Mike Baum provides a recap of yesterday’s performances and gives his take on the fantasy implications. This article is part of our series that highlights quality fantasy content. The Fake Baseball has been gracious enough to share a weekly article with our users. For additional insight, visit TheFakeBaseball.com
Hitters
- Jason Heyward extended his hitting streak to 8 games with a 2-for-5 night that included a pair of solo homers. Heyward is now batting .378 since the calendar flipped to June, with 2 doubles and 3 homers. He’s raised his average from .146 to .207 in that span.
Fantasy spin: That sound you just heard was the buy low window slamming shut. The hitting streak was a good start, but the addition of a multi-homer game removes any doubt as to whether or not Heyward is back on track. If you were able to deal for him in the last couple weeks, pat yourself on the back and enjoy the ride.
- Adam Dunn went 4-for-4 with 3 runs scored, 2 homers, and 5 RBI in the White Sox 10-6 win over the Blue Jays last night. Dunn has 4 homers and 9 RBI so far in June, and has raised his average 25 points, from .156 to .181.
Fantasy spin: He’s still a black hole in the average department, but his 16 bombs put him on pace for another 40 homer season. If you play in a league with daily rosters, he’s worth starting against righties, just be sure to get him out against all lefties, as he’s hitting just .102 against them this season.
- Jose Bautista went 2-for-4 with a pair of homers and 5 RBI in a losing effort Monday night. The homers were Bautista’s first since May 28th, and this was his first multi-RBI game since May 22nd.
Fantasy spin: Bautista went cold at the tail end of May and in the first week or so of June, but he’s 5 for his last 8 and he proved last night that his power stroke is still intact. Joey Bats season really took off once he was installed as the #2 hitter, where he has scored 24 runs in 26 games and is hitting .309/.402/.545 in 110 AB.
- Brandon Phillips accounted for all of the Reds runs in their win over the Cubs on Monday night, tying his career high of 6 RBI. Phillips singled home a run in the first, hit a grand slam in the 3rd, and added an RBI groundout in the 8th.
Fantasy spin: Phillips continues to be an RBI machine for the Reds, with 52 on the season, the second best total in the National League. He’s not stealing bases anymore, but fantasy owners will gladly trade the speed for the extra power and RBI production that Phillips is displaying this season.
- Yasiel Puig was moved to the cleanup spot for the Dodgers and went 3-for-4 on Monday night, raising his average to an even .500 on the season. He’s 16-for-32 this year, with multiple hits in 6 of his first 8 games as a major leaguer.
Fantasy spin: Either Puig is just this good, or pitchers still have no idea how to pitch to him. I’m guessing it’s a little bit of both. With his move to the cleanup spot, Puig should be in line for more RBI opportunities, and should give Adrian Gonzalez some much needed protection.
- Hanley Ramirez and Matt Kemp both got good news on Monday, with Kemp expecting to begin a rehab assignment on Friday and Hanley Ramirez hoping to return to the lineup this weekend.
Fantasy spin: A healthy amount of skepticism is warranted here, as Hanley has beaten his timetable on a couple of injuries this season only to aggravate or re-injure himself immediately upon returning. Kemp had a setback while running on Sunday, so a Friday rehab assignment seems a bit soon. Hopefully things work out for these studs, but fantasy owners shouldn’t be banking on their returns to the Dodgers lineup just yet.
- Jedd Gyorko landed on the DL on Monday due to his strained right groin. There has been no timetable set for his return to the lineup, but he’ll be eligible to return on June 25th.
Fantasy spin: Gyorko had been a real diamond in the rough for fantasy owners, hitting for solid average (.284), scoring runs at a nice clip (36), and showing great pop for a 2B or MI option (8 homers, 25 RBI). He’ll be tough to replace in deep leagues, but hopefully we’ll get some good news on the severity of his injury and he’ll be back by July. Alexi Amarista and Logan Forsythe will see extra time for the Padres in Gyorko’s absence, but neither is worthy of fantasy consideration.
