Are You For Real? Week 24 dives into under-5% rostered starters who flashed upside or noise in the final stretch. Freeland carved up San Diego in eight innings with 10 strikeouts, leaning on a dominant knuckle curve and a refined four-seam fastball while phasing out the sinker. The performance comes with Coors caveats, making it a one-off question mark rather than a commitment. Brad Lord followed a rough patch with a strong outing against Chicago, showing plus fastball movement and a usable slider but lingering questions about command and secondary depth. Cleveland's Parker Messick dazzled in six frames versus Tampa Bay, riding a signature changeup and a blossoming sinker to a string of quality starts. All three carry streamer appeal in the right matchups, especially in deeper formats, but fantasy rosters should remain cautious about long-term upside without more proof.

Freeland's mix shift and the curve's success raise the floor for a few more Coors-adjacent starts, yet road games and velocity concerns temper enthusiasm. Lord's slider and changeup offer glimpses, but the lack of a true knockout secondary paves the way for regression. Messick, while intriguing, is still a relative risk/reward play whose best path to sustained value hinges on continued changeup effectiveness and improved command of his other offerings. In Week 24, the message is clear: chase upside in the right contexts, but don’t baked-in trust into these three just yet.

Fantasy baseball managers often overlook potential sleeper pitchers in the current season. The focus shifts to Garrett Whitlock, Shelby Miller, and Chase Burns, each offering unique upside. Whitlock has been effective as an SP/RP for the Red Sox, boasting a 2.82 ERA and strong strikeout numbers, making him a valuable asset in leagues that incentivize holds. Miller has seen a resurgence in the relief role with a 2.03 ERA and job security as a closer for the Diamondbacks. The excitement builds around the Reds' prospect, Chase Burns, making his MLB debut, although his lack of experience and hittable fastball raises concerns.

The Toronto Blue Jays are taking a methodical approach in selecting their leadoff hitter for the upcoming season, with second baseman Andrés Giménez emerging as a potential candidate. Acquired from the Cleveland Guardians, Giménez brings an intriguing profile despite a subpar performance last year, hitting just .252 with a .298 on-base percentage. This raises questions as George Springer, a previous leadoff mainstay, recorded a .303 OBP last season. Nonetheless, manager John Schneider highlights Giménez's ability to work pitches and make contact, which could complement the middle of the lineup, featuring the likes of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Anthony Santander.

Despite last season’s struggles, hopes are high that Giménez can regain his 2022 form, where he boasted a .297 average and a .371 OBP. Meanwhile, Adam Macko will undergo a significant recovery from a meniscus surgery, sidelining him for an undetermined time, a setback for the pitching depth. The Blue Jays are also finalizing their spring training rotation, with promising arms like Easton Lucas and José Berríos set to take the mound in a series of upcoming games.

The Toronto Blue Jays face a significant setback as pitching prospect Adam Macko is diagnosed with a probable meniscus tear in his knee, requiring surgery and expected to sideline him for an extended period. Macko was projected to start the season at Triple-A Buffalo and was seen as a vital option for the big league rotation following an uneven minor league season, where he recorded a 4.87 ERA at Double-A New Hampshire. His injury further strains an already depleted pitching depth chart for the Jays, who also have fellow prospects Ricky Tiedemann, Brandon Barriera, and Landen Maroudis likely sidelined for most of the season. The team anticipates that Yariel Rodriguez will take on a larger role as a swingman, with Jake Bloss emerging as a primary starter option in Buffalo. Meanwhile, the Jays have recently bolstered their bullpen by signing veteran arms Amir Garrett and Jacob Barnes, who will compete for spots in spring training.