MacKenzie Gore (SP-WSH) returned to form against the Giants on Sunday afternoon, firing 6 shutout IP in which he scattered 3 hits and a walk while racking up 10 punchouts on 96 pitches (67 strikes). The 26 year-old lefty is in the midst of his best MLB season as he now owns a 4.09 ERA, 10.8 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, and 3.48 xFIP over 132 IP. The BB/9 and K/9 are both career bests while the gap between his ERA and xFIP indicates that a .336 BABIP and 12% HR/FB are working to elevate his ERA. Gore has registered a career-high 13.5% swinging-strike rate while the opposition's 83% in-zone contact rate is a career low. Opposing hitters still make some loud contact against him as Statcast shows a 42% hard-hit rate, 9.5% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 89.5 mph; all are close to his career norms. Up next is a challenging start at home against the Phillies.
Justin Verlander (SP-SF) got lit up like a pinball machine by the Nationals on Sunday as he surrendered 5 runs on 11 hits and a walk while fanning 6 over 5 IP. The 42 year-old hurler yielded a round tripper while firing 67 of his 101 pitches for strikes in the outing. Time seems to have passed Verlander by as he's in the midst of a third straight season in which he's clearly not his old (well, young) self. Through 99.1 IP this season, he now owns a 4.53 ERA, 7.9 K/9, 3.3 BB/9, and 4.67 xFIP. Encouragingly, his swinging-strike rate is up to 11% after it came in south of 10% in 2023 and 2024 while the opposition's in-zone contact rate is down to 82.5% after it was north of 86% the last two seasons. But his Statcast profile continues to show some elevated figures, including a 38.5% hard-hit rate (34% during the Statcast era), 10% barrel rate (6.5%), and average exit velo of 89 mph (88). He's slated to face the Rays at home next week and that could be a good spot for him as the Rays rank 29th in MLB in team OPS (.652) since the All-Star break. But then again, the Nationals rank 28th...
Eric Lauer (SP-TOR) ran into the buzzsaw that is the Dodgers lineup on Sunday as he lasted just 3 IP in which he yielded 3 runs on 6 hits and 4 walks while striking out 4. The 30 year-old southpaw served up a pair of dingers while tossing 42 of his 71 pitches for strikes in the outing. Some regression was coming for Lauer, who entered the contest with a 2.59 ERA against a 3.91 xFIP over 80 IP, and he now owns a 2.82 ERA, 9 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, and 4.04 xFIP across 83 IP on the year. His BB/9 and K/9 are both nice, but he's benefited from a lucky 84% strand rate, .260 BABIP, and 9% HR/FB. A 9.5% swinging-strike rate isn't exactly stellar as the opposition has logged an 80.5% overall and 87.5% in-zone contact rate against Lauer. Meanwhile, his Statcast profile is a mixed bag with a 41% hard-hit rate, 90.5 mph average exit velocity, and 6% barrel rate. He lines up to face the Rangers at home next week, and the Texas lineup currently ranks 26th in MLB with a team OPS of just .672 during the season's second half.
Riley Greene (OF-DET) showed signs of breaking out of his slump as he went 2-5 with a homer and 3 RBI against the Angels on Sunday. The 24 year-old is now batting .269 with 27 big flies, 87 RBI, and 62 runs scored across 478 PA on the year. Greene had been slumping hard for over a month as he was hitting just .186 with 5 homers, 15 RBI, and 11 runs scored over 118 PA since July 3, with an ugly 40.5% strikeout rate against a 3.5% walk rate. During that span, his Statcast profile was in the toilet with a 30.5% hard-hit rate, 6% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 86 mph. On the year, Greene has taken a more aggressive approach (career-high 52.5% swing rate and 33% chase rate), but that has come at the expense of contact as his 71% overall contact rate and 80% in-zone contact rate are both career lows. The new approach hasn't affected his average much (.267 career) while he's posted a career-high .238 ISO en route to hitting a career-best 27 bombs; he should finish with about 35 before it's all said and done.
Kyle Manzardo (1B-CLE) had a nice day at the dish against the White Sox on Sunday afternoon as he went 2-4 with a pair of solo blasts. It's been a solid sophomore campaign for the 25 year-old as he's now hitting .244 with 20 homers, 52 RBI, and 34 runs scored over 368 PA. Manzardo has fanned at a 25% clip (26.5% in 2024) while elevating his walk rate to 10% (6% in 2024). While his overall contact rate is up slightly from 73.5% to 76%, his in-zone contact rate has stayed at 84%. He's improved his quality of contact, though, as his Statcast profile features a 41% hard-hit rate (up from 40%), 12% barrel rate (9.5%), and average exit velocity of 90 mph (89). He's still got a high average launch angle (23.3), which generates a lot of flyballs (52%), which is good for the power output but does drain the average. He should finish with a .245-25ish line and look to improve on that in 2026
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