Outlook Jackson Holliday
Jackson Holliday is locked in as an everyday starter and producing early after injury speedbumps.
After recovering from hamate surgery and subsequent wrist soreness, Holliday has secured his spot as Baltimore's everyday second baseman. Over his last 12 games, the 22-year-old has hit .242 with two homers and three steals. He joins a fourth-place Orioles team (28-32) currently riding a two-game winning streak and dealing with several key infielder injuries.
Holliday's early performance closely mirrors his 2025 numbers (.242 average) and our projection of a .246 average and 14 home runs. The early power-speed output suggests his wrist is healthy, making his rest-of-season projection of 10 stolen bases quite realistic. The elite pedigree is shining through, indicating his current production is a sustainable baseline.
This week, Baltimore travels for six road games against AL East rivals Boston and Toronto. Holliday faces some tough arms like Trey Yesavage (2.19 ERA), but will also get to exploit high-ratio matchups like Brayan Bello (5.63 ERA). With six starts on tap, lock him into lineups. Weekly Verdict: Start.
Updated 3 days ago
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Outlook Brayan Rocchio
Brayan Rocchio's Hot Bat Secures His Spot as a Must-Start Option
Rocchio has been absolutely locked in at the plate, batting .324 with a .405 OBP over his last 14 days for the first-place Guardians. As the everyday starting shortstop with backup Gabriel Arias on the 60-day injured list, Rocchio's playing time is incredibly secure. His excellent play on both sides of the ball is helping Cleveland maintain its division lead despite a current two-game skid.
While Rocchio's current season average of .293 is a massive leap from his career .216 mark in 2024, our models suggest some regression is likely. Our rest-of-season projections expect him to settle closer to a .236 average with modest power. However, his elite contact skills and seven steals over the last month suggest his speed and run-scoring potential remain highly sustainable.
Cleveland hits the road for six games, starting with a challenging three-game set against the Yankees before facing the Rangers. Rocchio faces tough assignments like Gerrit Cole and Jacob deGrom, but also gets favorable matchups against high-ERA arms like Jack Leiter. Given his hot bat and everyday role, he remains a solid option this week. Start him.
Updated 3 days ago
