O’Neill Owns Opening Day – March 28, 2025
Tyler O’Neill, OF, OriolesTyler O’Neill continued his Opening Day dominance, going 3 for 3 with a house run, two walks, three runs, and three RBI. It is shockingly the sixth straight Opening Day that O’Neill has homered on, which feels like an unattainable feat. Accidents have been his downfall lately, however he was elite in 2024 when he was on the sector, blasting 31 residence runs in solely 113 video games. His .480 xSLG ranked within the ninetieth percentile, and his 17.3% barrel charge ranked within the 98th percentile. He moved to Baltimore this offseason, however fortunately for him, they moved the left subject wall in to a extra cheap distance. His energy will nonetheless play, and he’s a must-start hitter in the intervening time.
Tyler Soderstrom, 1B, AthleticsTyler Soderstrom began off the season scorching, blasting two solo residence runs on Thursday. As if that is not spectacular sufficient, they have been enjoying within the pitcher-friendly T-Cellular Park, and one of many two homers was towards Logan Gilbert. Soderstrom was a well-liked supply of late energy in drafts this offseason, and he wasted no time delivering it. Though he solely performed 61 video games in 2024 and hit 9 residence runs, his underlying metrics soar off the web page. He posted a wonderful 14.6% barrel charge, .480 xSLG, and 91.9 mph common exit velocity. His largest weak spot was his 24.9% strikeout charge, however that’s manageable for gamers together with his sort of uncooked energy. He’s positively a reputation to observe early this season as a result of he may flip himself right into a fantasy difference-maker if he takes one other step ahead within the strikeout division.
Mackenzie Gore, SP, NationalsMackenzie Gore turned in probably the most spectacular efficiency of the day, putting out 13 batters over six shutout innings towards the Phillies. He regarded completely unhittable, inducing 20 whiffs on 50 swings over 93 pitches. That was good for a 40% whiff charge and 39% CSW%. His slider was significantly efficient, with 8 whiffs on 10 swings. Gore was a well-liked breakout candidate heading into 2025 after posting a 3.90 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 181 strikeouts in 166.1 innings in 2024. He has usually been a particularly risky pitcher, however he can appear to be an ace when he can hold issues working for an prolonged time frame.
Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B, RoyalsVinnie Pasquantino began because the DH in Thursday’s sport after his Opening Day standing was put into jeopardy by a grade 1 hamstring pressure. Fortunately, he was wholesome sufficient to play and regarded simply high-quality on the plate, going 2 for 4 with a house run and a double. He was top-of-the-line younger first baseman within the sport in 2024, slashing .262/.315/.446 with 19 residence runs, 64 runs, and 97 RBI in 131 video games. He featured above-average high quality of contact metrics, with a 46.5% hard-hit charge (eightieth percentile) and 91.0 mph common exit velocity (78th). His largest power is his plate self-discipline, although, with a 14.5% whiff charge and 12.8% strikeout charge that each ranked within the 96th percentile. He needs to be a stable top-10 first baseman for 2025 with the upside for extra and might be much more beneficial in OBP and factors leagues if he will get again to strolling at an 11.7% clip like he did in 2022.
Justin Slaten, RP, Pink SoxJustin Slaten picked up the save on Thursday for the Pink Sox, pitching a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout. This got here as a shock to many, with Aroldis Chapman the favourite to deal with the closing duties. Chapman pitched the eighth as a substitute, and it labored out nicely for Boston who shut the door on the Rangers for the win. With Liam Hendriks positioned on the IL, it figures to be a mixture of Slaten and Chapman within the ninth inning in the intervening time, though one in all them may ultimately pull forward. Slaten could be a really helpful fantasy possibility if he does see constant save probabilities, as he posted a 2.93 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 58 strikeouts in 55.1 innings in 2024.
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