Outlook Ryan O'Hearn
Ryan O'Hearn Returns from IL to Face a Demanding Slate of Matchups
Ryan O'Hearn made an immediate impact upon his return from the injured list, slugging a solo home run on May 31. His return provides a timely lift for the third-place Pirates (32-28), who are looking to keep pace in the competitive NL Central. Though not currently locked into a starting spot on the active depth chart after his layoff, his potent bat should quickly reclaim a major role in the lineup.
Prior to his injury, O'Hearn was thriving with a .294 average and eight home runs over 45 games. Our models project him to settle in around a .266 average with 13 home runs over 462 at-bats for the season. While some batting average regression is expected, his strong walk rate and hard-hit profile make him a viable asset.
The Pirates embark on a six-game road trip this week, starting with three games against Houston and three against Atlanta. O'Hearn faces a challenging slate of pitchers, including Spencer Arrighetti (1.34 ERA) and Bryce Elder (2.50 ERA), making immediate success difficult. Given the tough matchups and recent injury layoff, it is best to leave him on your bench. Verdict: Sit.
Updated 3 days ago
Latest News Ryan O'Hearn
Outlook Vaughn Grissom
Grissom Heats Up at the Plate to Provide a Spark for the Short-Handed Angels
Vaughn Grissom is finding his groove, batting .333 with a home run and 11 RBIs over his last six games, highlighted by his first career grand slam. With first baseman Nolan Schanuel on the injured list, Grissom has stepped into an everyday role at first base for the struggling Angels. Despite the team's last-place standing in the AL West, Grissom's sudden offensive surge makes him a highly active contributor in their lineup.
While his overall season average sits at .238, his past career marks of .292 and .276 suggest there is plenty of room for positive growth back to his established baseline. Our models project him to settle around a .239 average with modest power, but his recent hard-hit contact indicates he could easily outpace those conservative marks. Expect his run production to remain steady as his plate discipline continues to stabilize.
The Angels have six games scheduled this week, starting with a highly favorable home series against Colorado where Grissom will face high-ERA starters like Kyle Freeland and Michael Lorenzen. The week finishes with a tougher road series against the Dodgers, but the overall volume and prime initial matchups are too good to pass up. Ride his current hot streak and lock him in as a weekly Start.
Updated 3 days ago
