Madison Bumgarner (SP-ARI) was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks on Thursday after a brutal start to the 2023 campaign (10.26 ERA, 5.4 K/9, 8.1 BB/9, 7.43 xFIP across 16.2 IP). The 33 year-old southpaw is likely going to clear waivers with $34 million still left on his contract, but whether he will draw much interest once he becomes a free agent is unclear. Bumgarner has not been much of a fantasy contributor since he was still with the Giants in 2019, so this has a minimal impact for fantasy. Especially after he logged a 4.88 ERA, 6.4 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, and 4.83 xFIP last year, no one should have been counting on him in 2023. Things went from bad to worse in the early going of the new campaign, as Bumgarner's average fastball velocity dropped more than a tick to under 90 mph while his control completely left him and his ability to miss bats eroded further to nearly 6%. And opposing hitters made plenty of loud contact (41% per Statcast) when he did put the ball in the zone. Whether another team picks him up is irrelevant - he's been useless for fantasy since he moved to the desert in 2020.
Brandon Pfaadt (SP-ARI) will likely make his big-league debut in the near future with Arizona designating the ineffective Madison Bumgarner for assignment. The 24 year-old righty is a 55 FV prospect who ranks as the #53 prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline. Pfaadt utilizes a quality repertoire of pitches that includes a plus mid-90s heater, a plus slider, a plus change, and a developing curve. He possesses plus command and control as well as an ability to miss bats, as evidenced by his strong stint in Triple-A to wrap up the 2022 campaign: 2.63 ERA, 10.8 K/9, and 2 BB/9 in 10 starts (61.2 IP). His 5.40 ERA to open the new season (3 starts, 13.1 IP) isn't exactly impressive, but it is the PCL and he's logged a very nice 11.5 K/9 to go with a 2 BB/9 in that small sample size. He should be rostered in all fantasy leagues since his combination of strikeout ability and control should help him make an immediate impact as a big-leaguer.
Logan O'Hoppe (C-LAA) went 3-4 with a 2B and 2 RBI against the Yankees on Thursday afternoon. However, he left the game in the 9th after injuring his left shoulder while taking a swing; he'll be reevaluated in a few days. The 23 year-old rookie backstop has held his own in his first extended taste of big-league action, as he now boasts a .283 average to go with 4 homers and 13 RBI through his first 59 PA of the campaign. His 25% strikeout rate seems high based on his track record and contact ability and his 7% walk rate seems a bit low based on his work in the high minors, so he does still seem to be adjusting to big-league pitching despite logging a healthy 43% hard-hit rate per Statcast. A 17% swinging-strike rate is concerning, as is a 65% contact rate, and he's hit very few liners (8%). A high strikeout rate and high flyball rate (51%) do not bode well for the average long-term, but O'Hoppe has recorded less than 100 big-league PA to date and is still learning the game. We'll have to see how things go after he returns to action, but the fantasy outlook for 2023 and beyond is encouraging.
C.J. Cron (1B-COL) went 2-4 with a 2-run shot against the Phillies on Thursday. The 33 year-old slugger started the 2023 campaign a bit slow, recording a .242 average to go with 4 homers, 8 RBI, and a wRC+ of just 82 through his first 65 PA of the season. But Thursday's performance served as a reminder of just how young the season is - as his wRC+ jumped to almost average at 98 - while giving Cron's fantasy owners hope that he'll again be an above-average producer, as he has every season but one since he reached the majors in 2017 (only one sub-100 wRC+ season). Cron's strikeout rate remains high at 30% as he fanned again on Thursday and his walk rate remains anemic at just 4%, but he has continued to hit the ball with authority (48% hard-hit rate per Statcast) when he's made contact. But contact has been the issue in the early going, with a 62% contact rate well below his norm (76%) and an 18% swinging-strike rate high for him (12% career). Odds are pretty good that Cron just started the season slow and will round into form, but bear in mind that he's moving into his mid-30s and Father Time comes for us all.
Braxton Garrett (SP-MIA) should be a solid streamer or DFS play on Friday when he takes on the Guardians in Cleveland. The 25 year-old southpaw has enjoyed a solid start to the 2023 campaign, with a 3.38 ERA, 8.8 K/9, 1.4 BB/9, and 3.21 xFIP through his first 13.1 IP. In that small sample size, Garrett has allowed hard contact at a modest 34% rate per Statcast while minimizing the walks and inducing grounders at a 45% clip. This comes on the heels of a useful 2022 campaign (3.58 average, 9.2 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, and 3.50 xFIP across 88 IP), so there's a growing track record of solid if unspectacular performance for Garrett. Cleveland's offense isn't exactly amazing, as it ranks #25 overall in baseball with a .665 team OPS and #22 overall against lefties with a .670 team OPS. The Guardians have been especially putrid in front of the home crowd, ranking #28 in baseball with a .630 team OPS in Cleveland. Garrett is currently rostered in only 1% of ESPN leagues.
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