Top Prospects for April 2018

Without further ado, here’s the top 10 fantasy prospects for the 2018 season.

1. Nick Senzel, INF, Cincinnati Reds

2018 stats: 18 G, .264/.346/.431, 2 HR, 2 SB, 8 BB, 17 SO at Triple-A Louisville.

And we have a new No. 1. Senzel replaced Ronald Acuna, who is currently tearing the cover off the ball for the Braves. You're welcome. Senzel has crushed Triple-A pitching as of late, hitting .333/.429/.611 over his last five games. He did leave with what is being described as a shoulder injury, but it's considered precautionary and it shouldn't keep him out for long. Assuming that's accurate, Senzel should be back in the lineup soon, and he should continue to crush the International League before receiving a call-up in the middle of the month.

2. Michael Kopech, RHP, Chicago White Sox

2018 stats: 4 G, 21 IP, 14 ERA, 0 HR, 7 BB, 29 SO at Triple-A Charlotte.

Kopech was outstanding on Wednesday against Triple-A Louisville; giving up just one hit while striking out eight. Most importantly, Kopech is throwing a ton of strikes; he's yet to have a start this year where he walked more than two hitters in an outing. Whey you can locate the swing-and-miss stuff that he has -- and he has a lot of it -- you have a chance to be a dominant hurler. The White Sox aren't going to rush a 22-year-old when they're not competitive, but it'd be an upset if he wasn't throwing pitches for them before the end of the summer. The fantasy upside here is worth salivating for.

3. Walker Buehler, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

2018 stats: 3 G, 13 IP,2.08 ERA, 0 HR, 4 BB, 16 SO at Triple-A Oklahoma City; 2 G, 10 IP, 1.80 ERA, 0 HR, 4 BB, 11 SO at Los Angeles.

Buehler made two starts for the Dodgers this week, and he was impressive in both as you can tell from the numbers above. The Dodgers are going to manipulate the roster because that's what major league clubs do, but it's blatantly obvious that Buehler is ready for a rotation spot -- or at very least a spot in the bullpen. It's rare to have this kind of swing-and-miss arsenal and the ability to locate it as well as he does. Whenever he gets another shot, you should add him to the roster. It could be -- and should be -- soon.

4. Francisco Mejia, C/OF, Cleveland Indians

2018 stats: 20 G, .195/.239/.299, 2 HR, 0 SB, 5 BB, 21 SO at Triple-A Columbus.

Well this isn't the start we were hoping for. Mejia is not only struggling to make hard contact, he's struggling to make contact period. His strikeout total is almost halfway to his total from last year on April 30. Here's the good news: It's April 30. There's lots of time for Mejia to turn things around, and assuming they do, he's going to help Cleveland before the end of the year. Do not panic over a poor April.

5. Willie Calhoun, OF, Texas Rangers

2018 stats: 24 G, .237/.311/.376, 3 HR, 0 SB, 9 BB, 18 SO at Triple-A Round Rock.

Calhoun was also struggling with contact issues like Mejia, but he's been much better as of late, as he has a .278 average and .381 on-base percentage over his last week. Unfortunately, Calhoun isn't driving the ball like we're accustomed to seeing, as he's slugging just .333 in that time frame. Let's keep in mind that (seemingly) everyone is struggling to hit for power right now, and you should expect to see many more bombs over the next month or so. There's still a strong chance that you'll see those homers in Arlington, but Texas wants the former Dodgers prospect to get hot before they make the call.

6. Jack Flaherty, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals

2018 stats: 3 G, 20 IP, 2.25 ERA, 0 HR, 3 BB, 22 SO at Triple-A Memphis; 2 G, 10 IP, 3.60 ERA, 5 BB, 11 SO at St. Louis.

Flaherty wasn't nearly as good in his second start with the Cardinals in 2018 as he was n the first one, as he didn't have command of his arsenal. It was far from a disaster, however, and you have to give the 22-year-old credit for keeping composure even as he was struggling to fill the strike zone. Flaherty will likely come back when St. Louis needs a fifth starter again, and he's worth keeping on your bench in redraft leagues. It will pay off in the long run.

7. Luiz Gohara, LHP, Atlanta Braves

2018 stats: 3 G, 11.1 IP, 4.76 ERA, 3 HR, 3 BB, 8 SO at Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett.

Gohara was rocked in his last start, giving up three homers in four innings against Triple-A Durham. It's important to remember that this is essentially spring training for the 21-year-old southpaw, as he missed the start of the season with an ankle injury. The Braves just recently activated him from the disabled list -- and immediately optioned him to Triple-A -- and reportedly want him to make a few more starts before calling him up.  If he shows the plus-plus fastball and plus slider at his disposal, he'll be back missing bats with the Braves in June.

8. Austin Hays, OF, Baltimore Orioles

2018 stats: 20 G, .222/.289/.370, 3 HR, 1 SB, 8 BB, 22 SO at Double-A Bowie.

Mr. Hays, if you're listening: You get one more week to turn around. It's not so much because he's struggling -- take a look around baseball, there are a lot of prospects that aren't performing to expectations in 2018 -- it's because you're struggling in Double-A. There's a potential plus hit-and-power tool in Hays' right-handed bat, and the long-term value is obviously not going to be ruined by a slow start. If there's any chance he's going to receive a call to Baltimore soon, he's going to have to start making more hard contact in the Eastern League.

9. Willy Adames, SS, Tampa Bay Rays

2018 stats: 20 G, .333/.430/.536, 2 HR, 2 SB, 13 BB, 16 SO at Triple-A Durham.

We have a newcomer. Adames has been sensational for the Bulls in 2018, and he's not doing it with smoke and mirrors. He has a smooth, line-drive swing, and he has excellent pitch-recognition skills that allow him to wait out off-speed pitches and make hard contact. There's also some power in his bat, and he should put up 12-to-15 homer seasons as a regular. He's also gotten better with the glove -- not that he was bad before -- and profiles as an above-average defender at shortstop. Expect to see Adames playing in the middle of the infielder for the Rays soon.

10. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B, Toronto Blue Jays

2018 stats: 19 G, .373/.433/.560, 2 HR, 0 SB, 9 BB, 8 SO at Double-A New Hampshire

I'm running out of superlatives for Guerrero, which isn't good, because he's just 19 and I feel like I'm going to have to talk about him a lot over the next few years. He's absolutely scorching the ball for the Fisher Cats, and he still has more extra-base hits (10) than he does strikeouts. Yes, it's only a month. No, Guerrero probably isn't going to come up anytime soon. But it's impossible to not be impressed by what Vladdy Jr. is doing right now. With Acuna up, he's now the best prospect in baseball.

