

Fantasy Impact: Despite the win, Blackburn's control issues were apparent, as he issued five free passes, the most he's allowed this season. However, his ability to rack up seven strikeouts and limit the damage to just three runs helped him secure his second win. Looking ahead, fantasy managers should be slightly concerned about the high walk rate in this outing, but Blackburn's overall strong season metrics, including a pristine ERA and solid WHIP, suggest he can be a valuable asset if he maintains control. His strikeout numbers aren't elite, but his efficiency and ability to manage games should keep him relevant in most fantasy formats.

Esteury Ruiz went 1-for-5 in the Athletics' 6-3 win over the Cardinals, delivering a home run, two RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base.

Fantasy Impact: Ruiz's performance, highlighted by his impactful swing and speed on the bases, continues to build on his impressive early-season surge. With a batting average holding strong at .357, he's proving to be a valuable asset in fantasy lineups, especially given his ability to contribute across multiple categories.

Steven Matz struggled on Wednesday, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings in a 6-3 loss to the Athletics.

Fantasy Impact: This performance was a stark departure from his stellar early-season form, where he boasted a 1.80 ERA through his first three starts. The outing inflated his ERA and WHIP, raising questions about his consistency moving forward.

Kyle Finnegan notched a save in a pristine inning as the Nationals edged out the Dodgers 2-0 on Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact: He threw 13 pitches, striking out one without allowing any hits or walks. This performance should reassure fantasy managers after a somewhat turbulent start to the season, marked by a 3.24 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP over nine appearances.

Jake Irvin delivered a stellar performance on Wednesday, allowing no earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out six over six innings in a 2-0 victory over the Dodgers.

Fantasy Impact: This outing was a significant improvement for Irvin, whose season had been marked by a somewhat bloated 4.24 ERA and a single win prior to this game. His ability to navigate through the Dodgers' lineup with efficiency, evidenced by a low WHIP of 1.00 and a solid strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.33, suggests potential for more consistent outings ahead. Fantasy managers should consider the quality of this start against a tough opponent and keep an eye on Irvin's next outings, as he could be turning a corner towards more reliable fantasy production.