Jonathan Aranda Smacks Third Home Run
Jonathan Aranda went 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk in Tuesday's 7-4 loss to their division-rival Boston Red Sox. Aranda continues to mash, posting his third home run in the early going with a white-hot .413 average (19-for-46) and robust 1.242 OPS. The 26-year-old is just three homers off his 2024 total in fewer than half the at-bats it took him to do so while notching seven doubles, 11 RBI, and ten runs scored. His batted-ball metrics are off the charts thus far, with stark increases in average exit velocity (96.5 MPH) and hard-hit percentage (62.2%) while dropping his strikeout rate (18.5%) and raising his walk percentage (11.1%) from a season ago.
Source: ESPN
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Source: ESPN
Jonathan Aranda, Chandler Simpson Sitting On Saturday
Jonathan Aranda and rookie outfielder Chandler Simpson will not start on Saturday in the Bronx against the New York Yankees and left-hander Ryan Yarbrough. Righty Clarke Schmidt (side) was originally scheduled to start for the Yanks, but he was scratched due to a side issue. Curtis Mead is now starting at first base and batting fifth, while Kameron Misner will start in center field and bat seventh. Jose Caballero is in right field and in the six-hole. Aranda is hitting over .300 so far in 2025 but has gone 2-for-14 with five strikeouts against left-handed pitching, so he'll take a seat. Simpson, who also bats from the left side, is hitting .318 (14-for-44) in his first 11 big-league games, but he hasn't homered while driving in three and stealing three bases. He's just 3-for-15 against lefties.
Source: MLB.com
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman/designated hitter Source: MLB.com
Jonathan Aranda Sitting Against Southpaw
Jonathan Aranda will take a seat on Wednesday against the hosting Arizona Diamondbacks with left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez getting the nod on the bump. With the left-handed-hitting Aranda on the bench to start, Curtis Mead will play first base for the Rays and hit fifth against Rodriguez, a pitcher he's never faced. This should just be a routine day of rest against a southpaw for the 26-year-old Aranda, who should be rostered in all fantasy formats after starting the year slashing an impressive .344/.442/.656 with a 1.09 OPS, four home runs, 13 RBI and 12 runs scored in his first 64 at-bats. The Mexican slugger is on an early-season tear, but he's gone just 1-for-10 with four walks and four K's against lefties. Mead has been cold, going 4-for-29 with no homers and one RBI in 2025.
Source: MLB.com
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman/designated hitter Source: MLB.com
Jonathan Aranda, Brandon Lowe Sitting Against A Lefty
Jonathan Aranda and second baseman Brandon Lowe will both start on the bench against a left-hander on Wednesday against the division-rival Boston Red Sox. Curtis Mead will make the start at first base and will bat second, while Coco Montes is starting at second and hitting seventh against Red Sox left-hander Sean Newcomb. Aranda is hitting a strong .414 (19-for-46) on the year with three home runs, 11 RBI and 10 runs scored, but the Mexican slugger has yet to start in 2025 against a southpaw. Lowe has only made one start this year against a lefty, and like Aranda, he also has three home runs on the season in 61 at-bats. Mead has DFS upside as a deep sleeper in the two-hole on Wednesday, but he's gone just 4-for-22 in the early going for Tampa with an RBI and a run scored. Still, he's the better DFS sleeper option than Montes.
Source: MLB.com
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Source: MLB.com
Jonathan Aranda Sitting On Sunday
Jonathan Aranda is not in the starting lineup on Sunday when they conclude a series against the Atlanta Braves. With southpaw Chris Sale on the bump, the Rays will opt for the left-handed bat to sit out of the starting nine. Fantasy managers should expect Aranda return to the lineup on Monday when they face Boston right-hander Tanner Houck. Over his previous six contests, Aranda has been swinging a hot bat as he has posted a strong .429/.500/.810 slash line with two doubles and two home runs. Instead, Curtis Mead will start at first base and bat in the two-hole on Sunday afternoon. Mead is not worth targeting in this matchup as he will face Atlanta ace Chris Sale. Aranda remains a viable option in 12+ team formats as a solid corner infielder.
Source: MLB.com
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Source: MLB.com
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