Just missed; Victor Robles, OF, Washington Nationals;  Mitch Keller, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates; Eloy Jimenez, OF, Chicago White Sox; Kyle Tucker, OF, Houston Astros; Franklin Barreto, SS, Oakland Athletics

Didi is out of this world

Air Ball Revolution continues. It’s the job of this column to celebrate all those big flies. Teams have combined to hit 821 home runs through the bulk of April. It’s a pace of 5,320 home runs over the full season. Although a far cry short of the 6,105 homers hit in 2017, the current pace would represent the third highest total since 2006.

It’s also important to remember the effect of weather. This has been a cold spring. As temperatures warm, more balls will leave the park. On a league wide level, pitchers become less effective throughout the season as teams reach farther and farther into their depth to deal with injuries. In other words, we should expect an uptick in home run rate. I know I can’t even count how many almost-home runs I’ve seen that would have left the yard in 95 degree field temperatures.


Week Four Leaders

Didi Gregorius: 5 HR
Joey Votto: 4 HR
Mitch Haniger: 4 HR
C.J. Cron: 4 HR
Matt Davidson: 4 HR
Yonder Alonso: 4 HR

Six players whacked at least four home runs in the last week, led by Gregorius’ five yakkers. Every year, somebody has an insane, unexpected breakout. Gregorius is benefiting from spontaneously improved plate discipline. It’s the kind of thing you hope for but can’t actually see coming. An aggressive hitter for his entire career, he’s trimmed his swing rate on all pitch types, especially those out of the zone. The result has been a LOT more hard contact. Combined with his fly ball, pulled contact rates, and tiny home park, he could become a legitimate 40 home run threat this season. He’s already bopped 10 with five-sixths of the season remaining. This is a case where I’d be willing to buy high.

Oh, hello there Votto. You’re hitting .280/.392/.430 with more walks than strikeouts? I thought I heard you were slumping? We knew the correction was coming. He’s back to standard Votto. I hope you didn’t sell low in a panic.

Haniger! Last week, I introduced a new feature to this column, the Power Spotlight. First under the light was Haniger. How’s that for instant gratification? I mentioned feeling bullish about his power potential, pegging him to reach the 30 home run plateau. At the time, projection systems were expecting no more than 25 home runs. With nine long balls on the season, the projection systems now predict between 28 and 33 home runs. I remain more bullish than them. Mark me down for 35 home runs. Hopefully he stays healthy.

The remaining sluggers to hit four home runs are a trio of volatile veterans. Even with the positive week, Alonso may be available as a buy low target. An uncharacteristic .194 BABIP has held down his batting average. By comparison, Davidson and Cron are playing at their ceilings. Both whiff far too frequently to be viewed as a consistent fantasy asset. That said, they make for a good power source off the waiver wire. Both players will bounce on and off rosters in typical 12-team formats.

My Top 10 Projected Home Run Leaders

Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
Khris Davis, Oakland Athletics
Joey Gallo, Texas Rangers
J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox
Charlie Blackmon, Milwaukee Brewers
 Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles Didi Gregorius, New York Yankees

With four home runs apiece, Nolan Arenado and Brian Dozier have fallen off the top 10 list. They’re not far beyond the fold – there’s plenty of time to make up ground with a hot week or two. Dozier in particular isn’t having his usual first-half slump. Joining the list in their place are Gregorius and Machado. We discussed Gregorius in some detail above. As for Machado, he’s off to a hot start with nine home runs and a shiny .356/.440/.693 batting line. The Orioles offense is execrable. I worry teams will simply stop pitching to Machado. I know I would.

The other big shake up of the week is the rise of Trout to the top spot. Is this the year he breaks all of baseball? The 26-year-old is already an instant Hall of Famer. His pitch recognition has reached new peaks. He’s attacking mashable pitches while spitting upon anything out of the zone. Like Machado, I’m concerned opponents will give up on throwing anything near the strike zone.

Ryon Healy returned as expected, bumping Dan Vogelbach to Triple-A in the process. Surprisingly, Eugenio Suarez raced back to the majors too. I guess he didn’t want to give Nick Senzel a chance to debut. Donaldson is still on the cusp of return. He’ll begin a rehab assignment today. When he returns, he’ll play designated hitter while he completes a throwing program. That’ll come at the expense of Kendrys Morales. Buxton, Rendon, Trumbo, and Renfroe are likely to return in the next week.

Five new sluggers joined the disabled list. Rendon has a lingering toe contusion. He should be back any day now. Renfroe was battling some elbow inflammation. He’s throwing and eligible to return as soon as tomorrow. Beltre and Gonzalez also aren’t likely to miss much more than the minimum 10 days on the disabled list. The news isn’t as good for Thames. A torn thumb UCL will sideline him another six to eight weeks.

Teams Visiting Launching Pads

For Opening Week, I provided a detailed report on home run park factors (skip to the part titled “Park Factors” on page two). This section will be used to highlight which teams are visiting the most homer happy venues – namely Citizen’s Bank Park, Coors Field, Yankee Stadium, and Great American Ballpark.

The Phillies, Rockies, and Yankees will spend most of the next week on the road. The Yankees return home next Friday to host the Indians. It’s a great time to own players like Yonder Alonso, Michael Brantley, Bradley Zimmer, Jason Kipnis, and even Tyler Naquin.

The one launching pad on full display is Great American Small park. The Reds will host the Brewers and Marlins. Injuries have opened up regular playing time for Domingo Santana. Jesus Aguilar is playing irregularly – basically any time Ryan Braun isn’t up to covering first base. They represent the two best potentially available power hitters on the Brew Crew. Jonathan Villar isn’t a total zero in the power department. As for the Marlins, Martin Prado is back from the grave. Starlin Castro, Brian Anderson, Derek Dietrich, Lewis Brinson, and Cameron Maybin all have some modest pop too.

Power Spotlight

Since we’ve already covered the salient points of Gregorius’ emergence as a power threat, let’s focus on a different player in this week’s Power Spotlight – A.J. Pollock. I’m modestly hopeful that Pollock is in the midst of a meaningful power breakout. Combined with his 20 to 30 steal speed, this has the makings of a monster fantasy season.

Despite spending parts of seven seasons in the majors, Pollock hasn’t fully established himself as a reliable fantasy threat. His superb 2015 performance was followed by an injury marred 2016. When he returned last season, he looked rusty. Entering his age 30 campaign, it was fair to wonder if Pollock lost most of his prime years.

