Outlook Mick Abel
Mick Abel Shines in Rehab as Return to Twins Rotation Nears
Mick Abel has been sidelined since April 20 with an elbow injury, but he is trending toward a return after a stellar Triple-A rehab start on June 10 where he tossed three scoreless innings with five strikeouts. His return will boost the third-place Twins (35-40), who are riding a three-game win streak. Abel is scheduled for a bullpen session this Saturday before making another rehab start next week.
Before the injury, Abel posted a 4.03 ERA and an impressive 10.30 K/9 rate over four starts. Our models project a 4.60 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with 90 strikeouts over 88 innings for the rest of the season. His high strikeout rate is sustainable, though he must improve his control after walking 10 batters in 20.1 early innings.
Because Abel is still building up pitch count in the minors, he will not be active for the remaining games of this week's schedule against the Rangers and Diamondbacks. Keep him stashed on your injured list, but keep him benched for now. Verdict: Sit.
Updated 3 days ago
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Outlook Troy Melton
Back tightness clouds immediate outlook for Detroit's surging young starter
Melton has been stellar over his last 30 days, posting a brilliant 2.86 ERA and a tidy 1.03 WHIP across 25.2 innings. However, his momentum for the fourth-place Tigers has been halted after he was scratched from his June 15 start due to back tightness. He remains questionable, putting his current role as the number three starter in Detroit's rotation on ice.
Before the injury, Melton was easily outpacing our season projection of a 3.69 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. His elite run prevention lately aligns with the promise he showed last season, when he logged a solid 3.34 ERA over 51.2 innings. While his low walk rate is sustainable, his modest strikeout numbers suggest he might face slight regression once he returns.
Melton is tentatively scheduled to face the division-rival White Sox on June 20, but his active back tightness makes him impossible to trust. With the Tigers likely to be cautious, there is a strong chance his turn is skipped or he is heavily limited on the mound. Fantasy managers should keep him benched until he proves his health. Verdict: Sit.
Updated 3 days ago
