Outlook Brent Rooker
Brent Rooker's slump persists, but soft road matchups offer a prime rebound opportunity
The primary designated hitter is in the midst of a deep slump, batting just .186 with 16 strikeouts over his last 14 days. The third-place Athletics (28-31) continue to rely heavily on Rooker to anchor the lineup, especially with teammates Jacob Wilson and Maxwell Muncy sidelined on the injured list.
His current .194 season average looks rough, but our models project a strong rest-of-season correction toward a .267 average and 22 home runs. Given his track record of consecutive 30-homer seasons, his power remains elite and suggests this dry spell is a temporary fluke rather than a permanent regression.
Rooker has six games on the road this week against Chicago and Houston, facing several struggling arms including Jameson Taillon (5.37 ERA) and Tatsuya Imai (6.17 ERA). These favorable matchups provide the perfect environment for the slugger to break out of his funk, making him a highly recommended Start.
Updated 3 days ago
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Outlook Spencer Horwitz
Spencer Horwitz is tearing the cover off the ball, making him a highly productive corner option while the hot streak lasts.
Spencer Horwitz has been red-hot, batting .333 with four home runs and nine runs scored over his last 13 games, including a stellar .370 average over the last week. He has locked down the everyday starting first base job for a third-place Pirates squad that currently holds a 32-28 record. With no active injuries threatening his playing time, Horwitz is firmly entrenched in the heart of Pittsburgh's lineup.
While Horwitz's current .289 average and seven homers are highly encouraging, our rest-of-season models project just nine total home runs over 418 at-bats, suggesting some power regression is on the horizon. He has historically been a contact-first hitter, meaning this sudden power surge is likely a peak fluctuation rather than a permanent skills growth, though his elite plate discipline will keep his batting average floor high.
The Pirates play six road games this week, facing three games in Houston and three in Atlanta. He will encounter a mixed bag of matchups, including a highly favorable meeting with Mike Burrows and his 5.40 ERA, but also challenging assignments against Spencer Arrighetti and Bryce Elder. Given his incredible current form, you must ride the wave. Verdict: Start.
Updated 3 days ago
