Outlook Bryce Elder
Bryce Elder looks to right the ship in San Francisco after a brutal June stretch.
Elder has struggled mightily of late, posting a massive 12.60 ERA and a bloated 2.60 WHIP over his last two starts. Despite his personal slide, he remains the number five starter for the first-place Braves, who are looking to snap a four-game losing streak and maintain their lead in the NL East. With Spencer Strider currently sidelined on the 60-day injured list, Elder’s stability in the rotation remains vital for the team’s depth.
Under the hood, Elder's season-long 3.81 ERA looks much better than his recent performance, but our models suggest he is regressing toward a projected 4.89 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. While he earned Pitcher of the Month honors in May, his current 30-day stretch featuring an 8.54 ERA indicates that his pitch-to-contact style is leaving him vulnerable to high hit totals. Unless he recaptures his pinpoint command, he remains a high-risk fantasy asset.
Elder is scheduled for one remaining start this week on Saturday against the Giants. It is a difficult assignment as he faces San Francisco ace Logan Webb, who carries a sharp 3.46 ERA and 1.12 WHIP into the contest. Given Elder's recent tendency to allow heavy traffic on the bases, combined with a tough opposing pitcher in a road environment, fantasy managers should look elsewhere for streaming options this weekend. Verdict: Sit.
Updated 1 day ago
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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
