Shohei Ohtani, SP, LAA
Ohtani lasted just two innings against the Red Sox on Tuesday before departing with a blister on his throwing hand. After having his start pushed back two days because of weather, Ohtani struggled from the outset by surrendering a leadoff homer to Mookie Betts. The 23-year-old rookie never settled in, allowing two additional runs in the second before exiting the game. With the blister likely contributing to Ohtani's negative performance, the Angels may opt to push his next start back or potentially put him on the 10-day disabled list to ensure that he's fully healed before taking the mound again.
Corey Kluber, SP, CLE
Kluber beat the Twins on Tuesday with 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits and two walks with six strikeouts at Target Field. In his first start since April 9 due to a series of postponements, Kluber was his usual dominant self by blanking Minnesota until the seventh inning. He threw 69 of his 104 pitches for strikes in his fourth straight quality start to open the season, lowering his ERA to 1.52 in the process. After beating out Chris Sale for the AL Cy Young award last year, Kluber is proving that he's still the best pitcher in the American League. He'll look to keep rolling in his next scheduled start at the Orioles on April 22.
Lance McCullers, Jr., SP, HOU
McCullers, Jr. won after allowing one run on one hit and one walk with 11 strikeouts over seven innings against the Mariners on Tuesday. McCullers settled down after allowing a solo shot to Robinson Cano in the first, holding Seattle hitless and scoreless over the following six frames. He threw 69 of his 102 pitches for strikes en route to racking up 11 strikeouts -- his most in four starts this season. Tuesday was also McCullers' longest outing of the season and already his second with double-digit strikeouts. The 24-year-old is scheduled to make his next start at the White Sox on April 22.
Michael Brantley, OF, CLE
Brantley went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run and two RBIs against the Twins on Tuesday. Brantley connected for his first home run of the year in the sixth inning en route to finishing a triple shy of the cycle. That makes three straight multi-hit games in a row for Brantley, who's heating up after going 2-for-13 in his first four games back from his season-opening stint on the DL. While injuries have curtailed Brantley's playing time in recent seasons, he's still a productive player when healthy, which he proved by making the All-Star team last year and hitting .299/.357/.444 with nine home runs and 11 steals in 90 games. Consider Brantley a player to target while his value is still suppressed.
Shin-Soo Choo, DH, TEX
Choo went 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs, two walks and four runs against the Rays on Tuesday. It was a breakout performance for Choo, who has looked lost at the plate recently. The 35-year-old had been mired in a 2-for-31 slump without an extra-base hit or an RBI in his previous seven games before thumping his fourth home run of the year. He appeared to be pressing during his cold spell with 10 strikeouts against just two walks -- perhaps trying to do too much after being moved up to the leadoff spot in the wake of Delino DeShields' injury. Although Choo is off to a sluggish start with a .219 average and only one steal, he has the potential to be a solid fantasy contributor after notching 22 homers and 12 steals last year.
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