Outlook Casey Schmitt
Casey Schmitt's power surge makes him a must-roster utility asset
Schmitt has been on a tear, swatting three home runs and driving in five runs over his last seven games for the fourth-place Giants. His elite defensive versatility has kept his bat in the lineup daily, especially with outfield injuries locking him in as an everyday starter.
While our models projected a modest eight home runs for the season, Schmitt has already blown past that with a career-high 15 longballs in 2026. His current .276 average is a substantial leap from his career mark of .237 in 2025, suggesting minor regression may lie ahead, but the breakout is largely legitimate.
The Giants finish their week at home against the Cubs, offering a mixed bag of matchups. Schmitt will face a tough test Friday against Ben Brown and his stingy 1.74 ERA, but Sunday brings an excellent opportunity against Colin Rea's 5.37 ERA. Weekly Verdict: Start.
Updated 3 days ago
Latest News Casey Schmitt
Outlook Braden Montgomery
Rookie sensation Braden Montgomery makes historic splash to boost first-place White Sox
Braden Montgomery made a dream MLB debut this week, becoming only the fifth player in major league history to hit a walk-off home run in his first game. Over his first two contests, the highly touted outfielder is batting .444 with a home run and three RBI. He has been thrust into an everyday outfield role for the first-place White Sox (36-31), especially with fellow outfielders Austin Hays and Everson Pereira sidelined on the injured list.
While his initial 1.444 OPS is obviously a small-sample anomaly, our models project a highly productive rest of the season, including 13 home runs, 10 stolen bases, and a respectable .265 batting average. Expect some rookie adjustment periods and swing-and-miss regression as league pitchers adjust, but his raw power and speed tools suggest he can maintain mixed-league viability.
For the remainder of the week, Montgomery faces a challenging pitching slate, starting with Atlanta's Martin Perez (3.02 ERA) today, followed by a weekend series against the Dodgers featuring Roki Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2.68 ERA). Despite these tough matchups, his current momentum makes him a must-start option while he is locked in. Verdict: Start.
Updated 3 days ago