Good news! The early results are extremely promising. He’s doing all the things I look for in a potential power breakout. His 43.9 percent fly ball rate is a career high by a wide margin. Similarly, his 36.4 percent ground ball rate is easily a career low. He’s making frequent pulled contact, and his 43.9 percent hard contact rate is also a career best. If those rates hold steady, we can expect about 40 home runs over a full season. He’s already banked six.

For this added power, Pollock is whiffing more frequently. His current 26 percent strikeout rate is supported by a big uptick in swinging strike rate. It’s not unusual to see this strikeouts-for-power tradeoff any time a hitter changes their approach. If there’s good news, it’s that most of the whiffs are coming on pitches outside of the strike zone. Pollock could conceivably learn to lay off the offerings he can no longer handle.

I suppose somebody has explained regression to you before. Basically, when a veteran has atypical production, we should expect his future numbers to look more like his past performances. In the case of Pollock, that would include fewer flies, more grounders, and fewer whiffs. Instead of 40 home runs, we’d anticipate closer to 25 big flies. Due to the Air Ball Revolution, I’m more inclined to attribute performance like Pollock’s to a change in approach.

Either way, a healthy season should include a career high in home runs to go with valuable five category production. Unlike past seasons when his RBI totals have been constrained by his role, he’s batting cleanup for the Diamondbacks. That’s a lot of opportunities to drive in Paul Goldschmidt. And since the bottom of the Arizona lineup is weak, he’s incentivized to steal bases too. I’m buying high.

Twin Killing

Fernando Rodney's trademark celebration after locking down a save is to shoot a fictional arrow into the sky.

These days, Rodney and the Twins are more prone to shooting themselves in the foot.

Rodney, aided by an error to lead off the frame, blew a two-run lead Thursday -- his third consecutive blown save -- in the Twins' 4-3 loss to the Yankees. The loss was the seventh in a row for the floundering Twins, who fell to 8-11 with the loss.


Thursday's blown save was a joint effort. Rodney induced a ground ball to third base for what should have been the first out of the inning, but Miguel Sano threw a "sinker," as Twins manager Paul Molitor described it, that bounced on first baseman Logan Morrison, skipping into the camera well.

Giancarlo Stanton followed with a swinging bunt, putting two runners on with no outs. Molitor described Rodney as "snake bit" after the game.

But if poor luck put Rodney in the position, it was a poorly placed fastball that Gary Sanchez yanked down the left field line for a three-run, walk-off homer.

"We had trouble making plays that cost us some base runners, and then Sanchez made us pay," Molitor said. "I think he's throwing the ball OK, but the results haven't matched up there."

The Twins have remained steadfast in their belief in the 41-year-old from the moment they signed him in December and installed him as their closer, even after signing the younger and arguably better Addison Reed to a two-year deal. But Rodney now owns a 6.75 ERA and 2.10 WHIP, and with the team in a tailspin that has the team 3.5 games behind the Indians in the AL Central, that faith may be tested.

If the team does make a change, it's likely Reed that will get the first shot at closing games. Reed has a 2.77 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 13/3 K/BB ratio in 13 innings this year. Another potential option, Trevor Hildenberger, was terrific for the Twins in 2017 but is off to a slow start this year.

Neither Molitor nor anyone else on the Twins has indicated they're ready to pull the plug. Owners willing to take a shot on potential saves should snap up Reed in the event they are, though.

Suarez Hurries Back To Reds Lineup

Eugenio Suarez

Eugenio Suarez and Delino DeShields are going to give fans unrealistic expectations about injury return timetables.

A few days after DeShields returned from hamate bone surgery weeks ahead of schedule, Suarez one-upped him Thursday by coming off the disabled list 2 1/2 weeks after suffering a fractured right thumb on April 8. The original timetable, and the standard recovery time for such an injury, anticipated Suarez to be sidelined into early or mid-May.

“I feel so excited to be back this quick," Suarez said before Thursday's game, in which he went hitless in four at-bats. "I feel great right now, a little bit nervous. I think that’s normal. It will be all right. I feel good. My thumb has no pain at all. That’s why I’m here today.”

The 26-year-old enjoyed his best offensive year to date in 2017 batting .260/.367/.461 with 26 homers, 82 RBI and 87 runs scored, and he was off to a .296/.424/.630 start this year before the injury. Back and healthy, at least by his word, fantasy owners should feel confident and equally "so excited" to have Suarez back.

Kang Returns To States, Pirates

In a surprising twist, Jung Ho Kang is back.

Kang, who has been in his home country of South Korea for more than a year after a jail sentence and denial of a visa request, was recently approved for a work visa and has returned to the United States, the Pirates announced Thursday. Whoops ! Donald Trump is slipping up.

“We are encouraged by the steps that Jung Ho has taken to date and are hopeful that having the game he loves taken away from him for more than a year has driven home the reality that he must make better life decisions as we move forward together,” Pirates president Frank Coonelly said in a statement.. "As we have communicated to him throughout this process, we will work to provide Jung Ho with the resources and support necessary for him to meet the high expectations that we have for him as a member of our organization and our community.”

What that means for all parties concerned is still unclear. Kang hasn't played in MLB since the end of the 2016 season, and even if he's kept in shape he'll likely require an extended spring or rehab stint.

The 31-year-old is a speculative add in very deep leagues -- he did hit .255/.354/.513 with 21 homers in 103 games in 2016 -- but most owners can afford to wait and see before investing in Kang's comeback attempt.

National League Quick Hits: Kris Bryant (head) is out of the Cubs' starting lineup again on Thursday versus the Brewers. Bryant has been sidelined since taking a pitch off his helmet on Sunday. He was scheduled to meet with team physician Dr. Stephen Adams on Thursday afternoon in Chicago, presumably for another round of concussion tests ... Tommy Pham (head) returned to the Cardinals' lineup in style Thursday, finishing 4-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored in an extra-innings win over the Mets. Pham sliced open his forehead on Wednesday night while taking warmup swings with a resistance band, but the cut did not require stitches and he cleared MLB's concussion protocol. He's good to go moving forward ... Asdrubal Cabrera (hamstring) was also back in the Mets' starting lineup Thursday against the Cardinals. Cabrera was held out of Wednesday's game because of a minor hamstring injury. Cabrera's return wasn't as fruitful as Pham's, as Cabrera finished hitless in six at-bats in the loss ... Mets manager Mickey Callaway indicated Thursday that Steven Matz will remain on turn in the starting rotation. "We’re going to get him where he needs to be," Callaway told reporters. Matz allowed seven runs -- three earned -- over just 3 1/3 innings in Wednesday night's loss to the Cardinals and now holds a 4.98 ERA through 21 2/3 total innings (five starts) this season ... Kyle Hendricks was dominant in Thursday's victory over the Brewers, scattering four hits over seven shutout innings. The right-hander punched out five on the night and didn't walk a batter. With the victory, Hendricks improves to 2-1 with a 3.10 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 24/7 K/BB ratio through 29 innings on the season ... Ronald Acuna went 3-for-4 with two RBI, including his first MLB home run, and two runs scored. The future is now in Atlanta.

