Ty Blach threw his first career complete game shutout Friday night surrendering seven hits and striking out four enroute to his fourth win of the year. If he were Jewish you could say yesterday was his Blach Sabbath. *crickets* It was Ty’s fifth straight quality start and his fourth straight win. He even walked three times and scored two runs to help his own cause. He’s been an excellent replacement for Madison Bumgarner so far and the best part is he’s terrified of motocross. Sure it was the Phillies last night and anyone can shut out the Phillies, but he’s gone at least seven innings in his past five starts including some tougher lineups such as the Cubs, Dodgers and Reds. Over the past two weeks, Blach has a 1.90 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 23.2 innings pitched. The strikeout numbers won’t impress but those ratios certainly put him in the streaming conversation. By the way, if you’re looking for good convo topics at your next dinner party, fantasy pitcher streaming is always a solid choice. Blach’s .250 BABIP and 4.64 xFIP could suggest some regression is coming but he’s certainly worth an add while he’s on a roll. Ty has a tough test in Milwaukee next week but he’s available in about 75% of leagues and worth a look if you’re in need of a solid streaming option before he fades to Blach.
Here’s what else I saw Friday night in fantasy baseball:
Miguel Cabrera – 3-for-3, run, 4 RBI. Miggy collected his 1000th career extra base hit in this one. Whata milestone! Whata day! I’m going to go celebrate. If you need me I’ll be at the pub. It’s 9 am you say? What!? Don’t judge me. Miggy has a day game and its the only time we can squeeze in brunch.
Leury Garcia – 2-for-4, 3 RBI. The Sawx lead off man hitting is slashing .291/.335/.468 with six jacks and five steals. Garcia offers a little of everything but a lot of nothing. Kind of like eating tapas. It’s going to look good and taste great, but I’m still going to have to go to Taco Bell at 1 am.
J.D. Martinez – 3-for-5, HR (9), 2 RBI. Detroit scored 15 runs on 18 hits, so everybody got in on the action, but that shouldn’t overshadow how good Just Dong’s been since returning from the DL. He is definitely invited to me and Miggy’s celebratory brunch. JD-Mart is a sucker for some avocado toast and a good agave nectar mimosa.
Pablo Sandoval – 1-for-3, HR (4). That’s why they pay him the big bucks, folks. He’s 4-for-9 with a homer since coming off the disabled list. Pick him up if you hate yourself.
Manny Machado – 1-for-4, HR (11). Ohh, this rivalry is really heating up now. Just you wait, in three years Machado will go HAM on Porcello when he tries beam him, and it will all stem from this one home run last night.
Denard Span – 5-for-6, 3 runs, RBI. Giants had 15 hits including three from Eduardo Nunez. If you do some intense mathematical calculations, you can surmise that Denard Dawg had a third of the Giants hits! Have a day, friend! I see what you’re doing, but if you’re not going to steal bases we’re done here.
Mike Foltynewicz – 7.0 IP, 2 hits, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K. Yes, that’s what I’m talking about! More like this. This is the kind of start I hoped he was capable of when I told you to grab him last year and then stopped mentioning him because he instead chose to alternate bad starts with lousy ones. But this time, ya’ll, feels different. Why? I dunno, maybe because I used “ya’ll” and don’t ever say that. More likely, it’s that sweet Philadelphia match up at home he gets next week. 11/10 Would stream the newicz out of Folty next week.
Dansby Swanson – 2-for-4, HR (5). Dan’s Be cool like that! I should know! Remember when I told you to buy him last month and he proceeded to 5-for-39 over the next two weeks? Me neither!
Justin Smoak – 2-for-3, HR (13), 3 RBI. Hitting .311 with 4 homers in the past week. Not sure how this dude is still available in about 40% of leagues. I mean, if we’re talking sheer fantasy value alone? Smoak is fire.
Josh Donaldson – 2-for-5, 2 HR (5). Josh and Justin celebrated post game by getting really drunk in the woods, getting matching Canadian flag tattoos and going moose tipping.
