Roki Sasaki SP LAD
Sasaki will make his MLB debut March 19 against the Cubs in the second game of the Tokyo Series, Kirsten Watson of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports. His splitter has caught the eye of hitters, though not their bats. Turns out he's got just 518 rpm on the splitter; the lowest rpm on a splitter of 2024 was 577 rpm. Slow is good when it comes to RPM on a splitter, but his 96.3 mph on his fastball is 2 MPH below his average last week. So be happy for slow but mindful of slower fastball. Draft early and often.
Lucas Giolito SP BOS
Giolito (Hamstring) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Wednesday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports. The 30-year-old said: "I've pulled my hamstring in my career a few times, and it feels very minor," Giolito told reporters, per MassLive's Sean McAdam. "That's what (the training staff) is saying based on the initial testing. It's just an annoying little setback, I guess." His track record of injury (missing all of 2024) and his lackluster peripherals indicators (28.8% is his only encouraging indicator) insist that Giolito may be one to avoid in 2025.
Trevor Story 2B BOS
Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story scratched Tuesday due to upper-back tightness. Manager Alex Cora said Story (back) should return to the lineup for Wednesday's game, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports. Story's back tweaked Tuesday while he was taking grounders. Story has been ripping the ball in Spring, to the tune of 1.355 OPS with two home runs. Back away from the gaudy spring numbers and Boston's songs of love, and keep an eye on the injury. Story has exhibited a Sweet Spot hitting skill (36%) but his ability to be active and play baseball is a strong question. Another Beantowner to avoid.
Max Scherzer SP TOR
Mad Max will miss his turn on Thursday right thumb soreness, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports. The soreness came about following Scherzer's last outing Saturday versus the Tigers. Jays manager Schneider said they are "just being extra careful with him" Scherzer's scintillating 14:0 K:BB over nine Grapefruit League innings is meaningless. Keep an eye on the thumb. Max is a 40-year old version of himself, which still features 36.4% Chase Rate and ability to suppress hard contact (35%). Don't draft his name, but draft his skills if he's still around mid-late. If you have a league that tracks complaints about MLB rule changes, draft Max first overall.
Gunnar Henderson SS BAL
Henderson (intercostal) hit in the cage Tuesday and should take grounders Wednesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. Orioles are not ruling out his availability for March 27 in Toronto. Monitor his health, but my eyes hurt from the deep red on his 2024 StatCast page, simmering with 53.9 Hard Hit Rate and 93 MPH Average Exit Velo. It's too bad the health has a question mark, because this guy is a stud shortstop. I'm not a doctor but if I was, I'd be drafting Gunnar Henderson as soon as I know he's healthy.
Masataka Yoshida OF BOS
Yoshida (shoulder) is likely to begin the season on the 10-day injured list, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. Yoshida has been playing this spring at designated hitter, while his throwing is only up to just 60 feet as he comes back from right shoulder surgery. His elite ability to not strikeout may not be so helpful in fantasy, 12.4 K% and 14.6% Whiff Rate ensures he should put the ball in play and if he's full strength, 10-10 with .285 BA is within reach. If he's within reach in your AL-Only draft at the end game, you might take a chance.
Christian Moore 2B LAA
Moore could be the Opening Day second baseman for the Angels if Luis Rengifo (hamstring) can't go, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. Moore held a .911 OPS with five home runs across 98 plate appearances in 23 games for Double-A Rocket City during 2024. The eighth selected player of the 2024 draft could leap from Double-A Rocket City to an Opening Day starter, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. The Angels over-the-hill gang might make room for the youngster. Here's his scouting grades:: Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55. The power might be a reason to stash him if you need MI help, especially in AL only.
Adolis Garcia OF TEX
Garcia (oblique) plans to take ABs on a back field Tuesday, as his MRI indicated a mild strain. Monitor his progress with this, as the muscle-bound 2023 World Series hero owns 48% Hard Hit Rate and 12.5% Barrel rate that are both worth owning for a 5 OF team. However, his abysmal OBP of .284 in 2024 points to some serious contact and swing-decision issues (37% Chase Rate, that might make him a better late-round flier than OF to count upon.
