Michael Harris II, OF (ATL)
It was a tale of two games on Wednesday as Harris was spectacular in the first game of a doubleheader, but he was silent in Game 2. After tallying three hits, including a home run and stolen base, on Monday, Harris was a perfect 4-for-4 with a home run and stolen base in the first game of Wednesday's DH. The reigning NL Rookie of the Year did not continue the hot streak in the second game, finishing hitless in four plate appearances, but he has shown signs of life after a rough couple months. He raised his average from .205 to .221 following Wednesday's games and now has four multi-hit games in his last eight. His BABIP is still more than 100 points lower than last season, but his quality of contact is actually slightly better. The luck was bound to turn around and fantasy owners who remained patient with the talented outfielder are starting to reap the benefits.
Bailey Ober, SP (MIN)
Ober picked up his fourth win with another solid effort against the Brewers. He allowed two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out seven hitters in six innings. He has allowed three or fewer earned runs in all but one of his 10 starts this season and his ERA sits at a tidy 2.65. He tallied 16 swings and misses despite somewhat diminished velocity on Wednesday. The change in velocity didn't impact the effectiveness of his changeup, which was excellent in generating eight whiffs. On the downside, Ober's two runs allowed were both on home runs, which makes three long balls allowed over his last two games after allowing only three in his previous eight starts. With a flyball rate over 50%, home runs are inevitable, and the fortune of a single-digit HR/FB rate was bound to wear off. The good news is he continues to keep his WHIP low, which mitigates the damage from the homers. His role is fairly safe in the Twins rotation after starting the season in the minor leagues.
Jose Berrios, SP (TOR)
Berrios continued his run of excellent starts with his best outing of the year, holding the Orioles scoreless in a season-high 7.2 innings, allowing only three hits and one walk while striking out five. The 29-year-old has not allowed more than three runs in a start since May 1. Although walks have been a bit of an issue lately (12 free passes in his previous four starts), he kept the O's off the base paths on Wednesday. Berrios' slurve continues to evolve and flummox hitters. He finished with a 43% CSW-rate on his slurve on Wednesday, getting strikes or weak contact. His confidence in the pitch has allowed him to use his pedestrian fastball less, and it's working. Suddenly the hard contact and abundance of home runs he was allowing in 2022 is gone. He doesn't strike many hitters out, but he has been steady and reliable for fantasy owners, many of whom waved the white flag after last season's disastrous output.
Reid Detmers, SP (LAA)
Detmers allowed one run on three hits in six innings. It was his second straight start allowing only one run and striking out eight batters. However, it was his eighth straight start allowing more than one walk as he surrendered three free passes against the Rangers. It was also only the second home run he allowed since Apr. 23. The difference over his past two starts is the way he's using his slider. It's been effective as a chase pitch. He's getting opposing hitters to swing out of the zone. He got 10 swinging strikes on his slider alone on Wednesday, and suddenly he has a pitch to either get ahead in the count or just strike the hitter out. His fastball and curveball are then enough to dance around the strike zone. It's a small sample but an encouraging development for the young lefty.
Garrett Whitlock, SP (BOS)
Whitlock was excellent on Wednesday, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk in seven innings with a season-high seven strikeouts. Since allowing three home runs in his season debut on Apr. 11, Whitlock has only allowed three home runs in six starts since. His fastball velocity was slightly increased while his changeup was down, which opened a 10-mph delta between the two. That led to an impressive 38% CSW rate. He appears to be settling into a comfortable use of his arsenal while also demonstrating his health and stamina. Whitlock has shown flashes of great strikeout upside, which is manifesting in recent outings. Now is the time to pounce if he's available.
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