Rick Porcello posted a rare 2019 quality start, going 6 IP while allowing 3 ER in a victory. Porcello entered yesterday with an 8.47 ERA, hardly the numbers a former Cy Young winner could ever envision. Porcello has been flat-out horrible so far, uncharacteristically so. Last year he was a fringe fantasy pitcher that you couldn't trust, and I think he'll ultimately move closer to that as the weather gets a little warmer and he gets his feet under him. His 7.7% SwStr% so far is alarming (a full 1% off last year, and 1.7% off 2017); if he can't improve upon that, he shouldn't be rostered in any format.
Miguel Cabrera was 0-for-4 with 2 Ks yesterday. Formerly the best hitter on earth, I was hopeful that Cabrera could put together a solid, yet unspectacular, fantasy season as a healthy DH. Unfortunately he's playing the worst baseball of his career, with a career high K% and 0 HR on the season. The one saving grace is that he's ironically posting a 52.4% Hard%, which would far and away be the highest of his career (14th best in the league). It seems like a bit of a misnomer and who knows if it will translate to better performance, but keep a close eye on the former slugger for that reason.
Jordan Zimmerman struggled against a Red Sox offense that is heating up, allowing 5 ER in just 3 IP. He allowed 3 walks and a HR before being chased from the game. Another year older from last year when he was a fringe fantasy option, Zimmerman is droppable in all formats. At one point he was a borderline ace, but that was many moons ago. Don't pay for any name value.
Mookie Betts was 2-for-4 with 2 doubles and an RBI, suggesting hopefully that the reigning MVP will out of his slump soon. He's hardly been above average so far, which is quite frustrating a month into the season. It should be a matter of time at this point; Mookie has simply been slumping. His LD% is a career low, but his contract rate and O-Swing% and Sw Str% remain elite. He may not match last year's 185 wRC+, but he'll be far and away better than he's been thru April.
Nick Castellanos finally(!) hit his first HR of the season, a disappointing campaign following his breakout last year. The good news for Castellanos owners is that he should pick things up soon - he's hasn't played quite as well as last year, but he's actually walking more while being the unfortunate recipient of a .247 BABIP, 50 points less than last year. Be patient.
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