It’s a good time to be a twin! No, not just if you’re a mother on Mom’s day because you got twice the bragging rights. The Minnesota Twins look unstoppable right now posting their third shut out in the past four games including Jake Odorizzi‘s gem Friday night as he extended his scoreless streak to 20 (! ! !) innings. It’s his third start in a row without allowing a run and he’s given up just seven hits in that stretch. The former Ray pitched seven shut out innings against the Tigers, allowed just one hit (a double to Christin Stewart in the first inning) and struck out five, walking none to earn his fifth win. Jake was hammering the strike zone, throwing 66 of his 95 pitches for strikes and lowering his ratios to a gorgeous 2.32 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. That ERA’s good enough for 3rd in the AL, folks. And let us not forget that 43/15 K/BB is making me real happy happy. Dude is hotter than Hunter Johanssen’s twin sister (that’s Scarlett) which is pretty darn hot you guys! If we look at some next level stats, the 0.42 HR/9 is obviously not sustainable, and the 24.8 GB% is suspect. The 2.84 FIP and 4.49 xFIP suggest there is regression coming in the form of some home runs balls but all the stats that matter (9.07 K/9, 17% K/BB, .221 BABIP) show he’s still trending in the right direction. Jake gets the Angels next week and he needs to be owned everywhere, at least while all the Minnesota Moms are showering their Twins with love and Odorizzi is making it look Odoreasy.
Here’s what else I saw Friday night in fantasy baseball:
Mitch Garver – 1-for-1, HR (8), 2 RBI. 3 BBs. He was a BUY! And he’s a catcher! It must be your lucky day guys and five girl readers (hi mom, happy moms day). He’s got three homers and batting close to .600 in the past week. I bet that’s better than your catcher, whoever that is. See! You don’t even know.
Andrew Benintendi – 3-for-5, HR (5). We call that a Benny Bomb. *Mimes hair flip, realizes he no longer has long hair, gets whiplash* His second straight game with a home run. Must have been the Red Socks White House visit that got him all HYPE. Benny def a Trump guy, right? Whatever gets me stats, I guess.
Rafael Devers – 3-for-5, HR (2), 4 RBI. Baby Papi opted out of the White House visit like every non-White player on the team but he’s still hitting close to .400 with 5 RBI over the past week. We have yet to really see the raw power we were promised from Devers, but these LatinX players tend to heat up with the weather. Is that racist?
Mitch Moreland – 2-for-3, HR (11), 4 RBI. Another BUY! Last week I said the Sawx were primed for a very strong May. They scored 14 runs on 15 hits Friday night and are over .500 for the first time all year. Must have been the fast food they served at the White House. I’m told it gives teams the runs.
Eduardo Rodriguez – 7.0 IP, 5 hits, 0 ER, BB, 5 K, 4th win. We advised you to stick with Ed-Rod despite his 4.53 ERA and 1.40 WHIP looking less than ideal. He’s now pitched quality starts in 3 of his last 4 games. Cora says it’s because they banned Fortnite. Ed-Rod says Apex is better anyway.
Shed Long – Called up to fill in for Dee Gordon while he’s nursing an injury. Shed doesn’t have much appeal outside of his cool (?) name but he posted a .276/.350/.504 line with five homers and 21 RBI at AAA and has some speed. I am interested in seeing how much play he gets, but more interested in who would actually name their child Shed.
Trevor Williams – 7.0 IP, 9 hits, ER, BB, 5 K, 2nd win. After a two start stint visiting with the Regression Fairies Trevor found solace in St Louis where no fairy dare tread. Despite his last two rough starts, Williams has pitched at least six innings in every start this year and I could see streaming him in Zona next week.
Adam Wainwright – 7.0 IP, 5 hits, ER, 0 BB, 8 K. Probably his best start of the year against one of MLB’s worst offenses. If that doesn’t sound like a ringing endorsement it’s because it’s not.
Adalberto Mondesi – 1-for-3, 2 SB (12). Now leads the AL in steals! I remember how much fun it was owning you last year and I remember thinking how important it was that I remembered to draft you this year. I remember getting ready to pick you just as you were drafted two picks before me in the third round. I remember these things and I cry.
Alex Gordon – 2-for-3, 2 HR (8). There would be too many “post-post-post”‘s for the sleeper hype that would involve me picking up Gordon, but if you are reading my 2012 sleeper posts tell my past self I said hello.
