This past Sunday in Miami, it felt reminiscent of 2021 for the Milwaukee Brewers pitching staff.
Brandon Woodruff, who finished fifth in the National League Cy Young Award voting and ranked 18th overall in fantasy points during the 2021 season, made a stellar return following his October 2023 surgery. He earned 24 fantasy points, a personal best since September 11, 2023, completing six innings with just 70 pitches.
While Woodruff had a successful outing, it wasn’t entirely a return to his past form. His average fastball velocity of 93.3 mph was the lowest for any of his starts in the past seven years. Nevertheless, he utilized the pitch effectively, achieving four swings-and-misses (a whiff rate of 33.3%) and five of his eight strikeouts. Woodruff received positive feedback across three of his key pitches—the four-seam fastball, sinker, and changeup—adding a solid cutter that resulted in an 80.0% first-pitch strike rate and 29.4% whiff rate overall.
As he continues to regain full strength and increases his pitch count to the range of 90-95 in the forthcoming weeks, Woodruff could present top-25 fantasy starting pitcher potential in the latter half of the season. With a proven track record from 2019-2023, where he maintained a WHIP of 1.02 and averaged 14.9 fantasy points per start, he’s a valuable addition in the 54.7% of ESPN leagues where he’s still available.
Other Players to Consider
Jurickson Profar, OF, Atlanta Braves: Profar remains widely accessible (63.2% of leagues) after hitting .286 (6-for-21) with two home runs in his first five games post-suspension, all while battening in one of the Braves’ top five lineup spots. He’s a strong candidate for ESPN standard points leagues.
Cam Smith, 3B/OF, Houston Astros (available in 73.4%): After a slow start, Smith has significantly improved with a .349 batting average, four home runs, 21 RBI, and 18 runs in his last 26 games, becoming a reliable middle-of-the-order hitter for the Astros.
Rotisserie Players to Add
Ronny Henriquez, RP, Miami Marlins (available in 90.4%): Recognized previously, Henriquez is now the primary closer as the Marlins have won 16 of their last 24 games. He has a remarkable 1.13 ERA and a 50.0% strikeout rate, making him an excellent asset for save opportunities.
Trevor Rogers, SP, Baltimore Orioles (available in 79.4%): What started as a temporary fill-in role for Rogers has transformed into a full-time position in the Orioles’ rotation. Having improved his fastball velocity (93.3 mph) and producing excellent whiff rates, he is gaining traction as a valuable fantasy asset.
