Outlook Luinder Avila
Avila Rebounds with Dominant Outing as He Anchors Depleted Royals Rotation
Avila has shown significant signs of life lately, posting a 1.80 ERA with six strikeouts over five innings in his most recent start. Despite the fifth-place Royals holding a 34-48 record, the 24-year-old has solidified his role as the number two starter in the rotation with Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic both sidelined on the injured list.
While his 5.20 ERA and 1.66 WHIP on the season are concerning, a disastrous mid-June start where he failed to escape the first inning heavily skews those numbers. Our projection expects a more stable 4.25 ERA and 1.39 WHIP moving forward, as his elite 10.8 K/9 over the last week aligns with the high-ceiling strikeout potential he flashed during his 2025 campaign.
As a two-start pitcher this week, Avila follows up his victory against Tampa Bay with a favorable Sunday matchup against the White Sox. Facing Anthony Kay and a Chicago lineup currently struggling for consistency, Avila’s projected 9.1 strikeouts and 3.24 ERA for the period make him a priority play in most formats. Start.
Updated 2 days ago
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Outlook Jack Flaherty
High-Strikeout Veteran Seeks Improved Ratios in Staff Anchor Role
Jack Flaherty enters the season as a critical piece of the Detroit rotation, slotting in as a veteran staff anchor following a 2025 campaign where he proved his durability with over 160 innings. At age 30, he has transitioned from his early-career peak into a high-volume strikeout specialist who can carry a fantasy staff in whiffs, even if his ERA has been prone to some volatility. His familiarity with the Tigers' pitching philosophy and a secure rotation slot provide a stable floor for volume that many pitchers in his ADP range lack.
Our projection for the upcoming season highlights his elite swing-and-miss potential, as he is expected to rack up roughly 135 strikeouts over 160.0 innings. While his career has seen fluctuations in efficiency, our data suggests he will settle into a respectable 4.11 ERA with a .1.26 WHIP. Owners should expect significant value in the strikeout category and a healthy total of quality starts, though his win potential may be slightly capped by a Detroit lineup that has struggled to provide consistent run support in recent years.
Fantasy managers should view Flaherty as a high-upside SP3 or SP4. While he may occasionally hurt your ratios, his ability to dominate a game with double-digit strikeouts—a feat he accomplished multiple times last year—makes him a game-changer in head-to-head formats. If he can maintain the improved walk rate seen during his best stretches in 2024, he has the ceiling to finish as a top-30 starter, making him a primary target for those looking to bolster their strikeout totals in the middle rounds of drafts.
Updated 2 days ago
