The Chase Dollander era has officially commenced at Coors Field. The 23-year-old right-hander debuted with a fastball that topped out at 99 mph, leading the Rockies to a 12-5 victory over the Athletics, thus ending a six-game losing streak. Despite allowing four runs on seven hits over five innings, including two home runs, Dollander struck out six batters and walked just one, impressing the crowd of 26,207.

On offense, the Rockies finally broke out, registering a season-high 14 hits. Brenton Doyle ignited the scoring with a leadoff home run, finishing 3-for-5 with four RBIs. Ezequiel Tovar contributed significantly with a 4-for-5 performance, driving in three runs. Kris Bryant also showed signs of life, recording two hits in five at-bats.

In the ever-evolving landscape of fantasy baseball, shortstop remains a pivotal position with both elite and breakout players. Ezequiel Tovar of the Colorado Rockies, who recently signed a seven-year extension, is poised for a breakout after showcasing impressive power and solid defensive skills. Similarly, Masyn Winn of the St. Louis Cardinals is expected to excel after moving to the leadoff spot, with aspirations for a 20-20 season. The Chicago Cubs' Matt Shaw brings positional versatility and potential Rookie of the Year credentials, while Hyeseong Kim of the Los Angeles Dodgers offers late-round potential for batting average and stolen bases. Lastly, Jordan Lawlar of the Arizona Diamondbacks, despite injury setbacks, remains a tantalizing prospect to monitor in deep leagues.

Statcast data has revolutionized MLB analytics, providing insights into player performance through Expected Stats, which gauge actual performance against expected outcomes based on metrics like launch angle and exit velocity. This is crucial for fantasy baseball managers to identify players who have been either fortunate or unfortunate in their outcomes. For the upcoming 2025 season, the analysis highlights several players whose metrics suggest they may be undervalued or poised for a bounce back.

José Ramírez, for instance, had a significant gap between his expected batting average and actual performance, hinting at potential adjustments needed for 2025. Juan Soto's Statcast data reveals he might have underperformed last season, making him a prime target in round one. Meanwhile, Marcell Ozuna’s metrics suggest he could provide immense value as he has consistently posted high expected outcomes. Similarly, Michael Harris II and Ezequiel Tovar were identified as players who might exceed their draft positions based on their underlying data.

In a disappointing outing for the Colorado Rockies, top prospect Chase Dollander struggled against the Athletics, allowing five runs in just 1.2 innings. His fastball was off-target, resulting in four walks and raising his spring ERA to 12.15. Fellow closer hopeful Victor Vodnik also faltered, giving up two runs in his inning. In contrast, Tyler Kinley and Seth Halvorson shined, with Kinley remaining unscored upon this spring and Halvorson sporting a solid 1.80 ERA.

Despite seven hits, the Rockies only managed one run, failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities by going 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position and leaving 11 men stranded. Brenton Doyle had a strong performance, going 2 for 3 with a double, while shortstop Ezequiel Tovar brought in the lone run. Kris Bryant's struggles continued as he dropped to a .200 batting average, going 0 for 3 with two strikeouts.