Jorge Soler – 1-for-2, HR (10). BUY. Now here’s some power me and Bernie can get behind. SOLER POWER! Think about that as I sip on my organic fair-trade beverage through my re-usable silicon straw. I have to drink it quick or my biodegradable paper cup will dissolve.
Justin Verlander – 7.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 6th win. It was a good day for starting pitchers Friday. It’s always a good day for Justin Verlander though, who gets to go home to Kate Upton. Happy Mom’s day, Kate. If you were my mom I’d–hmm, yeah I better not finish that thought.
Jake Marisnick – 2-for-3, HR (3). Now that Reddick is cooling down, Marisnick takes his place as the hot Astro to own for this week.
Jose Altuve – 1-for-1. Left the game in the first with left hammy discomfort. He is day-to-day and clearly doesn’t care that I just need one steal from him to win my H2H week. It’s not happening is it, Jose?
Lance Lynn – 7.0 IP, 6 hits, 3 ER, BB, 8 K. Not too shabby @ Houston. If you started him here you are madder than future Queen Daenerys, but Lynn-y delivered, allowing (only) 3 home runs. He gets a nice start at Kansas City next week. Pick him up if you hate yourself.
Austin Meadows – 2-for-4, HR (7), 2 RBI. Activated from the DL if you missed Kevin’s memo and picked up right where he left off. Rays were really lacking some o-fence with Meadows on the shelf but they’ll be happy to see that .359/.432/.718 slash back in the line up. As will I!
Tyler Glasnow – 5.1 IP, 5 hits, 3 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 1st loss. Left the game with forearm tightness, which is a big uh to the oh, especially for a guy with an injury history like his but Tyler seemed optimistic about it so we’ll have to wait and see. Fingies crossed!
Travis d’Arnaud – Traded to the Rays where he’ll fill in for the injured Mike Zunino. He didn’t hit a home run in five days with the Dodgers which is a deal breaker so LA shipped him to Tampa.
Domingo German – 5.0 IP, 5 hits, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 7th win. The seven wins leads the league! The Yankees can lose everything and still have everything. German is rocking a sparking 2.70 ERA and 44/14 K/BB which is better than every pitcher I own. If you’ll excuse me I see a cliff that needs walking off of.
Jeff McNeil – 2-for-3, HR (2). Jeff doesn’t offer much in the way of power or speed but this dude hits everything. He’s batting .435 in the past week and if the rest of the Mets can get their ish together McNeil could chip in the counting stats to make him worth owning everywhere.
Michael Conforto – 3-for-3, 3 runs, HR (7). Michael Conforto used to be the hipsters’ favorite player–but then he blew up. Drafted in the top 50. He shed the horn rimmed glasses and waxed mustache. All his home runs were no-longer fair trade organic and he “didn’t love” the new Wes Anderson movie. Fans were hurt. He was too popular now for hipsters to continue enjoying ironically. Then his early 2019 success faded fast. Everyone is over Michael Conforto. They can’t even, you guys. But yesterday he went 3-for-3 with a dinger and is creeping back into counter culture. That’s right, now that he’s not cool anymore it’s time to like him again. Because now you’re liking something that was cool but isn’t cool anymore. And there’s nothing cooler than that!
Amed Rosario – 1-for-4, GS HR (3). A six game hitting hitting streak AND a grand salami!? He’s A-MED MAN!
Zack Wheeler – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, BB, 11 K, 3rd win. I almost gave up on Wheeler, but the 10+ strikeouts in three of his last four games got me all like “Sweet Sassy Molassy!” I don’t care what his ratios are if he’s got a 58/19 K/BB. Why don’t I own you anywhere? Will trade 0.50 WHIP for 9/2 K/BB. Any takers?
Tim Anderson – 2-for-4, HR (7). He was a SELL! And I can’t think of a more perfect opportunity.
Yoan Moncada – 1-for-3, run, 2 SB (4). Yo-An has provided some fairly solid fantasy value of the past few weeks while still remaining utterly frustrating to own. Sounds like 90% of the players on my teams.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 0-for-4. Jokes aside (because I never joke about top prospects, sorry Drake) this could be your last chance to buy Vlady before he sets the world on fire.
Gio Gonzalez – 5.2 IP, 2 hits, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1st win. It’s hard to believe the Yankees couldn’t use Gio at least until they got a little healthier, but one team’s trash is another team’s Milwaukee starting pitcher. He’s rocking a 1.69 ERA, 0.94 WHIP through three starts. A match ups guy, for sure, but if he can get through his start in Philly unscathed next week I can see owning him all over.
