For the first time in a while, I believe we have more TRUTH than FICTION! This is a reason to celebrate, as it is very easy to become pessimistic as the months of the MLB season go by. Despite expected call-ups, I tend to be skeptical of “breakout” big league veterans, as they tend to be on the good side of luck for a while.
However, it is always kind to those who are young and actively lead the role. Also, some guys happen to “see” you in the middle of the season after the chaos that started the season. Baseball and fantasy baseball are games to fix…sooner is better than later.
1B/2B/OF Kody Clemens (MIN)
Kody Clemens is hitting the best in baseball lately. He has four home runs, three doubles, and a triple in 40 PA since May 27, with a .285 batting average in that span.
30-year-old Clemens is not a new face on the scene and he had a similar situation in 2025. He hit five HRs, four doubles, and a triple in 53 PA between May 3 and May 2, for a .356 average. He went on to hit 14 HR in his last 318 PA, while hitting .197.
Clemens is a typical lefty with great power and an inconsistent bat. He also hit five HRs (including a three-run game) between September 4th and September 12th in 2025, then didn’t produce a single the entire month. He is what he is – a hot-hitting hitter.
FICTION
2B/OF Michael Massey (KC)
Michael Massey has 13 hits in his past 34 PA, with three HRs, five runs, and seven RBIs. He’s miserable and gives the Royals some offense over MVP candidate Bobby Witt Jr.
Unfortunately, this tear is just luck. Two of Massey’s three HRs have been hit in Cincinnati’s bandbox, and he’s doing better than his season-long xwOBA and his xwOBA this past week. Massey’s .330 wOBA is a few points higher than his .286 xwOBA, which is similar to his .265 from 2025 over his .316 between 2023 and 2024.
Massey is a bad hitter in the hot zone. At least Kody Clemens has the reputation of being an ok hitter on the heater!
FICTION
OF Dominic Canzone (SEA)
Dominic Canzone’s name is very interesting. It reminds me of the Italian acting scene from Inglorious Basterds with Enzo Gorlami and the legendary Dominic DeCoco. Canzone makes me want to wave my fingers in the air and chew together obscure words in a restaurant.
On the topic of Canzone as a legendary legacy, he is less excited to plan the show than to call it. Canzone, like Clemens, is quite streaky. However, unlike Clemens, and especially Massey, Canzone is a DAMN good hitter. He has a .286/.348/485 line through 2025, with a nice 138 wRC+.
This is a staple of any offense, but Canzone’s consistency makes him harder to appreciate than many other talented bats. He is currently a heater with four HRs, six runs, and six RBIs since May 25th, with 12 hits in 28 PA.
Most of the time, heaters are neglected, but Canzone has the ability to handle the product for a month or more. He was given a regular plate appearance for the first time in 2025. Maybe this year he can bring us a hot summer? I’m determined to find out as he gets to the heart of the Mariners’ roster.
THE TRUTH (at least as a broadcaster but maybe more?)
UT Bruce Eldridge (SF)
The Giants are finally using their top prospect regularly. Bryce Eldridge was called up last month, but didn’t get regular playing time, at least against RHP, until recently. The Giants’ infield/DH vacancies left Eldridge as an odd man out, but their decision to send Casey Schmitt to the outfield has alleviated the situation.
Eldridge is only 21 years old, but he can produce extreme pop. His slugging rate (53.6%), average exit velocity (92 MPH), and maximum exit velocity (113.4 MPH) are among the league’s best, though it’s a small sample size so far. His .365 wOBA is behind his .396 xwOBA, indicating some decline on the way. Eldridge is unfortunately stuck hitting one of baseball’s most popular home runs, but with his strength, he can drive balls into the harbor.
Although both of Eldridge’s home runs this season have come against RHP, he is getting fewer at-bats against LHP. He has five hits in 15 PA, but also a 40% strikeout rate. The key to his upside will be his performance against LHP (like most left-handed hitters), however with his pedigree and performance thus far, we should be willing to find out.
THE TRUTH
SP Tatsuya Imai (HOU)
Tatsuya Imai had perhaps the worst start in his first four starts. He had a 9.24 ERA over 12 2/3 innings from March 29 to May 12. This includes a month missed during that stretch due to “soreness”.
That missed time has apparently served to make some amends, because Imai is a new man, even though he got off to a rough start.
May 18 vs. Twins – 4 2/3 IP, 6 hits, 0 walks, 3 ER, 5 K
May 25 vs. Rangers – 6 IP, 0 hits, 4 walks, 0 ER, 2 K
May 31 vs. Brewers – 6 IP, 3 hits, 2 walks, 2 ER, 5 K
June 5 vs. Athletics – 5 IP, 5 hits, 2 walks, 2 ER, 8 K
This is not an “ace”, but Imai is a strong real-life and fictional SP for this product. His initial pieces also indicate that he is not very lucky. The walk is still there, but to a lesser extent than his first start. If Imai can keep this up, he could be a quality SP that deserves to be drafted in most leagues.
THE TRUTH (for now)
SP JT Ginn (ATH)
JT Ginn from May 7th
36 1/3 IP
1.49 ERA / 0.94 WHIP
37 K / 13 BB (17.3% K-BB)
3.74 xERA / 3.46 xFIP
The Athletics may have their best starter. Although top pitching prospect Gage Jump was called up two weeks ago, Ginn may be the ace of this staff. His recent stretch is fortunate, but even in retrospect, it seems to have the quality of a SP from Sacramento/Oakland/Las Vegas.
Ginn is one of the best hitters who had an exciting journey to the majors. Drafted in the first round by the Dodgers in 2018, he decided to honor his college commitment, then tore his UCL as a sophomore. He was drafted again in 2022, but by the Mets in the second round.
While Ginn struggled in his first two seasons in the league (4.85 ERA from 2024-2025), he at least showed good peripherals last year. His xERA, xFIP, and SIERA were all under 4.00 in 2025, yet his ERA was an inflated 5.08. He entered this year with a huge increase in velocity (94.5 MPH fastball average) and is succeeding, even in Sacramento’s batter’s park.
Ironically, Ginn’s season peripherals were better in 2025 than 2026, but he could figure out how to play better at home after a year in this new park. The talent is worth getting, and at worst, he’s a sure firer on the road (1.99 ERA).
THE TRUTH
RP Alex Lange (KC)
This week’s leaders in saves entering Sunday are consensus top 50 picks Jhoan Duran (3) and former Tigers and now closer Alex Lange (3).
Lange takes on the closer role after Carlos Estevez lost due to “injury”, and more recently, Lucas Erceg lost due to injury. This increased Lange’s career save total to 31, a significant increase of 26 in 2023. The right-hander may not be the best fit for the role, given the performances of Daniel Lynch and Matt Strahm, but he’s good, and managers tend to favor him when closing jobs.
Lange’s season-long stats aren’t offensive. He has a 4.03 ERA, 4.55 xERA, 4.21 xFIP, and a 4.05 SIERA. However, he has given up one run since May 18, with all peripherals below 3.00 this time.
We’ve seen Lange succeed as a closer before. The manager seems to trust him, and the Royals aren’t the closers who get the chance to extend (see: Estevez, Carlos from 2024-2025).
THE TRUTH