PItchers
- Homer Bailey was outstanding Monday night, holding the Cubs to 1 run (0 earned) on 4 hits and 2 walks over 8 innings. Bailey struck out 8, and lowered his ERA to 3.47 and his WHIP to 1.13 with the effort.
Fantasy spin: Bailey has had a few hiccups this season, but his overall numbers speak to his effectiveness and his emergence as a top 30 fantasy starter. He has 83 Ks in 83 innings pitched on the season, a perfect 9.0 K/9 ratio, and 9 Quality Starts in 13 tries.
- Julio Teheran was not at his best Monday night, allowing 5 runs on 6 hits over 6 innings against the Padres. Teheran gave up a pair of homers in the contest, and recorded just 3 strikeouts.
Fantasy spin: Teheran’s quality start streak ended at 6, but the youngster deserves credit for limiting the damage and getting through 6 innings after giving up 5 runs in the first 4 innings. His WHIP for the game was just 1.00, as he didn’t walk anybody. With Brandon Beachy close to returning, Teheran will need to bounce back in his next outing against the Giants if he wants to stay in the Braves’ rotation.
- Alex Cobb was hit hard by the Red Sox Monday night, yielding 6 runs on 7 hits in just 4 innings of work. Cobb struck out 4 and walked 3, and saw his ERA jump from 2.39 to 2.95.
Fantasy spin: Cobb had been on a roll, recording quality starts in 4 straight coming into this one, but the Sox got to him early and often. This was just the first time all season that Cobb allowed more than 3 runs in a home start. Fantasy owners would be wise to forget about this one and continue to trust Cobb regardless of the opponent, especially when he’s pitching at home.
- John Lackey labored through 5.2 innings on Monday night, giving up 4 runs on 10 hits and striking out just 2. He left with the lead, but did not factor in the decision as the Red Sox bullpen let the Rays back in it late.
Fantasy spin: Lackey had logged four straight quality starts coming into this one, but it’s worth noting that he’s now given up 6 homers in his last 3 starts. With his next two starts coming @Baltimore and @Detroit, he’ll need to work on keeping the ball in the yard if he wants to be successful.
- Brandon Morrow will be sidelined for at least another 2-3 weeks as he attempts to recover from a forearm strain in his throwing arm. He’s expected to begin a rehab assignment within the next week or so, and he’ll need to make 2-3 starts before returning to the majors.
Fantasy spin: Morrow has been dreadful this season, but he’s too talented and has too much strikeout potential to be completely forgotten. If he’s been dropped, he’s worth stashing in a DL spot to at least see how his rehab starts go, and see how he looks when he returns. It’s possible that an injury was at least partially to blame for his early struggles.
- Tyler Skaggs has been demoted to Triple-A Reno after allowing 5 runs in each of his last two starts.
Fantasy spin: Skaggs was excellent in his first start of the year, pitching 6 shutout innings and striking out 9, but since then he’s allowed 10 ER on 14 hits in his last 10.2 innings of work, and clearly the Diamondbacks believe he’s not fully ready for a permanent spot in their rotation. Skaggs will likely get another look later this season, but he’s not worth holding onto unless you’re in a keeper or dynasty league.
- Brandon League blew his 4th save in 17 chances, failing to protect a 3-1 lead against the Diamondbacks. League got Miguel Montero to strike out to start the inning, but then allowed a single to Martin Prado, a double to Gerardo Parra, an RBI single to Jason Kubel, a walk to Didi Gregorious, and a 2-RBI single to Willie Bloomquist. League was removed from the game at that point, but reliever Pete Moylan allowed one of the inherited runners to score, leaving League with a final line of 4 hits, 1 BB, and 4 ER in 0.2 innings of work. His ERA shot up to 6.00 on the season, and his WHIP is an unsightly 1.46.
Fantasy spin: After the game Don Mattingly was quoted as saying simply, “Not good tonight. It’s something we have to look at.” Kenley Janson hasn’t been scored upon in his last 9 appearances, a stretch of 9.2 innings pitched. Jansen has 13 strikeouts and no walks in that span, and is obviously the best pitcher in the Dodgers’ bullpen. Now that we’re in mid-June, Mattingly may be forced to make the change and anoint Jansen as his closer.
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