Aaron Judge – 1-for-3, HR (18), 2 RBI. Objection sustained! Oh hey, it’s the league leader in home runs! Your Honor. As in, your honor to own Judge. Can all pitchers please approach the bench for a sidebar while Aaron knocks this baseball 450+ feet into the stands.
Francisco Liriano – 5.0 IP, 4 hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 3rd win. This is a such a classic Liriano pitching line. Lol. So typical. Is he streamer status again? Everyone is streamer status when you’re desperate, my-over-the-internet friends. What’s that? You want to be more than just over-the-internet friends? Send me your twitch stream. Speaking of streams, I would stream Liriano next week in Oakland!
Jason Vargas – 9.0 IP, 7 hits, 0 ER, BB, 3 K, 7th win. I’m not sure what impresses me more, what Vargas has done so far this season, or that he owns seven of the Royals 23 wins. I hate to get all mathematical on you but that’s 30% of the Royals wins! One-third of them belong to Jason Vargas! That’s how you carry a team of jokers.
Gerrit Cole – 5.0 IP, 8 hits, 7 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, W. He’s given up 16 runs in his past three starts including surrendering 8 home runs. Yeeeesh. Well, at least you didn’t draft him as your ace or anything, right? Oh umm. Well, the Mets and Braves have impressive offenses, right? I’m not helping. At least he got the win! When you give up 7 runs but get the win. #goalsaf
Matt Harvey – 5.0 IP, 5 hits, 6 ER, 4 BB, 5 K. Sigh. I can’t even deal with you right now.
Elias Diaz – 2-for-5, HR, 6 RBI. What a day for the backup catcher! Unfortunately, considering Elias’ family owns a very popular Sports Bureau, I’m not sure we can trust any statistics we see on the guy.
Josh Harrison – 3-for-4, HR (7), 2 RBI. 2014 called–they want their Josh Harrison back. Call them back, Pittsburgh! You need this.
Michael Conforto – 1-for-5, HR (14). Slashing .305/.401/.629 with 14 home runs and a real pretty 1.030 OPS. Conforto, the hipster’s favorite player, is one of the trendiest team shirts in the Williamsburg right now, and I told you to pick him up last year, before he was good. Before he was cool.* Sips kombucha, adjust horn rimmed glasses, strokes beard, calibrates carriage on antique typewriter* And there’s nothing cooler than that.
Lucas Duda – 2-for-3, 1 HR (10), 3 RBI. BUY. Duda bides! Shomer shabbos! That’s how you use the force, Luke. Long time readers and recent stalkers of mine are aware Duda likes to homer on Fridays. Seriously, if I had an intern I would make him google how many Friday night home runs hit by this Duda. But I don’t have an intern, so you’re just going to have to take my word for it.
Clayton Kershaw – 7.0 IP, 2 hits, ER, BB, 14 K. 2000 strikeouts! He’s the third fastest fastest pitcher to reach this milestone behind two other pitchers I won’t name because today is about Clayton.
Jimmy Nelson – 8.0 IP, 5 hits, 0 ER, 11 K. Jimmy has been especially awesome over his last two starts, with 21 strikeouts and no walks over 15 innings. He’s available in about 75% of leagues and gets San Francisco next week. 12/10 would add immediately. Add before I do.
Cody Bellinger – 1-for-4, HR (12), SB (2). Bellinger hit the game winning ding dong in the 12th inning. He’s got just 10 hits in the past two weeks, but five of those hits were home runs so I will try not to complain too much.
Kevin Kiermaier – 3-for-4, HR (7), 2 RBI. Grey told you to BUY and he’s hitting .345 with 6 runs, 3 HR and 4 RBI in the past week! If you thought to yourself, “Self, Keirmaier is playing clearer, and more in control of his destiny as if he is being operated by a higher level thetan.” You’d be right. Extra auditing seshs for me and Kevin down at the Church of Scientology. What if I told you, you too could play like Kevin simply by harnessing the natural M.E.S.T. around you? I have some literature I think you should read.
