MLB

The 29-year-old slugger clobbered a 388-foot (104.4 mph EV) three-run shot off of Cole Ragans in the top half of the first inning, increasing the Rangers’ early lead to 4-0. He also added an RBI single fourth inning that tied the score at 8-8. With his two-hit attack, Burger is hitting .333 (6-for-18) with a pair of homers and five RBI to start the spring.

The dynamic 24-year-old outfielder got the scoring started in the slugfest with an RBI single off of Cole Ragans in the top half of the first inning. Langford then tagged Ragans for a 436-foot (106.2 mph EV) two-run shot in the second that pulled the Rangers to within a run at 7-6. He also drew a walk in the third inning before being lifted for a pinch runner. For the spring, Langford is slashing a healthy .500/.583/1.100 with a pair of homers, seven RBI and a 0/2 K/BB ratio in his first 12 plate appearances.

Gore also issued three walks on the night while recording a pair of strikeouts. After the Rangers scored four runs in the top half of the first inning, Gore gave it back and then some in the home half as the Royals started with three straight hits and then Kyle Isbel was plunked to force in a run. Brandon Drury then delivered an RBI single, another run scored on a wild pitch and Josh Rojas smacked a two-run double. Gore was then lifted, and Rojas scored against the bullpen. He returned to work a scoreless second inning, but things got dicey again in the third as the Royals loaded the bases with no outs before Jonathan India bounced into a double play, ending Gore’s day. He’ll see if he can pick up the pieces and get back on track his next time out.

Waters greeted Aidan Anderson in the first inning, crushing the first pitch that he saw for a 440-foot (108.8 mph) two-run home run that increased the Royals’ lead to 7-4. Waters also walked in the second inning and scored as Jonathan India bounced into a double play. The 27-year-old outfielder is off to a slow start this spring, hitting just .231 (3-for-13), so hopefully this is just what he needs to get him going.

Yikes. Ragans struck out two batters on the evening while issuing one base on balls. Things were bad right out of the gate for Ragans as the Rangers started with a single, stolen base, single combination to push a run across. Ragans then uncorked a wild pitch, plunked Corey Seager and served up a three-run homer to Jake Burger before he recorded an out. Trouble found him again to start the second inning as he walked Sam Haggerty an gave up a two-run blast to Wyatt Langford. Fantasy managers shouldn’t overreact to one start, but this was about as bad as it can get for Ragans. The one good thing to take away is that his velocity was up, averaging 96.8 mph on his fastball (+1.5 mph).

Kayfus capped off a four-run uprising in the opening inning as he jumped on a first-pitch curveball from Sean Burke and belted a 429-foot (107.1 mph EV) two-run shot. That would be his only hit on the night but was more than enough offense for Tanner Bibee and company in this one. The 24-year-old outfielder is expected to crack the Guardians’ Opening Day roster in a reserve role.

Martinez led off the top half of the first inning with a double off of Sean Burke and scored the game’s first run as Brayan Rocchio followed with a two-bagger of his own. Martinez then doubled off of Erick Fedde in the fifth but was cut down attempting to steal third. The versatile 24-year-old could start in center field if Chase DeLauter isn’t ready, otherwise he’ll open the season in a utility role for the Guardians which would sap him of any fantasy value in deeper leagues.

The 27-year-old right-hander punched out four batters on the evening and didn’t walk a batter. He plunked Luisangel Acuna to start the game, then didn’t allow another baserunner until Brooks Baldwin singled with one out in the third. That would be it. Bibee generated five whiffs on 46 pitches on the night, posting a solid CSW of 30 percent. Through his first three spring starts he now holds a 3.00 ERA, 0.56 WHIP and a 5/0 K/BB ratio over nine innings.

Fedde struck out three batters in the ballgame and didn’t issue a free pass. He piggybacked Sean Burke in this one, entering in the fourth inning. He allowed just a one-out double to Angel Martinez in the fifth and a bloop single to Austin Hedges in the sixth, but was never in any real danger. Fedde got four swings and misses on his 35 pitches, posting a miserable CSW of just 14 percent. It’s possible that a return to the White Sox returns Fedde to fantasy relevance, and he can be had for pennies on the dollar at the end of fantasy drafts if you’re interested in taking that gamble.

Burke struck out three batters on the evening and didn’t allow a base on balls. All of the damage done against him came in the opening inning as Burke allowed three straight doubles to start the game then a two-out, two-run homer to CJ Kayfus. He rebounded nicely though, working a pair of scoreless innings to end his night. Burke got five whiffs on 40 pitches in the contest, registering a strong CSW of 43 percent. His velocity, which was down slightly in his last start, was up a bit from last season’s average in this one (+0.5 mph). There’s potential upside to be had here, which makes Burke an interesting late-round flier in the final rounds of deeper mixed league drafts.