American League Quick Hits: Indians placed LHP Andrew Miller on the 10-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain. Miller suffered the injury during an appearance Wednesday night against the Cubs. He figures to miss around two weeks. The dominant left-handed setup man leaves behind a 0.00 ERA and 17/4 K/BB ratio in 10 innings ... Joe Kelly began serving his six-game suspension on Thursday night. Kelly was handed the suspension back on April 12 after intentionally hitting Tyler Austin with a pitch and inciting a benches-clearing brawl between the Red Sox and Yankees. Kelly filed an appeal, which is how he's remained active the past two weeks, but that appeal was officially denied by MLB on Thursday afternoon ... J.D. Martinez went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run that gave the Red Sox a 5-4 win over the Blue Jays on Thursday. The 30-year-old is hitting .306/.351/.565 in the early days of his Red Sox tenure. ... Matt Davidson clubbed a pair of home runs on Thursday as the White Sox dispatched of the Royals 6-3. Davidson accounted for two of his team's five total home runs off of Jake Junis in the ballgame ... Wilson Ramos went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI to help the Rays best the Orioles 9-5 on Thursday.  About time he did some hitting.

Acuna Matata

Acuna Matata. What a wonderful phrase. Acuna Matata. Ain't no passing craze. It means no worries … OK, you get it.

Venezuelan reporter Daniel Alvarez Montes of EVTV Miami heard from a source late Tuesday night that the Braves are calling up top outfield prospect Ronald Acuna from Triple-A Gwinnett. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman soon confirmed that report, noting that the 20-year-old will join the team ahead of Wednesday night’s game against the Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

Acuna got off to a sluggish start this year at Gwinnett, but some of that can be blamed on the nine days of inactivity between the end of Braves camp and the start of the Triple-A season. He had caught fire over the last week-plus, going 11-for-33 (.333) with a homer, a double, four walks, and three stolen bases in eight games between April 17 and April 24.

Acuna slashed .325/.374/.522 with 21 home runs, 82 RBI, 44 stolen bases, and 88 runs scored in 139 games last season between three different levels of the Braves’ minor league system.

If the picture hasn’t already been painted well enough, this dude is going to be a fantasy monster.

Acuna will take over as the Braves’ everyday left fielder, with Ender Inciarte sticking in center field and Nick Markakis continuing to man right field. Preston Tucker, who showed impressive power early on but is in an 8-for-48 slump, figures to become more of a utility outfielder and bench bat.

The hype is real. The wait is over. Get Acuna active and reap the rewards.

Donaldson Down On Farm Soon

Good news here for the Blue Jays, as manager John Gibbons told reporters on Tuesday that injured third baseman Josh Donaldson could get into some minor league rehab games by the end of this week. A more detailed plan is expected to be announced Wednesday.

Donaldson landed on the disabled list April 13, retroactive to April 11, with inflammation in his right shoulder that first popped up in spring training and had been affecting his ability to make strong and accurate throws across the diamond over the first two weeks of the regular season.

Tests showed no structural damage in the shoulder and the Blue Jays seem confident that Donaldson will be able to return to the hot corner when the time comes. Yangervis Solarte has filled in nicely at third base since Donaldson went down and figures to remain a fixture in the starting lineup, which could mean a demotion for second baseman Devon Travis, who’s batting just .130/.203/.148 with one extra-base hit (a double) in 59 plate appearances this season. Solarte, for reference, has an .842 OPS with five home runs and three doubles.

But the Blue Jays also have to figure out what they want to do with Lourdes Gurriel, the highly-ranked Cuban infield prospect who was promoted from Double-A New Hampshire on Friday. He’s made two starts at second base and one start at shortstop so far at the major league level, going 3-for-11 with three RBI at the plate. Aledmys Diaz has served as the Jays’ primary shortstop so far in 2018 and got off to a nice start offensively, but has fallen into a bad slump over the last week. There’s still some time for Toronto to get this all sorted out.

Flaherty Up For Cardinals On Saturday

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny announced after Tuesday night’s loss to the Mets that Jack Flaherty will be called up to start this Saturday against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

The 22-year-old right-hander will be filling in for Adam Wainwright, who landed on the 10-day disabled list Sunday with inflammation in his right elbow. Wainwright believes he will be ready to return when first eligible, but elbow injuries are always tricky and this is not his first one.

Flaherty struck out nine batters over five innings of one-run ball back on April 3, but he got optioned to Memphis the next day with Adam Wainwright returning from a late-spring hamstring strain to start the Cardinals’ home opener on April 5 against the Diamondbacks.

Flaherty has registered a 2.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 22/3 K/BB ratio in 20 innings (three starts) for Memphis since the demotion. He holds a 2.65 ERA in 105 1/3 career innings at Triple-A.

This might be another one-start deal, but Flaherty is worth activating again in mixed fantasy leagues.

Walker Buehler

National League Quick Hits: Brewers manager Craig Counsell said late Tuesday that Eric Thames will undergo tests on his thumb … Dodgers optioned right-hander Walker Buehler to High-A Rancho Cucamonga with the intention of recalling him as the 26th man to start one half of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Giants … Kris Bryant (head) was held out of the Cubs’ starting lineup on Tuesday night against the Indians … Tyler Mahle took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and struck out a career-high 11 batters in Tuesday’s 9-7 extra-innings win over the Braves … Jay Bruce had three hits -- including a go-ahead solo home run in the top of the 10th inning -- in Tuesday's win over the Cardinals … Joey Votto smashed his first home run of the season in Tuesday's win over the Braves … Making a triumphant return to Kansas City, Lorenzo Cain went 2-for-3 with a homer and two walks in the Brewers' 5-2 victory over the Royals on Tuesday … Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Bud Norris was not available out of the bullpen Tuesday because of "a little soreness” … Scooter Gennett hit his first two home runs of the season Tuesday, with the second one being a walk-off shot in the 12th inning versus the Braves … Christian Villanueva (hamstring) was out of the Padres' starting lineup again on Tuesday night and might be sidelined until Friday … Kyle Schwarber punished a pair of solo home runs Tuesday in Cleveland … Rich Hill (finger) is expecting to return to the Dodgers' rotation Monday in Arizona … Jason Vargas (hand) is set to make his Mets debut on Saturday in San Diego … Padres placed first baseman Eric Hosmer on the family medical emergency list … Freddie Freeman swatted a pair of solo home runs Tuesday in Cincinnati … Wei-Yin Chen (elbow) is scheduled to make his season debut on Saturday night against the Rockies … Devin Mesoraco was scratched from the Reds' starting lineup Tuesday due to neck stiffness … Orlando Arcia was absent from the Brewers' starting lineup on Tuesday because of a stomach bug … Joe Musgrove (shoulder) is scheduled to make a simulated start on Wednesday … Stephen Vogt (shoulder) will head to extended spring training on Wednesday … Cardinals left-hander Brett Cecil (shoulder) has reported to High-A Palm Beach to begin a minor league rehab assignment … Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Yimi Garcia (elbow) will likely be activated sometime in May … Brewers left-hander Boone Logan (triceps) will begin a minor league rehab assignment later this week with Double-A Biloxi … Reds designated right-hander Kevin Quackenbush for assignment.

