Outlook JJ Bleday
JJ Bleday's May Breakout Solidifies His Role in Cincinnati's Outfield
JJ Bleday has emerged as the everyday starter in left field for the fifth-place Reds, who are battling injuries in their lineup, including the loss of superstar Elly De La Cruz. Though his bat has cooled over the last seven days to a .185 average, his NL Player of the Month honors in May highlight the massive power potential he currently brings to the offense.
His outstanding .270 batting average and 11 home runs on the year represent a massive step forward compared to his career .212 average and our conservative rest-of-season projection of .225. While his .568 slugging percentage is due for minor regression, his excellent plate discipline and locked-in everyday role make his breakout feel entirely legitimate.
For the remainder of the week, the Reds host a three-game weekend series against the Diamondbacks at home. Bleday faces a tough matchup Friday against Eduardo Rodriguez and his elite 2.52 ERA, but he has a fantastic bounce-back opportunity on Sunday against Zac Gallen and his inflated 5.81 ERA. Line him up as a confident starting option.
Updated 1 day ago
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Outlook Paul Goldschmidt
Paul Goldschmidt is surging as a primary run-producer for the injury-depleted Yankees.
Over the last 14 days, Goldschmidt has been locked in, batting .333 with three home runs and 13 RBI. This surge has been crucial for the second-place Yankees, who hold a 41-26 record on a four-game winning streak but are missing stars Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Goldschmidt remains firmly entrenched as the Yankees' everyday starter at first base.
While our season projection expected some late-career decline, forecasting a .259 batting average, Goldschmidt's actual .287 mark and eight home runs on the year suggest he has plenty of gas left. Given his career track record of elite production, we expect some regression from his hot .333 clip, but he remains a highly reliable corner infield asset.
The Yankees have three games remaining this week in Toronto. Goldschmidt faces tougher matchups against Trey Yesavage (3.16 ERA) and Kevin Gausman (3.71 ERA) before catching a highly favorable matchup on Sunday against Patrick Corbin, who yields a 4.55 ERA. Lock the veteran hitter in as a set-and-forget option. Action: Start.
Updated 1 day ago
