Fantasy Weekend: Scherzer, Cole continue to make comebacks

The Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles begin a key four-game series in Maryland on Saturday, the first meeting since last October, when the Rangers swept all three games to continue the World Series. The starting Orioles won 101 games and the AL East, but missed a playoff game as Texas beat them 21-11. Orioles pitchers posted a 7.27 ERA and 1.84 WHIP over 26 innings, as both starting pitchers didn’t last even two innings.

Starting pitching takes center stage again this weekend, with Orioles RHP Corbin Burnes, a legitimate AL Cy Young contender, getting the start, but fantasy managers will certainly be paying attention Friday night, with the Hall of Famer RHP up front. Max Scherzer is scheduled to make his second appearance of the season after missing months recovering from back, thumb and arm injuries. Scherzer threw 57 pitches in five shutout innings against the Royals last Sunday. He could be limited again on Friday. Scherzer remains available in more than 35% of ESPN’s default leagues.

At the plate, Rangers rookie OF Wyatt Langford had a productive June, scoring runs and stealing bases and, while he was among the most added hitters in ESPN’s standard league, he remained listed at less than 50%. Even more available was Rangers 3B Josh Jung, nearly recovering from wrist surgery he needed when an errant pitch caused a broken bone during the first week of the season. Jung hit 23 home runs in 2023, so a preemptive addition could be useful, even in a shallow league. Jung could play this weekend.

On the Orioles side, the lineup is set for much of this season, with six regulars listed in at least 50% of the league. 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn should be in the lineup against right-handed pitching. The Rangers plan to throw right-handers in the first three games of the series, then LHP Andrew Heaney in Sunday night’s game on ESPN. As for the Orioles top prospects such as SS / 2B Jackson Holliday, DH Heston Kjerstad and 3B / 1B Coby Mayo, there are not many opportunities.

Weekend pitcher to watch

• Back-on-track Atlanta Braves welcome Pittsburgh Pirates contending wild card and RHP ace pair, Jared Jones and Paul Skenes. Jones has issued three-plus runs in five of the last six outings, which is a tad worrisome for WHIP and goal efficiency, but it is difficult to sit even against what is left of the powerful Atlanta lineup. Skenes pitched a career-high seven innings, and has looked like a top-10 Fantasy starter after just eight starts. Atlanta sent the amazing RHP Reynaldo Lopez out for Sunday’s game, which — a daily league mark! — starts before lunch for many of us at 11:35 am ET.

• The sputtering Kansas City Royals get a chance to make ground on the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians, with a pitching matchup that pits LHP Cole Ragans against RHP Tanner Bibee on Saturday afternoon. Bibee has whiffed 30 hitters over his last three starts and, after a slow, inefficient start to the season, certainly looks like a top-20 fantasy starter again. Ragans also continues to pile up the strikeouts, but even when he’s pitched lately, he’s only won one of his last six starts. He was also a top-20 starter.

• Minnesota Twins RHP Pablo Lopez meet Seattle Mariners RHP Bryce Miller in an inconsistent aces battle. Lopez fanned 14 members of the Oakland Athletics in the most recent outing, ending about seven starts in which he did not reach as many as seven strikeouts once. Lopez dominated Oakland, lowering his ERA to a frustrating 5.11. Miller has a 3.90 ERA, but he has allowed at least six runs in two of his last four starts, with a reduced strikeout rate. These piters are listed everywhere – and they should be – but the manager is confused.

• Speaking of befuddling, New York Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole struggled against the New York Mets on Tuesday, allowing four home runs and six runs overall in four innings. The most shocking numbers are the big goose eggs in the strikeout column. Cole faced 21 batters, often at a reduced pace not only compared to last season, but also since June 19, his debut in 2024. This could be a sign of physical problems. Cole is scheduled to face Toronto Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman on Saturday, but investors should be alert and be prepared for changes just in case Cole’s elbow is barking.

Weekend fans to watch

• The Cincinnati Reds are scheduled to throw a trio of right-handers after Friday’s opener, which is good news for St. Alec Burleson and 2B/OF Brendan Donovan, both of whom are among the most added hitters in ESPN’s league but are still available at over 50%. Burleson is an emerging power hitter slugging over .500 against right-handers, while Donovan has enjoyed a surprising streak recently with an RBI in seven consecutive games.

• The Braves, lacking options, continue to place OF Jarred Kelenic in the leadoff spot — and better numbers in the role after a few weeks. Are they better enough for managers Fantasy to invest? Kelenic still struggles against left-handed pitching, and he’s only attempted to steal three bases in over 60 games. Newcomer OF Ramon Laureano didn’t do much at the plate. Will the lefty hit OF Forrest Wall, who steals a major base, finally get a shot? Atlanta faces Jones and Skenes, no easy task, then contact-oriented LHP Bailey Falter on Sunday.

• Blue Jays rookie 1B/2B Spencer Horwitz advertised as an “on-base machine” and, so far, they’ve made progress by reaching base. Horwitz bats left-handed and should start the weekend game against the Yankees’ Marcus Stroman and Cole, but probably won’t be a game against a lefty. Horwitz recently had a 2-HR game and boasted twice as many strikeouts. Also keep an eye on 1B Justin Turner, who has raised his batting average by 20 points over the past week-plus. He may be relevant again in the shallow leagues.