Jo Adell (OF-LAA) continued his recent power surge as he went 1-4 with a 3-run blast at the Tigers on Saturday. The 26 year-old slugger is now hitting .232 with 25 homers, 70 RBI, 44 runs scored, and 3 steals (in 4 tries) through 410 PA on the campaign. Adell has trimmed the strikeout rate to 25% (30% career) while elevating his overall (74.5%) and in-zone (84.5%) contact rates to career-high figures. His quality of contact, meanwhile, is better than ever, with a 48.5% hard-hit rate, 16.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo north of 91 mph, all of which are career bests. With an average launch angle of 15.5, Adell has been able to hit a career-high 25 bombs given his tendency to make loud contact. A .249 BABIP seems unlucky given his quality of contact and .272 career BABIP. Look for that average to creep upward a bit more even as he looks to surpass 30 homers for the first time in his career. He also tends to hit homers in bunches, and he's in the middle of a heater (he's homered in 4 out of his last 5 games), so add him now if he's lingering on the waiver wire in your league.
Drake Baldwin (C-ATL) stayed hot as he went 2-4 with a run scored and 2 RBI in the first half of a doubleheader with the Marlins on Saturday before going 2-5 with 3 RBI and a run scored in the second game. The 24 year-old rookie is now batting .289 with 13 homers, 51 RBI, and 31 runs scored across 294 PA this season. After seeing intermittent action for a while following his promotion, Baldwin has settled into a near-daily role alternating between C and DH. He's commanded the plate well with an 8.5% strikeout rate against a 17.5% strikeout rate while posting an 82.5% overall contact rate and 87.5% in-zone contact rate. And he's punished the baseball often as Statcast shows a 48.5% hard-hit rate, 12% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 91.5, although an average launch angle of 6.5 has limited his power output thanks to a 48% groundball rate. There's .280-25 potential here over a full season.
Brad Lord (SP-WSH) earned the W against the Giants on Saturday as he allowed 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks while fanning 5 over 6 IP. The 25 year-old righty tossed 56 of his 86 pitches for strikes while surrendering a solo homer. Lord has been solid if unspectacular so far in 2025 as he now owns a 3.28 ERA, 7.4 K/9, 3 BB/9, and 3.67 xFIP through 85 IP (10 starts, 29 relief appearances). He hasn't surrendered much loud contact (39% hard-hit rate, 4.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 88 mph), which is a good thing since he hasn't missed a ton of bats (10% swinging-strike rate) while yielding some contact (79.5% overall, 85% in zone). The lack of punchouts is unexciting for fantasy, but Lord does a good job of inducing grounders to minimize the damage. He's entered viable streamer territory.
Charlie Morton (SP-DET) took the L against the Angels on Saturday as he surrendered 6 runs (all earned) on 7 hits and a walk while racking up 10 punchouts. The 41 year-old righty served up a pair of dingers while firing 62 of his 90 offerings for strikes. Morton now owns a 5.48 ERA, 9.4 K/9, 4 BB/9, and 4.16 xFIP through 111.2 IP on the year. The gap between the ERA and xFIP indicates that a bloated 16% HR/FB and .329 BABIP as well as a low 71.5% strand rate are inflating his ERA. The problem has been loud contact, as the opposition has mustered a 42.5% hard-hit rate and average exit velocity of 91 mph against Morton that rank as the worst in the Statcast era. While he's still getting punchouts, it's worth noting that his swinging-strike rate has dipped for the second straight year, from 12.5% in 2023 to 11.5% last season to 11% so far in 2025. Fortunately, a date with the Twins - who held a fire sale before the trade deadline - is on tap for this coming week.
Hurston Waldrep (SP-ATL) impressed in game one of a doubleheader with the Marlins on Saturday afternoon as he allowed just 1 run on 4 hits and a walk while striking out 6 over 6 IP. The 23 year-old righty kept the ball in the yard as he threw 61 of his 89 offerings for strikes. Waldrep had a pretty meh start to the 2025 season in Triple-A, posting a 4.42 ERA, 9 K/9, 4.9 BB/9, and 4.40 xFIP over 91.2 IP. He missed some bats (12% swinging-strike rate) while the opposition's 73% overall and 84% in-zone contact rates were below average. He also didn't surrender a ton of hard contact as Statcast shows a 39.5% hard-hit rate and average exit velocity of 89 mph during his time in Triple-A. Should he remain with the big club, he lines up to face a Cleveland lineup that's been productive since the All-Star break next weekend.
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