New York Mets right-handed pitching prospect Brandon Sproat tossed five innings of one-run ball against Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday. Sproat allowed just two hits and one walk. He struck out five. The Florida product has been able to hold his own during his second look at the Triple-A level. Through 28 innings of work, Sproat has held a 4.82 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP. However, his ratios are quite inflated due to his six-run blow-up start on April 24. Removing this outing, the right-hander has posted a solid 3.16 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP. Last summer, Sproat was able to make his Triple-A debut but struggled over his first taste of the level, as he held a high 7.53 ERA with a 1.64 WHIP across 28 2/3 innings of work. Given his steady progress, fantasy managers should expect Sproat to make his MLB debut in the first half of the 2025 campaign.

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena went 2-for-5 from the leadoff spot for the Astros on Wednesday night with a double, a home run, two runs scored, and four RBI. Pena's three-run blast came in the sixth inning with two outs to break the game open, expanding the Astros' lead from 3-1 to 6-1 on their way to a 9-1 victory. Pena is hitting .279 with five homers, five stolen bases, and 19 runs scored. He is on pace for career highs with a .340 wOBA, .358 xwOBA, and a 122 wRC+. The 27-year-old has become a fixture at the top of Houston's lineup card and has hit .349 since moving to the leadoff spot 10 games ago, while also hitting safely in 24 of his last 26 games. He's a nice shortstop option for fantasy baseball if you didn't land one of the superstars at the position at the start of the season.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane Baz was knocked around by the Phillies in Tampa on Wednesday, allowing six earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts in just 3 1/3 innings. Baz gave up a solo home run to Trea Turner in the third inning, but had only given up that one run before things unraveled on him in the fourth inning. He gave up three singles and a walk before Bryce Harper smashed a two-run double that chased Baz from the game with a 6-0 deficit. Baz took the loss and fell to 3-2 on the year with a 4.93 ERA and 3.95 FIP. He has given up at least five earned runs in three of his last four games, especially struggling at home in Tampa. He will get a chance to bounce back in his next outing, which is scheduled to be in a divisional matchup in Toronto on Tuesday.

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman had a rough ninth inning in Anaheim, blowing the save and taking the loss on Wednesday night. Hoffman entered the game with a 4-2 lead but gave up a walk and two singles before getting an out. He struck out Taylor Ward but gave up a three-run double to Jorge Soler that flipped the 4-2 lead into a 5-4 defeat with one swing of the bat. Hoffman was charged with three runs on three hits and took his first blown save and his first loss of the year. The loss drops his record to 3-1 on the year with seven saves in 16 games. Hoffman also gave up three runs on Tuesday night in a non-save situation, and this could be growing into a developing issue for the Blue Jays' bullpen

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Emilio Pagan bounced back from Tuesday's blown save with a scoreless ninth inning on Wednesday night against the Braves. He allowed a single to Michael Harris II but struck out Eddie Rosario to end the game to preserve a one-run victory. That strikeout was one of Pagan's two punchouts in the ninth inning. He is up to 20 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings and is 0-1 with a 2.60 ERA, 3.73 FIP, and 0.63 WHIP. He has converted nine of his 11 save opportunities and also picked up a hold. He remains the main option in the back end of the Reds' bullpen and should be a good source of saves, especially if the Reds' offense can get back on track.