Fantasy Baseball Daily Round Up: May 5

With two more pitchers landing on the injured list, Jameson Taillon (elbow) and James Paxton (knee), hitting on late round fliers will be of the utmost importance. Those who speculated on Luke Weaver should be very pleased with the early returns. Weaver won his third game with an impressive showing in Coors limiting Colorado to three hits, one earned run and a walk with eight strikeouts. He also generated 18 swinging strikes (eight with his changeup) and 18 called of his 102 pitches for a 35.3 called plus swinging strikes percentage (CSW). Pounding the strike zone and mixing his pitches well, Weaver could sustain this going forward.

Here are other notable pitching performances from Saturday:

• Jake Odorizzi , Minnesota: 91 pitches, 14 swinging strikes, 16 called, 33 CSW%. Trying to discern between a strong start or growth, Odorizzi beat the Yankees in the Bronx for his fourth win this year. He did walk four, but ceded only two hits with eight strikeouts.

• Mike Soroka , Atlanta: 89 pitches, 10 swinging strikes, 15 called, 32.6 CSW%. Staking his claim to a spot in the Braves rotation, Soroka yielded two runs (zero earned) on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts over seven innings. If he stays healthy, Soroka’s worth the risk.

• Dylan Bundy , Baltimore: 96 pitches, 16 swinging strikes, nine called, 26 CSW%. Snapping a personal six-game losing streak, Bundy lasted 7.1 innings giving up three hits and one walk with four strikeouts.

• Eduardo Rodríguez , Boston: 100 pitches, eight swinging strikes, 17 called, 25 CSW%. During a blowout win, Rodriguez worked six innings allowing six hits, one earned run and two walks with six strikeouts en route to his third win.

• Zack Wheeler , New York Mets: 111 pitches, 19 swinging strikes, 20 called, 35.1 CSW%. Although he did not factor in the decision, Wheeler recorded 10 strikeouts in seven innings giving up six hits and two earned runs. It was a nice outing on the road and hopefully Wheeler rounds into last year’s form throughout May.

Cleveland survived a bullpen battle late to defeat the Mariners. Roenis Elías entered the game in the bottom of the seventh and lasted 1.2 innings striking out three. He did give up a hit to Francisco Lindor in the eighth and left with two outs. Connor Sadzeck coughed up a two-run home run to Carlos Santana ceding the lead and resulting in his first blown save. With Anthony Swarzak struggling, keep tabs on both Elias and Sadzeck as the month progresses if speculating on saves. Brad Hand entered in the top of the ninth and recorded his 10th save working around a walk with three strikeouts. In an effort to streamline the information, here’s the rest of the action from the bullpens:

• Pedro Strop recorded his fourth save with a clean ninth striking out two. It’s been sporadic in terms of saves for Strop, but with every setback to Brandon Morrow , his value increases.

• Speaking of sparse opportunities, Mychal Givens gets his third save. He walked one during a scoreless outing. He’s actually a buy low, until the Orioles potentially trade him later in the year.

• Save number nine for Felipe Vázquez . He allowed a hit and struck out one.

• Sean Doolittle locked down his fifth save navigating around a hit and a walk.

• Perhaps some short term clarity in Texas with Shawn Kelley getting his second save after a clean ninth inning. José Leclerc recorded two strikeouts and his second hold in the seventh inning.

• For the second straight night, Kirby Yates ceded the lead in the top of the ninth of a tied game walking one and allowing a hit with three strikeouts. Kenley Jansen notched his 12th save for the Dodgers walking one and striking out one.

With so many pitchers struggling, runs accrued in bunches on Saturday. Kansas City scored 15 in Detroit with many contributors. Whit Merrifield went 2-for-4 with his fifth home and two RBI. Alex Gordon stayed hot with three hits including his sixth home run driving in five. Rookie Kelvin Gutierrez racked up four hits and stole his first base of the season.

Meanwhile, in a marathon in Milwaukee:

Ryan Braun set a career high with six hits, including the game winner. Braun’s 11 for his last 16 raising his average from .194 to .263 in the process.

Rookie Michael Chavis continues to surge. He hit two home runs during a four-hit game: