Boston and Baltimore square off in Camden Yards as Crochet faces Cade Povich in a key matinee. Boston flashed power with Roman Anthony and Ceddanne Rafaela while Brayan Bello offered length out of the bullpen. Aroldis Chapman closed again, extending a hitless run that spans 10.2 innings. The matchup leans on Crochet's recent strikeout upside against a right-handed Orioles lineup, with Boston favored to back him in a typical high-leverage, late-game script.

From a fantasy-betting lens, Crochet's heavy K potential vs Baltimore's lineup is the pillar, while Povich must navigate Boston's rising youngsters and veteran stories like Story and Bregman in trends. Bello and Chapman add bullpen depth that could tilt saves and win equity. Expect a tight, strategic game with small-ball and power brewing in a game that could swing on bullpen leverage and a couple of early bombs by the rookies.

Nolan McLean exploded onto the NL scene with a 3-0 start, 20.1 innings, 24 strikeouts, a 0.89 ERA and a .167 opponent average. His eight-inning, nine-K gem vs Philadelphia underscored a groundball-heavy, slider-sinker approach that induced 12 groundouts and a 69.2% GB rate. With injuries thinning the Mets' rotation, his early impact could pivot a pennant race and accelerate the team’s development model toward multi-talented pitching prospects.

McLean’s rapid ascent mirrors a broader MLB trend toward athletic, two-way-style development and the belief that young arms can immediate contribute at a high level. The Mets’ success could catalyze similar trajectories for Painter and Povich, turning a rebuild-like period into a potential wildcard push and reshaping fantasy rosters around a rising internal ace.

As the Mets chase the NL Wild Card and contend with roster churn, McLean’s rookie breakout offers both real-world and fantasy intrigue: a sub-1.00 ERA through three starts, a sky-high strikeout rate, and the ability to force rotation decisions that could amplify value for Mets pitchers down the stretch.

Week 22 of 2025 brings a tight, catcher-friendly waiver wire for starting pitchers. Rookie breakdowns and back-end rotation bets headline shallow leagues, while deeper rosters get a richer pool of options. Nolan McLean and Dean Kremer anchor the top-streamers, with Bubba Chandler, Dustin May, Cristian Javier, Cam Schlittler and Cade Cavalli among the more intriguing adds. Additional depth comes from Cade Cavalli, Mike Burrows, Cade Povich, Davis Martin and Luis Morales, plus a handful of under-15% rostered arms that could surprise in the pennant chase. Proactive FAAB and daily lineup discipline are urged as the weekend approaches.

rostering, matchup awareness, and role clarity drive the week’s decisions. The piece emphasizes evaluating early-season form, pitcher usage trends, and whether a bulking relief role can translate into meaningful starts. The message: add pitchers before they wake up in your league, monitor innings, and exploit favorable matchups as teams push toward playoffs.

Cade Povich, Tayler Saucedo, and Lance McCullers Jr. are at the center of a troubling rise in fan hostility after rough MLB outings. Povich spoke out when death threats to his wife surfaced after a 6 earned run night against Houston, insisting safety matters in the game.

The episodes extend to Saucedo, with threats aimed at him and his girlfriend after a rough start vs Philadelphia, and to McCullers, who previously drew police and security attention. The trend highlights how social media and betting hype collide with on field performance, affecting players and fantasy managers alike.