Happy Friday, everyone! There's no better player to start today's newsletter off with than one of the current hottest hitters in baseball -- Brandon Drury. After his surprising breakout 2022 season, he had his skeptics. Drury was not drafted anywhere near his 2022 production in 2023 drafts, and for the first few weeks of the season he looked like a bust in his new home. This is a good time to remind ourselves that batters often need more time to adjust when switching leagues and facing a slew of pitchers they haven't seen much in their careers. And it's also a good time to remind us that it's not like he switched over to a pitchers' park because Drury is on one heck of a tear right now.
On Thursday, he went 2 for 2 with his fifth homer and he walked twice. In his four games against the Athletics, he's had multiple hits (nine in total), four homers and 12 RBI. His average exit velocity is 88.4 mph and his fly ball rate is up to 46%. Drury has eligibility at 1B, 2B and 3B in CBS leagues and he's only 58% rostered right now. This is another hint -- go make sure he's not still on your waiver wire now.
Let's dive into some of the other notable action from Thursday and preview what's to come this weekend and next week.
Baty breaking out?
Mets 3B Brett Baty is one of the most exciting hitting prospects to be called up this year and we might have just seen the breakout game to jump start a different level of production we can expect moving forward. Baty went 3 for 3 with a walk and his first homer of the season on Thursday. Don't look now but he's batting .321 on the season with an 88.9 mph average exit velocity. Baty is 72% rostered and now is a great time to BUY. Send out some feelers and trade offers to scoop up the young hitter at one of Fantasy Baseball's scarcest positions.
Prospect report
Scott White checked back in on some of the prospects you need to know about, what to do with Jordan Walker after his demotion and a top pitching prospect on his way to get the call soon in his latest Prospects Report.
Scott on Walker: "I've basically said all I need to say about Walker already, but here are a few other scattered thoughts. Part of what makes the decision so confounding is that the Cardinals now forfeit whatever draft picks Walker might have earned them with his placement in awards voting over the next couple years. To qualify, he would have to be on the roster for his entire rookie season. Dylan Carlson still has options. Why wouldn't the Cardinals demote him, if only to ensure Walker has an uninterrupted rookie season? That's why I'm thinking Walker's demotion genuinely is more a matter of development than service time chicanery, contrary to what the most cynical among us might think. If the Cardinals were dead set on locking in an extra year of service time, why put him on the Opening Day roster in the first place? Anyway, the upside is still enormous, and as happened with Julio Rodriguez last year, I feel like the adjustments would have come for Walker in time. The Cardinals may not have been willing to wait it out, but given your level of investment in Fantasy, you kind of have to if you at all can."
Scott on a pitching prospect who is soon to get the call and should be rostered everywhere in Brandon Pfaddt: "The Diamondbacks telegraphed their next move by optioning Drey Jameson to the minors Monday. They've already released Madison Bumgarner and had Tommy Henry take his place. Zach Davies is still a ways away with an oblique injury. There's basically nowhere else for them to turn but to Pfaadt, their top pitching prospect, who has at least held his own at Triple-A Reno. And given how difficult this pitching environment is, I'd say he's more than held his own. In his two road starts, he's allowed a combined one earned run, striking out 13 in 11 2/3 innings. Pfaadt features some of the most optimal characteristics of a modern pitcher, such as a sweeping slider and a fastball that works best up in the zone, and his 218 strikeouts last year were the most for any minor-league pitcher since 2001. The Diamondbacks have enough off days ahead that they can get by with a four-man rotation for now, but in a couple weeks, Pfaadt figures to get the call."
News & notes
- Aaron Judge was removed Thursday due to right hip discomfort. He had an awkward slide Wednesday where he jammed his hands into the dirt but it appears that wasn't the issue.
- Justin Verlander will make a minor-league rehab start Friday at Double-A.
- Tyler Mahle left his start due to right posterior elbow soreness. His fastball velocity dipped in his final inning of work.
- Liam Hendriks will have a checkup in Chicago next week, with the hope he can be cleared to begin a rehab assignment soon.
- Raisel Iglesias began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Thursday.
- Kenta Maeda is likely headed for the IL due to right arm fatigue. The MRI results on his right elbow showed no structural damage.
- Wil Myers was placed on the IL, retroactive to April 26 with an undisclosed illness.
- JD Martinez has missed three straight due to lower back tightness. He hasn't even been able to swing a bat in the last few days.
- Logan T. Allen is scheduled to make another start this Sunday against the Red Sox.
- Yoan Moncada is dealing with a disc issue in his back and will not be ready for a rehab assignment this weekend.
- Carlos Carrasco threw a successful bullpen session Thursday. He's on the IL with pain caused by a small bone chip in his right elbow.
- Taijuan Walker could make his next scheduled start after an encouraging visit with the Phillies' medical staff.
- Andrew Painter has advanced to playing catch from 90 feet. The Phillies are slow-rolling him as he rehabs the UCL sprain in his elbow.
- Tarik Skubal is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday. It will be the first mound work since he underwent left flexor tendon surgery last August. He could be back around June. He's 17% rostered.
- Sneaky prospect to add right now: Christian Encarnacion-Strand. He's tearing up the minors. And he's 19% rostered.