Jazz Chisholm Jr., OF/2B, MIA
Chisholm went 1 for 4 with a solo homer in the Marlins' 2-1 victory over the Mets on Friday night. The 25-year-old was 0 for his first 7 with three strikeouts for the season before the 8th-inning blast. Chisholm is an electrifying player and should produce for fantasy owners in his third major league campaign. His base-stealing prowess will be his most prominent contribution, but he will hit for some power and chip in across the board. The offseason addition of Luis Arraez allows Chisholm to bat in the middle of the Marlins lineup (batted clean up in the first two games), allowing him to have more opportunities with men on base.
Charlie Blackmon, OF, COL
Blackmon hit a two-run homer off of Padres' starter Nick Martinez on Friday night. He finished the game 2 for 4 with a pair of runs and now has five hits over the first two games of the season. The one-time fantasy stalwart has rapidly declined over the past two seasons and is hoping to have a renaissance in his age-36 season here in 2023. Blackmon posted a 35.9% O-Swing%, 30.6 HardHit%, and career-low .317 wOBA last season. It's hard to get too excited about an aging player after just two games, however, Blackmon is owned in just 18.6% of ESPN leagues and plays his home games in the most hitter-friendly park in the league. If he continues to show signs of life, he will be worth taking a chance on in the free agency.
Jesus Luzardo, SP, MIA
On Friday night, Luzardo hurled 5.2 innings of shutout ball against the Mets. He gave up two hits, walked four, and struck out five en route to a victory in his first start of the season. The erratic control is a concern, but he has always been a bit loose with the walks (3.48 BB/9), so that shouldn't be a surprise. Luzardo was impressive in his 100.1 IP last season, posting a 3.32/3.11 ERA/xFIP to go along with a stellar 10.76 K/9. The 25-year-old's first game in 2023 is a good start to proving that his breakout 2022 campaign wasn't a fluke.
Dustin May, SP, LAD
May tossed 7.0 innings of shutout ball against the Diamondbacks on Friday night. Unfortunately, the Dodgers' bats were dormant all night so May didn't factor in the decision. He gave up three hits, walked one, and struck out four on the night. The 25-year-old underwent Tommy John Surgery in May of 2021 and came back at the end of last season to make six starts. Unsurprisingly, he wasn't all that effective in his limited time last season, however, his velocity was still there (98.1 vFA) and he comes into 2023 with a full bill of health. May should be a solid fantasy asset this season, even if he does struggle, the Dodgers' offense should carry him to a lofty win total at the very least.
Starling Marte, OF, NYM
Marte collected a pair of singles and swiped a bag for the second straight day to start the season. The hits are nice, but it's the early aggressiveness on the basepaths that should excite fantasy owners through the first two games. Marte stole a major-league-high 47 bases in 2021 but swiped just 18 last season. At 34 years old, he shouldn't be expected to be a speed merchant anymore, but that is the main attribute that made him a fantasy stalwart throughout his career. Marte probably won't swipe 47 bags again, but the fact that he has already stolen two bases on three attempts is certainly an encouraging sign early on.
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