Outlook Grant Taylor
Grant Taylor's electric strikeout stuff and rising high-leverage role make him a must-start reliever.
Taylor has been virtually unhittable recently, posting a flawless 0.00 ERA, a microscopic 0.33 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts over his last seven innings of work. His dominance comes at a perfect time for the second-place White Sox (34-31), who are currently missing key bullpen pieces Jordan Hicks and Jordan Leasure to the injured list. This has thrust Taylor into a critical late-inning role, highlighted by a dominant three-strikeout save against Philadelphia on June 6.
With a stellar 2.09 ERA and 50 strikeouts across 30.1 innings this year, Taylor is drastically improving upon his 4.91 ERA from last season. Our models project a rest-of-season 3.32 ERA and 1.18 WHIP, suggesting some minor regression may be on the horizon. However, his elite 14.95 K/9 rate and newly added pitch variety suggest his breakout is entirely legitimate.
The White Sox face a demanding six-game home stretch this week, playing three games against the Braves before welcoming the Dodgers. While these matchups against lineups featuring elite arms like Chris Sale and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will limit Chicago's win opportunities, Taylor's high-leverage status should yield plenty of hold and save chances. Our weekly model projects him for 5.3 strikeouts over 3.2 innings of elite ratio relief, making him an easy choice to insert into lineups. Verdict: Start.
Updated 1 day ago
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Outlook Jacob Latz
Latz Shines in Late-Inning Role and Demands Active Lineup Status
Jacob Latz has been exceptional lately, posting a tiny 1.76 ERA and 0.78 WHIP with eight strikeouts over his last 14 days. This superb form has helped the second-place Rangers (32-33) stay competitive in the division. With fellow reliever Chris Martin sidelined by a shoulder injury, Latz has cemented his role as a crucial late-inning weapon, frequently securing high-leverage opportunities.
His current 1.96 ERA and minuscule 0.65 WHIP far outpace last year's 3.08 ERA and our models' conservative 4.37 season projection. While his microscopic walk rate is bound to experience some minor regression, his 4.83 strikeout-to-walk ratio is a career-best mark that supports his breakout. He has clearly taken a massive step forward and remains a reliable source of ratios and saves.
The Rangers travel for six road games this week, featuring three matchups against Kansas City and three against Boston. Our weekly projection expects five innings of work with a stellar 1.26 ERA, 0.56 WHIP, and at least one save. He is a premier reliever option who must be active in all formats. Verdict: Start.
Updated 1 day ago
