Andrew Abbott (SP-CIN) was effective in a win over the Marlins on Wednesday as he allowed just 1 run on 6 hits and 2 walks while fanning 5 over 7.2 IP. The 26 year-old lefty kept the ball in the yard as he threw 69 of his 100 offerings for strikes. Abbott has been a solid fantasy contributor so far in 2025, compiling a 2.07 ERA, 8.2 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, and 4.11 xFIP across 91.1 IP. Yes, fantasy owners should expect some regression in the ERA department after the All-Star break, as an 86% strand rate, .259 BABIP, and 8% HR/FB are all likely to correct to the mean. But there's no denying that Abbott has made some tangible improvements as his walk rate is easily a career low while his 10.5% swinging-strike rate is improved from last year's 9% and both his overall (78.5%) and in-zone (85%) contact rates are better than they were in 2024. An, importantly, he's continued to surrender little loud contact with Statcast showing a 32.5% hard-hit rate, 8.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 88 mph. Look for a nice second half, albeit with a higher ERA.
Reese Olson (SP-DET) did not factor into the decision as he came off the IL (finger) to face the Rays on Wednesday. The 25 year-old righty allowed 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out just one. Olson did keep the ball in the yard as he threw 53 of his 84 offerings for strikes. When healthy this season, he's mustered a 2.95 ERA, 8.5 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, and 3.83 xFIP across 58 IP, with the gap between the ERA and xFIP indicating that a 6% HR/FB and 79.5% strand rate are suppressing his ERA a bit. Olson's swinging-strike rate is a career-high 13.5% while the opposition's overall (69%) and in-zone (87%) contact rates are career lows. The Statcast profile is concerning, though, as it shows a 46% hard-hit rate, average exit velo of 91.5 mph, and a 6.5% barrel rate. A 46% groundball rate does, however, help to limit the damage. Consider trying to trade for him in fantasy as he could be in for a nice second half.
Adrian Houser (SP-CHW) earned a W against the Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon as he held the Toronto lineup to 1 run on 7 hits and 2 walks while fanning just a pair. He tossed 70 of his 96 pitches for strikes while keeping the ball in the yard. The 32 year-old righty now owns a sparkling 1.56 ERA through his first 57.2 IP of the 2025 campaign, but his BB/9 is an average 2.8 while his 6.1 K/9 is unexciting. Moreover, a 4.00 xFIP points to a .269 BABIP, 85% strand rate, and 4% HR/FB suppressing his ERA. Houser simply doesn't miss many bats (9.5% swinging-strike rate) while surrendering a fair amount of contact (80% overall, 89% in zone) and serving up a lot of loud contact (44% hard-hit rate and 89.5 mph average exit velo). Expect regression after the All-Star break.
Nick Castellanos (OF-PHI) went 2-4 with a stolen base, 2 runs scored, and an RBI against the Giants on Wednesday. The 33 year-old is in the midst of a ho-hum campaign in which he's assembled a .276 average to go with 11 homers, 50 RBI, 41 runs scored, and 3 steals across 378 PA. Castellanos has simply never recaptured the magic of 2021, when he posted a .309 average with 34 homers, 100 RBI, and 95 runs scored in 585 PA with the Reds as he's been - per wRC+ a barely above league-average player since. Although his overall (74.5%) and in-zone (86.5%) contact rates are above his career norms, Castellanos has registered a merely decent Statcast profile that includes a 38% hard-hit rate, 9.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 88.5 mph that comes in a little below his career averages and significantly below what he registered during his peak years of 2017-2021. Once the Greek God of Hard Contact, he's now a pretty average dude.
Spencer Jones (OF-NYY) is raking so far in Triple-A, hitting .371 with 4 homers, 8 RBI, 9 runs scored, and 3 steals in his first 45 PA at that level. This follows a promotion from Double-A, where he batted .274 with 16 dingers, 32 RBI, 42 runs scored, and 10 steals across 208 PA. The 24 year-old has - as usual - fanned a lot this season, at a 33.5% clip in Double-A and a 31% rate in Triple-A as contact has been an issue throughout his minor-league career. But Jones has made lots of loud contact in Triple-A, posting a 48% hard-hit rate and average exit velo of 90.5 mph. He's ripped lots of liners in 2024 (30.5%) and plenty of flyballs (40.5%) so power output is no question. But his 63% overall contact rate and 68.5% in-zone contact rate so far in Triple-A are pretty poor as there's a lot of swing-and-miss in his game (18% swinging-strike rate so far in 2025). But fantasy owners should have their eyes on him since the power-speed combination he offers is tantalizing.
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