Fantasy Baseball Daily Round Up: June 8

Friday started with a strong outing by Cole Hamels. He continued his dominance of the Cardinals recording 10 strikeouts over eight shutout innings giving up three hits and a walk. Hamels generated 22 swinging strikes and 15 called for a robust 37.4 CSW (Called plus swinging strikes) percentage, bested by one only other pitcher in a full slate of games. Also, through 22 innings versus St. Louis since joining the Cubs, Hamels owns a 0.41 ERA against them.

Representing the highest CSW percentage total on Friday, Gerrit Cole racked up 14 strikeouts in seven innings against the Orioles yielding four hits, three runs (one earned) and no walks. Cole’s registered four starts this year with at least 10 strikeouts and zero walks, out of 14 total. However, no pitcher’s ever finished a season with more than six. This game also marks the seventh time Cole’s finished with at least 10 strikeouts and he produced 29 swinging strikes, 19 with his four-seam fastball, along with 16 called for a 39.8 CSW percentage.

Here are other notable starting pitcher performances from Friday:

• Mike Soroka, Atlanta: 99 pitches, 11 swinging strikes, 14 called, 25.3 CSW%. Soroka won his seventh game allowing three hits, one earned run and two walks with six strikeouts in Miami.

• Yonny Chirinos, Tampa Bay: 101 pitches, eight swinging strikes, 20 called, 27.7 CSW%. Not letting the Red Sox square up any of his pitches, Chirinos won his seventh decision giving up two hits and two walks over eight shutout innings with six strikeouts.

• Matt Boyd, Detroit: 108 pitches, 20 swinging strikes, 11 called, 28.7 CSW%. During a no-decision, Boyd recorded the most swinging strikes against the Twins all season. He also accrued eight strikeouts in seven innings but allowed two home runs leading to three earned runs.

• Jacob deGrom, New York Mets: 112 pitches, 21 swinging strikes, nine called, 26.8 CSW%. Like deja vu, deGrom probably deserved better losing at home despite giving up six hits, two earned runs and a walk with 10 strikeouts.

• Zach Plesac, Cleveland: 111 pitches, 10 swinging strikes, 20 called, 27 CSW%. Plesac did not light up with statistics, but, he also limited the Yankees to six hits, two earned runs and a walk with five strikeouts for his first major league win. There will be some regression for Plesac, but he could be a solid pickup to stream going forward.

• Brandon Woodruff, Milwaukee: 99 pitches, 14 swinging strikes, 14 called, 28.3 CSW%. Securing his eighth win, Woodruff yielded four hits, three earned runs and a walk with 10 strikeouts.

Bullpen Notes: Not yet Jose

It’s been a rough 2019 for Jose LeClerc. His second half surge and new contract seemed to assure his fantasy status as a potential top-10 closer for the Rangers. However, struggles with command and giving up home runs continue to plague him. Entering a tied game in the top of the ninth Friday and he coughed up a two-run home run to Marcus Semien leading to a loss. LeClerc had been scoreless in eight of his previous nine appearances with 23 strikeouts strikeouts against two walks in 11.2 innings. This outing will give a longer leash to Shawn Kelley, especially given the Rangers would like to improve his trade stock with contenders. Be patient with LeClerc since returning to the closer position will require more time.

Here’s a recap of the rest of the high leverage events from Friday:

• Pedro Strop held on for his sixth save working around a solo home run by Paul DeJong. With Craig Kimbrel due to join the Cubs by the 20th, Strop will transition to the eighth inning.

• No one wants to draft Hector Neris, but, he secured his 13th save working around a hit and a walk with two strikeouts. He’s one of five relievers with an ERA below two and at least 13 saves. The others? Aroldis Chapman, Brad Hand, Shane Greene and Kirby Yates.

• Speaking of Hand, he struck out the side for his 18th save against the Yankees.

• Blake Parker gets his ninth save but walked two with a strikeout. Taylor Rogers worked two innings the day before.

• Colorado’s Wade Davis worked through some rust giving up two hits with a strikeout in  a scoreless ninth inning.

• Blake Treinen recorded his 13th save, but allowed a hit and two walks. He’s walked five in only four innings so far in June.

• Cionel Perez fired three clean innings with two strikeouts en route to his first win in relief this year for the Astros.

• Mychal Givens threw 1.2 scoreless innings allowing a walk with two strikeouts keeping the game tied in Houston.

• Save number four for Ian Kennedy. He yielded a hit with two strikeouts and notched a save in two of his last three outings.

• Will Smith locked down his 14th save with a clean ninth striking out two. He’s converted all of his chances this year and owns a tidy 34:4 K:BB ratio in 23.2 innings. Which contender ponies up the prospects for his services?

Hitter Highlights: Acuna’s revenge

There’s no better way for a batter to avenge a hit-by-pitch than a home run in later match-ups. Last year, Jose Urena hit Acuna Jr. in an incident which garnered national attention. Last night, it appears Acuna Jr. did not forget...

Acuna Jr. went 3-for-5 with his 13th home run and three RBI extending his hit streak to seven. Freddie Freeman launched his 17th home run and he’s now on pace for 44 this year. If only he had power, right Harold Reynolds?

Speaking of power, Javier Baez continues to rake this year, especially to the opposite field: