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BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues
ROSTERED IN: 40% of Leagues
ANALYSIS: The wait is over! Taj Bradley will make his return to the Rays' rotation against the New York Mets on Thursday. The Rays' move to send him back down to Triple-A at the end of April stunned the fantasy baseball community. Hopefully, you had him stashed or still have a chance to grab the organization's top pitching prospect.
Bradley looked dominant through his three-start stretch in April for the Rays. He showcased his four-seam fastball that averaged 96 mph while mixing in his cutter, curveball, and changeup. The 22-year-old finished his first chance in the majors with a 3-0 record, 3.52 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 23:2 K: BB through 15 1/3 innings pitched. Watch for Bradley to build off this as he gets an extended look at the major league level.
Bradley has struggled to find his footing since rejoining the Triple-A club. He's unfortunately given up 16 earned runs through three starts in just 9.0 innings pitched. Demotions are tough on young players, especially when they are not performance-based, so we hope he can regain his confidence while joining the big league's rotation.
The 22-year-old carries elite upside as he posted a 38.3% strikeout rate through three major league starts, ranking in the top three percent in the league according to Statcast. Regardless of format, Bradley is an enticing fantasy option off the waiver wire if he’s available in your league.
The Rays have now lost two starting pitchers to long-term injuries in, Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen. As the team waits for Tyler Glasnow to complete his rehab assignment, the Rays are struggling to find pitchers who can give them consistent innings. Fantasy managers have been calling on Bradley to help the Rays' rotation, but the team stated they wanted him to transition to a five-day pitching schedule.
The Rays are down to just two competent arms in their rotation, so all signs point to Bradley sticking around long-term. However, it’s difficult to have confidence in the Rays' decision-making as they’ve made countless unconventional moves in the past. Fantasy managers hope Bradley can put his recent numbers behind him and lay the uncertainty to rest with a commanding start on Thursday against the Mets.
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