Outlook Walbert Urena
Walbert Urena finds elite rhythm as control concerns begin to fade
Urena has been a bright spot for the 34-48 Angels, who are currently fifth in the AL West but riding a two-game winning streak. He has solidified his place as the number two starter in the rotation, posting a 2.17 ERA over his last five starts spanning 29 innings. Most encouraging was his most recent outing on June 21, where he tossed five scoreless frames without a single walk, showing significant progress with his command.
Under the hood, Urena’s 2.44 career ERA is elite, though his 1.33 career WHIP suggests he has been playing with fire by allowing too many baserunners. While our models anticipate some regression toward a higher ERA if his walk rate returns to early-season levels, the fact that he is missing bats at a high rate (8.67 K/9) provides a safe fantasy floor. If his newfound control is a permanent adjustment rather than a fluke, he is ascending toward frontline starter status.
For the week ahead, Urena is scheduled for a home start this Friday against the Athletics. He will match up against J.T. Ginn, who has been solid with a 3.25 ERA, making for a potentially low-scoring affair. Despite the team missing Mike Trout due to a hamstring injury, Urena’s individual dominance makes him an easy call for fantasy managers. He is throwing the ball too well to leave on the bench. Start him.
Updated 1 day ago
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Outlook Connelly Early
Connelly Early is flashing elite strikeout upside and improved control as he stabilizes his spot in the Boston rotation.
Early has been stellar over the last seven days, posting a 2.25 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP with 16 strikeouts across 12 innings. The fifth-place Red Sox have leaned on the rookie as the number four starter in a rotation currently missing key pieces like Garrett Crochet and Tanner Houck due to long-term injuries. His recent "effectively wild" winning performance against the Yankees on June 25 confirms he is gaining confidence in high-leverage matchups.
While his 3.70 season ERA is solid, Early’s recent 12.00 K/9 indicates a fantasy ceiling much higher than his initial projections suggested. Our data indicates his 1.21 projected WHIP is achievable if he continues to maintain the improved strikeout-to-walk ratio seen over his last few starts. The primary concern remains his vulnerability to the long ball, as he previously surrendered 14 homers in an 11-start stretch, though his recent dominance suggests those issues are subsiding.
With his lone scheduled start of the week already completed on June 25—a dominant victory against New York—Early has no remaining games on his schedule for this scoring period. Fantasy managers should enjoy the massive point haul and keep him rostered as a high-upside option for his next turn through the rotation. Given the significant attrition in the Boston pitching staff, his volume and role are secure for the foreseeable future. Verdict: Start.
Updated 1 day ago
