Triston Casas (1B-BOS) will most likely miss the rest of the 2025 campaign after being diagnosed with a ruptured left patellar tendon. The injury brings a premature end to a disappointing season for the 25 year-old slugger, who finishes with a .182 average, 3 homers, 11 RBI, and 5 runs scored over 112 PA with a poor 59 wRC+. His strikeout rate wasn't bad at 24% and Casas had registered a 71% contact rate (up from 69% last season) to go with a 78% in-zone contact rate (up from 76.5% last season). His Statcast metrics were a bit down across the board with a 44.5% hard-hit rate, 9.5% barrel rate, and an average exit velo of just 87.5 mph. Casas's BABIP was just .217 (.292 career), so some correction to the mean seemed to be coming since his batted ball profile wasn't terrible. But fantasy owners will now again have to hope that next year is the year for Triston Casas.
Hunter Brown (SP-HOU) defeated the White Sox on Saturday despite a rocky start to the outing as he finished the game allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 9 over 6 IP. The 26 year-old righty fired 60 of his 98 pitches for strikes while keeping the ball in the yard. Brown has been excellent so far in 2025 as he now owns a 1.67 ERA, 10.3 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, and 2.53 xFIP through 43 IP (7 starts). He's slashed the walk rate significantly since last season (3.2 BB/9 in 2024) while missing more bats (12% swinging-strike rate in 2025, was 10.5% last season). The opposition is making less contact (74.5% overall and 78.5% in-zone in 2025, was 78% and 84.5%, respectively, in 2024) while Brown's Statcast profile (315 hard-hit rate, 5.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 86 mph) is basically the same as it was last season. His average fastball velocity is up a full tick to 97 mph so far this season while he's throwing his 96.5-mph sinker (21.5%), 84-mph curve (15%), and 88.5-mph change (16%) more frequently while his cutter rate is down (just 6.5%). Up next is a home start against the Reds on Friday.
Pete Crow-Armstrong (OF-CHC) continued his power surge as he went 1-4 with a 3-run dinger against the Brewers on Saturday. The 23 year-old is now batting .343 with 9 homers, 21 RBI, 15 runs scored, and 6 stolen bases in 70 PA since April 13. Overall, PCA is hitting .271 with those 9 dingers, 26 RBI, 26 runs scored, and 12 steals over 143 PA on the year, with a wRC+ of 141 attesting to his productivity at the dish. He's not walking often (4%), but his strikeout rate is dow to 20.5% while his swinging-strike rate is down to 12.5% and his contact rate is up to 79.5% and his in-zone rate is up to 87%; those are all considerable improvements on his 2024 figures, which were 16%, 73%, and 87%, respectively. Meanwhile, his Statcast profile has also improved as it includes a 40.5% hard-hit rate, 13.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 90 mph. He certainly won't sustain a pace where he hits an average of one homer every other game, but PCA's underlying numbers are encouraging.
Bo Bichette (SS-TOR) finally went yard this season as he went 1-3 with a solo shot and a walk against Cleveland on Saturday. The 27 year-old is now batting .284 with that lone homer, 14 RBI, 13 runs scored, and 3 steals (in 5 attempts) across his first 150 PA of the campaign. A 99 wRC+ attests to his underwhelming performance to date at the dish as Bichette has limited the strikeouts (14.5% strikeout rate so far this year after it was 19% last season) while registering an identical contact rate of 80.5% and a 91% in-zone contact rate. Bichette's Statcast profile is encouraging, though, as it shows a 46% hard-hit rate, 7.5% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 90.5 mph, all of which are improved from a season ago. The early returns in terms of surface stats aren't encouraging, but the Statcast profile - which includes a career-high 10.4 launch angle - makes him an interesting buy-low candidate.
Jordan Lawlar (SS-ARI) could get the call to the majors before too long as he is tearing the cover off the ball in Triple-A. Through 137 PA entering Saturday's action, the 22 year-old was batting .385 with 6 homers, 30 RBI, 35 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases with a wRC+ of 185. He's kept the strikeout rate at a reasonable 22% while drawing walks at a healthy 12.5% clip. Lawlar's contact rate is up to 77.5%, his in-zone contact rate is up to 88%, and his swinging-strike rate is down to a shade under 10% while Statcast shows a 41% hard-hit rate, average exit velo of 89 mph, and a launch angle of 15.1. A .481 BABIP is certainly unsustainable, but Lawlar is again showing promise. Fantasy owners should stash him now or be ready to add him when he gets the call.
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