Outlook Spencer Horwitz
Spencer Horwitz's elite OBP makes him an attractive option for a Coors Field series
The fourth-place Pirates (38-37) are currently riding a two-game winning streak. Spencer Horwitz has cooled down slightly over the last 14 days, batting .239, but his elite plate discipline remains on full display with a stellar .386 OBP and nine walks. He remains locked in as Pittsburgh's everyday starting first baseman, a role that is highly secure with teammate Oneil Cruz sidelined with a hand injury.
Under the hood, Horwitz's current season-long .281 batting average and .395 OBP are significantly outperforming our rest-of-season projection of a .256 average. While his nine home runs already equal his projected season total, suggesting his home run rate could regress, his incredible eye and career-best plate approach make his elite on-base status completely sustainable.
For the remainder of the week, the Pirates head to Coors Field for three games against the Rockies. Horwitz faces a highly favorable trio of opposing starters in Kyle Freeland (8.31 ERA), Tomoyuki Sugano (4.94 ERA), and Michael Lorenzen (7.38 ERA). In this elite hitting environment, he is primed for a massive weekend. Verdict: Start.
Updated 1 day ago
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Outlook Ezequiel Duran
Ezequiel Duran finds regular playing time at shortstop, but a recent cold stretch limits his immediate fantasy appeal.
With Corey Seager sidelined due to a concussion, Duran has stepped in as the primary shortstop for the third-place Rangers, who are looking to snap a two-game slide. However, Duran has struggled at the plate recently, batting just .143 with nine strikeouts over his last seven days. This cold streak dampens the excitement of his temporary everyday role.
While Duran's recent slump is discouraging, his overall performance remains solid with a .282 average across 64 games, which is well above our rest-of-season projection of .241. Expect his bat to bounce back toward his career baseline, but his lack of walk rate progression limits his long-term on-base ceiling.
Texas finishes the week with four games, starting against Minnesota ace Joe Ryan before facing a San Diego rotation featuring vulnerable arms like Walker Buehler and Lucas Giolito. Despite the favorable weekend matchups, Duran's current slump and high strikeout rate make him a risky option. For this week, the smart move is to Sit him until his timing returns.
Updated 1 day ago
