Another week of the Major League baseball season comes to an end today but not before we are treated with one more full slate of Sunday games! Before getting ready for today’s action, we need to first take a look back at the top fantasy baseball news and headlines from Saturday’s MLB games which included walk-offs by the Mets and Red Sox, an appearance by the Dynamic Duo and key injuries to Wander Franco and Starling Marte. Do not forget to check out our updated July Fantasy Baseball Rankings and MLB Starting Lineups before setting your fantasy baseball lineups. We also have the MLB Injury Report and Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire, so let’s look back at the top performances and key injuries from Saturday and a quick look ahead at today’s MLB baseball action.

 

It was “Back to The Future” Night in New York

On the day that the Mets retired Keith Hernandez’s No.17 the Mets took it back in time in their walk-off win. Before last night, the last time the Mets won on a walk-off error with two outs in extra innings was game six of the 1986 World Series when the ball went through Bill Buckner’s legs. Now that’s some magic on Keith Hernandez Day.

Red Sox Walk-Off Against Their Rival

On the 11-year-anniversary of Derek Jeter’s 3,000th career hit his namesake Jeter Downs beat the Yankees by scoring the game winning walk-off run in the 10th inning. Alex Verdugo had the winning hit for the Red Sox against dominant closer Clay Holmes to break the Yankees’ streak of 48-0 in winning games that they led after the seventh inning this season. The Red Sox are now 46-39 and currently the top Wild Card team in the American League. 

Christian Bethancourt Headed To The Rays

 

With Mike Zunino’s return date in question the Rays aren’t taking any chances and got a jump on the trade deadline yesterday. They acquired catcher Christian Bethancourt in a trade for two minor leaguers that should bolster their offensive production behind the plate.

Bethancourt is slashing .249/.298/.385 with a .683 OPS and has five home runs and 19 RBI. He is in the Top 10% of the league in Exit Velocity (91.9), MaxEV (113.4), XSLG (.570) and will be a solid addition to the Rays as he can also play first base and DH.

Are The Baltimore Orioles A Playoff Team?

Don’t look yet but the Orioles are making a run at the playoffs! After Saturday’s 1-0 win at Camden Yards, they have won eight straight and are now only two games under .500 and within 4.5 games of second place in the AL East and 3.5 games out of the final AL Wild Card spot.

The Rangers Investment Is Heating Up

 
 

The Dynamic Duo talk surrounding Marcus Semien and Corey Seager was the highlight of the spring and it is finally coming to fruition in Texas. The Rangers $500 million investment combined for four hits and five RBI plus back-to-back home runs in their 9-7 win over the Twins. 

The pair struggled out of the gate, but the month of July is a different story for the Rangers #2 and #3 hitters. In July, Semien is slashing .294/.333/.618 while Seager is .355/.429/.645 as the Rangers have won two straight and hoping to make their move at the halfway point of the season.

Mariners Win Seventh Straight 

It already feels like playoff atmosphere across the league as teams are jockeying for Wild Card position. The Mariners are one of those teams and have now won seven straight and 15 of their last 18 games; their best 18-game stretch since 2003. 

The team is now one game back of the third and final Wild card spot and a lot of thanks must go to newly acquired Carlos Santana who hit a two-run go-ahead home run in the seventh inning of last night’s 2-1 win over the Blue Jays. The Mariners are now 10-1 since Santana joined the team via trade.

Wander Franco Headed to IL

 

The Rays star shortstop is headed back to the IL after injuring his hand in the first inning of yesterday’s 5-4 loss to the Reds. The injury came after he fouled off a 101-mph pitch by Hunter Greene. There is speculation that it is a hamate injury and if it is a fracture, it could mean six-to-eight weeks of recovery time. Franco is having a down year slashing .260/.308/.396 with five home runs and 23 RBI in his second season as a Major Leaguer.

Starling Marte Exits Early 

 

Just as Starling Marte is starting to heat up for the Mets, he suffers a groin injury. The Mets stud outfielder left yesterday’s game in the fourth inning and will be undergoing tests to see if a trip to the Injured List is needed. He is hitting .330 over the last month with a .402 OBP and .399 wOBA. Ender Inciarte may become a waiver wire conversation piece if Marte does go out for an extended period.

SUNDAY’S BEST BETS

 

Taijuan Walker OVER 5 Strikeouts

We are in for a pitching duel today at Citi Field as both Taijuan Walker and Sandy Alcantara have been excellent this season. Walker has already beaten the Marlins twice this season and he struck out nine hitters in the first outing and five in the second. He is coming off a nine-strikeout performance against the Reds and has been nothing but dominant.  Walker has struck out at least nine batters in three of his last five starts, going 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 36:7 K:BB in that span.

 

Luis Arraez OVER 1.5 Total Bases

Arraez just continues to hit. He is currently on a nine-game hit streak and has a .472/.486/.639 slash line during that span. He is a platoon specialist that dominates right-handed pitching and faces righty Dane Dunning today. On the season Arraez is slashing .383/.451/.498 with a .949 OPS and .421wOBA against RHP. These are elite numbers and expect Arraez to continue the hit steak at least one more day. 

 

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