Trevor Story – 3-for-5, 2 runs, HR (9), 2 RBI. It was a Coors Day for the Rox as Ian Desmond also went 3-for-5 and Colorado scored 12 runs on 17 hits. It’s good to be home.
Framil Reyes – 3-for-5, run. He was a BUY this week and he’s got two more days at Coors this weekend and he’s hitting .360 with two homers in the past week and he bats in front of Manny Machado and–wait, do you really need more? Pick him up!
German Marquez – 5.2 IP, 10 hits, 2 ER, 7 K, 4th win ERA at 3.43. This was the Gods asking Marquez, “What do we say to Coors?” And German going all Arya Stark on them saying “Not today.”
Zack Greinke – 7.0 IP, 5 hits, ER, 0 BB, 7 K. If we throw out his first start, he’s gone 6 or more innings in every start and hasn’t allowed more than 3 runs in any of them. He’s also got a 57/8 K/BB. Mmm. Zack sacrificed something he loved to Red Skull to obtain the Soul Stone on Vormir and now he’s pitching like he is. It’s really the only plausible explanation.
Julio Teheran – 6.0 IP, 3 hits, ER, 2 BB, 4 K. Teheran it up! That’s back-to-back queue ess’s from Julio against two of the league’s worst offenses. Something tells me he’s about to blow up and I’d rather it be on someone else’s team.
Frankie Montas – 6.0 IP, 8 hits, 2 ER, BB, 7 K. Frankie says ‘Relax, I got dis..’ and puts up ANOTHER QS. He’s faced some trash teams, but also some not-so-trash teams, and still has yet to allow more than 3 ER in a start (2.78 ERA). Methinks he can keep it going next week in Detroit because they are quite certainly a trash team. Would add.
Ronald Acuña Jr. – 1-for-4, HR (8). Go ahead homer in the 8th. That’s my Alt-164 hot key getting work in, son! ñññ! More games like this, Ronnie! Muchas gracias!
Luke Jackson – 1.0 IP, 2 K, SV (3). BUY. He’s the Braves closer. Minter was sent down or hurt or something I refuse to google. Tbqhwy (<–excellent acronym) Luke looked fairly shaky Friday night, and not because he was an astral projection, but saves are saves, yo.
Chris Davis – 2-for-3, HR (4), 2 RBI. That’s still three more homers than Miguel Cabrera. Who would you rather own? I choose death.
Trey Mancini – 1-for-4, HR (7). Trey is still upset about Jackie Bradley’s highway robbery Wednesday night. Seems legit.
Mike Trout – 2-for-4, HR (8), 3 RBI. Sleeper alert!
Cody Allen – 1.0 IP, BB, 2 K. Pitched a fairly clean ninth inning last night in a non-save situation. I could see him getting the next save chance. Sorry Robles!
Matt Chapman – 2-for-5, HR (10). 12th inning walk off home run off Brad Hand. The best Matt! In your face, Olson!
Joc Pederson – 2-for-5, 2 HR (12). Rock and Joc! Righties fear him. Lefties, ehh, have probably never heard of him.
Kenta Maeda – 6.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 4th win. He’s been pretty inconsistent. But he has been consistently inconsistent. Good start. Bad start. Good start. Etc. If we follow this logic we’d be benching him next week in Cincinnati. If we follow the other Logic, you know he’s got a song with Will Smith on his new album. Either way someone is getting jiggy with it.
Nick Senzel – -2-for-5, 2 RBI. My Sixth Senzel is telling me that Joey Votto has been dead the whole time.
Stephen Vogt – 3-for-4. Sometimes. You just feel bad. And have to include a Giant.
Luis Castillo – 6.0 IP, 2 hits, 5 BB, 11 K. There are so many hot shot starters this year that I wanted to draft but I ended up not owning and I don’t know if that means that I lost my magic or just had a few bad drafts? Paddack, Glasnow, Wheeler, Castillo. All on my preseason must-drafts list and instead I ended up with Lucchesis, MchUGHs and Matzs everywhere. Why is this happening to me. Am I losing my mojo? Or just underestimating my competition. Wait! Maybe they’re reading this blog? That’s it people! We gotta pack this up. We’re shutting it down.
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!
