Jack Leiter Sets Fire With Pure Gas

Aaaaand we’re back! I heard they were doing another season of baseball throwing and hitting. They might add robot umpires and new AI generated players in addition to Ohtani. Also, all the Yankees are gonna have big bushy beards, the A’s are homeless squatters who play for the peanut shells you discard mid-game and Kate Upton is on the Giants. Oh, Mookie’s playing shortstop! Sounds like enough reason to leave my COVID-proof bacta-tank where I now spend the entire offseason. I only leave to write these blog posts, see Marvel movies, participate in insurrections (if needed) and watch new episodes of the Bachelor. Oh wow, it sure is bright out here in the world. How’s your bracket? That bad, huh? Lebron would say, “It’s just basketball.” Well, you know what’s not just basketball? Baseball! Excuse my rust and let’s get into it!

On a lighter note, Jack Leiter put on a dazzling display of velocity Friday night pitching five innings, allowing just six base runners (five hits) and 12 whiffs resulting in five strikeouts for his first major league win. Jack is coming off the heels of an amazing spring, where he added several mphs to his fastball along with a sinker and the kick-change that’s so trendy right now. Mixing the off speed with his 99 mph fastball can leads to some devastating results when he can command it like he did Friday night. The 29 whiff% is especially nice when hitters aren’t chasing his stuff. Did I mention the gas? That’s straight cheese-mo, folks. Jack cheese! Yum! Jack is the son of hall of fame pitcher Al Leiter, nephew of Mark Leiter and cousin of Mark Leiter, Jr. All of whom I’ve watched play professional baseball in my lifetime. [expletive deleted] I’m old. So baseball is in his blood! Following an impressive spring where he registered a 2.25 ERA with eight strikeouts through eight innings, Jack is ready for big things in 2025 after a tough run in 2024 (8.83 ERA, 31/17 K/BB through 35.2 IP). The extra velocity and added pitches should help if he can keep that control in check like he did Friday, dotting the corners of the strike zone like a true pro. I almost streamed him but I’m not that cool. I didn’t know Jack! He gets another tough assignment next week in Cincinnati but Leiter is available everywhere and could be primed for a breakout year. He’s got the tools to be a future Ace and I’m all Jack’d up for Leiter. This kid could be a star! Ha cha cha!

Here’s what else I saw in fantasy baseball Friday night:

Luke Jackson – 1.0 IP, SV (1). Grey told you to BUY. Bruce Bochy said he could be the Rangers closer, then he blew the game in espectacular fashion on opening day and we all added Chris Martin. Bochy then goes right back to Jackson in the ninth. It’s almost like he’s trying to tell us something. Make sure to add us to Pete Hegseth’s group chat if it’s important information. The job is Luke’s to lose?

Tanner Houck – 5.2 IP, 7 hits, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K. I want no part of Houck tuah this year, who limped his way to the finish line last year after a strong first half. Will his success be as short lived as Haley Welch? Just kidding, we’re over hawk tuah girl, it’s all about the MDFoodieBoyz now. Chub Perms always with the W takes. I enjoy the MDFB because they eat like me. Yes, I have the palette of a 12 year old.

Jonah Heim – 2-for-3, 2 HR (2). Heim liched it, twice! That’s a double lich! Twin lichs!

Rafael Devers – 0-for-4, 4 K. New full time DH Raffy is now 0-for-8 with 7 Ks through two starts. If we date back to last season he’s 0-for-15, with 10 Ks in his last four games. Washed? It wouldn’t be opening weekend if we weren’t coming in hot with some spicy overreactions. In Devers’ defense (which he’s not playing anymore), most of Boston’s lineup struggled, not just him, and he doesn’t seem totally thrilled about his new full time DH duties. Players want to play, I guess. I don’t think the third base drama is over here by a long shot, but he’ll be better.

Wilyer Abreu – 2-for-3, RBI. Where there’s a Wilyer there’s a Way-ler! My dude is 5-for-6 with two bombs and 5 RBI through two starts. As stacked as the Sawx are with young guns, the 25-year old is rarely mentioned despite doing nothing but hit. He’s still available in about 70% of leagues for some reason. Yes, you should probably add him.

