The fantasy gods have smiled upon Cody, my friends. Once feared that he would be sent back down with Joc Pederson’s return, Bellinger has been gifted another opportunity to prove he belongs in the MLB with Adrian Gonzalez miraculously hitting the DL (well, not so miraculous for A-Gone owners, I guess). And prove it he shall! Cody Bellinger continued to rake going 3-for-5 with two home runs (4) and 4 RBI last night. He’s hitting .400 with eight runs, four home runs, and nine RBI in the past week. Can Joc Pederson do dat? Nuh uh. Nah didn’t think so. Need more? He’s slashing .342/.390/.737 and the Dodgers are 6-2 with him in the line up. More? The Cranberries think that you have to, you have to, you have to add Bellinger. After batting .343 with five homers, 15 RBI and 7 steals in AAA this season it is clear Cody is more than ready to make some noise in the bigs. Whoa did you say seven steals! That’s right! We haven’t even seen him flash that speed yet, and when he does, fantasy glory can be ours. Grey has been telling you to BUY Bellinger for a few weeks now, and he’s still available in about 60% of ESPN leagues. He could be the Yasiel Puig-like player that’s not Yasiel Puig-like that the Dodgers and your fantasy team so desperately needs right now.
Here’s what else I saw in fantasy baseball Friday night:
Ryan Zimmerman – 3-for-5, HR (12). Invader Zimm has the league lead with his .433 BA and 30 RBI and his 12 homers leads the NL. That’s a triple crown candidate, folks. If you guessed Ryan Zimmerman as your comeback player of the year, you are a dirty lying liar-pants who lies.
Anthony Rendon – 3-for-4, HR (4), 2 RBI. What a difference a game makes! That would be last Sunday’s game.
Stephen Strasburg – 5.2 IP, 5 hits, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 3rd W. When you don’t have your best stuff so you have to hit your second career home run just to bring home the Dubya.
T.J. Rivera – 2-for-4, HR (1), 3 RBI. Grey told you to BUY and he’s hitting .467 in the past week. T.J. knows how to Cinco de Mayo–plenty of tequila and guacamole. A couple of hits and and couple of limes helps a lot as well.
Aaron Hicks – 3-for-5, SB (3). I mention Hicks not because he went 1-for-4, but because he is a Razzball favorite and this week could see plenty of plenty time because D’Ellsbury is still a fragile shell of a human being.
Brett Gardner – 1-for-4, HR (5), 3 RBI. He hit the go-ahead home run off Hector Rondon in the 9th, and is hitting .400 with 7 runs, 5 home runs and 10 RBI in the past week. What more do you want from a Gardner? Do you want him to plant your posies? Because he will plant your posies!
Kyle Schwarber – 1-for-3, HR (5). Maybe if he wasn’t leading off it wouldn’t be just a solo shot. Jus’ sayin’…Oh, and maybe a guy batting under .200 with 39 strikeouts shouldn’t be leading off. I’m jus’ sayin!
Chris Davis – 3-for-3, HR (4). CHRIS-THE-DISH! Nobody calls him that! Welcome back, old friend. THE POWER OF CHRIS COMPELS ME! THE POWER OF CHRIS COMPELS ME!
Gabriel Ynoa – 6.0 IP, 6 hits, 0 ER, 5 K, W. After Wade Miley left after an inning Gabe filled in admirably but will likely be sent back down immediately, even though the Orioles pitching looks like hot garbage mostly. Doesn’t really seem fair, if Ynoa what I mean?
Kendrys Morales – 3-for-4, 2 HR (6), 5 RBI. Pfft! Edwin would have hit three home runs! Go back to Kansas, you try-hard!
Kevin Pillar – 3-for-5, run, RBI. Grey told you to BUY as Kevin continues to be a rock at the top of the line up. Or should I say a marble “column.” BTW, you gotta get yaself a mahble column! Nothing says, “I’m loaded!” like some mahble columns in ya pahlah.
Lance Lynn – 6.0 IP, 4 hits, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 4th W. His fourth win in a row for Lynn. If you need love, LL’s 2.04 ERA and 1.08 WHIP could be just the thing. If Mama, Said Knock You Out, how about LL’s 31/12 K/BB rate. He gets a cushy start in Miami next week. I would own that.
Tommy Pham – 2-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI. Obviously, we call that a slam bam thank you, Pham!
