Latest from the Trade Market

The Brewers and Royals came to an agreement on a deal that will send third baseman Mike Moustakas from Kansas City to Milwaukee. The two-time All-Star, who has spent his entire professional career with the Royals since being taken with the second pick in the 2007 Amateur Draft, is slugging .468 with 20 homers and 21 doubles through 98 games this season. In exchange for Moustakas, the Royals receive outfielder Brett Phillips and righty Jorge Lopez .

The Astros traded for reliever Ryan Pressly from the Twins on Friday night. The sixth-year right-hander, who is sporting a 3.40 ERA and 13.0 K/9 through 47.2 innings on the campaign, will add even more talent to an already deep Houston bullpen. Prospects Jorge Alcala and Gilberto Celestino comprise Minnesota’s return for Pressly.

 

In Case You Missed It

Max Scherzer picked up his N.L.-leading 14th victory of the season Friday night, as he allowed just one run (zero earned) on three hits and a walk across 8.0 innings. The Nationals ace struck out 11 Marlins, bringing his total for the year to 200. With that mark, Scherzer is now just the fourth pitcher in MLB history to reach 200 punchouts in seven straight seasons. Not a bad way to spend your 34th birthday.

Scherzer was not the only N.L. ace to make a little history Friday night, as Clayton Kershaw ’s dual efforts from the mound and the box in Atlanta were quite rare as well. His 7.2 innings of one-run, six-hit ball with eight strikeouts was more than enough for a successful night at the park, but Kershaw added a two-run single and three walks, making him only the third pitcher (Robin Roberts, Whitey Ford) in the live-ball era to put together that type of combination.

 

Saturday on the Hill

For the one early-afternoon start Saturday, Luis Severino will head to the bump at Yankee Stadium for a meeting with the typically light-hitting Royals. Severino has been laboring through his weakest stretch of the season, as he has been tagged for 14 runs (13 earned) while surrendering six long balls across 15.0 innings during his last three starts. Each of those three outings came on the road, so the All-Star righty will certainly be glad to be back on his home mound where he sports an 8-0 record and 1.64 ERA over 10 starts this year.

Justin Verlander will be one of the headliners on the hill during the evening slate. Verlander was knocked around by the Tigers on the final Sunday before the All-Star break, giving up six runs (five earned) on the back of four homers across 6.0 innings. However, he bounced back in a big way last Saturday at Angel Stadium, as he racked up 11 punchouts while allowing five hits and two walks over 6.0 scoreless frames. Verlander will face the Rangers for the fifth time this season on Saturday. Over the first four meetings, the 35-year-old ace has posted a 1.73 ERA and 32-to-8 K/BB ratio in 26.0 innings.

 

Streaking

Starling Marte - 17 games - 28-for-71, 1.173 OPS, 7 HR, 7 SB

Ian Desmond - 12 games - 19-for-47, 1.131 OPS, 2 HR, 3 3B

Christian Yelich - 11 games - 24-for-45, 1.540 OPS, 3 HR, 7 2B

Jonathan Schoop - 10 games - 17-for-45, 1.170 OPS, 6 HR

 

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.