Joey Bart (C-PIT) went 2-3 with a 2-run shot against Seattle on Sunday. He's rejuvenated his career in Pittsburgh of all places, hitting .277 with 12 homers, 36 RBI, and 27 runs scored across 194 PA this season. In doing so, Bart has tamed his strikeout rate to 26.5% (33% career) while assembling an impressive Statcast profile that includes a 45.5% hard-hit rate, 12.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 90 mph. The 27 year-old backstop has logged a career-low 10.5% swinging-strike rate to go with an improved 74% contact rate, which works well with his ability to make loud contact. It's tough to declare that a player has turned his career around based on a sample of less than 200 PA, but at the very least Bart is a lot more interesting for fantasy now than he was a few short months ago.
Michael Kopech (RP-LAD) picked up a save against the Cardinals on Sunday with a clean 9th inning. The 28 year-old righty has now picked up a pair of saves in the past week and may be taking ahold of the closer role in LA. Overall, he's been solid in 2024 with a 3.91 ERA, 12.2 K/9, 4.3 BB/9, and 3.53 xFIP in 53 IP, but struggles in the back end of the Dodgers bullpen have opened the door for Kopech to earn save opportunities. In 9.1 IP since heading to LA as part of a trade deadline deal, he's yet to allow a single run to score while allowing just 1 hit and walking 1 while racking up 13 punchouts. The control he's displayed with the Dodgers has been especially impressive. Look for him to continue to see save opportunities given his recent run of success on the mound.
Brady Singer (SP-KC) blanked the Reds over 6 IP on Sunday in which he allowed 5 hits and a walk while striking out 6. The 28 year-old righty tossed 60 of his 94 offerings for strikes. Singer has rebounded from a disappointing 2023 campaign (5.52 ERA, 7.5 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, and 4.28 xFIP in 159.2 IP) with a quality 2024 in which he's posted a 3.18 ERA, 8.6 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, and 3.58 xFIP over 141.2 IP. After his swinging-strike rat came in below 10% each of the last two seasons, it's sitting just over 10% so far this year, but more importantly his Statcast figures are a bit better this year than last, with his hard-hit rate down to 40.5% in 2024 after it was 48.5% last year while his average exit velocity is down from 91 mph a year ago to a more reasonable 89 mph so far in 2024. He does face a tough assignment when the Phillies visit KC next weekend, though.
Albert Suarez (SP-BAL) was effective against the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon as he fired 6 scoreless IP in which he gave up 7 hits and walked none while recording 6 punchouts. The 34 year-old righty threw 60 of his 99 pitches for strikes in the contest. Suarez has been surprisingly effective over his last three starts, as he's now surrendered no runs on 13 hits and 3 walks while fanning 17 in 17.2 IP. He's been solid overall in 2024, with a 3.18 ERA, 7.3 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, and 4.50 xFIP over 96.1 IP (17 starts, 8 relief appearances). There's some potential here for Suarez to be a serviceable back-end option or streamer in fantasy. It'll be interesting to see how he fares against the Astros on Friday.
Bowden Francis (SP-TOR) impressed against the Cubs on Sunday afternoon as he fired 7 scoreless IP in which he scattered 3 hits and walked none while recording 7 punchouts. The 28 year-old righty threw 71 of his 95 offerings for strikes in the contest. Francis has been effective as a starter since August 7th, as he has now allowed just 3 earned runs on 7 hits and 1 walk while fanning 22 over 19 IP (3 starts). He lines up for a favorable start against the Angels at home on Friday and his recent performances make him interesting there. Consider adding him as a streamer and go from there.
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