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Tyler Freeman RF | COL
Guardians' Tyler Freeman: Swats first long ball
Freeman went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Monday in a loss to the Mariners.
Freeman brought the Guardians to within two runs with his sixth-inning solo blast, but his team ultimately fell short. The long ball was the first of the campaign for the 24-year-old, who never hit more than six homers over a season in the minors. Freeman is better known for his speed and bat-to-ball ability, and he's attempting to use that skill set to hold down a near-everyday role in center field after playing mostly in the infield as a minor-leaguer.
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Dominic Canzone DH | SEA
Mariners' Dominic Canzone: Launches three-run homer
Canzone went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Monday's 5-4 win against Cleveland.
Canzone came into the contest having gone hitless over his first eight plate appearances before belting a 411-foot, three-run homer to center field in the second inning to give Seattle a 4-0 lead. The outfielder didn't reach base again, but his long ball ended up accounting for the majority of the Mariners' runs in the close win. However, Canzone is just 1-for-12 with six strikeouts on the season, so he's yet to really get going as he seeks to nail down a starting role.
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Anthony Volpe SS | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Volpe: Doubles twice in four-hit day
Vople went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and a run batted in against the Diamondbacks on Monday.
Volpe generated his second straight multi-hit game and provided his third and fourth extra-base hit of his last three appearances. The second-year shortstop has been making his case to rise up the Yankees lineup having reached safely in 14 of his 18 plate appearances through four games while pacing the team in runs scored (5).
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Victor Gonzalez RP | LAA
Yankees' Victor Gonzalez: Converts on save opportunity
Gonzalez picked up the save Monday against the Diamondbacks, surrendering no runs on one hit and no walks over one inning. He didn't generate a strikeout.
Gonzalez surprisingly was handed the ball in the ninth, filling in for closer Clay Holmes, who got the night off after making two straight appearances to end March. The 28-year-old capitalized on the opportunity, cashing in for his second career save -- his first since 2021. While he likely won't see many more save chances fall his way, Gonzalez landing ninth-inning work Monday likely serves as a vote of confidence from Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
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Luis Gil RP | NYY
Yankees' Luis Gil: Impresses in 2024 debut
Gil didn't factor into the decision Monday against Arizona, going 4.2 innings and yielding one run on one hit and three walks. He struck out six.
Gil showed his worth as the Yankees' fifth starter and Gerrit Cole (elbow) fill-in, holding the D-Backs to one hit in his first MLB appearance since 2022. The righty got himself into trouble in the third, allowing a hit and a walk before advancing both the runners on a wild pitch, opening up the opportunity for Ketel Marte to cash in on a sac fly. Still, Gil looks to be a quality option for the Yankees moving forward and will look to keep the ball rolling in his next projected start Sunday against Toronto -- who got no-hit by Houston's Ronel Blanco on Monday.
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Triston McKenzie SP | SD
Guardians' Triston McKenzie: Takes loss in 2024 debut
McKenzie (0-1) took the loss against Seattle on Monday, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out two batters over 3.1 innings.
McKenzie breezed through his first frame without any trouble, but a pair of one-out walks in the second set the stage for the Mariners' four-run inning. The right-hander bounced back with a perfect third frame before departing with one out and the bases loaded in the fourth. It wasn't a promising campaign debut for McKenzie, as he notched just seven swinging strikes among his 78 pitches and punched out only two batters. The 26-year-old is attempting to get back on track after being limited to 16 big-league innings last season due to injuries.
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Jarren Duran LF | BOS
Red Sox's Jarren Duran: Collects three hits, three pilfers
Duran went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, a run batted in and three stolen bases during Monday's game against the Athletics.
Duran ran wild Monday, pushing himself to a league-leading five steals on the season. He swiped second base after each of his three singles but also advanced to third via error on two of those occasions. The multi-hit outing was much-needed for the speedster after opening the season 2-for-16 (.125)
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Joe Boyle SP | TB
Athletics' Joe Boyle: Roughed up by BoSox
Boyle (0-1) took the loss Monday against Boston, surrendering eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and four walks across 2.2 innings. He struck out four.
Oddly enough, Boyle did a decent job limiting power, yielding just one extra-base hit on the day. However, a peppering of singles and a pair of untimely errors allowed the Red Sox to hang eight runs in the first three innings. While Boyle's 2024 debut was disappointing at best, there should still be slivers of hope for a turnaround after Boyle posted a 1.69 ERA in three big-league starts last season. Boyle will look to show his 2023 form in his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to come Sunday at Detroit.
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Ryne Stanek RP | STL
Mariners' Ryne Stanek: Secures save against Cleveland
Stanek notched a save Monday against the Guardians, striking out one batter in a perfect inning.
Andres Munoz is expected to be Seattle's primary closer, but he was deployed in the eighth inning Monday to face the heart of Cleveland's order. That left the ninth to Stanek, who looked very closer-like in slamming the door with a 1-2--3 frame for his fifth career save. Munoz should still get the bulk of the save opportunities for the Mariners this season, but his usage Monday suggests that others will get an opportunity from time to time when the situation calls for Munoz to enter earlier than the ninth.
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Tanner Houck SP | BOS
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Fans 10 in shutout
Houck (1-0) picked up the win Monday against Oakland, tossing six scoreless innings on three hits and no walks. He struck out 10.
Houck was excellent in his 2024 debut -- albeit against the A's at the pitcher-friendly Oakland Coliseum -- matching his career high in strikeouts that was set against Atlanta in 2020. Despite the soft matchup fantasy managers should be optimistic about Houck's fantasy outlook after he generated a 2.40 ERA in 15 innings of spring ball. He'll likely cap off a two-start week Sunday against the Angels.