American League Quick Hits: Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre suffered a left hamstring strain in Tuesday night’s loss to the Athletics and is likely headed to the disabled list … White Sox placed outfielder Avisail Garcia on the 10-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain … Mike Trout became the first player to reach double figures in homers when he took Charlie Morton deep on Tuesday … Xander Bogaerts (ankle) went 2-for-3 with a homer and a double Tuesday in his first rehab game at Triple-A Pawtucket … Gary Sanchez socked a pair of home runs and drove in three runs Tuesday against the Twins … Curtis Granderson went 3-for-5 and delivered a walkoff homer against Craig Kimbrel as the Blue Jays edged the Red Sox in extra innings on Tuesday … Jonathan Schoop (oblique) hit off a tee, took grounders, and threw on Tuesday … Mariners left-hander Marco Gonzales held the White Sox off the scoreboard for six-plus innings in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory … Athletics closer Blake Treinen suffered a bruised right shin Tuesday when he was struck by a Shin-Soo Choo line drive, but he is expected to be fine in a couple of days … Salvador Perez (knee) homered in his return from the disabled list Tuesday against the Brewers … Andrelton Simmons went 3-for-5 with two homers and five RBI in leading the Angels to an 8-7 win over the Astros on Tuesday … Byron Buxton will receive treatment on his bruised left toe in Fort Myers before resuming his minor league rehab assignment … Zach Britton (heel) threw a bullpen session off a regular mound Tuesday at Camden Yards … Ian Kennedy will be in a walking boot for the next 12-24 hours after exiting his start Tuesday night against the Brewers with a bruised right foot … Roberto Osuna took his first blown save after giving up two runs in the ninth Tuesday against the Red Sox … Royals placed setup man Justin Grimm on the 10-day disabled list with lower back stiffness … Greg Bird (ankle) will travel to Tampa on Friday to continue his rehab … Jayson Werth has joined the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma … Steven Wright (knee) is scheduled to resume his rehab assignment Wednesday … Athletics reliever Liam Hendriks recently had a cyst removed from his hip and a platelet-rich plasma injection … Orioles claimed utilityman Jace Peterson off waivers from the Yankees.

A swing and a belt....

 No, I am not writing about Dan Schulman's new podcast, but one Brandon Belt.

It isn’t often that a routine fly out to right field is noteworthy, and most certainly have no business in the all-time record books. Brandon Belt’s at-bat against Jaime Barria in the first inning on Sunday was no ordinary plate appearance though.

The at-bat began with a foul ball. Followed by a pitch out of the zone to even the count at 1-1. He then swung and missed, putting him in a hole at 1-2. That’s when Belt went into battle mode. He fouled off the fourth and fifth pitches of the at-bat before taking ball two outside the zone.

Belt then spoiled each of the next two pitches foul, before taking ball three on the ninth pitch of the at-bat. Regardless of how this one turned out, it was going to be a quality first-inning at-bat for the Giants’ first baseman. He was just getting started though.

Belt fouled off the 10th pitch of the at-bat. Then the 11th. And the 12th. He spoiled the 13th foul as well. And the 14th. Likewise for the 15th.

The 16th pitch of the at-bat he knocked foul as well. Same with the 17th and the 18th. The 19th pitch of this epic battle? That one was sent foul as well. As he stood waiting to see his 20th pitch of the at-bat, Belt etched his name in baseball history. The record for most pitches in an at-bat was held by Ricky Gutiererez of the Astros who battled the ageless wonder Bartolo Colon for 20 pitches before eventually striking out back in June of 1998.

It was at this point that Belt must have thought to himself, well, I’ve come this far, might as well just keep on going. That’s exactly what he did, when he fouled off Barria’s 20th offering of the at-bat. That was the 16th foul ball of the at-bat.

Finally, on the 21st pitch, Belt flew out to right field, to a chorus of applause from the opposing fans in Los Angeles.

Just having that type of historic battle in your first plate appearance would be enough for most hitters to consider their day a success. The Baby Giraffe had more in store.

In his next at-bat in the third inning, Belt fouled off four straight two-strike pitches before lining a single into center field.

In the fifth inning, he fouled off three straight full count offerings before smashing a solo home run to right field that increased the Giants’ advantage to 4-0. That blast was Belt’s fifth home run of the season and marked the fourth consecutive start in which he has left the yard. He became the first Giants’ hitter to homer in four consecutive games since Hunter Pence accomplished the feat in 2013.

In his next trip to the plate, he didn’t waste any time, lining the first pitch that he saw from Jim Johnson into right field for his third hit of the ballgame. In the eighth inning, the Angels finally got him to go down without a fight, flying out to left field on the first pitch that he saw.

All told, Belt finished his memorable evening 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. He’s off to a terrific start through his first 17 games, slashing .288/.386/.576 with five homers and 10 RBI. Health has always been the primary concern for Belt, as he has always been a solid contributor while in the Giants’ lineup.

Haniger Heating Up

Mitch Haniger burst onto the scene during the 2017 season, earning a starting job in the Mariners’ outfield and slashing a ridiculous .332/.447/.608 with four homers and 16 RBI through his first 21 games.

Then, on April 25, his season was derailed by an oblique strain that landed him on the disabled list. He didn’t return until June 11 and clearly wasn’t the same player upon his return. Many fantasy owners chalked it up to him leveling off after overachieving for the first month of the season.

He started to sway those doubters though in September, when he hit .353/.374/.613 with seven homers and 14 RBI over 28 games during the final month of the 2017 regular season.

He hasn’t slowed down since. Haniger has come out of the gate on fire in 2018. On Sunday he logged three extra-base hits, going 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and a homer in a loss to the Rangers.

His two-run blast in the seventh inning marked the third consecutive game in which Haniger has homered this season. He has been one of the top offensive performers in all of baseball this year, hitting a robust .314/.390/.671 with seven long balls, 22 RBI and a stolen bases.

