George Springer (OF-TOR) had a big day at the dish against the Athletics on Saturday as he went 2-3 with a pair of solo shots and a walk. The 35 year-old is enjoying another productive season as he's now batting .257 with 8 homers, 23 RBI, 30 runs scored, and 7 steals (in 7 attempts) across 208 PA. Springer's 23.5% strikeout rate is high compared to the last few seasons where it's sat at 17-19%, but his 15% walk rate is a career high. Meanwhile, his Statcast metrics are his best ever with a 49% hard-hit rate, 18.5% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 91.5 mph. So, while the overall contact rate (71%) and in-zone contact rate (78.5%) are both down from his norms, there's been more pop in his bat. Another 20-20 campaign is in the cards, but expect the average to stay about where it is.
Robbie Ray (SP-SF) was a tough-luck loser against the Marlins on Saturday as he allowed just 1 run on 2 hits and 3 walks while recording 9 punchouts. The 33 year-old southpaw kept the ball in the yard as he threw 65 of his 98 pitches for strikes in the contest. Finally healthy, Ray is enjoying a productive 2025 campaign in which he now owns a 2.43 ERA, 10 K/9, 3.8 BB/9, and 3.67 xFIP over 70.1 IP (12 starts). The gap between the ERA and xFIP indicates that an 83% strand rate, .256 BABIP, and 6.5% HR/FB are suppressing the former, so expect some correction to the mean going forward. But to his credit Ray has missed bats (13% swinging-strike rate), limiting opposing hitters to a 74% overall contact rate and 83.5% in-zone contact rate. On the other hand, there's been a good bit of loud contact when they have gotten the ball on the bat as Statcast shows a 47% hard-hit rate, 7.5% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 92 mph. He's slated for a start at home against the Padres next team, and the San Diego lineup is pretty middling against LHP with a team OPS of .675 (14th in the majors).
Edward Cabrera (SP-MIA) earned the W over the Giants on Saturday afternoon as he fired 5.2 scoreless IP in which he scattered 6 hits and 3 walks while fanning 5 on 89 pitches (61 strikes).The 27 year-old righty seems to be back from the fantasy dead as he's now strung together 5 straight starts in which he's surrendered 3 or fewer runs while recording a total of 28 strikeouts against 8 walks. On the year, Cabrera now owns a 4.14 ERA, 9.5 K/9, 3.7 BB/9, and 3.77 xFIP in 45.2 IP (9 starts). His swinging-strike rate is on the low side at 10.5% (12% career), but he's also showing much better control than in the past (5 BB/9 career). He's also had problems with the longball in the past, and that's been better this season (1.18 HR/9 in 2025, 1.29 career). Cabrera lines up to face the Rays at home on Friday; it's a fairly neutral matchup as the Rays lineup ranks #13 in MLB with a team OPS of .730 against RHP.
Michael Wacha (SP-KC) fired 7 shutout IP against the Tigers on Saturday as he allowed just 1 hit and 1 walk while recording 6 punchouts on 99 pitches (68 strikes). The 33 year-old righty now owns a 2.88 ERA, 6.6 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, and 4.27 xFIP through 68.2 IP (12 starts). The gap between the ERA and xFIP points to an 80% strand rate, 5.5% HR/FB, and .274 BABIP suppressing the former. Wacha doesn't miss many bats (9.5% swinging-strike rate), but opposing hitters haven't made a lot of hard contact against him (34.5% hard-hit rate, 6.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 87.5 mph). Fantasy owners should expect some regression going forward, but his next start is slated to come in Chicago against the White Sox next weekend.
Daniel Palencia (RP-CHC) picked up his 5th save of the campaign on Saturday afternoon with a clean inning (0 H, 0 BB, 1 K) against the Reds. The 25 year-old righty now owns a 1.74 ERA, 9.6 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, and 3.22 xFIP through 20.2 IP on the year. He's now worked exclusively in a closer role since May 21, picking up all of his saves in his last 5 outings; during that span he's surrendered just 1 hit and no walks while racking up 6 punchouts over 5 IP. Palencia has surrendered a bit of hard contact (42.5% hard-hit rate and average exit velo of 90 mph), but his walk rate has improved as of late while his swinging-strike rate has slowly ticked upward to 11%. A 77.5% overall contact rate and 84% in-zone contact rate are a bit high, but those have also come down over the last couple of weeks. Overall, he's been effective since being thrust into the closer role and should be added wherever he's still on the waiver wire in fantasy.
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