Zach Neto (SS-LAA) was out of the starting 9 again on Saturday night as the Angels faced the Rangers. He injured his right shoulder during a stolen base attempt on Thursday and did not play on Friday while manager Ron Washington indicated that he could return to action during the weekend. Regardless of whether he does, it has been a nice sophomore campaign for the 23 year-old, who was only drafted in 2022 (13th overall). As things currently stand, Neto is batting .249 with 23 dingers, 77 RBI, 70 runs scored, and 30 steals (in 40 attempts) through 602 PA on the year, with an above-average wRC+ of 114. He did make more contact this season (up from just under 73% to a shade over 74%) while assembling a Statcast profile that includes a 38.5% hard-hit rate, 8.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 88.5 mph. None of his advanced metrics are super impressive, but they also don't raise any red flags. Expect a .250-20-25 as his baseline in 2025, although the upside is higher (as we've seen in 2024).
Shane Baz (SP-TB) earned the win against the Red Sox on Saturday as he fired 6 quality innings in which he allowed 2 ER on 3 H and 1 BB while recording 7 punchouts. The 25 year-old righty fired 58 of his 86 pitches for strikes while surrendering one longball. Baz wraps up his 2024 campaign with a 3.06 ERA, 7.8 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, and 4.39 xFIP over 79.1 IP. He's benefited from a 79.5% strand rate and .229 BABIP while his control has been pretty middling and he's missed bats at a pretty average clip (10.5% swinging-strike rate). Encouragingly, Baz - who returned from Tommy John surgery this season - put together quality starts in 3 out of his last 4 outings of the season, a stretch during which he posted a 2.22 ERA, 7.8 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, and 4.17 xFIP. Put him on a list of breakout candidates for 2025.
MacKenzie Gore (SP-WSH) was sharp against the Phillies on Saturday afternoon as he fired 6 innings of shutout ball in which he scattered 3 hits and a walk while racking up 9 punchouts. The 25 year-old southpaw tossed 59 of his 91 pitches for strikes in the outing. Gore wraps up the 2024 campaign with a 3.90 ERA, 9.8 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, and 3.87 xFIP in 166.1 IP. It was his best overall season to date, as the BB/9, ERA, and xFIP were all career-bests while his K/9 was not far off last season's career-high of 10. Gore's swinging-strike rate remained at a solid 12% while his biggest improvement came in the batted ball department, as his Statcast profile - a 38% hard-hit rate, 7% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 88 mph - was his strongest of his career across the board. Consider him a top-25 SP for fantasy in 2025.
Luis Gil (SP-NYY) wrapped up the regular season with a loss against the Pirates on Saturday as he allowed 6 runs (all earned) on 6 hits and a walk while fanning 5 over 5.2 IP. The longball was an issue for the 26 year-old righty as he served up 4 big flies while throwing 58 of 89 pitches for strikes. Gil finishes the campaign with a 3.50 ERA, 10.2 K/9, 4.6 BB/9, and 4.36 xFIP in 151.2 IP. Sure, the ERA and K/9 are nice but the BB/9 is concerning and the gap between the ERA and xFIP points to a .237 BABIP in particular suppressing his ERA. Gil helped himself out by limiting the opposition to a 36.5% hard-hit rate per Statcast, but he's a flyball-oriented pitcher (45.5% flyball rate) who issues too many bases on balls. He's a regression candidate in 2025.
Reynaldo Lopez (SP-ATL) was sharp in a no-decision against the Royals as he fired 6 IP of 1-run ball in which he allowed 2 hits while walking none and piling up 9 punchouts. The 30 year-old righty fired 49 of his 73 offerings for strikes while keeping the ball in the yard. Lopez finishes the 2024 season with a 2.00 ERA, 9.8 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, and 3.46 xFIP in 134.2 IP. While the K/9 is nice and the BB/9 is decent while his 12% swinging-strike rate was solid, the gap between the ERA and xFIP is concerning as it points to a ridiculously high 87% strand rate and low 7.5% HR/FB suppressing the former. Lopez really did enjoy some good luck, as the opposition had little trouble squaring up the ball against him, as evidenced by a Statcast profile that includes a 42% hard-hit rate, 9% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 89.5 mph. While he likely won't fall off a cliff in 2025, he can't be drafted with expectations for him to put up numbers - especially an ERA - like he did this season.
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