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Due to an underwhelming starting pitcher trade market, the Yankees decided to add to their already loaded bullpen trading three pitching prospects to the Orioles for their closer, Zach Britton . Although Britton will not reprise the same role in New York, he enters a pennant race and could even appear in a future Wild Card game. Britton’s been scoreless his last eight outings, including all seven in July with six strikeouts against three walks with a more palatable 0.86 WHIP.
Britton’s increased his average fastball since returning from the disabled list from 93 MPH to its present 95 MPH (on average). More importantly, he’s been able to increase his ground ball percentage which fuels his success:
Although the haul of pitching prospects draws mixed reviews, Dillon Tate provides some hope for the future and will head to Double-A to join newly acquired teammate Yusniel Diaz in Bowie. As for Britton, if in a saves league, he loses mixed league appeal in 12 team or fewer formats. However, in deeper leagues, Britton could see an occasional save to keep Aroldis Chapman fresh for the playoffs helping to share the workload in high leverage when necessary.
That Just Happened
During Boston’s loss in Baltimore, J.D. Martínez launched two more home runs raising his total to 31 this year and driving in three runs. Martinez leads the majors in home runs, RBI (85) and multi-hit games (40). He’s also the first Red Sox player to hit at least 30 homers his debut season since David Ortiz in 2003. Teammate Mookie Betts also hit his 24th home run and has reached base in 24 straight games with a .381/.474/.639 slash line in them.
Positive regression to the mean continues for Jonathan Schoop who homered for the third straight game, and has hit four in the last five contests, in the midst of an eight-game hit streak. In July, Schoop’s hitting .367 with six home runs and 11 RBI while hitting safely in 18 of his last 19 games.
Strong bounce back outing by José Berrios who scattered four hits over seven shutout innings in Toronto. Berrios only walked one and whiffed nine batters on 101 pitches generating 13 swinging strikes and 18 called. He’s completed at least six innings in 11 of his last 12 starts.
Who needs a closer when Masahiro Tanaka fires a complete game shutout? Tanaka only needed 105 pitches to carve up the Rays with 17 swinging strikes (10 on his splitter) and 19 called strikes. This marks the sixth complete game of his career and if he regains his form from the second half last season, Tanaka will reward his fantasy owners and team alike.
Break up the Pirates who won their 11th straight game. One of the main reasons, their hot hitting outfield. Corey Dickerson , Starling Marte and Grégory Polanco have combined to hit .382 the last five games with four doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 24 RBI. Last night, Dickerson went 2-for-3 with a double, triple and two RBI and he’s hitting .383 over 11 games as the leadoff hitter with five home runs and five doubles in them. Polanco hit his 18th home run, has hit safely in 20 of his last 23 with nine home runs and 24 RBI. Marte’s been on fire riding a 17-game hit streak during which he’s 28-for-71 (.394) with four doubles, seven home runs and 20 RBI while taking over the stolen base lead in the majors with 25 in spite of missing time on the disabled list.
Trade target Zach Wheeler did not disappoint the Mets and won his fourth game lasting seven innings allowing four hits, two earned runs and a walk with three strikeouts. Over his last eight starts, Wheeler’s recorded a 3.35 ERA in 45.2 innings.
Could the firing of Mike Matheny awaken a slumbering Dexter Fowler ? Signs of life last night with Fowler hitting his eighth home run, walking twice, driving in two runs, scoring two and stealing his first base since May 20th. He’s only hitting .250 his last 10 games but has three home runs and nine RBI in them.
Death, taxes and Yasmani Grandal in Citizens Bank Park. Grandal launched two solo home runs, has hit three in the last two days in Philadelphia and seven in 12 career games as a visitor. Remember when Austin Barnes would take over at catcher?
Reliable power source Khris Davis hit the go ahead home run driving in three capping Oakland’s improbable comeback from a 10-2 deficit on the road in Texas after the sixth inning. The last time the A’s as a franchise overcame when trailing by this much, 1939. Davis has homered in five straight games versus the Rangers, hit four in his last three games and pacing towards 40 home runs in 146 games this season.
Teammate Stephen Piscotty stayed hot tying the game in the ninth with his 14th home run off of Keone Kela . It’s Piscotty’s seventh in July, tying him for the American League lead with Kole Calhoun . Over his last 45 games, Piscotty’s hitting .301 with 11 home runs and 33 RBI.
Elvis Andrus hit a home run for the second straight game and his first career grand slam on Tuesday night. He’s hit in six straight games and seems to be rounding into form since his return from an extended stay on the disabled list. Joey Gallo returned the the lineup and hit his 25th home run while being due for more positive returns in a potentially strong second half. Willie Calhoun hit his first homer of the season as well. He was slashing .306/.360/.444 in 94 games at Triple-A prior to his promotion.
Lorenzo Cain tallied four hits, scored two runs and drove in one during the Brewers win. Christian Yelich added three hits and his 13th home run to extend his hit streak to eight. He’s also hit safely in 13 of his last 14 contests.
Wade Davis had not worked more than one inning since the playoffs last year and perhaps there’s a reason why? Davis retired the side in order in the ninth but returned to the mound in the top of the 10th in a tied game. Houston rallied for six runs total in the inning, five charged to Davis who allowed four hits and a walk including a home run by George Springer . This snaps Davis’ seven game scoreless streak but not his eight saves converted in a row.
During the game in Colorado, Charlie Blackmon extended his hit streak to seven games and Alex Bregman moved his on-base streak to 26 games during which he’s hitting .340 with a .438 on-base percentage.
Carlos Rodon fired 7.2 innings en route to his third win. Rodon yielded two hits, two earned runs and three walks with eight strikeouts. He produced 13 swinging strikes and 19 called. Over his last three starts, Rodon’s pitched 21 innings with a 1.71 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
What to Watch For
Potentially good day to be a pitcher in Philadelphia where Walker Buehler faces Jake Arrieta following a 16 inning marathon during which Kiké Hernández took the loss late last night.
Will another rookie, Jack Flaherty , take a no hitter late into the game in Cincinnati for the third straight game?
Pittsburgh will try to extend their win streak to 12 against Trevor Bauer on the road.
Ervin Santana makes his debut in Toronto. Derek Holland gets the start in Seattle and has been very good of late.
Be sure to check back later for the Closing Bell with Justin Mason for a recap of the afternoon games and updates to keep you ahead of the competition here at Fantasy Alarm.