He has ascended to the second spot in the Mariners’ lineup, sandwiched between Jean Segura and Robinson Cano, which seems like an optimal spot for production. As long as he can avoid the disabled list. Haniger is looking like an early lock to deliver substantial profit to fantasy owners who invested in him this spring.

Getting Better With Age

It’s difficult to entertain the notion that Mike Trout, already widely believed to be the best all-around player in Major League Baseball, is continually getting better.

This is a guy that has already won two American League MVP Awards, and has been the runner-up three times in his six full seasons in the big leagues. Then you remember, he’s still only 26-years-old.

If the first 22 games of the 2018 season are any indication, this could be the best that we’ve seen from Trout yet.

On Sunday, Trout crushed a two-run homer in the eighth inning of a loss to the Giants. It was his American League-leading ninth home run of the season and the third straight game in which he has left the yard.

He finished the day 1-for-4 and is now slashing .306/.406/.682 with nine homers, 18 runs scored, 17 RBI and three stolen bases. All while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field.

As long as he remains healthy, there’s no limit to the heights that he could potentially reach both for this season and for his career.

American League Quick Hits: Byron Buxton (migraines) could be activated from the disabled list as early as Wednesday… Trey Mancini missed his second straight game with a right knee injury… Mark Trumbo (quad) will resume his minor league rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie on Monday… Bradley Zimmer was scratched from the Indians’ lineup on Sunday due to a minor right ankle sprain… Dee Gordon sat out on Sunday due to a minor foot injury… Andrelton Simmons was forced to leave Sunday’s game with a right forearm contusion after being hit by a pitch. He’s day-to-day... Luis Severino struck out six over seven innings of one-run ball in a victory over the Blue Jays… Miguel Andujar went 4-for-4 with two doubles as the Yankees beat the Jays… Jose Ramirez blasted a pair of home runs, his fifth and sixth of the season, as the Indians topped the Orioles… Manny Machado crushed two home runs of his own in a losing effort there… Mike Moustakas belted a go-ahead three-run homer to sink the Tigers on Sunday… Carlos Gomez launched a walk-off two-run homer to beat the Twins… Daniel Robertson went 4-for-4 with a double and a run scored in that win… Joey Gallo swatted his seventh home run in a win over the Mariners… Khris Davis crushed a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning to beat the Red Sox.

National League Quick Hits: Sunday’s game between the Mets and Braves was postponed due to inclement weather. It’ll be made up as part of a split doubleheader on May 28… Kris Bryant was forced to leave Sunday’s game against the Rockies after getting hit in the head by a pitch thrown by German Marquez. He passed through the initial concussion tests without issue and will be re-evaluated on Monday… Todd Frazier sat out Sunday’s game due to a sore toe. He’s considered day-to-day… Tommy Pham sat out another contest due to groin tightness… The Cardinals placed Adam Wainwright on the 10-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation. He’s expected to be replaced by Jack Flaherty in the Cardinals’ rotation… Carlos Gonzalez landed on the 10-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain. With Gonzalez sidelined and Gerardo Parra serving his suspension, the Rockies recalled David Dahl from Triple-A Albuquerque… Eugenio Suarez hit off a tee and took soft toss on Saturday as he works his way back from a fractured left thumb… Orlando Arcia (ankle) is expected to return to the Brewers’ lineup on Tuesday… Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts announced that Walker Buehler will be recalled from Triple-A to start on Monday… Jose Bautista is expected to be added to the Braves’ roster as some point during their road trip that begins on Monday. He’ll play in a doubleheader with Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday… The Nationals finally placed Anthony Rendon on the 10-day disabled list with his toe injury, after missing eight games with the ailment… Jake Lamb (shoulder) will be shut down for the next few days due to tendinitis in his elbow… Caleb Smith racked up a career-high 10 strikeouts over six innings of two-run baseball in a loss to the Brewers… Miles Mikolas improved to 3-0, allowing just one unearned run over seven innings in a win over the Reds… Paul DeJong clubbed his seventh home run as the Cardinals thrashed the Reds… Charlie Blackmon went 3-for-5 and launched his National League-leading eighth home run in a loss to the Cubs… Javy Baez smoked his seventh long ball and drove in three to lead the Cubs to victory… Christian Villanueva hit his seventh home run of the season and is now riding a nine-game hitting streak… Patrick Corbin punched out 11 over six innings of two-run ball in a win over the Padres… Johnny Cueto whiffed seven over six shutout innings to beat the Angels...Michael Taylor went 3-for-3 plus a walk with a homer and two stolen bases in a loss to the Dodgers on Sunday night.

Buy Low Sell High

As we head into the final full week of April, the time has passed where fantasy owners can imagine vaulting up the standings in just a couple days. Standings are clearly going to evolve over the remaining five-plus months, but owners will need more than a five-homer or three-win day move from 10th place to 3rd. With the climb starting to seem longer, owners who are off to a slow start are prone to making panic moves.

To be clear, we are still at the point in the season where most outlier statistics are a mirage. The inevitable swings that occur with influential stats such as BABIP, strand rate and HR/FB rate seem especially pronounced right now when they are not offset by results over a longer period, which creates opportunities for owners to dig deeper on specific players and separate those who have made real changes in their game from those who have enjoyed good or bad luck.  With the goal of looking at the trade market from a variety of angles, here are 10 players who should be the topic of many discussions right now.




Buy Low

Joey Votto, First baseman (Reds): Considered to be one of the best pure hitters in baseball (.320/.454/.578 slash line in 2017), Votto is batting just .246 and has yet to put a ball over the outfield wall this year. Further, the slugger is currently lacking his trademark plate discipline, posting a 7.8 percent walk rate that pales in comparison to his lifetime 16.1 percent mark. However, while some Votto owners will be panicking that the 34-year-old is at the outset of an age-related decline, those who know their stuff will recognize that the veteran has become a slow starter in recent seasons. In fact, since the outset of 2016, Votto has logged a .728 OPS in April, a .935 mark in May and an OPS above 1.000 in each subsequent month of the season. This is the perfect time to acquire Votto, who seems destined to heat up with the weather.

Daniel Murphy, Second baseman (Nationals): With a rash of April injuries across the Majors, owners who were happy to stash an injured Murphy until he returns from offseason knee surgery are likely feeling the pinch with their DL slots. While Murphy owners who have mostly escaped the injury bug are fine to hold him until he returns to action, those who are struggling to keep healthy bodies in their lineup and bench will have to strongly consider trading him at a reduced cost. Wise owners will focus on Murphy’s uncertain return date while trading for someone who could be a top-20 hitter (.334 average, 48 homers, 197 RBIs across 2016-17) when he is back to full strength.

