Payton Tolle (SP-BOS) was electric against the depleted Athletics lineup on Friday, allowing 1 run on 2 hits and no walks while racking up 14 punchouts over 6 IP. The mustachioed 23 year-old LHP served up a solo shot while throwing 61 of his 84 pitches for strikes in the contest. Tolle now boasts a 3.20 ERA, 10.4 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, and 3.51 xFIP through 107 IP this season. He's missed plenty of bats (27% whiff rate and 26.5% strikeout rate) as he's gotten hitters to chase (35.5%) and has limited loud contact to the tune of a 35.5% hard-hit rate, average exit velo of 88 mph, and 7% barrel rate. Plus control, an ability to miss bats, and stinginess when it comes to loud contact - all great things for a young pitcher to show. He's an auto-start in Toronto next week.
Parker Messick (SP-CLE) was solid in picking up a win at the White Sox on Friday, allowing 2 runs (both on solo homers) on 4 hits and a walk while fanning 8 over 7 IP. The 25 year-old southpaw tossed 64 of his 97 offerings for strikes in the contest. Messick now boasts a 2.57 ERA, 9 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, and 3.44 xFIP through 136.2 IP this season, with a .257 BABIP and 80% strand rate suppressing his ERA a bit. He doesn't throw especially hard (93.5 average fastball velocity) or miss tons of bats (11% swinging-strike rate), but Messick does possess plus control and he limits loud contact, with an average exit velo of 87.5 mph, a 5% barrel rate, and 32.5 hard-hit rate. He'll look to keep his strong season going next week in a road matchup with the division rival Tigers.
Carson Benge (OF-NYM) exited Friday's win over the Pirates during the 4th inning after he hurt his wrist while making a play in the field. He finished the half-inning before departing and the initial report indicates that he's only dealing with a sore wrist. The 23 year-old rookie went 2-2 with 2 RBI, R, and SB before exiting the contest. Fantasy owners will have to hope that Benge is able to return to the lineup soon as he's enjoying a productive first MLB campaign as he's hitting .270 with 13 HR, 46 RBI, 61 RBI, and 18 SB (in 21 attempts) across 461 PA. Despite not fitting the profile of a prototypical slugger, Benge has been hitting cleanup lately given his penchant for getting the bat on the ball (80% overall and 87.5% overall) and ability to make loud contact (40.5% hard-hit rate, 8% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 89.5 mph). Given his average launch angle of 10.8, Benge's batted ball profile includes a 22.5% liner rate, 44.5% groundball rate, and 33% flyball rate. Given his hit tool, 20-homer pop, and 25-steal potential, Benge is a top-of-the-order bat who offers nice fantasy value.
Royce Lewis (1B/2B/3B-MIN) stayed hot as he went 2-5 with a 2B, RBI, and 2 R at the Brewers on Friday. The 27 year-old is hitting just .236 with 13 HR, 39 RBI, 41 R, and 10 SB (in 10 attempts) through 334 PA on the year, but he brought an 11-game hitting streak into Friday's contest during which he was hitting .366 with 3 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, and 1 SB over 43 PA. On the year, Lewis has excelled at making loud contact, with his plus bat speed (75 mph) generating a 43.5% hard-hit rate, 13% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 90.5 mph. He still chases (32%) and whiffs (33.5%) too often, but there's 25-15 potential here if he can only stay on the field.
Kaelen Culpepper (SS-MIN) was called up to make his big-league debut against the Brewers on Friday and went 1-4 with a solo HR. The 23 year-old ranks as one of the team's top few prospects and a top-40 prospect in all of baseball thanks to his solid all-round tools. The 2024 first-round draft pick out of Kansas State hit .271 with 14 HR, 46 RBI, 63 R, and 17 SB (in 20 attempts) across 343 PA with Triple-A St. Paul this season. He commanded the dish well enough with an 11.5% walk rate against an 18.5% strikeout rate while registering a 78.5% overall and 89.5% in-zone contact rate with a 9% swinging-strike rate. His Statcast profile included a 45.5% hard-hit rate, 7.5% barrel rate, and 90.5 mph average exit velo as an average launch angle of 11.9 translated to a 32.5% flyball rate, 44% groundball rate, and 23.5% liner rate, offering hope for both average and power in the bigs. There's 20-20 potential here over a full season and his average should be at least decent.
This is just a small sample our daily analysis, join our member area for tools that will help you win your fantasy championship. Click here for details: http://www.insiderbaseball.com/baseballsample.htm Click here to register: http://www.fantistics.com/salesbaseball.php3