Jarren Duran – 2-for-4, SB (2). Look at the jump on the steal! So much aura. Yes, we’re showing SB highlights now!

Ryan Pepiot – 6.0 IP, 6 hits, ER, BB, 8 K. I am gaga for all the Rays pitchers this year. Like that Abracadabra song that I now hear in my sleep. Gaga I tell you, ama-ooo-na-na! Apparently there are words in this song but you could have fooled me. Pepiot managed eight swings and misses on the change up alone and 29% CSW. Yes please, and more games against the Rockies thank you.

Kyle Freeland – 6.0 IP, 2 hits, 0 ER, 7 K. Speaking of CSW, Freeland registered a monster 42% CSW, although he only threw 70 pitches. This could be the best game Kyle Freeland throws all season.

Kameron Misner – 1-for-1, HR (1). Hit a walk off home run for his first major league bomb and what a way to start! It was just the second hit of the 27- year old rookie’s career! The injury to Palacios made way for Kam Misner, who started the week in AAA and left his car and his life behind in Durham to be in Tampa for opening day. This is why we love beisbol. What a way to christen Steinbrenner Field!

Kevin Gausman – 6.0 IP, 3 hits, 2 ER, BB, 4 K, 1st win. Gaus labored through this one, as one probably should against an O’s team that put up twelve runs on opening day. KG managed his way through it but it wasn’t all as sunny as the stat line looks. I wasn’t planning on drafting the Gasman he just kind of fell into my lap. Its a pick I instantly regretted. That said, he’s probably in for a career year.

Charlie Morton – 3.1 IP, 7 hits, 4 ER, BB, 3 K, L. As nervous as I felt about starting Gausman, I never for one second considered Charlie Morton an option. He picked up right where he left off last year–struggling to miss bats. This is who they got to replace Corbin Burnes?

George Springer – 2-for-4, run, SB (1). Anyone else completely forget this guy existed? You’re not a cheater anymore George, you’re just irrelevant.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 2-for-4, RBI. Vladdy Daddy absolutely smoked all the balls he hit with an exit velocity 105+ mph. The Jays scored 8 runs with 14 hits, with Anthony Santander and Bo Bichette and having two hits a piece. Someone’s ready to get paid.

Jackson Holliday – 2-for-3, run, HR (1). The 425 foot oppo-fieldo shoto was 109 mph off the bat! This was the 7th home run for the O’s to start the year and how quickly we forget this kid was the top prospect in all of baseball this time last year. Breakout incoming.

Mitch Keller – 6.0 IP, 5 hits, ER, BB, 4 K, 1st win. The 1B to Paul Skenes 1A. He’s the Livvy. The Decoy to our Shohei if you will. Mitch didn’t have his best stuff but the sinker was sinking and the Buccos knew they need to score some runs since Skenes wasn’t on the bump.

David Bednar – 1.0 IP, 1 hit, 2 ER, BB, K, SV (1). Almost as disastrous as his opening day outing as he surrendered a 420 homer to Otto Lopez after walking the first batter he faced but still managed to escape with his first save. The Pirates bullpen options are limited giving Bednar’s a longer leash than most but for a guy who had an awful spring and put up a 5.77 ERA in 2024 I can’t imagine he can’t many more chances like this. Dennis Santana could be an option in the 9th but methinks Bednar will need a few more stinkers before losing the job. Owners brace youself.

Oneil Cruz – 2-for-4, HR (1), SB (2). The Cruz Missile with the slam & legs! This is exactly what I was hoping for when I drafted him way to high the past three years. 115 mph off the bat! Sweet sassy molassy I’m in love! Just Oneil Cruz things.

Xavier Edwards – 2-for-4. He might be the only rosterable hitter on the Marlins. Where them steals at??

