When Mike Trout slumps a bit, it confuses fantasy owners. However, there’s never a doubt about what type of player and person he remains as an ambassador of the game:

 

After meeting his “superfan”, Trout went 2-for-4 with a double and his eighth home run driving in three. Trout’s two batted ball events resulted in exit velocities of 106.7 and 108.5 MPH marking his first multi-extra base hit game of the season. There’s not much to worry about with Trout in fantasy and nothing seems to get players out of a slump like the Orioles pitching staff.

Boston surged to 14 runs on Friday night. Andrew Benintendi racked up three hits including his fifth home run. He’s started to pull the ball for more power of late homering in his last two games. He’s also scored 14 runs his last 15 games. Over his last 27 contests hitting .321 (36-for-112) with eight doubles, all five of his home runs and 17 RBI. Mitch Moreland launched his 11th home run, in only 35 games so far, and he’s knocked in 14 runs his last nine games. Perhaps following the path of former teammate Joey Gallo , Moreland’s recorded 17 extra-base hits (six doubles, 11 home runs) of his 25 this year while averaging a home run every 10.27 at-bats so far.

Benefiting from extra playing time, Mitch Garver continues to surge hitting his eighth home run, already surpassing his total from last year. He’s also the fourth Twins hitter to accrue at least three walks with his only hit being a home run in a game, last accomplished by Kent Hrbek in 1987. Plus, Garver’s hitting .357 with a 1.191 on-base plus slugging percentage over his last 10 games against the Tigers with a doubleheader on tap.

Adalberto Mondesi swiped two bases moving into a tie for the major league lead with Tim Anderson at 12 this year. Mondesi’s racked up 12 multi-stolen base games in his career with 10 since the start of last season, including a major league leading 39 steals from the second half of last year through last night’s action. Alex Gordon hit two home runs driving in three moving his season total to eight. Gordon hit his eighth home run on August 18th last year. Plus, his exit velocities on the home runs (110.6 and 109.5 MPH) register as two of his three hardest hit events this year. Jorge Soler added his 10th home run, surpassing his 2018 total already, and he’s slashing .423/.484/.846 his last seven games.

Scoring 12 runs for the second straight game, Colorado blasted the Padres at home. Trevor Story snapped his 10-game homerless streak in Coors with his ninth home run. Charlie Blackmon extended his modest hit streak to eight games with two hits. During the streak, Blackmon is 13-for-34 (.382) with 12 runs, five doubles, a triple, two home runs, six RBI and he’s walked five times. Nolan Arenado recorded a multiple hit game for the seventh time over his last eight contests.

Entering Friday’s game in the midst of a .211 slump in his previous 13 games, Matt Chapman could be emerging from it:

 

Ronald Acuña Jr. moved back into the leadoff spot last night and hit his eighth home run of the year. Dating back to the start of the second half last year, when hitting first, Acuna’s hit 20 home runs in 67 games.

A double dong night for Joc Pederson versus the Nationals. His 11th and 12th of the year in a win over the Nationals.

 

Starting Pitcher Recaps: Castillo stays hot

Luis Castillo continues to build on his hot start winning his fourth game while striking out 11 against the Giants. He did issue five walks, less than optimal, but finished with six shutout innings limiting them to two hits. Castillo recorded 24 swinging strikes, tying him for the fourth highest total this year in a start, and 17 called strikes for a robust 39.8 CSW (called plus swinging strikes) percentage. Plus:

 

Accruing less swinging strikes, but remaining effective, Jake Odorizzi won his fifth game allowing one hit with five strikeouts in seven efficient innings. Odorizzi only needed 95 pitches and extended his scoreless streak to 20 innings in the process. He’s won five straight decisions with a matching 0.86 ERA and 0.86 WHIP over his last 31.1 innings.

