Spencer Jones (OF-NYY) went 1-2 with a solo shot and a walk against the Cubs on Friday afternoon. The 25 year-old is getting a shot to play regularly with Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger sidelined, and he now owns a .236 average to go with 4 homers, 12 RBI, 8 R, and 3 SB (in 3 attempts) through 101 PA. Both his strengths and weaknesses have been on display so far in the majors as he's fanned often (38.5%) and drawn walks (12%) while hitting for some power and flashing some speed. Contact is an issue as he owns a 21% swinging-strike rate, 61% overall contact rate, and 71% in-zone contact rate. But thanks to his elite bat speed (78 mph), Jones has often put a charge into the baseball when he's gotten the bat on it, posting a 61% hard-hit rate and average exit velocity of 95 mph. He'll hurt your average, but the power-speed combination that Jones offers makes him an intriguing option in fantasy leagues.
Andrew Painter (SP-PHI) was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start at Baltimore on Friday evening. The 23 year-old RHP was solid in his return to MLB action, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks while recording 6 strikeouts over 6 IP. He surrendered 1 homer as he threw 54 of his 82 offerings for strikes. It's been a rough rookie campaign for Painter, who now owns a 6.72 ERA, 7.5 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, and 4.75 xFIP across 71 IP (13 starts). He's not missed many bats (10% swinging-strike rate, 22.5% whiff rate) while his 8% walk rate is on the high side. Fortunately for Painter, he's largely done a good job limiting loud contact as the opposition's average exit velo of 87 mph and 36% hard-hit rate are both significantly below league average. He's also gotten hitters to chase (32.5% o-swing%), but that's not yet translated to whiffs. He lines up to face the Nationals at home on Wednesday.
Shane McClanahan (SP-TB) is back on the IL after he exited Thursday's start against the Rangers after just 3 IP with what the team believes is a "pretty minor" back issue. The 29 year-old lefty has been solid if unspectacular in 2026, posting a 3.09 ERA, 8.3 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, and 4.06 xFIP through 99 IP, benefiting from a .254 BABIP and 6.5% HR/FB. Across the board, McClanahan just isn't as sharp as he was in 2023 - he missed all of 2024 and 2025 - as his 12%% swinging strike rate, 75% overall contact rate, and 85% in-zone contact rates are still good, but well below their 2023 levels - 15.5%, 79%, and 69%, respectively. He's done a good job of inducing grounders (47.5%), but most of his metrics are sitting right around league average while he's allowed some loud contact in a 40.5% hard-hit rate, 8.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo just north of 89 mph.
Kyle Leahy (SP-STL) did not factor into the decision at Toronto on Friday despite turning in a quality start in which he allowed 1 run on 6 hits and a walk while striking out 3 over 6 IP. The 29 year-old righty kept the ball in the yard as he tossed 61 of his 98 pitches for strikes in the contest. Leahy has been solid if unspectacular in 2026 as he owns a 3.44 ERA, 7.6 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, and 3.99 xFIP across 107.1 IP (21 starts). He's allowed a lot of contact (80.5% overall, 91.5% in zone) while missing few bats (8.5% swinging-strike rate) and yielding lots of loud contact, with Statcast showing a 50% hard-hit rate, 11% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 91.5 mph. Regression is the call here, but he does have a home date with the Rockies on tap.
Hunter Greene (SP-CIN) did not factor into the decision against the Pirates on Friday as he allowed 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks while striking out a pair over 6 IP. The 26 year-old righty surrendered one dinger while throwing 60 of his 91 offerings for strikes in the outing. Greene now owns a 6.83 ERA, 10.7 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, and 3.51 xFIP through 5 starts (27.2 IP) in 2026. He's suffered from a high .333 BABIP and low 49.5% strand rate, but the opposition's in-zone contact rate is up to a career-high 85% in that small sample size while a 46.5% hard-hit rate indicates that there has been some loud contact in there. Fantasy owners should be patient with Greene, who has a track record of success in the majors and missed the first few months of the season after undergoing surgery in March to have bone chips removed from his right (throwing) elbow. He has a good chance to right the ship against the Athletics on Thursday.
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