Hunter Brown – 6.0 IP, 4 hits, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, L. Back to Brown town and Hunter looked sharp to start this ballgame striking out Lindor and Soto in the first. He wasn’t so lucky the second time around giving up the bomb to Soto but gotta feel good about the velocity and movement on his pitches. If he looks like and Ace and throws like an Ace, he just might be, I dunno, an Ace?

Tylor Megill – 5.0 IP, 3 hits, ER, BB, 6 K. I know there’s a few Megill’s in MLB. A Trevor and a Tylor. This is obviously Tylor, but one was a middle reliever for so long I always avoided both for fantasy to be safe. The Mets have blind confidence in Tylor and proved it by starting him their second game of the season and he delivered. He’s got a new slider and a new lease on life. I could see considering the prospect of maybe thinking about mulling over the possibility of contemplating whether or not I should review the option of potentially picking him up. I still don’t know for sure though!

Juan Soto – 1-for-3, HR (1). His first home run as a Met. The first of many! He went up to get that one, then sat back and watched it fly. I’m assuming all of Queens is squealing, and all of the Bronx is reeling.

Merrill Kelly – 5.1 IP, 3 hits, ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 1st win. You have your boring starters, and then you have Merrill Kelly. Kelly is the answer to the pitcher I decided to stream over Jack Leiter. Do I feel silly? Yes, but I could have started…

Jameson Taillon – 4.1 IP, 9 hits, 6 ER, K. Well at least he didn’t walk anyone?

Eugenio Suarez – 2-for-4, 2 HR (3), 4 RBI. The hottest potato in all of potato land, where there’s sprawling meadows of scalloped russets and the french fries grow tall in the grass and everything is au gratin. The K-prone Eduardo got off to a painfully slow start in 2024, so this is certainly nice to see and he could be primed for 30+ dingers in this line up.

Alek Thomas – 3-for-4, run, RBI. Remember when Alek Thomas was the next big thing? Me neither! He’s still only 25!

Fernando Tatis Jr. – 1-for-4, HR (1). That’s the see ya later first pitch shot. Ain’t nobody first pitch tank like FTJ first pitch tank. The 410 footer was 110 mph off the bat and literally nothing gets me hype like FTJ moves. The way he watched it sail is so tuff. The way he skipped around third was so tough. The way he rocks those CityConnects is so tuff. Give him the MVP already.

Jake Cronenworth – 2-for-4, HR (1). For what it’s Cronenworth, the Padres have looked fairly unstoppable through two games.

Dylan Cease – 4.1 IP, 4 hits, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K. Scratch what I said in the previous blurb and edit: Padres offense has looked fairly unstoppable through two games.

Robert Suarez – 1.0 IP, K, SV (2). Two days. Two saves. That’s the kind of performance I expect out of my closers. Anything else and you’re washed and/or sent and actively trying to sabotage me. And the Pads really want to trade this guy?

Reynaldo Lopez – 5.0 IP 9 hits, 3 ER, 2 BB, K. Reynaldo looked very, uhh, hittable, for lack of a better less-obvious word. He gave up 11 base runners (ELEVEN) and generated just three CSW. Yet he escaped this one mostly unscathed considering San Diego is a tougher match up. He might not be so lucky next week when he takes on the Dodgers.

Jarred Kelenic – 1-for-4, HR (1). Jarred and put on a shelf never to be drafted by me again.

Jeffrey Springs – 6.0 IP, 3 hits, 0 ER, BB, 9 K, 1st win. Springs is primed for a big bounce back! Get it? Because springs bounce, right? Springs was almost your lede but Leiter is more widely available so I had to go with him, but make no mistake, I am all in on Jeffrey Springs and the Sacremende A’s in general. A homeless baseball team, spurned by their city that no one really wants? It’s a real life Major League and it’s too good to be true. I so badly wanted Springs to happen last year but injuries be injuring and it just didn’t happen. Springs was dealing Friday night, limiting any kind of hard contact, especially with his changeup which looked nasty, as per usual. He generated 17 whiffs (40% whiff%), nine on the changeup alone which he commands with expert precision. He can throw it wherever he wants and you can try to hit it but good luck. He’s available in 80% of leagues supposedly and I’d add everywhere I could but before I get too ahead of myself, the C-Attle Mariners offense looks absolutely dreadful so that could have played a part. Regardless, I’m all in on the Springs bounce back for 2025. Springs has sprungs, bring me 2023 Jeffrey on a platter and the houseless A’s will shock the world when they make the playoffs this year. The A’s are a wagon, ya’ll!

