Outlook Hogan Harris
Hogan Harris Shines as the Athletics' Go-To High-Leverage Arm
Hogan Harris has been nearly flawless recently, posting a 0.00 ERA and a 0.63 WHIP over 3.2 innings in the last seven days. His strong performance out of the bullpen has helped the second-place Athletics (30-31) build momentum on a two-game winning streak. Currently slotted as the team's top closer on the depth chart, Harris is seeing plenty of high-leverage opportunities, especially with bullpen mate Brooks Kriske sidelined on the injured list.
While Harris's current 3.17 ERA over 22.7 innings is highly encouraging, his 1.94 season WHIP and 22 walks suggest some major regression could be looming. Our season models project him for a 4.43 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 67 innings, suggesting he may struggle to maintain this elite run-prevention pace. However, his current grip on the closer role makes him a valuable source of saves and holds despite the ratio risk.
Looking at the remaining schedule for the week, the Athletics finish their series against the Cubs before heading to Houston to face the Astros. With four games left on the docket, Harris is projected for a tiny 0.84 ERA and roughly 1.5 saves and 1.3 wins across his projected appearances. Given his current hot hand and role security, he is an excellent active option. Verdict: Start.
Updated 2 days ago
Latest News Hogan Harris
Outlook Aaron Ashby
Brewers' Relief "Vulture" Racks Up Historic Win Totals with Elite Strikeout Rates
Aaron Ashby has become a fantasy sensation out of the bullpen for the first-place Brewers (37-22), earning the nickname "vulture" by racking up an MLB-leading nine wins in relief. Over his last 30 days, the lefty has been stellar, posting a 2.34 ERA and striking out 18 batters over 15.4 innings. He currently slots in as a primary high-leverage reliever for Milwaukee, especially with teammate Abner Uribe facing a potential suspension.
While Ashby's nine wins are a historic outlier that will inevitably regress, his underlying metrics show real growth. He is sporting an elite 13.93 K/9 rate over 33.6 innings this season, representing a massive jump from his previous career norms. While his 1.49 WHIP indicates some traffic trouble, his ability to miss bats makes him a highly valuable strikeout-boosting asset even when the wins dry up.
Looking at the remainder of the week, the Brewers finish their series against San Francisco before heading to Colorado's high-altitude environment to face the Rockies. This thin-air matchup poses a ratio risk, but it also increases the likelihood of high-scoring games where Ashby could swoop in for another win. Our models project him to throw around five innings with five strikeouts this week. Verdict: Start.
Updated 2 days ago
