Jack Flaherty, SP, Tigers
Jack Flaherty's start on Tuesday was not only the best of his season, but one of the best for any starting pitcher all year. In a revenge matchup against the Cardinals, he struck out 14 batters while allowing 2 hits and 1 walk over 6.2 scoreless innings. He has been impressive all season, especially in the strikeout department, striking out 6, 10, and 8 batters in his three previous starts. He is now up to an eye-popping 50:5 K:BB on the season, and his elite 2.18 xFIP shows that his current ERA of 4.00 isn't anything to worry about. He was untouchable across the board on Tuesday with 24 total whiffs. His fastball (49% CSW%), slider (42% CSW%), and knuckle curve (58% CSW%) were all almost unhittable. He has been trending upward all season long, and while I don't think he will pitch like an ace every time he takes the mound, it's clear that he still possesses the same upside that he did earlier in his career. It's easy to see him being a top-40 starting pitcher the rest of the way, and he could end up even better if he keeps up his current pace.
Tyler Black, 1B/3B, Brewers
The Brewers called up top prospect Tyler Black on Tuesday. He is currently ranked as the 42nd best prospect according to MLB.com, and made his debut on Tuesday after entering the game for an injured Gary Sanchez. He collected plenty of major league firsts, going 2 for 4 with a double and a run. In AAA this season, he was slashing .303/.393/.525 with 5 home runs and 3 stolen bases in 25 games. It would be hard to expect more than 20 home runs from him at the major league level, but his main assets are his speed and plate discipline. He stole 55 bases last season between AA and AAA, and was striking out only 13.7% of the time while walking at an 11.1% clip in the minors this season. Playing time isn't guaranteed, but he shouldn't have a problem finding ways into the lineup at 1B, 3B, and DH if he hits enough to warrant it. He is worth an add in all 12+ team leagues, especially roto leagues with OBP as a category.
Riley Greene, OF, Tigers
Riley Greene had a great day at the plate, going 4 for 9 with 2 home runs and a double during Tuesday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. He's brought his season slash line up to .257/.388/.527 with 24 runs, 7 home runs, and 15 RBI. As good as those numbers look, his underlying metrics paint an even prettier picture. His 19.2% walk rate is the best in the league, and his quality of contact has also been elite. He has a 17.9% barrel rate (97th percentile), 41.8% sweet-spot rate (89th percentile), and a .523 XSLG (89th percentile) which is right in line with actual slugging percentage. It looks like the 23-year-old is finally breaking out, and the potential is sky-high for the former mega-prospect. He is creeping inside the top-30 outfielders for me, and he may not be done rising yet.
Brandon Nimmo, OF, Mets
Brandon Nimmo went 1 for 4 on Tuesday, bringing his season slash line to an underwhelming .208/.359/.349 with 3 home runs and 2 stolen bases. This is a great time to buy low on Nimmo, whose underlying metrics look better than ever. His xwOBA of .424 is in the top-3 percent of the league, and his .299 xBA and .540 xSLG show that he has been one of the unluckiest hitters this season. He is still walking just as much as ever (16.5% BB%), and even has a top-10 percent average exit velocity of 92.7 mph. Nimmo will be a standout fantasy player in batting average and runs, and looks like he should have no problem matching his total of 22 home runs from last season. He is still a clear top-30 outfielder in points leagues and OBP leagues, and is probably more in the 35-40 range for standard roto leagues. Try to acquire him in a trade now before he breaks out of this unlucky streak.
Josh Naylor, 1B, Guardians
Josh Naylor blasted a three-run home run on Tuesday night, his seventh of the season. His slash line is now up to .282/.361/.553. His plate discipline has been excellent, as he has struck out only 12.6% of the time while walking at a 9.2% clip. His other defining trait last season was his ability to drive in runs, collecting 97 RBI in only 121 games. He has continued that trend into 2024, driving in 24 so far this season. His xBA (.317) and xSLG (.556) both rank in the 94th percentile, and all signs are pointing to last season being no fluke. He was being drafted outside of the top-12 first basemen during draft season, but I think he fits solidly in the top 7 at the position now.
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