Tony Gonsolin, SP, Dodgers
Tony Gonsolin looked impressive in his season debut, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out nine over six innings. He induced 17 whiffs in the night for a 40% whiff rate, with his slider being his most effective swing-and-miss pitch, with six whiffs on eleven swings. This was about as good of a start as you could ask for, considering Gonsolin hasn't pitched since 2023. He missed all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery and missed the beginning of this year with a back injury. It's probably unlikely that Gonsolin stays healthy all year with the constant shifting of pitchers on and off the injured list for the Dodgers, but this start proves that he is worth starting in the meantime.
Lucas Giolito, SP, Red Sox
Lucas Giolito made his first start of the season on Wednesday against the Blue Jays, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings. He cruised through five scoreless innings before laboring through the sixth, where he gave up three runs on two home runs. Some rust was expected in his first start of the year, especially in the sixth as he approached 90 pitches. The takeaway here is how good he looked through the first five frames for someone who hasn't pitched since 2023. He's worth an add in fantasy as a rotation depth piece, just in case he returns to the caliber of pitcher he was pre-2022.
Kyle Stowers, OF, Marlins
Kyle Stowers went 2 for 4 with two home runs and four RBI on Wednesday against the Dodgers. This continued his breakout 2025 season, with his slash line now up to .323/.396/.510 with 15 runs, 4 home runs, 19 RBI, and 2 stolen bases. His underlying metrics back up his performance, as he has posted a 15.9% barrel rate (86th percentile) and 47.6% hard-hit rate (72nd percentile). He won't continue to bat above .300, but this could be a real breakout for the 27-year-old. He doesn't have a great supporting cast around him and plays in a pitcher-friendly ballpark, which keeps him from being a must-add across the board. However, this is enough promise to add him in deep leagues and to keep an eye on him in shallow leagues.
Chris Sale, SP, Braves
Chris Sale was handed an unlucky loss on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks while striking out 10 over seven innings. Atlanta was held to just one run themselves in the 2-1 loss to the Rockies, but Sale did everything he could to put them in a position to win. This was his first double-digit strikeout performance of the season and also the first time he's gone more than five innings in a start. Despite getting off to a rocky start this season, he has still put up an elite 35.6% chase rate that ranks in the 92nd percentile and an excellent 29% strikeout rate. The reigning NC Cy Young champ still has what it takes to be a top-5 fantasy starting pitcher.
Nathan Eovaldi, SP, Rangers
Nathan Eovaldi continued his dominant start to the season, pitching six innings of one-run baseball against the Athletics. He allowed six hits and no walks while striking out eight. This now extends his streak to seven straight starts to begin the season without allowing more than three runs in an outing, and this was his third-straight and fifth total start where he has struck out at least seven. His ERA is now down to 2.11, and his 1.8% walk rate is one of the best in the league. He isn't getting lucky either, with his 2.33 FIP and 2.38 xFIP looking just as elite. Eovaldi has shown this type of upside in the past but usually struggles to maintain it for a whole season, so there's nothing left to do besides enjoy his must-start production for as long as it lasts.
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