During a five-start stretch from June 26 through July 23, Corey Kluber performed well below his typical All-Star more often than not, posting a 6.23 ERA and 1.58 WHIP while allowing six home runs across 26.0 innings. With those results, there was at least a bit of understandable concern surrounding the Cleveland ace. After his last two outings, however, any concern that was there has dissipated.

Kluber was nothing short of brilliant in a complete-game shutout of the Angels on Saturday night. He required only 98 pitches (64 strikes) to navigate 9.0 spotless frames, giving up three hits and a walk while striking out seven. Kluber has now surrendered just one run on eight hits and two walks over his last 16.1 innings.

 

In Case You Missed It

Despite Kluber’s work, he and the Indians found themselves in a scoreless going into the bottom of the sixth inning. That was until newly-acquired center fielder Leonys Martín led off the Indians’ half of the frame by driving a 3-1 heater from Felix Pena over the wall in right-center. Martin was brought to Cleveland from Detroit just before the non-waiver deadline this past Tuesday and has already proven to be a worthwhile addition. The speedy veteran is 4-for-8 with two homers since joining the Tribe.

Is there any player in the game having a quieter breakout than supposedly “glove-first” shortstop Nick Ahmed . The fifth-year big leaguer led the Diamondbacks to a 9-3 rout of the Giants on Saturday, going 3-for-3 with a pair of long balls, four RBI, and three runs scored. Ahmed took an 0-for-5 versus the Rockies in his first game following the All-Star Break back on July 20. Since then, he has hit safely in 12-of-14 games, slugging a ridiculous .833 with nine extra-base hits and 19 RBI.

 

Sunday on the Hill

It has been an up-and-down season for Trevor Williams , but things are definitely on an upswing right now. The Pittsburgh righty has not been scored upon in any of his last three outings, giving up 13 hits and eight walks with nine strikeouts across 17.0 innings in that span. He will be on his home mound for a duel with Jack Flaherty and the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. Williams is 6-4 with a 3.68 ERA (3.90 FIP) over 12 home starts this year.

The Yankees will attempt to avoid a four-game sweep against the archrival Red Sox in Boston on Sunday night, and they’ll look to do so behind Masahiro Tanaka . Like Williams, Tanaka will head to the mound with an impressive scoreless-innings streak working. He has fired 15.0 tally-free frames since the All-Star Break, allowing only six hits and three walks while punching out 17 in the process. The Sox will counter Tanaka with David Price .

 

Streaking

Elvis Andrus – 15 games – 23-for-64, .954 OPS, 2 HR, 5 2B

Justin Smoak – 9 games – 12-for-40, .783 OPS, 1 HR, 3 2B

Evan Longoria – 7 games – 10-for-31, .901 OPS, 1 HR, 2 2B

Mark Trumbo – 7 games – 9-for-28, .783 OPS, 1 HR

Hernán Pérez – 7 games – 9-for-25, 1.207 OPS, 3 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.