Zach Eflin tossed a complete game 3-hit shutout Friday night versus the Pirates, requiring just 100 pitches to go all the way and pick up the win. It was the rookie’s first career shut out. That’s what I’m Eflin talking about! I know what you’re thinking, I loved him in those High School Musicals, I wish he was my Neighbors. Wrong Zach. Both are real good though. After a rocky debut to his rookie season in Toronto (2.2 IP, 9 hits, 8 ER, 3 BB), Zach Eflin has been on the attack ever since, allowing just 11 runs in the seven starts since his debut (2.07 ERA in 47.2 IP). More impressive is that he has pitched at least six innings in six of those seven starts, including two complete games. Dude is a horse. And at just 22 years young I guess that would make him a dot dot dot Filly. Zing! Wait, or is it a mare? Foal? Joke still works or nah? On second thought I’m thinking it might be a colt. Hmm. Regardless, Zach is clearly a stallion. So how is it he’s available in over 80% of fantasy leagues? Are you Eflin kidding me? Sure, the 26/8 K/BB ratio is nothing to call the presses about, but his 1.05 WHIP is mighty impressive. Some of the advanced stats may suggest he’s due for a bit of a correction, but why not ride the Zach train while its Eflin hot. He’s coming off his best career start and gets the Marlins next week, so pick him up, what are you Eflin waiting for?
Here’s what else happened in fantasy baseball Friday night:
Michael Saunders – 1-for-4, HR (17). The fans have spoken, the emails have continued rolling in and the suspicious packages have arrived on my doorstep. After missing last week due to an intense acid flashback, back by popular demand I return to bring you my 2016 annual mid-season fantasy all-star awards. *And the crowd goes wild!* Saunders wins the award for player I least expected to have 17 home runs at this point of the year. The Blue Jays can do wondrous things for a hitter’s career, Welcome to Canada, budday!
James Paxton – 7.0 IP, 3 hits, ER. BB, 9 K, W. Pax the Destroyer called on a little help from the Guardians of the Galaxy to turn in what was likely his best start of the season. James has been shaky to date, but the fact that he pitched so well on the road versus the Blue Kays definitely inspires some confidence. I’m reluctant to recommend him for his start next week versus the Cubs, but I’ll be watching him closer than I watched the RNC. Which is to say, completely aghast and in awe with my mouth wide open.
Gerrit Cole – 6.0 IP, ER, BB, 7 K. He looked a bit rusty in his return from the DL last week, but Gerrit looked much more like himself Friday night. I think his obsession with Pokemon Go has cooled considerably and he’s ready to focus on pitching again.
Mookie Betts – 1-for-2, HR (20). After hitting a lead off home run in back-to-back games Mookie left the game with a sore knee and is listed as day-to-day. Betts is slashing .307/.345/.534 with 20 homers and 16 steals. Mookie wins the award for player I’m most likely to get an apartment with and become best friends forever, as soon as he realizes it’s our destiny.
Kyle Gibson – 8.0 IP, 2 hits, ER, BB, 6 K, W. After giving up the lead off homer, Gibson dominated the Sawx like only a Minnesota Twins third tier starter could. He gets the Orioles next week. Pick him up if you hate yourself.
Brian Dozier – 3-for-3, HR (17). The Dozier has really woken up over the past two weeks with four home runs. And if that’s still putting you to sleep you probs have narcolepsy and there’s an online forum I think you should check out if you’re feeling kinky.
Eduardo Rodriguez – 5.1 IP, 6 hits, 2 ER, BB, 8 K. Since returning to the majors after being sent down temporarily for bad behavior, Ed-Rod has allowed just 3 runs in 12.1 innings. Sometimes all your pitcher needs is a stern talking to. Did you learn your lesson? Good. Now do it again next week versus Detroit.
Matt Kemp – 2-for-4, 2 HR (22), 4 RBI. Kemp has been white hot post-all star break, with six homers in six games. Doode is slashing .258/.278/.484 with 22 homers and 67 RBI. Kemp wins the award for player I most wish I could be, and it’s not just because he slept with Rihanna, you guys. Err, there are, uh, other reasons I can’t think of at the moment.