Here’s the other noteworthy starting pitcher performances from Friday:

  • Eduardo Rodríguez , Boston: 103 pitches, 14 swinging strikes, 17 called, 30.1 CSW%. Rodriguez won his fourth game, and the Red Sox have won his last six starts. In this stretch, Rodriguez owns a 2.77 ERA his last 35.2 innings.

  • Zack Wheeler , New York Mets: 107 pitches, 18 swinging strikes, 20 called, 35.5 CSW%. For the third time in his last four starts, Wheeler racked up double digit strikeouts (11 last night) raising his total to 36 his last 27 innings.

  • Justin Verlander , Houston: 101 pitches, 21 swinging strikes, 14 called, 34.7 CSW%. Verlander won his sixth game holding the Rangers to one hit with eight strikeouts lowering his ERA to 2.51 this year.

  • Trevor Williams , Pittsburgh: 103 pitches, 15 swinging and called strikes, 31 CSW%. Working around nine hits, Williams held the Cardinals to one earned run with five strikeouts en route to his second win.

  • Kenta Maeda , Los Angeles Dodgers: 86 pitches, 10 swinging strikes, 13 called, 26.7 CSW%. Hurling six shutout innings, Maeda only allowed one hit and walked two with six strikeouts for his fourth win.

 

Bullpen Notes: Braves shuffling high leverage?

With Arodys Vizcaíno out for the year and A.J. Minter optioned to Triple-A, the Braves bullpen will be ripe with opportunity. Luke Jackson rebounded for his third save with a clean ninth and two strikeouts in Arizona. But, do not lose sight of how the team prefers to match-up in high leverage with a possible new southpaw to work in the late innings:

 

Any owner holding on to Anthony Swarzak for saves, should put him on the bench. Swarzak entered Friday’s game during the fifth inning and allowed the only inherited runner to score. Plus, Swarzak yielded three hits, an earned run and a walk in his 1.1 innings. He’s given up at least a run in seven straight appearances. For those in deep leagues, keep tabs on Parker Markel who recorded all five outs via strikeout for Triple-A Tacoma last night.

Here’s the rest of the high leverage highlights from Friday night:

  • Aroldis Chapman gets his ninth save allowing a hit with two strikeouts. He’s 9-for-10 in save opportunities this year.

  • Houston’s bullpen continues to shine with Roberto Osuna notching his 10th save, and 25th in a row. Ryan Pressly recorded his 35th scoreless inning spanning 36 appearances dating back to last year.

  • Another arm of intrigue, Scott Barlow of the Royals. He tossed two scoreless innings issuing one walk and striking out six. Over his last 11 games, Barlow owns a 1.17 ERA in 15.1 innings with a .135 batting average against and 24 strikeouts.

  • Save number 11 for Felipe Vázquez , the 69th save of his career. Nice.

  • Blake Treinen only needed 12 pitches for two clean innings of work. Joakim Soria garnered the win after Matt Chapman ’s walk-off home run.

  • Three-inning save for Julio Urías . This marks his second save of the week and as a reliever, Urias owns a 10:2 K:BB in 8.2 innings with a 1.85 xFIP.

 

What To Watch For

A doubleheader in Minnesota versus the Tigers. Spencer Turnbull will try to build on his season in Game 1 against Michael Pineda . Game 2 could feature some runs. Stay tuned.

Trevor Bauer will try to rebound in Oakland after getting shelled at home in his last start.

Add Texas to the list of teams deploying the opener. Jesse Chavez will start the game.

Potential pitcher’s duel with Max Scherzer facing Walker Buehler later this evening for a strong nightcap.

Do not forget about Mallex Smith . He hit a go ahead three-run home run last night at Triple-A. He missed most of spring training with an elbow injury. However, in seven games in the minors, Smith’s slashing .406/441/.563 with seven stolen bases.

Be sure to stay with Fantasy Alarm to remain ahead of the competition.

 

Statistical Credits:

BaseballSavant.com

Fangraphs.com

MLB.com - Game Notes