The #1 overall recruit from the 2022 prep cycle, Nolen (6’4/296) was the crown jewel of Texas A&M’s best all-time recruiting class. He rotated through the Aggies defensive front shuttling between three tech and Edge for two seasons earning a middling 72.5 overall grade in 2023 with 21 stops and zero missed tackles. He left College Station following Jimbo Fisher’s firing and blossomed into a fully-formed, game-wrecking three tech who ranked second nationally with a 91.6 run grade and fifth with 26 stops on running downs. The First Team All-American is a bit undersized at 296 pounds but he is able to uncoil and strike with the force of a much larger man thanks to his impressive raw power. A plus athlete who has a brisk get off and can keep blockers off balance with speed or power, Nolen can rush the passer with an undisciplined technical approach and get away with it thanks to his physical gifts. However in the run game he plays with outstanding leverage routinely discarding blockers and breaking through double teams. A true havoc creator on the interior, Nolen needs to work on secondary rush moves but has every down start potential.

The Phillies were down 3-1 when Suárez threw his final pitch, but they came back with four in the bottom of the seventh to get Suárez the victory. He’s 2-0 with a 5.09 ERA in three starts since coming off the IL earlier this month. He’s a bit of a risky play with his next start coming at Coors Field, but the likelihood of a win against the Rockies makes him worth using.

It originally looked like Alvarado would pitch the eighth tonight, but he sat down after a long seventh and Jordan Romano got the call then in a 5-3 game. Alvarado went on to pitch in the ninth after Daniel Robert struggled to retire just one of the five batters he faced, Taking over with the bases loaded in an 8-4 game, Alvarado retired both batters he faced, throwing just six pitches in the process. He should be available if there’s another save chance Saturday.

Heaney was in line for the win after the Pirates took a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth, but that didn’t last. Even though his velocity and strikeout rate are down, Heaney has excelled from day one this season, amassing a 3.02 ERA in nine starts. We still don’t have much faith that he’ll keep it up. He’s due to face the Reds next time out.

Canario barely played last month, but he’s overtaken Tommy Pham now and batted .231/.306/.400 in 72 plate appearances. His exit velocity numbers are terrific, and the Pirates would be smart to give him a long look as a regular here. It’s unlikely that he’ll prove useful in mixed leagues, but he might well turn out to be one of the Pirates’ best hitters.

All of the damage came on one hit, but that one hit was a grand slam which literally automatically disqualifies you from a quality start. The southpaw allowed six hits overall while walking three and striking out two. Even with the shaky start, Sears still has a solid 3.31 ERA, and will get a chance to rebounds against the Angels next week.