The Cincinnati Reds are certainly not contenders this season, but right now, they are among the hottest teams in the league. The Reds 11-2 victory over the Cubs on Saturday night was their sixth in a row and ninth in 11 games. You know things are going well when pitchers are hitting grand slams. That’s right, Anthony DeSclafani stepped to the plate with the bases juiced in the bottom of the third inning Saturday and proceeded to launch the first homer of his career over the left-field wall at Great American Ball Park.

DeSclafani did not only get it done at the plate but also from the mound as well. The 28-year-old righty held the Cubs to two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out three across 6.1 innings. DeSclafani will carry a 3-1 record, 4.09 ERA and 1.36 WHIP into his next outing which is expected to come Thursday versus the Brewers.

 

In Case You Missed It

DeSclafani was not the only player to deliver a deep drive with the bases loaded Saturday evening, as Matt Kemp ripped the eighth grand slam of his career (seventh in a Dodgers uniform) into the stands at Citi Field during the eighth inning of Saturday’s 8-3 win over the Mets.

 

 

Kemp was supposed to be receiving the night off, but was able to deliver for the Dodgers yet again this season despite getting just one pinch-hit appearance. The veteran slugger now has 13 homers on the year and leads the club with 47 RBI and a strong .323 batting average.

Also for the Dodgers on Saturday, Clayton Kershaw returned to the mound for the first time since May 31, giving up two runs on five hits with four strikeouts over 3.0 innings. However, a more impressive return came from Marcus Stroman. In his first start since May 8, the Toronto hurler allowed six hits and one walk while striking out five over 5.0 scoreless frames.

 

Sunday on the Hill

Domingo German has been mowing batters down at a rapid pace over his last three outings. Over that span, the Yankees rocket-armed rookie has put up a 28-to-2 K/BB ratio while working to a 3.32 ERA and 0.74 WHIP across 19.0 innings. German will get back to work Sunday afternoon in Tampa Bay.

Kershaw is not the only Dodgers starter that has been activated from the DL over the past week. Making his first start in a month, Rich Hill was stellar on Tuesday, firing 6.0 shutout innings against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The veteran lefty will look to maintain that form Sunday afternoon versus the Mets.

 

Streaking

Eugenio Suarez (CIN) - 13 games – 1.203 OPS, 18-for-48, 5 HR

Dee Gordon (SEA) - 11 games - .780 OPS, 18-for-49, 8 R

JaCoby Jones (DET) - 9 games - .874 OPS, 11-for-33, 1 HR, 2 SB

 

You can follow Nate Miller on Twitter @Miller_RotoDad or hear him every Monday & Thursday hosting the Fantasy Alarm Fantasy Baseball Podcast along with Colby Conway.