Edwin Encarnacion – 2-for-4, HR (5). Mike Napoli would have hit 2 home runs!
Jason Hammel – 6.0 IP, 3 hits, ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1st win. Hey Royals, there’s that first Hammel win you paid all that money for. Savor it. Cherish it. Might not last very long.
Andrew Benintendi – 2-for-5, HR (4). Andy Bennny Tendy and his .309/.366/.455!! I am crushn on u so bad rn. Hey AB, you want to check out this new craft brewery with me? Apparently, it’s something young people do? Regardless, I would gladly stand in line overnight outside a Best Buy for a mini Super Benintendo. Provided it plays all the classics like Mario Kart and Donkey Kong, obviously.
Joe Mauer – 2-for-4, 2 runs, HR (2), 2 RBI. His first career walk off home run! Wait. What? Seriously? Lol.
Billy Hamilton – 3-for-4, 4 runs, 2 RBI, 2 SB (18). Sweet sassy molassy! Billy almost stole second, third, and Eduardo Nunez’s hat all on the same play! He’s got 8 steals in the past week! If he could bat over .250 dude could be a serious fantasy force. But he probably can’t so let’s move on.
Eugenio Suarez – 3-for-5, run, 3 RBI. The Reds rekt Matt Cain (3.1 IP, 16 base runners, 9 ER, 2 K) racking up 16 hits and 12 runs. Eugenio led the way and is now slashing .327/.416/.592. Yes, please. Scott Schebler also added three hits and Jose Peraza was 3-for-4 with 4 RBI and a SB (8). A bit of a Votto ticker tease. Not sure if the Reds have a stacked line up or if Matt Cain is just trash. Why not both!
Christian Arroyo – 1-for-4, HR (3). When Arroyo homers off Arroyo and time melts into itself and you’re trying to grasp what is reality but it’s all okay because Leonardo and Joseph Gordon are there to explain the more complicated bits to you.
Josh Bell – 2-for-4, 2 runs, HR (5). Another ding-dong!
Michael Fulmer – 8.0 IP, 8 hits, ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 3rd win. The whole sophomore slump thing is a myth if you ask me. Although I never got laid my freshman year so there was nothing really to slump from.
Yonder Alonso – 2-for-4, 2 RBI. O Yonder is hitting .333 with 4 homers and 10 RBI in the past 2 weeks. He credits his success with changing his approach at the plate. Perhaps there are other changes you can make it your life? Perhaps, more religious, scientological changes? What would you say if I told you that you could gain supernatural abilities simply by harnessing the natural M.E.S.T. around you? I have some literature I think you should read.
Brian McCann – 2-for-4, HR (5), 4 RBI. McCann loooves him some Houston. Yee-haw! He’s hitting .293 with 3 homers 8 runs and 11 RBI in the past 2 weeks. He’s the number one catcher on the player rater, you guys! Which means something to someone somewhere I guess. Yeah, I would probably drop my catcher for him right now. No! Don’t ask. Doesn’t matter who.
Zack Greinke – 7.0 IP, 6 hits, 2 ER, 7 K, 3rd win. Can we hand it to Greinke with the three times flame emoji? Sure the ERA and WHIP are standard Chase Stadium numbers but that 47/8 K/BB rate? His left stroke just went viraaaaaaaaaaal! That will help your fantasy team! Have you been seeing an auditer, Zack? What church do you go to? I will meet you there.
Mark Reynolds – 2-for-4, HR (9). Medium to mini-sized donkey hit his 6th home run at home. Welcome home to Coors, Mark. Where all your dreams travel farther because the air is thinner due to the altitude.
Paul Goldschmidt – 3-for-3, 2 HR (7), 5 RBI. Au Shizz is unreal. He’s hitting .364 with 3 homers and 2 steals in the past week. Pauly G. is a Jersey sure thing! Not only did Goldy hit his 7th homer last night, but he actually managed to catch the ball before it landed. He kindly gave it to a cute little girl in the stands who is now cursed because she will love him forever, but can never have him. For Pauly will never and could never love another human being as much as he loves–hitting dingers.
Thanks for reading! Questions? Problems? Complaints to management? Advice, small gifts or large bribes? Please leave it in the comments below. Join us next Saturday for another Friday recap as fantasy baseball continues next week, all week long!