Brent Rooker – 2-for-5, HR (1), 2 RBI. Dime Store Rooker took er deep! People were really worried because he went 0-for-4 with 4 Ks on Thursday. Against Logan Gilbert! One of the best pitchers in the league. I told myself last year I wanted to draft Rooker everywhere this year and that was surprisingly easy to make happen. I love when players are underrated because they’re on nomad teams. Just wait till he sees his new baby ballpark *swoons*

Max Muncy – 1-for-5, HR (1). Some of the smaller market teams stopped trying to compete with Los Angeles in free agency and shifted efforts towards just trying to clone Dodgers players.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto – 5.0 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, 10 K. The 10 Ks is a career high and I didn’t really get a taste of what Yoshi can do last year because of injuries but I watch that splitter split and understand why everyone is so obsessed with him. He generated 17 swings and misses on his 91 pitches. And I mentioned the Ks, right? Glorious. The pitch count through five innings could be some cause for concern but only if you’re a n3rd. The Yamamoto coming out party is long overdue and if Roki’s half as good as this guy the league is in trouble.

Jack Flaherty – 5.2 IP, 3 hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. Big day for Jack as he collected his World Series ring then headed to the other dugout to impressively hold his old super team in check through five and two thirds. J-Flares is a popular Cy Young pick with good reason, as his only real blemish in this one was surrendering a bomb to Freddie Freedman which tied the game. Regardless, the fans were happy to see him and he got a huge ovation. How soon can he request a trade back to the Dodgers?

Tanner Scott – 0.2 IP, 3 hits, ER, BS. This is why you don’t draft closers early. I tried to draft one “solid” closer and he’s got me more stressed than the fairy tale rom-com Anora. Seriously, Dillon Dingler? Isn’t that the guy from Boogie Nights? Unlike Bednar, the Dodgers have plenty of options to replace this guy so the leash is short, Blake Treinen and Kirby Yates are looming and I’m going to need Tanner to do a lot better than this.

Beau Brieske – 0.1 IP, 4 hits, 4 ER, BS, L. OK, maybe it’s not just Tanner. Do all closers just suck to start the year and this is something I just forget about after six months in my bacta tank? Is any bullpen safe?

Gleyber Torres – 1-for-2, HR (1). Left the game with an oblique injury. To Tigers fans, the thing that was even scarier than the Gleyber injury was Javier Baez coming in to replace him.

Mookie Betts – 3-for-5, 3 runs, 2 HR (2), 4 RBI. Actually if Tanner Scott can’t handle the ninth inning duties I know someone who can–Mook! Shortstop? You bet. Closer? Why not! He can literally do anything! My flame, my muse, my shining star, one, Markus Lynn Betts. Did we actually hear that he hasn’t eaten in weeks? Reports were he lost close to 25 lbs! What I wouldn’t give for 25 lbs of Mookie Magic. Ugh, and the trainers are managing him all wrong, he likes a lukewarm bone broth with saltines when his tummy is upset. Just let me take care of him. I know his body better than I know my own. Make sure you massage his lower abdomen. Gently! OK, so he can’t eat, no big deal, he doesn’t need to eat he just needs to hit. And hit he did! This one! And then that one! That’s a walk off home in the 10th inning and oh my goodness, the chills I got from that. It was at that moment my soul left my body and the waking nightmare of my team trading the best player in the world for Alex Verdugo continues. I will never get over this. He really is the Mookie Best.

Thanks for reading! Questions? Problems? Complaints to management? Advice, small gifts, or large bribes? Please leave it in the comments below. Join us next Saturday for another Friday recap as fantasy baseball continues next week, all week long!