Adrian Beltre, Third baseman (Rangers): Although Beltre is off to a respectable start (.288/.357/.397 slash line), he has homered just once and has thus far been a marginal fantasy asset. The nondescript early season results should create a buying opportunity for owners who can convince the Beltre owner that at age 39, his days of providing difference-making statistics have come to an end. The veteran has thus far produced a 42.9 percent hard-contact rate that is better than his lifetime 33.1 mark and would have an extra homer or two if not for a 6.7 percent HR/FB rate (lifetime 13.5 percent rate). When all is said and done, Beltre will likely wrap up this season with a .300 average and 25 long balls.

Whit Merrifield, Second baseman (Royals): The start of the season has been a nondescript one for Merrifield, who is batting .271 with 10 runs scored, five RBIs and one steal. His teammates haven’t done much to help his cause either, as the team has collectively posted a .657 OPS while averaging just 3.1 runs per game. However, things should soon improve for Merrifield, who has thus far posted a 42.1 percent hard-contact rate that dwarfs his 30.6 mark from his breakout 2017 season. With steals sources at a premium, wise owners will try to get Merrifield at a discount from those who are currently concerned that they wasted a pick on a one-year wonder.

Josh Hader, Reliever (Brewers): While most fantasy owners understand that there is value attached to skilled setup men, few owners truly understand how valuable they can be.  Hader is a great model to illustrate this point, as he currently ranks among the 10 most productive relievers despite accumulating zero wins and two saves. With many starters struggling to work deep into games and closers regularly losing their jobs, talented setup men have become some of the most stable pitching commodities. Among middle relievers, few can match the talent of Hader (1.54 ERA, 0.51 WHIP, 19.3 K/9 rate in 2018). Brewers manager Craig Counsell has made it clear that he has no interest in using Hader as a traditional closer while Corey Knebel is on the disabled list, giving wise owners a clear path to explaining why they should be able to acquire the southpaw at a reasonable cost.


Sell High

Bryce Harper, Outfielder (Nationals): When everything is going right for Harper, he is perhaps the only hitter in baseball who can compare to Angels superstar Mike Trout. Things have certainly been going right thus far, with Harper leading the Majors in homers (eight) and placing third in RBIs (19) on the way to ranking alongside Mookie Betts as the most productive fantasy commodities. However, hot starts aren’t anything new to Harper, who owns a lifetime 1.088 OPS in April that is more than 100 points higher than any other month. Further, the 25-year-old remains an injury risk, having just recorded an OPS over .854 across at least 140 games just once in his previous six campaigns. While it should take a king’s ransom to acquire Harper, his fantasy owners should be willing to listen.

Brad Hand, Reliever (Padres): As was recently mentioned in this space for relievers Wade Davis and Jeurys Familia, early season saves leaders are likely to be overvalued by owners who don’t recognize that save opportunities often come in bunches. And Hand certainly fits this description, as he currently ranks fourth in baseball with six saves. Unfortunatey, due to the rebuilding nature of the Padres this season, the southpaw stopper is more likely than the other saves leaders to eventually go through a dry spell. Hand has thus far collected saves in six of his club’s eight victories, which is a rate that simply can’t continue. Additionally, after having signed a reasonable long-term deal in the offseason, the 28-year-old could be traded this summer to a contending club who slots him into a setup role.

Sean Manaea, Starter (A’s): As a 26-year-old who is off to a great start (1.63 ERA, 0.72 WHIP heading into a Saturday start against Boston), Manaea is bound to get attention by fantasy owners as someone who is possibly at the outset of a breakout season. However, the southpaw has benefited from a .169 BABIP, and his 4.14 FIP is likely a better representation of someone who logged a mediocre 6.5 K/9 rate across his initial four outings. While his control gains (1.3 BB/9 rate in 2018) are encouraging, Manaea could be traded away by those who correctly see him as more of a mid-rotation asset than a mixed-league ace.

DJ LeMahieu, Second baseman (Rockies): While LeMahieu is definitely a mixed-league asset who should rank among the league leaders in batting average and runs scored, he is likely set for a short stay on the home-run leaders list. The 29-year-old -- who has already tallied five homers this year -- has a career-high of 11 long balls and posted his second-best total when he went deep eight times last season. While LeMahieu owners should not be desperate to trade him away, they should also recognize the looming power regression from someone who currently has a 26.3 percent HR/FB rate that dwarfs his lifetime 7.4 percent mark.

Dansby Swanson, Shortstop (Braves): Formerly a top prospect who is off to a great start this season (.342 average, .928 OPS), Swanson is going to pique the interest of owners who believe that he could be the next skilled youngster to enjoy a breakout season. However, the youngster has benefited from an unsustainable .429 BABIP while showing terrible plate control (27 percent BB:K ratio) and logging an unremarkable 29.3 percent hard-contact rate. With little power and speed (six homers, three steals in 2017), Swanson should be peddled for a low price by owners who recognize that he could eventually return to the waiver wire in mixed formats.

Oakland Explodes

 
It was a busy Friday night in Major League Baseball with a doubleheader, a few amazing pitching performances and some big stats from offensive players, too. A few of the outings we have come to expect, but there were a few other players that perhaps the casual fan is just getting to know. We also had a handful of players making their season debut after overcoming injuries. Pitchers had the upper hand in a lot of the games, but the bats were on fire in places like Denver and St. Petersburg. Let's get started!

Friday's Fantasy Five

Jed Lowrie continues to roll up huge numbers, and he was at it again on Friday night against his original MLB organization. He finished 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles, a run scored and an RBI to raise his average to .372. He leads the majors with 32 hits while also sitting atop the list with 22 RBI. Is he a triple crown candidate? Well, let's not get crazy. However, he is doing an amazing job in pitcher-friendly O.co Coliseum. He'll look to keep it rolling on Saturday against Red Sox RHP Chris Sale. He is 8-for-20 (.400) with two RBI and four strikeouts all-time against the BoSox ace.

Justin Verlander has the fastball dancing against a very familiar opponent. He knows the White Sox all too well from his days with the Detroit Tigers, and he picked up another win at Guaranteed Rate Field on Friday. He allowed just two hits with three walks and five strikeouts over six strikeouts to run his record to 3-0 and lower his ERA to 1.10. He is 4-0 across his past nine starts against the White Sox dating back to the start of the 2015 season, and he has 71 strikeouts over 55 1/3 innings during the impressive span. He has won seven of his past eight decisions against the White Sox, and his last loss against the came on June 11, 2014.




