Curtis Mead DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Curtis Mead is not in the starting nine on Saturday afternoon for the second game of their series against the Colorado Rockies. Mead got the nod in the series opener on Friday and even batted in the leadoff spot. Instead, facing right-handed pitcher Antonio Senzatela, the Rays will opt to have Jonathan Aranda cover first base and bat cleanup. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Mead's status as he may only be in the lineup against southpaws. In the opener, he went 0-for-4 at the plate with two strikeouts. Mead was able to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster thanks to his impressive performance during camp when he posted a stellar .524 AVG. Given his potential to have a limited role, Mead should only be rostered in deeper 15+ team formats.

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Curtis Mead is getting the starting nod at first base and is batting leadoff on Opening Day on Friday versus the visiting Colorado Rockies and left-hander Kyle Freeland at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The 24-year-old is hoping to parlay his blistering-hot spring into the start of the regular season after hitting .524 (22-for-42 with a home run in Grapefruit League play for the Rays. So far in two seasons (62 games played) in the big leagues for the Rays, though, Mead has been a disappointment after the team acquired him from the Phillies in the Cristopher Sanchez trade. In his 224 major-league plate appearances, Mead has slashed .244/.300/.312 with a .613 OPS, two homers and 12 RBI. As a right-handed hitter, Mead will at least be in the lineup against lefties, but he may need to keep hitting to secure an everyday role in Tampa.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Curtis Mead has made the team's Opening Day roster, according to manager Kevin Cash. Mead essentially beats out Eloy Jimenez for one of the team's final roster spots out of camp thanks to an impressive Grapefruit League performance this spring. Entering play on Friday, Mead has hit .543 (19-for-35) with a homer, double, three RBI, a stolen base and six runs scored in 13 contests. The 24-year-old Australian's stock is certainly rising for those in deep-mixed and AL-only leagues despite the fact he's only hit .244/.300/.312 with a .613 OPS, two home runs and 12 RBI in 62 games since he debuted in the big leagues in 2023. The former highly-touted prospect in the Phillies system might initially only see playing time in Tampa against lefties, but if he continues to swing the bat like he has in spring training, more playing time will surely come. Stash him in AL-only formats for now.