Outlook Merrill Kelly
Veteran righty offers steady mid-rotation value for fantasy rotations
Merrill Kelly enters his age-37 season firmly established as a mid-rotation staple for the Arizona Diamondbacks, locking down the number three starter role. Despite his veteran status, Kelly has proven incredibly durable in recent years, consistently eclipsing 170 innings and providing much-needed stability to both his real-world team and fantasy rosters alike. He is a reliable source of quality starts and volume.
Our season projection anticipates a productive campaign, expecting Kelly to post a solid 3.98 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP over 174.0 innings of work. While he is not an elite source of strikeouts, our models project a respectable 130 punchouts alongside eight wins and 12 quality starts. Comparing these numbers to his stellar 2025 campaign, where he compiled a 3.59 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, Kelly's projected ratios remain highly useful for stabilizing fantasy pitching staffs without costing a premium on draft day.
Drafting Kelly around his current ADP of 200 represents an excellent value play, especially for managers looking to secure safe innings floor in the double-digit rounds. He might lack the high-ceiling strikeout upside of younger arms, but his role security and reliable team context make him a very safe, high-floor target to round out your fantasy rotation.
Updated 12 hrs ago
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Outlook Brandon Young
Brandon Young's Hot Streak and Two-Start Week Make Him a Must-Start
Brandon Young is on a phenomenal run, posting a stellar 2.06 ERA and 0.84 WHIP over his last 14 days. The fourth-place Orioles (34-39) have leaned heavily on him due to a depleted rotation with Chris Bassitt, Zach Eflin, and Dean Kremer sidelined. Young has fully seized his opportunity, locking down a vital mid-rotation role.
Young's success has lowered his season ERA to 3.67, a massive improvement from last year's 6.45 mark. While our season projections of a 4.50 ERA and 1.32 WHIP warn of upcoming regression, his fastball dominance and splitter adjustments suggest these gains are real. Fantasy managers should confidently ride his hot hand.
Young is lined up for a highly valuable two-start week, facing Seattle's Logan Gilbert on June 16 and the Dodgers' Emmet Sheehan on June 21. Our models project him to toss 12.1 innings with a 2.99 ERA and 8.8 strikeouts across these matchups. He is a premier starting option for the week ahead.
Updated 12 hrs ago
