Wilyer Abreu Breakout Season?-March 29, 2026
Carmen Mlodzinski-Pirates-SP
Carmen Mlodzinski went 4.1 IP and gave up 2 ER on 6 H, 0 BB, and 8 K’s against the Mets. Mlodzinski split his time between the bullpen and rotation last year. He made 34 appearances with 12 being starts. He had a 3.55 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. He showed good control (6% BB) but lacked strikeouts (21% K and 10% SwStr). His SIERA (3.73) suggests that he is a league-average starter. Mlodzinski was much better as a reliever (26% K, 5% BB, and 2.97 xFIP) compared to a starter (17% K, 7% BB, and 4.26 xFIP). The reason he made the rotation out of spring was the continuation of the changes he made in the second half of last year (1.93 ERA, 28% K, and 7% BB). He moved his placement on the rubber and debuted two new pitches. He added a curveball, which gave him a true offspeed pitch with different movement than his other pitches. Mlodzinski also added a splitter that he learned from teammate David Bednar. These were important changes because it allows him to use his fastball less and keeps hitters off balance. Mlodzinski has struggled mightily the second time through the order as a starter (.575 OPS vs. 1.029 OPS). These developments, plus the benefit of a pitcher-friendly park, puts Mlodzinski in consideration as a backend starter in deeper mixed leagues.
Nolan McLean-Mets-SP
Nolan McLean went 5 IP and gave up 2 ER on 4 H, 2 BB, and 8 K’s against the Pirates. Nolan McLean was awesome in his rookie debut (2.06 ERA and 1.04 WHIP). It was a small sample (48 IP), but there was enough to be excited. He struckout 30% of batters and had plus stuff (109 Stuff+). McLean also showed good enough control (9% BB) to make it as a power pitcher. Despite being a rookie, he has six pitches and throws none of them more than 28% of the time. This gives him the weapons to go through the order multiple times and get hitters from both sides of the plate out. McLean will be one of the more intriguing pitchers to watch this year.
Wilyer Abreu-Red Sox-OF
Wilyer Abreu was 3-4 with an HR (2), 1 R, and 3 RBI against the Reds. Abreu had a solid season in 2025, hitting .247 with 22 HR, 53 R, 69 RBI, and 6 SB in 417 PA. He showed a solid approach at the plate (10% BB and 24% K) while continuing to hit the ball hard (12% Barrels and 45% HardHit). Abreu does a good job elevating the ball (53% FB), which helps his power play up, especially in Fenway Park. His .223 ISO supports the 20+ HR power, though his .277 BABIP and strikeout rate (24% K) will cap his batting average. Abreu has a well-rounded skill set with both power and some speed, so a full season of plate appearances could lead to a breakout in 2026.
Taylor Ward-Orioles-OF
Taylor Ward was 1-4 with 1 R and 1 BB against the Twins. Ward broke out in a big way in 2025, hitting .228 with 36 HR, 86 R, 103 RBI, and 4 SB in 663 PA. The power surge was supported by strong underlying metrics, including a 14% barrel rate and 43% HardHit, both of which point to legitimate power growth. Ward continued to show a solid approach (11% BB), but his 26% strikeout rate kept his batting average low. His .247 BABIP suggests there could be some positive regression in average, though his profile will likely always come with some batting average risk due to the swing-and-miss and fly ball-heavy approach (48% FB). Ward’s .247 ISO highlights the jump in power and supports his ability to be a middle-of-the-order run producer, but through three games, he has been the Orioles leadoff hitter. If this sticks, it will boost his runs scored but lower his RBI projections. If he can maintain the power while getting even a slight boost in average, Ward should continue to be a strong fantasy contributor for 2026.
Shoto Imanaga-Cubs-SP
Shoto Imanaga went 5 IP and gave up 4 ER on 6 H, 2 BB, and 7 K’s against the Nationals. Shota Imanaga followed up his strong debut with another productive season in 2025, posting a 3.21 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 176 strikeouts across 168.2 innings. He continued to show excellent command with a 25% strikeout rate and just a 5% walk rate, giving him one of the better K-BB profiles among qualified starters. Imanaga relies more on pitch mix and deception than overpowering velocity, but he consistently keeps hitters off balance. The main concern remains home run susceptibility (1.93 HR/9). His 3.45 SIERA supports the strong surface numbers. Imanaga profiles as a reliable SP2/SP3 option who provides strong ratios and steady strikeout production. The other piece of good news is that velocity in spring was up 1.7 mph from last season, which is huge for him since he relies on his fastball for effectiveness. Imanaga averaged 92.1 mph today, which is up 1.3 mph from last year.
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