It has to be intimidating for a rookie hurler making just his second MLB appearance to look across the diamond and see that Justin Verlander will be his counterpart on the mound, but Ariel Jurado displayed no signs to suggest it Saturday night. The 22-year-old native of Panama defeated Verlander and the defending champs, limiting the Astros’ potent offense to only one run on two hits and a walk across 6.0 innings. Jurado required only 76 pitches (47 strikes) to get through his half-dozen frames and recorded a pair of strikeouts en route to his first big-league win. He stepped into the rotation spot of recently traded Cole Hamels , so after this effort, it figures that Jurado will be around for a while longer.

 

In Case You Missed It

Pacing the Rangers offense in support of Jurado during Saturday night’s 7-3 victory was Rougned Odor . The surging second baseman put together a 5-for-5 night that included two solo homers, a double, and three runs scored. One of those two roundtrippers, which Odor, upon contact, clearly thought was going to clear the center-field wall, actually stayed in the yard. Take a look.

Yasiel Puig , who missed 15 games due to an oblique strain, returned to the Dodgers lineup Saturday for the first time since July 8. Puig immediately made an impact, going 1-for-2 with a two-run homer, three RBI, and two runs scored. Even with the long layoff in between, the 27-year-old slugger has now homered in each of his last three games.

Angels catcher Francisco Arcia made his debut minor-league debut all the way back in 2007 at the age of 17. He made his MLB debut this past Thursday. Not only has he demonstrated an impressive degree of determination throughout his years in baseball, but Arcia has also shown that he wants more than just a cup of coffee at the show. In an 11-5 win over the Mariners on Saturday, the left-hand hitting backstop went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, and six RBI. Arcia has now gone 5-for-8 with two deep drives and 10 RBI in two games for the Angels.

 

Sunday on the Hill

A pair of recently traded starters will debut for their new A.L.-East clubs on Sunday. First off, Nathan Eovaldi will take the mound for the Red Sox at Fenway Park for an afternoon matchup with José Berrios and the Twins. Eovaldi most recently worked for his previous employer, the Rays, back on July 20, allowing only one run on six hits and no walks while striking out eight across 6.0 innings versus the Marlins.

The Yankees landed veteran southpaw J.A. Happ in a deal with the Blue Jays earlier this week and will send him to the bump against the Royals on Sunday afternoon. Happ has faced the Royals once already this season, as he surrendered four runs on five hits and two walks alongside eight strikeouts over 6.0 frames against them back on April 18 in Toronto.  

 

Streaking

Ian Desmond – 13 games – 20-for-51, 1.082 OPS, 2 HR, 3 3B

Christian Yelich – 12 games – 26-for-50, 1.527 OPS, 4 HR, 7 2B

Jonathan Schoop – 11 games – 18-for-50, 1.093 OPS, 6 HR

Lourdes Gurriel – 10 games – 22-for-45, 1.266 OPS, 3 HR

Elvis Andrus – 10 games – 15-for-40, .997 OPS, 2 HR

Charlie Blackmon – 10 games – 15-for-41, 1.118 OPS, 2 HR, 7 2B

 

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.