Luis Perdomo – 7.0 IP, 4 hits, 2 ER, BB, 3 K, W. Perdoname, what did you say your name was again? No, I’m not picking you up, but you did raise my eyebrow, jabroni.
Dylan Bundy – 5.0 IP, 5 hits, 0 ER, 5 K, W. Taking a break from his full-time gig as a shoe salesman to start games for the O’s. His wife Peg is quite pleased. No ma’am! Bundy has always been a highly touted prospect, and even though his next start versus Colorado isn’t the ideal match up, I still might give him a look.
Mark Trumbo – 2-for-4, HR (29), 3 RBI. Trumbo wins the Happy Trumbone award for his skills molly whopping ding dongs better than anyone else in the league. Do you have any idea what a happy trombone sounds like? Well, I’ll tell you. It sounds happy.
Jean Segura – 2-for-3, HR (8). Not going to lie to you virtual friends/readers, this has not been a very forgiving fantasy year for me. Luckily, Jean Segura nabbed the award for best player I drafted late round with no intention of still having him on my team in July. Jeanie is slashing .314/.359/.451 with eight homers and 16 steals, and I feel like after drafting him in the first round two years ago, he owes me this much.
Billy Hamilton – 2-for-4, 2 runs, 3 SB (30). Billy the Kid! Fastest legs west of the Ohio River! Or is it east? He’s got seven steals in the past week! Billy wins the award for only player who can bat .230 in the first half and still help you win your fantasy league by stealing 30+ bases in the second half. Make it happen, Billy!
Jose Reyes– 3-for-5, 2 runs, RBI, SB (3). Jose Reyes is the most Mets player ever. Oh hey, that should be an award!
Christian Yelich– 2-for-4, 2 runs, HR (10), 2 RBI. Has now homered in three of his past four games, and is batting .367 in the past week! Unfortunately for me, a level II OT Scientologist, Christian has been labeled S.P. (suppressive person) and the church recommended I disconnect. Starting to wish I hadn’t. Err, just kidding Mr. Miscavige, please don’t tell everyone about my Giancarlo fan fiction. All hail Xenu!
Dexter Fowler – 3-for-4, HR (8), 3 RBI. Well, cock-a-doodle-do to you, Fowler! That’s how you return from the DL in style!
Hernan Perez – 2-for-4, RBI, SB (12). Hernan has a modest little six-game hitting streak, with four straight multi-hit efforts. He’s hitting .357 with 2 steals and a homer in the past two weeks. He was also the fifth Ghostbuster you never heard about. Probably because he was out shined by Kate McKinnon. Damn those hilarious lady comediennes!
Lance McCullers – 8.0 IP, 4 hits, ER, 4 BB, 10 K, W. A 3.33 ERA with 90 Ks in 12 starts this season ain’t too shabby. My first, “Yes, you should pick him up!” of the season. Oh, he’s owned. Oh, my bad.
Matt Shoemaker – 6.2 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, BB, 5 K. Matt wins the award for player who should definitely be owned in almost all leagues but isn’t because the Angels are awful at winning baseball games. For realsies though, guy has a 115/23 K/BB rate, Grey told you to BUY, what more do you want him to do!? Do you want him to make your shoes? Because he will make your shoes!
Preston Tucker – 1-for-3, run. Replaced A.J. Reed on the Astros roster after batting .301/.349/.512 with 8 ding dongs at AAA. Tucker got crazy hot last year around this time, and if history repeats itself, he could be worth adding again. That’s right I’m recommending an add before a player gets hot. Look at me being all ESP. I learned that at Scientology camp!
Miguel Cabrera – 4-for-4, run, 2 RBI. Miggy wins the award for player who just wins an award because I love him and will always love him and perhaps some day, years from now we’ll meet in a pub and he’ll say, “You Dan Pants?” and I’ll say, “Uhh, yeah..” and he’ll say, “Thanks, for the awards all those years, bruh.” And I’ll say, “De nada.” Then we’ll add each other on Snap Chat.
