Fantasy Baseball Player Spotlight

Varsho returns to center field and will bat sixth on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium after being scratched from Sunday’s lineup with lower back tightness.

That had to feel really good for Tena against his former team. The third baseman’s hit broke an 8-8 tie immediately after a Dylan Crews double took away the Guardians’ lead. The hit was Tena’s first in 16 at-bats since Apr. 28. He’s back in the lineup for the nightcap, which is something we’re not sure would have happened if not for the heroics.

Irvin walked the second, third and fourth batters of the game and then threw a wild pitch to allow one to score, but he bounced back immediately afterwards and went on to have a fine outing, even though he never recorded a strikeout. It went as his fifth no-decision in eight starts, so he remains 2-1 with a 3.94 ERA with the Braves next on the docket.

Ferrer, who looked like a candidate for saves in the Nationals pen before the team re-signed Kyle Finnegan, saw his ERA rise to 8.05 today. He’s made 19 appearances, which is tied for the high total in the majors. We’d say Dave Martinez should back off him a little, but the Nationals manager probably couldn’t even fathom the concept.

Finnegan gave up two hits and a sac fly before finishing off the Guardians. He didn’t throw an overwhelming number of pitches, finishing with 19, so perhaps he’ll go again in game two if a save situation arises.

Ortiz followed up his best outing of the year with a real clunker. Eight of the 18 balls in play against him were hit at least 100 mph, and he wound up with four strikeouts and three walks. He definitely should have kept his cutter in his back pocket today; the six times he threw it produced a homer, a double and four balls. Ortiz will take a 5.30 ERA into his next start against the Phillies.