Taylor Motter – 1-for-3, Grand Slam HR (6). Welcome back, Motter! There’s that power we remember from earlier in the season. Jean Segura left this one with an injury and Motter should replace him indefinitely. If Motter could strike out less and homer more, he’d be worth a look. That’s just my humble opinion though.
Danny Valencia – 3-for-3, 3 runs, HR (5), 5 RBI. Valencia was one of my sleeper picks. And by that I mean boring picks that would put me to sleep.
Allen Cordoba – 3-for-4, SB (1). Hey, more sleeper picks! This one is leading off for the ‘Dres, is hitting .370 over the past two weeks and stole a base last night! How exciting! Zzzzzzzzzzzz. No really, I mean that! It’s just the ambien I swear! It helps me deal with my life. By sleeping through it.
Brandon Maurer – 1.0 IP, BB, K, SV (9). He’s the Padres closer and he’s available in about 75% of leagues. Grey told you to BUY! I won’t directly tell you to pick him up but I will plant a series of clues that leads you to his eventual acquisition. It’s more fun that way!
Daniel Murphy – 4-for-6, HR (10), 2 RBI. Everyone knows Murphy’s Law is contact first and power will follow. But not everyone knows that Cole’s Law is thinly sliced cabbage with mayo. Zing! I will see myself out.
Brian Goodwin – 4-for-5, HR (1), 2 RBI. The Nats exploded with 13 runs on 20 hits, with 5 homers and every starter collecting an RBI. Who needs Bryce Harper when you’ve got Brian Goodwin!? (I need you, Bryce. I need you very, very much.)
Eric Young, Jr. – 2-for-4, run. Another BUY. Click the link so I can get paid mere pennies for what is actually hours of work!
Joe Mauer – 4-for-5, HR (4), 3 RBI. Vintage Mauer! I think if people say your performance was vintage, that just means your old.
Max Kepler – 2-for-5, HR (6), 2 RBI. My name is Max. My world is blood and fire. For the glory of Valhalla! I have a movie recommendation: Turbo Kid. It’s like Mad Max only with BMX bikes, awful special effects, and violence so subtle it would make Eli Roth blush. There’s also cool 80s synth music and an adorable sex robot. Check it out! You’re going to hate it.
Adrian Beltre – 2-for-3, HR (1). Yo Adrian! I went almost two months without a Rocky reference. Can I exhale now? Can I still buy you low or nah?
George Springer – 2-for-5, HR (14), 3 RBI. It’s going down. I’m yelling Springeeeeeeeeer! You’re welcome for reminding you of that Pitbull/Keisha collab and hopefully its now stuck in your brain. George is hitting .460 with 5 homers and 10 RBI in the past week! Springer has Sprunger!
Dallas Keuchel – 6.0 IP, 3 hits, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K. 9-0. Keuchel is rocking a 1.67 ERA with a 69/18 K/BB. Mmmm. And that…is Dallas. I guess it’s about time I stop butchering the pronunciation of your name on purpose. That’s how you know you’ve made it. #respek
Paul Goldschmidt – 2-for-4, HR (13), 3 RBI. Slashing .307/.431/.574 with 47 runs, 13 jacks, 43 RBI, and 12 steals. Mmhmm. Grey takes the weekends off to focus on his Giancarlo fan-fiction, but he said it was absolutely crucial for me to pass along this important message (he wrote it while braiding Rudy’s afro into cornrows): “Au shizz!” And that’s me quoting Grey!
Justin Bour – 2-for-4, HR (16), 2 RBI. I’m sorry I ever said you were a Bour! Justin tied Scott Schebler for the NL homer lead with 16 last night. And if Scott Schebler and Justin Bour are the two of the players you bet would be leading the league in home runs on June 2nd, you are a lying liar face who lies.
Giancarlo Stanton – 2-for-3, 3 runs, HR (15). When you write several hundred pages of ideas for possible chapters and scenes for Grey’s Giancarlo fan fiction but he rejects them all telling you they’re “too erotic” and asking “where’s the romance?” and you’re feeling bad about yourself but then you see Stanton hit a dinger and all is right with the world again.
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!