Rafael Devers 3B/DH BOS
Devers (shoulders) is "increasingly likely" to open 2025 as designated hitter, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. Devers has yet to play in a Spring game, but should make his spring debut Saturday. The stud 3B is a generationally great hitter, but continue to monitor that he actually plays one of these days. Trashcan Bregman takes over 3B, so keep an eye on how Alex handles the situation, which could aid or harm Devers' transition to DH. If he's healthy and playing, draft Devers with confidence.
Jackson Chourio OF MIL
Chourio finished strong in 2024 and will hit either leadoff or second in a speedy but unpredictable Brewer lineup. The skills he owns are his forever, despite learning the league for a couple months as a rookie, he ended up 20-20 with .275 BA. He has room to grow with OBP and swing-decision, but his 45% Hard Hit rate and 73 MPH average bat speed forms a solid base for the young dude. Betting on a 2024 repeat is safe, hoping for more makes sense. In NL only, he's a premium OF worth drafting early and in mixed leagues, if he slips to mid-round, grab him right around, if not before, Julio Rodríguez.
Dustin May SP LAD
Tuesday Manager Dave Roberts said that May will begin 2025 as the Dodgers' fifth starter, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Tony Gonsolin's balky back has led to May officially claiming the final spot. May will stay in Arizona to prepare for the season. While his skills are tantalizing, May has never shown an ability to stay on the field. However, if he can hold to a steady role and be healthy, his 5% Barrel Rate allowed in 2023 and his mid 90s heat can play well for ratios. Might be a good late NL Only stash.
Tony Gonsolin SP LAD
Gonsolin (back) will begin the season on the injured list, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. Gonsolin injured his back while lifting weights and there's no guarantee Gonsolin will regain a rotation spot upon return. He's another LAD pitcher who missed 2024, so knowing what to expect here is impossible, especially with a new injury added to the fold. His 30.4% Chase Rate induced was the highlight of his 2023 season, but 2022 and his immaculate 0.87 WHIP is an eon ago. Avoid in most drafts, stash in NL Only if you must.
Ryan Bliss SS SEA
With apologies to P.M. Dawn...
He's just one of those shortstops on my mind
So I just put his name back for later in the draft
That's the way it goes, I guess
Maybe he's trendy
But sit and draft Ryan Bliss for you
Maybe he's trendy
Sit and draft Ryan Bliss for you...
He shows 47% Hard hit rate in limited time in 2024, along with 37% Sweet Spot, all buttressed by solid 21% Chase Rate. If he gets regular time at Short, and the indicators right now is that he might: Bliss is in "pole position" to win Seattle's starting job at second base, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Of course, they may go with veteran Dylan Moore, and if that's the case, it would lead me to quote "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" one last time:
But I had to put him right back with the rest
That's the way it goes, I guess...
Hyeseong Kim 2B LAD
The Dodgers optioned Kim to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Kim was an exciting signing, that made us believe he might be the LAD 2B within a historically stacked lineup. However, despite a career .304 hitter during his eight seasons in Korea, he's being asked to tune up in the minors. Unless he struggles mightily in AAA, Kim should find his way back to LAD soon. For now, his draft stock has to be significantly lowered as we monitor his return to the big league club. He makes a nice late stash in leagues requiring multiple MI, or in NL Only, of course.
Jose SIri OF NYM
More famous for his home-run trot standoffs and fighting with Abner Uribe, Siri can actually hit the ball quite hard: he sat at nearly 15% Barrel Rate in 448 PA in 2024. Sure, he's a defensive-first CF on a team stacked with hitters. In this very space last year, I proclaimed SIri a stock to buy low and I will do it again this year. In the very non-scientific manner of hunching, Siri might just go off with all the energy in the Big Apple and if he can stay out of fights for long enough to hit 9th in a great lineup, we might see 20/20 with 70 runs scored. Buy low & late in AL Only or in a stacked 5 OF league.