Justin Morneau – 1-for-3, HR (1). Justin is hitting .278 in seven games since debuting with the White Sox. Meh. I’ve owned worse.
Justin Upton – 1-for-4, run. Justin. Oh, my sweet Justin. You win one of my most highly touted awards, the award for player most responsible for ruining my 2016 fantasy season. It was a closer race than you think. I almost gave it Giancarlo but our couples therapist recommended we stick to positive compliments only until we work out some things.
Jon Gray – 7.0 IP, 6 hits, ER, BB, 8 K, W. Nifty Ks of Jon Gray! Of course you get an award! The award for the only Colorado starting pitcher I’ve owned in the past five years! It’s more impressive than it sounds, he’s rocking a 1.16 WHIP with a 111/33 K/BB ratio, and since June 1 has held one of the best ERAs in baseball! Imagine what he could do pitching in San Diego.
Trevor Story – 1-for-3, HR (24), 2 RBI. Trevor wins the award for best Story of the season, and player most likely to have won your fantasy league on draft day (if you were smart/lucky enough to draft him). His 24 home runs matches Tulo’s rookie year, and he’s well on his way to beating Nomar Garciaparra’s rookie record of 30 dingers. Make it happen, T-Sto!
Nolan Arenado – 2-for-4, HR (24), 2 RBI. Well, you can’t let Trevor get all the glory. I would give you an award, Nolan, but I gave all the rest to Xander Bogaerts. Awesome X!
Jedd Gyorko – 2-for-5, HR (12). It’s a-BUY! The Jerk Store called…and they are sick of all the prank calls, you guys. I know Jedd has burned us all in the past, but prank calls are a federal offense, so let’s get serious. Gyorko has five homers in four games, gotta love that career rejuvenating St. Louis Arch. Now see what you can do about Kolten Wong, Arch.
Brandon McCarthy – 6.1 IP, hit, ER, 3 BB, 4 K. hit. Since returning from the DL, B-Mac is rocking a 1.61 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 26/7 K/BB ratio. He left this one early with a cramp, but it didn’t seem serious. I tweeted him to ask if I should pick him up and he DMed me a series of clues starting with locating an ancient talisman. When I’m finished finding the talisman, then reciting the sorcerer’s song and solving the clues he will probably be owned. Pick him up before I solve the puzzle!
Sean Manaea – 8.0 IP, 5 hits, 0 ER, 7 K. Probably his best start in, well, in ever. He remains a risky pick up. If you want to live dangerously play Pokemon Go on the interstate, but I’d continue to avoid Manaea for now.
Jake Odorizzi – 8.0 IP, 5 hits, 0 ER, 5 K. Another pitcher having his best start of the season only to be foiled by his offenseless offense. The 110/35 K/BB ratio in 118 2/3 innings is real nice, but the 4.10 ERA is notasmuch. Still he could be a decent add going forward. I guess we’ll give him an award simply because he’s been about as good as Chris Archer, and well, [expletive deleted] that guy.
Danny Duffy – 6.2 IP, 4 hits, ER, 2 BB, 4 K, W. After not even beginning the year in the starting rotation, Duffy and his 6-1 record, 105 Ks, 3.04 ERA and 1.06 WHIP has quickly emerged as one of my best pitchers! Not sure if that says more about Danny or my pitching staff.
Yu Darvish – 6.0 IP, 7 hits, 2 ER, BB, 11 K. Yuuu got what I neeeeed! No, Yu really do. If I can rant about my own team for a moment, after drafting Marcus Stroman as my ace with disastrous results, I luckily stashed Darvish as my plan B. I really, really need Yu to be good, Darvy. Please? Like, strike out all the batters! Tell you what. You can have all the awards! (Sorry, Xander) They are just a lazy writing device anyway, they literally mean nothing! Congratulations, Yu did it!
Questions? Problems? Complaints to management? Advice, small gifts or large bribes? Please leave it in the comments below, or you can get at me on twitter @dandemanco. Join us next Saturday for another Friday recap as fantasy baseball continues next week, all week long!
