Happy Saturday! As we near the end of Week 8 let’s first take a quick look back at the top fantasy baseball news and headlines from Friday’'s MLB games which included Yordan Alvarez getting a contract extension from the Houston Astros, both Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper going deep for the Phillies and Gerrit Cole tossing seven shutout innings for the Yankees. Don't forget to check out our updated June fantasy baseball player rankings before setting your lineups. Plus, use the latest MLB Injury Report and the fantasy baseball waiver wire top targets to help win your leagues. Before we start another weekend let’s take a look at some of the top performances and key injuries from Friday night's MLB action. Plus, we'll look ahead to tonight’s slate of games if you're looking to play MLB DFS lineups. Be sure to keep an eye on the MLB lineups and the MLB weather report as well. 

Yordan Alvarez Gets the Bag & Homers

 

Prior to Friday’s game the Astros and Alvarez agreed to a six-year deal worth $115 million to keep the lefty slugger in Houston for the long haul. Alvarez set new career highs in 2021, hitting 33 home runs while driving in 104 RBI all while missing nearly 20 games. He then took the field Friday night and delivered, going 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. He now has15 home runs and 33 RBI on the season while hitting .281 with an OPS of .966.

Gerrit Cole Continues His Domination 

 


Gerrit Cole’s start to the 2022 season was a disaster. Over his first three appearances the Yankees right-handed pitcher posted a 6.35 ERA having allowed eight runs over 11.1 innings. The final of the three appearances saw him last just 1.2 innings against the lowly Detroit Tigers after he issued five walks. However, since that start things have clicked for Cole in a major way as he is 5-1 with a 2.03 ERA over his last eight appearances. Cole has 69 strikeouts spanning 53.1 innings during this stretch. 

Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber Both Homer Twice

 

 

 


There were plenty of home runs hit on Friday, including three from an unlikely source in Lane Thomas 

As great of a feat as that is I think we should highlight the pair of home runs hit by both Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. The reeling Phillies played their first game since the firing of their manager Joe Girardi and came out of the gates swinging big against Angles starter Chase Silseth. Schwarber opened the game with a leadoff home run which was his 13th of the season on the first pitch of the game. He would later tack on his 14th home run of the season which was his third home run in four games.

Harper got in on the action himself, launching home runs 11 and 12 on the year. The first was a three run shot to put the Phillies up 7-0 on the Angels.

Then, for good measure, he hit his second home run to put the Phillies up 10-0 by the sixth inning.

Harper is having a fantastic season as he comes off an MVP year, hitting .308 with 36 runs, 12 home runs, 36 RBI, six stolen bases and a .977 OPS.

Saturday MLB Best Bets

 

Dylan Cease Over 6.5 Strikeouts

I know over the last two games we’ve seen Cease miss his strikeout prop, managing just nine strikeouts over those two appearances but this is still an elite strikeout pitcher and today he faces a Rays team that has the fifth-highest strikeout rate against right-handed pitching this season. I’m fully expecting a bounce back performance from Cease today as he takes the mound against Tampa Bay.
 

 

Triston McKenzie Over 17.5 Outs

So, we need six-innings of work out of McKenzie to hit today’s prop and this is something the Guardians righty has completed in five straight starts. In each of his last three starts he has pitched at least seven innings as he continues his breakout season. Through nine starts this year McKenzie has a 2.65 ERA and an impressive 0.86 WHIP. He faces a Baltimore Orioles team today that is 20th in average and 21st in wOBA against right-handed pitching this season.

 

Luis Severino Over 6.5 Strikeouts

We saw Gerrit Cole dominate the Tigers yesterday and Severino has been good of late, posting a 2.33 ERA over his last three starts. He faces a Tigers team that has a 24.4% strikeout rate against right-handed pitching this season which is the sixth-highest in baseball. Severino has gone over today’s strikeout total in three of his last four outings with the only game he missed being against a White Sox team that ranks 27th in strikeout rate against right-handed pitching. With the easier matchup I see him hitting the over today.

 

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