Michael Harris II (OF-ATL) continued his second-half turnaround against the White Sox on Monday as he went 4-4 with a 2-run blast. After a lousy start to the season, the 24 year-old now claims a .260 average to go with 15 homers, 66 RBI, 43 runs scored, and 14 steals across 494 PA on the year. Entering Monday's game, Harris was hitting .378 with 8 big flies, 20 RBI, 20 runs scored, and 2 steals over 122 PA since the All-Star break. During that span, his strikeouts are down (from 21% to 15.5%) while his quality of contact is much improved, with his hard-hit rate jumping from just 22% to 40% while he's ripping lots of liners (up to 28.5% from 15.5%). After posting a poor wRC+ of only 47 over 368 PA before the All-Star break, he's registered a 201 wRC+ during the second half.
Colt Keith (1B/2B/3B-DET) went 3-4 with a 2B, HR, and 2 RBI out of the leadoff spot against the Astros on Monday. The 24 year-old might not be a fantasy star, but he's taken some steps forward in his sophomore campaign as he's now batting .268 with 11 homers, 39 RBI, and 56 runs scored across 388 PA. He's been a solid table-setter for the Tigers as he's elevated his walk rate from just 6.5% a year ago to over 11% so far in 2025 even as he's raised his overall (up to 80% from 78.5%) and in-zone (up to 90% from 89%) contact rates slightly. The key improvement in 2025, though, has been quality of contact as Statcast shows a 44% hard-hit rate (35% in 2024), 9% barrel rate (5.5%), and average exit velocity of 90 mph (88). He's also elevated his average launch angle a tough to 12.9, which has entailed an increase in his liner rate (up to 22.5% from 21.5%) and flyball rate (up to 38.5% from 34.5%).
Trevor Rogers (SP-BAL) did it again, this time defeating the Red Sox with a stellar outing in which he allowed just 1 run on 4 hits and a walk while recording 7 punchouts over 7 IP. The 27 year-old southpaw kept the ball in the yard as he fired 72 of his 98 pitches for strikes in the contest. Rogers has roared back following disappointment in 2022-2024, logging a 1.41 ERA, 7.9 K/9, 1.9 BB/9, and 3.48 xFIP over 76.1 IP. Based on the gap between his ERA and xFIP, which points to an 84.5% strand rate, .214 BABIP, and 2.5% HR/FB suppressing his ERA, regression has been in the cards... but it just hasn't happened. To his credit, Rogers has shown newfound control (3.40 career BB/9) while recording an 82% in-zone contact rate that is among the lowest of his career. But then there's that 49% hard-hit rate that raises concerns. He lines up to take the hill against the visiting Astros on Sunday.
Spencer Strider (SP-ATL) got roughed up by the White Sox (the White Sox!) on Monday as he surrendered 7 runs (all earned) on 10 hits and a walk while fanning a pair over just 3 IP. The 26 year-old righty served up a pair of round trippers while firing 41 of his 68 pitches for strikes in the outing. Strider now owns a 5.24 ERA, 10.3 K/9, 3.6 BB/9, and 5.81 xFIP through 89.1 IP on the year. While a .326 BABIP, 73.5% strand rate, and 17.5% HR/FB are all inflating his ERA, Strider is yielding a lot more contact inside the zone than in the past (84.5% in 2025, 79% career) while his swinging strike rate is down (although still nice at 14% compared to 16.5% career). A big problem has been loud contact as Statcast shows a 43% hard-hit rate, 10.5% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 92 mph. Up next is a matchup at home against a Mets lineup that has recently come alive (uh oh).
Eury Perez (SP-MIA) underwhelmed against the Cardinals on Monday as he lasted just 4.1 IP in which he allowed 3 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits and 4 walks while striking out 6. The 22 year-old righty fired 55 of his 86 pitches for strikes while keeping the ball in the yard. After a start to the season, Perez has cooled off considerably and now owns a 3.48 ERA, 9.2 K/9, 3.3 BB/9, and 4.29 xFIP over 64.2 IP. He's coming off a pair of outings in which he threw a combined 10.1 IP in which he struck out 9, walked 2, and surrendered 9 earned runs as he yielded 5 homers. While his control wasn't great against the Cardinals on Monday, then, it was encouraging to see him serve up no big flies as that was a big issue as of late. Loud contact has generally been a bit of an issue this season for Perez (43% hard-hit rate, 7.5% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 90 mph), so he'll look to limit that when the Blue Jays visit town this weekend.
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