Evening Recap
With 15 games spread evenly spread across yesterday there were only a handful of games on the evening slate. The Mets are now 2-13 in their last 15 games and coming into Saturday night’s contest they had scored a total of just three runs in their previous five games. They doubled that in the first inning of Saturday’s game against the Yankees, but that was it in terms of offensive production. The Mets would lose 4-3 after the Yankees regained the lead in the eighth inning off an Aaron Judge home run.
The Rockies and Diamondbacks did not disappoint in Coors Field last night. This game featured a massive over/under of 12 runs heading into last night and the two teams combined for 19 total. Trevor Story launched a pair of home runs and Paul Goldschmidt joined in on the fun as well hitting his eleventh and twelfth home runs of the season. Goldy owners, and Arizona fans alike, can exhale because it appears the elite first baseman has returned to form. Since May 23rd he is slashing .411/.484/.929 with seven home runs, a triple, and six doubles. He still isn’t stealing many bases but at this point those who invested a first-round pick in him are just happy with the power.
That Just Happened
The struggles for Alex Wood continued on Saturday night. Coming into last night’s start he had given up 11 earned runs in his last 7.1 innings of work including four home runs in that span. It didn’t get any better for Wood as he failed to get out of the fifth inning. He gave up four runs, but only two were earned and he gave up nine hits. If owners need to hang their hat on anything they can take solace in the fact he didn’t allow a home run and didn’t walk anybody. However, he did need 92 pitches to get through 4.2 innings.
Dansby Swanson ’s great start to the month of June continued last night. Heading into last night’s tilt against the Dodgers Swanson sported a .308/.357/.731 slash line with three home runs in seven games so far this month. Last night the hot streak continued as he scored three runs and stole a base. His recent streak has seen him move up in the batting order for Atlanta where he can only gain more fantasy value.
Adam Eaton looked good in his return to the Nationals lineup Saturday afternoon. He scored a pair of runs in the leadoff spot. When he’s been healthy he’s looked great in Washington’s lineup. Surprisingly he’s less than 70% owned in Yahoo! leagues so if he’s available you should go get him.
Charlie Morton struggled in his second straight start. Coming into Saturday night’s outing he had a 3.94 ERA and had allowed nine home runs over his previous eight starts (48 innings of work). Four of those home runs came in the two starts leading up to Saturday night. Morton was perceived as the top pitching option on the slate and he couldn’t even make it out of the fourth inning. Morton needed 87 to get through 3.2 innings of work and while he didn’t give up a home run he still allowed six men to reach base via base on balls. His ERA on the year still stands at 2.82, but his recent struggles are somewhat alarming.
Ken Giles was again overlooked for a save opportunity Saturday night against the Rangers. So far in June he has logged just two innings of work while allowing three earned runs. A.J. Hinch wasn’t kidding earlier this season when he said Ken Giles would likely end up with the most saves on the Astros but that didn’t mean others in the bullpen wouldn’t get a chance. Lately it appears Giles is in poor standing with Hinch. Since May 19thHéctor Rondón has been one of the better arms in Houston’s bullpen. In 7.1 innings of work he has ten strikeouts with one walk. Additionally he’s given up just five hits, but hasn’t allowed a run to score. Perhaps this is why Hinch has let Rondon get the last two save opportunities.
Masahiro Tanaka and Stephen Strasburg were both moved to the disabled list this weekend. Tanaka strained both his hamstrings while running the bases and it has once again brought up the discussion of the National League adopting the designated hitter option. Strasburg was placed on the DL with shoulder inflammation although the Nats say there is no structural damage. While that is good news, Strasburg owners can’t be too surprised by this move. He has only thrown 185 innings in a season just once in his career.
Burning Questions
The Angels have quietly won six straight games and are 3.5 games back for the lead in the AL West. Can they lock up the series sweep in Minnesota when Nick Tropeano toes the rubber?
Can Ross Stripling keep his hot streak since May alive against the Braves?
Will the Mets rebound during Sunday Night Baseball against Luis Severino ?
Stay tuned FA Nation!
Player News
Kyren Paris hit a two-run homer in Wednesday’s win for the Angels over the Blue Jays.
That’s the first homer for Paris since April 9 when he went deep twice against Tampa Bay and caused everyone to lose all sense of rational thought. The 23-year-old did also single and walk to improve his on-base percentage to .311,, while the homer bumps his slugging mark to .378. There is long-term upside in Paris with flashes that suggest he can be a fantasy option. Fantasy managers should still absolutely looking elsewhere for options up the middle.
Jorge Soler hit a three-run double in the bottom of the ninth to give the Angels a 5-4 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday.
Trent Grisham went 1-for-1 with a game-tying two-run home run in the eighth inning of a 4-3 win over the Padres on Wednesday.
While the Yankees won this game on a walk-off in the 10th inning, Grisham’s game-tying home run in the eighth was the biggest moment. He came on as a pinch-hitter for Jorbit Vibas against the usually stout Jason Adam and smashed a two-strike changeup into the right field seats. This clutch shot will only continue to push Grisham’s playing time in the right direction after he just started eight of the last 10 games, hit either first or second in each, and already has 10 homers in 31 games played this season.
Jeff Hoffman blew a save and picked up a loss Wednesday against the Angels.
Devin Williams struck out three batters with one walk and hit another in a scoreless 10th inning to earn the win against the Padres on Wednesday.
The Yankees entrusted Williams with the all important 10th inning and the inherited ghost runner on second base after their dramatic comeback. While he loaded the bases and had some tense moments, he left the inning unscathed and opened the door for them to win it right after. It should be noted that Luke Weaver came on for what were the most important outs of this game at the time, after Ian Hamilton walked two to begin the eighth inning and Weaver allowed both of those inherited runners to score. He was called upon as the fireman though and will likely get the next save opportunity. Still, this was a massive step in the right direction for Williams.
Max Fried allowed five hits and one run with no walks and eight strikeouts over seven innings in a no-decision against the Padres on Wednesday.
Fried’s excellent season continued as he set down the Padres easily besides for a mammoth solo home run by Jackson Merrill. It was no matter though, as they rarely threatened otherwise and Fried continued to find his strikeout stuff. This was his fourth outing of the year with at least seven strikeouts, a mark he only hit 10 times last season in 29 starts. Fried with a strikeout rate that’s better than league average – which is where he’s at right now – is a clear top-10 pitcher in fantasy baseball. He’s set for a two-start week coming up against the Mariners and Mets.