Lamet (2-0) held the Cubs to two runs on five hits over five innings Tuesday. He walked one and struck out eight on his way to his second victory of the season.
After impressing in his debut against the Mets last Thursday, the rookie posted a nearly identical stat line against the defending World Series champs. Lamet wasn't intimidated by the Cubs' overpowering lineup, throwing first-pitch strikes to 15 of the 22 batters he faced. The 24-year-old added a changeup with big downward movement this spring to complement his high-90s fastball and sweeping slider, and the results have been noticeable. His early returns and favorable home ballpark should result in a drastic ownership spike in most fantasy formats. That said, most rookie pitchers often go through an adjustment period after experiencing early success, so owners should keep expectations in check until a larger sample size is provided. If Lamet can go into his next start on the road against a high-octane Diamondbacks lineup and come out looking as strong as he has in his previous two, we can begin to consider the rookie a must-start arm going forward.