Brian Dozier finished Friday's game in Tampa Bay with two hits over five at-bats with a run scored. It wasn't all great, as he was caught stealing at second base. He has hit safely in all 14 games this season, going 18-for-62 (.290) with 13 runs scored, four homers and seven RBI, and he has a 21-game hitting streak going back to last season. It's the longest active hitting streak in the majors, and the longest by a member of the Twins since Dozier hit safely in 24 straight back during the 2016 campaign.

Javier Baez is doing amazing things for the Cubbies, and he had another big line in Friday's rout at Coors Field. The second baseman posted four hits, including a double and a two-run home run while ending up with four RBI. He is in some rare Chicago Cubs company, posting 20 RBI through the first 17 games. He is the first player in the organization to reach 20 or more RBI through the club's first 17 outings since Billy Williams collected 25 RBI during the 1970 season. He has done a majority of the good work lately, driving in 16 runs over the past eight games.

Tyson Ross is normally not someone fantasy owners are going to depend upon, but anyone who rolled the dice on his in DFS as a contrarian play in Arizona was treated to a great pitching line. He carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning before pinch hitter Christian Walker doubled in a run to spoil the bid with two outs. Despite the impressive 127-pitch outing he ended up coming up empty with a very unsatisfying no-decision, although he'll certainly be encouraged by the start. He'll try to keep it rolling in San Francisco next Tuesday. The Padres remain the only active organization without a no-hitter in franchise history.

Game of the Night

A game at Coors Field can be the best game for fantasy purposes most nights, but it was especially so on Friday. The Cubs racked up 16 runs and 18 hits in the road win. We mentioned Baez and his exploits above, but he wasn't the only one raking. Albert Almora racked up four hits with a double, an RBI and four runs scored in the win. It was his first-career four-hit game, and he is now slashing .325/.372/.525, including an impressive 9-for-18 (.500) with nine runs scored across the past six contests. Kyle Schwarber is loving life at Coors Field, collecting five hits with six RBI in the first two games of the series. He is now slashing .283/.406/.566, as he is finally healthy and getting a chance to play frequently. Kyle Hendricks picked up his first win of the season, and Coors Field probably wouldn't be the guess for most where that would happen. Most pitchers do not iron their problems out in the rarefied air, but he yielded just three runs and five hits with no walks and six strikeouts over five innings for his first victory of the 2018 campaign.

For the Rockies, Nolan Arenado was back from a five-game suspension. He didn't show any rust from his layoff, going 3-for-4 with a two-run home run in his first at-bat. While Jon Gray was getting tattooed on the mound, allowing seven runs - five earned - and eight hits over five innings, he was able to collect a single and a double in two at-bats to at least try and help himself out. The Rockies didn't offer very much relief, either, as Bryan Shaw has been a disaster in relief with a 7.84 ERA. He coughed up five runs, four hits and a walk while retiring just two batters. Antonio Senzatela has also been terrible out of the bullpen, yielding four earned runs, six hits and a walk in just two innings as his ERA ballooned to 9.53. Ryan MacMahon ended up 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, posting his first-career multi-hit game.

American League Quick Hits: Jason Hammel allowed two earned runs, five hits and two walks with four strikeouts over nine innings in a no-decision in Game 1 of a doubleheader in Detroit, matching the longest outing of his career. … Mike Moustakas hit in each end of the twin bill, an he has now hit safely in 12 straight games. … JaCoby Jones shined in Game 1, going 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and two runs scored with two RBI. He then went 1-for-2 with a triple, a run scored and an RBI in the nightcap. Play like that is certain to buy him some more regular playing time. … Roberto Osuna slammed the door for his sixth save of the season against the Yankees and he has yet to yield a run this season. … Yangervis Solarte swatted a home run and he now has left the yard five times this season. … Lourdes Gurriel made his MLB debut, going 2-for-5 with three RBI. … Giancarlo Stanton cracked a two-run home run to hopefully snap him back on track. … Sonny Gray was terrible in his outing, allowing five earned runs, five hits and four walks with no strikeouts and two wild pitches in 3 1/3 innings in a no-decision. … Roberto Perez got a chance to play, but he took the golden sombrero with four strikeouts in four at-bats. … Dylan Bundy allowed just one run, five hits and two walks with nine strikeouts against the Indians, improving to 1-2 while lowering his ERA to a minuscule 1.42. … Darren O'Day slammed the door shut with two strikeouts for his first save, racking up 11 strikes on 16 pitches. … Jeff Junis was impressive in Game 2 of the K.C.-Detroit double dip, allowing just two earned runs with four hits, a walk and four strikeouts over eight innings. He is still only worth a look in deeper AL-only leagues, but perhaps he is starting to come around. … Fernando Rodney blew his second save chance for the Twins, although he did strike out three in the inning of work. … Mitch Haniger had an impressive showing, going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBI and a walk. Jean Segura also collected three hits, including a key hit in a late-inning rally to help the team to a road victory. … Keone Kela was smacked around for three earned runs and three hits while retiring just one batter in a relief loss in the non-save situation. … Carlos Correa cracked two homers with three RBI across five at-bats. … George Springer went 2-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and four RBI. … Mitch Moreland cracked a grand slam to help the Red Sox to a nice road win.

National League Quick Hits: Ivan Nova and Ben Lively put on a nice and unexpected pitching performance, as each allowed just one earned run across six innings in a pair of no-decisions. … Noah Syndergaard allowed earned runs while scattering seven hits over six innings in a road no-decision in Atlanta, and he did not walk any batters while striking out six. … Ozzie Albies cracked his sixth homer, as he continues to please his fantasy owner with nice power. … Ryan Braun was powering up again, going 2-for-5 with a homer, two runs scored and two RBI. … Jonathan Villar also took the golden sombrero in the team's 8-0 victory against the Marlins. … Travis Shaw picked him up by going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and two runs scored. … Michael Wacha shut down the Reds, allowing one earned run, six hits and a walk over 6 2/3 innings in a victory against the struggling Cincinnati Reds. A managerial change did nothing to get the Reds back on track. … Harrison Bader was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk, extending his hitting streak to six games. … Jeff Samardzija (pectoral) made his season debut, allowing just two hits with four walks and four strikeouts over five innings to pick up the win against the Angels. … Mac Williamson belted a homer in his first game back in the majors, seizing an opportunity to play for the injured Hunter Pence (thumb). … Max Scherzer outdueled Clayton Kershaw in a battle of three-time Cy Young Award winners, the first such matchup since 2006. Scherzer came away with the win, allowing just one run with nine strikeouts over six innings. … Kershaw picked up his third loss of the season. Last year he didn't lose his third decision until Sept. 7.