Casey Mize on the Rise? – April 18, 2026
Oneil Cruz (OF-PIT) continued his hot start to the 2026 season as he went 1-4 with a BB and 2-run homer against the Rays on Friday. The 27 year-old is now hitting .313 with 6 dingers, 19 RBI, 16 runs scored, and 9 steals (in 10 tries) through his first 89 PA of the season. Cruz is still striking out a lot (31.5%) while drawing some walks (9%), but his in-zone contact rate is up slightly to 79.5% (78.5% in 2025) even though his swinging-strike rate is up to an ugly 16% as his overall contact rate of 63% is down (68% in 2025). As usual, though, Cruz is dangerous when he is able to get the bat on the ball as Statcast shows a 62% hard-hit rate, 20% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 97.5 mph. We know that the power and speed are legit, but expect that average to plummet toward his .237 career mark going forward given his contact issues.
Moises Ballesteros (DH-CHC) went 2-3 with a 3-run blast as he hit 6th against the Mets on Friday. The 22 year-old is raking in the early going of the 2026 campaign, registering a .375 average, 3 HR, 10 RBI, and 7 R through 44 PA while fanning at an acceptable 20.5% clip. The positionless Ballesteros has done nothing but hit the last couple of seasons, posting a .298 average, 2 HR, 11 RBI, and 12 R in 66 PA at the MLB level a season ago while registering a .316 average, 13 HR, 76 RBI, and 62 R in 509 PA at the Triple-A level in 2025. He’s making a lot of contact inside the zone so far in 2026 (91%) while registering a lot of loud contact in doing so, with Statcast showing a 60% hard-hit rate, 16.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 94 mph. Even though he can only occupy a UTIL spot, Ballesteros should be added wherever he’s still on the waiver wire.
Jeremiah Jackson (2B/3B/OF-BAL) continued his surprisingly productive start to the 2026 campaign as he went 1-4 with a 3-run jack in Cleveland on Friday evening. The 26 year-old is now batting .317 with 5 HR, 17 RBI, and 6 runs scored through his first 62 PA of the season. But fantasy owners should not expect this to last as Jackson is drawing no walks (exactly none) while fanning at a 26% clip. His 17.5% swinging-strike rate and subpar 72% overall and 83.5% in-zone contact rates are therefore hardly surprising. And his Statcast metrics aren’t even good overall aside from his 11.5% barrel rate as he owns a 30% hard-hit rate and average exit velo of 87.5 mph. In short, this will not last.
Casey Mize (SP-DET) impressed against the Red Sox on Friday, throwing 6.2 scoreless IP in which he allowed just 3 hits and a walk while recording 7 punchouts on 94 pitches (58 strikes). The 28 year-old righty has been sharp in the arly going of the 2026 campaign, logging a 2.78 ERA, 9.9 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, and 3.72 xFIP over his first 22.2 IP (4 starts). There has been some loud contact as Statcast shows a 44.5% hard-hit rate, 10.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo of 88.5 mph, but Mize has recorded a career-high 11.5% swinging-strike rate while the opposition’s overall (75%) and in-zone (83.5%) contact rates are below his career norms (79% and 85.5% respectively) even as he is getting hitters to chase a little more often (30% o-swing% in 2026, 26.5% career). He’ll look to build upon his strong start against the visiting Brewers next week.
Kodai Senga (SP-NYM) delivered another subpar outing against the Cubs on Friday afternoon as he lasted just 3.1 IP in which he surrendered 7 runs (6 earned) on 6 hits and 3 walks while fanning 3. The 33 year-old served up a pair of dingers in the outing while throwing 65 pitches (37 strikes). Senga now owns a 8.83 ERA, 11.4 K/9, 5.2 BB/9, and 4.03 xFIP through 4 starts (17.1 IP) on the year. WHile the ERA and BB/9 are ugly, the K/9 and xFIP give hope that Senga will turn things around. While he’s logged a healthy 12.5% swinging-strike rate, the opposition has posted a solid 88% in-zone contact rate while making a lot of loud contact, with Statcast showing a 47.5% hard-hit rate, 10.5% barrel rate, and average exit velo just north of 90 mph. Those trends are not encouraging as Senga prepares to face the Twins his next time out, and the Minnesota lineup has been surprisingly productive as of late.
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