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  • Punches out seven
    Valdez (6-5) allowed a run on six hits and two walks over seven innings Sunday, striking out seven and earning a win against Baltimore.

    Advice: Valdez rolled through five shutout frames without facing too much trouble before Jordan Westburg belted a solo shot in the sixth inning. The Astros gave Valdez plenty of run support as he halted a brief two-start losing streak. It was the third time this year he's struck out at least seven batters, and each of those outings have come in his last eight starts. He's produced an impressive 2.73 ERA through 33 innings this month, lowering his season mark to 3.68 across 80.2 frames. Valdez will carry a 63:26 K:BB into his next outing, which is projected to be on the road against the Mets. Rotowire.com Sunday, 6:47 pm
     
  • Will throw from mound this week
    Williams (back) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday in Milwaukee, MLB.com reports.

    Advice: Williams is poised for the next big milestone in his recovery from multiple stress fractures in his back, which have kept him sidelined him for the entirety of the 2024 campaign to this point. If the 29-year-old can avoid any setbacks, he remains on track to return to the Brewers bullpen in late July, likely after the All-Star break. Williams will likely need to complete multiple bullpen sessions before advancing to facing hitters and then heading out on what will likely be a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment. Rotowire.com Sunday, 3:50 pm
    Devin WilliamsMIL - RP
    W, 3-1 vs TEX
    Player Note
    IL60
     
  • Max Scherzer has great start in 2024 debut
    Max Scherzer threw five shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out four and walking none.

    Advice: There’s not much more you could ask for from the 39-year-old in his season debut. He was incredibly economical with his 57 pitches, throwing 39 strikes. He also induced seven whiffs on 31 swings for a 23 percent whiff rate and 26 percent CSW on the day. Two things to keep an eye on are that Scherzer’s four-seam fastball velocity was 92.9 mph, which is down from last year’s 93.7 mph, and he also allowed 92 percent zone contact, so he was really only missing bats when he got chases out of the zone. Still, it’s been just one start, and it’s great to see Scherzer on the mound and looking healthy. Rotoworld Sunday, 2:55 pm
     
  • Framber Valdez dazzles against Orioles
    Framber Valdez allowed one run on six hits in seven innings in a win over the Orioles on Sunday.

    Advice: Valdez struck out seven and walked two on the day. He allowed just one extra-base hit, but it happened to be a solo home run to Jordan Westburg. The left-hander induced 11 whiffs on 45 swings for a 24 percent whiff rate and 34 percent CSW against a really talented offense. That’s now back-to-back really strong starts for Valdez after a rough outing against the Giants. He’ll carry a 3.68 ERA into a plus matchup against the Mets next week. Rotoworld Sunday, 2:44 pm
     
  • Max Fried keeps Yankees bats at bay
    Max Fried allowed one run on six hits in six innings in a win over the Yankees on Sunday.

    Advice: It wasn’t a dominant outing for the left-hander, but he allowed just one extra-base hit all day and was able to pitch his way out of any trouble that he found himself in. He induced just seven whiffs on 39 swings for an 18 percent whiff rate and 26 percent CSW, but that’s a pretty solid day against a good Yankees lineup. Fried is now 7-3 with a 3.00 ERA on the year and is set up for a solid start against the Pirates next week. Rotoworld Sunday, 2:27 pm
    Max FriedATL - SP
    PPD @STL
    Player Note
     
  • Picks up seventh win
    Fried improved to 7-3 on the season in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Yankees, striking out four while allowing one run on six hits and no walks over six innings.

    Advice: Fried kept the Yankees off the board until a solo run crossed in the sixth on an Anthony Volpe double. Three of the six hits Fried allowed came during the sixth, but a timely double play ended the inning and kept Fried in line for his seventh win. Fried has now turned in eight quality starts through 15 outing, and in seventh of those starts, he's gone at least six innings while allowing no more than one earned run. He's currently scheduled to next toe the rubber against Pittsburgh when the Pirates head to Atlanta for a weekend set. Rotowire.com Sunday, 1:49 pm
    Max FriedATL - SP
    PPD @STL
    Player Note
     
  • Max Fried stellar against Yankees in win
    Max Fried shut the Yankees out over six innings in a 3-1 win on Sunday. He struck out four without walking a batter.

    Advice: Fried was great in this and kept the Yankees off-balance by mixing all five of his pitches. He didn’t throw one individual offering more than 30% of the time and was adept at varying his four-seam fastball, sinker, and curveball early in counts. He’s as steady and stable as they come. Rotoworld Sunday, 1:08 pm
    Max FriedATL - SP
    PPD @STL
    Player Note
     
  • Rangers activate Mad Max for ’24 debut on Sunday
    Rangers activated RHP Max Scherzer from the 60-day injured list.

    Advice: Scherzer will make his highly-anticipated season debut on Sunday afternoon for the defending World Series champions against the Royals at Globe Life Field. The 39-year-old veteran right-hander missed the first few months of the year recovering from offseason back surgery, and a nerve-related issue in his thumb that sprung up during his rehabilitation process. He’s no longer an elite fantasy contributor at this advanced stage of his legendary career. However, he’s likely to have flashes of occasional brilliance, and make a tangible impact for fantasy managers, even in shallow mixed leagues, when healthy. Rotoworld Sunday, 9:15 am
     
  • Reinstated from IL
    The Rangers activated Scherzer (back/thumb) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his start in Sunday's series finale against the Royals.

    Advice: Scherzer will make his season debut Sunday after having his start Saturday pushed back in favor of Jon Gray. Scherzer began the season on the injured list following offseason back surgery, and his rehab assignment was delayed due to separate thumb and forearm issues. In his last rehab start June 15, Scherzer allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out eight over 4.2 innings. Sunday's start should provide clarity on whether the 39-year-old right-hander will work under any restrictions in his first big-league action since Game 3 of the 2023 World Series in October. Rotowire.com Sunday, 9:00 am