Outlook Elvis Alvarado
Alvarado Rises to High-Leverage Prominence in Athletics Bullpen
Elvis Alvarado has been lights-out since his early June call-up, delivering a microscopic 0.55 WHIP and registering 13 strikeouts over his last 7.3 innings of work. Following the injury to setup man Mark Leiter Jr., Alvarado has established himself in a high-leverage role for the second-place Athletics (38-40), who sit just 1.5 games behind Seattle in the AL West division race.
While his recent 3.70 ERA over the past two weeks is a massive step forward, our models expect some regression toward his projected season-long 4.27 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. Still, his spectacular 16.03 K/9 rate over this recent hot stretch is backed by an impressive SwStr% that suggests his swing-and-miss ability is legitimate.
The Athletics travel for a six-game road trip against San Francisco and Los Angeles this week, providing ample late-inning opportunities for Alvarado to grab holds or vulture wins against beatable lineups. Our weekly projection expects him to compile 3.1 innings of work, striking out 5.1 batters while maintaining an excellent 3.24 ERA and 0.66 WHIP. Verdict: Start.
Updated 12 hrs ago
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Outlook Devin Williams
Elite closer looks to stabilize ninth-inning role for Mets
Devin Williams enters the season in a prime position as the primary closer for the Mets. Coming off a mixed season where his ratios inflated, his role in New York remains highly secure. As the clear-cut ninth-inning option in the bullpen, he will have ample opportunity to rack up saves on a competitive team. His elite career track record and specialized 'Airbender' changeup give him a secure leash, despite some of the control issues that cropped up in his previous stop.
Our projection models expect a major bounceback in Williams' ratios, projecting him for a strong 3.19 ERA and a tidy 1.11 WHIP over 65.0 innings of work. He remains a premium source of strikeouts out of the bullpen, projected to pile up 62 punchouts while registering 20 saves. Though his walk rate can occasionally trigger WHIP inflation, his overall dominance and high strikeout rate make him a high-end fantasy asset who should easily provide elite ratio relief and robust save volume.
Williams is currently being drafted around the ninth or tenth round in standard 12-team leagues, representing a very fair price for an established closer. While there is minor risk due to occasional control lapses, his secure role and massive strikeout upside make him a high-floor target. Draft him with confidence as a top-10 fantasy closer who can anchor your bullpen's saves and strikeouts.
Updated 12 hrs ago
