Tylor Megill was meg-nificent Friday night going six scoreless innings against a tough Blue Jays offense, allowing just two hits and a walk and striking out five for his second straight quality start and his first career win. That’s right! His first win, in ever! He also collected his first big league hit. Have a day, man! Get that kid the ball! The rookie phenom hasn’t allowed a run in 12.2 innings and his 2.10 ERA, 1.10 WHIP gets me more flustered than that time Drew Barrymore touched my arm. Yes, that happened and I haven’t washed my elbow since. As for Megill, have I mentioned his 33/10 K/BB? Yuh. Tylor the ERA-ator, had his mid-90s fastball and fiiilthy sliiider (with three Is) working Friday in Queens. I’ll admit I scoffed a bit at Megill’s early success, but he showed me something Friday night, commanding his pitches and pounding the zone against one of the best line ups in the league. Are you sure its Megill and not McGill, cause he was taking those Canadians to school. Also, his name makes me think “McGrill” for something reason, which lead me to this article, and I don’t know if I’ll ever recover from seeing that so I had to share. Tylor gets a home start with Atlanta next week and he’s still available in over 75% of fantasy leagues. Even with the Mets recent Rich Hill acquisition, I think “Big Drip” Megill has earned his spot in the rotation and more importantly on your fantasy team. Megills could save your team from drowning. That was a fish joke! I think they should call him the MEG. As for Tylor, he’s no joke, I’d add him wherever you need starting pitching help. This kid’s gonna be a star! Ha-cha-cha!
Here’s what else I saw Friday night in fantasy baseball:
Pete Alonso – 2-for-3, 2 HR (21), 3 RBI. Albombso(s)! If you count the home run Derby Polar Bear Pete has hit 80 home runs in the past two weeks! What!? Why wouldn’t we count the derby?
Edwin Diaz – 1.0 IP, 1 .0 K, SV (20). Are the Mets about to make a run?? They are definitely the best team in NYC City right now, are they the best team in the NL East? Methinks they might be! Regardless, Trevor May (1.0 IP, 2 K) was a BUY and is probably the best pitcher in this bullpen, but Diaz is the highest paid. So who gets the saves? IDK! But both need to be owned.
Steven Matz – 5.2 IP, 4 hits, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K. BUY. Revenge game for Matz! It went OK, but I think if you ask him he’d say he didn’t feel fully avenged.
Zac Gallen – 4.0 IP, 6 hits, 7 ER, 3 BB, 5 K. Zac with a single “C” got lit up by the same Cubs team than he three-hit last week, and I know he’s been hurt but we haven’t seen a QS from Gallen since early May. He’ll get a shot versus the Dodgers next week to convince me why I shouldn’t drop him.
Zach Davies – 5.1 IP, 7 hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 6th win. So, yeah, you started the wrong Zach. You forgot the “h”, bro.
Dalton Varsho – 2-for-4, HR (3), 3 RBI. I know you guys love catchers, and I love highlighting players that I may never mention again. Dalton is hotter than a Lil Nas X p0rn video, I mean music video, and his .438 average with 2 homers and 2 steals in the past week might be the best fantasy week from a catcher since that rookie who threw a tantrum and retired on Instagram. I’d add Dalton wherever I needed a catcher, and before you ask, no don’t add a second catcher.
Robinson Chirinos – 3-for-4, 2 HR (3). Everyone was hitting Gallen last night as the Cubs had a good ol’ fashioned hometown community pow-wow, unlike Varsho, however, I would not rush out to grab Chirinos.
Pat Valaika – 2-for-3, 2 HR (4). By the Gods of Valaika! His third homer in two games! Pick him up if you hate yourself.
Zack Wheeler – 7.0 IP, 7 hits, ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 8th win. Wheeler keeps rolling. One of his best starts of the year, and its that 10.9 K/9, 160/30 K/BB that’s got me gushing like a watermelon fruit snack.
Bryce Harper – 2-for-3, run, 3 SB (11). When they told me Bryce Harper was a steal with the 6th pick, I guess this is what they were referring to.
Max Fried – 5.0 IP, 6 hits, 4 ER, 4 BB, 6 K. Not what you want to see coming off a 7.0 inning gem versus the Rays last week. Over Easy. Boiled. Fried. Max was c00ked.
Rafael Devers – 2-for-4, 2 HR (26), 5 RBI. Raffy! El Torro! He’s always happy because the Red Sox pay him a lot of money to hit home runs. Fair enough!
Enrique Hernandez – 2-for-3, 2 runs. I must admit, even I was a little wary about recommending Enrisque to you two weeks ago but he’s got four homers, 7 runs and 10 RBIs since! That was pretty OK advice I gave that one time!
Jarren Duran – 2-for-3, 2 runs. BUY. Mmm. I don’t think I’m overhyping when I say he could very well be Ted Williams reincarnate. He hits wicked hahd. He fields wicked hahd. He’s gunna be the best freakin’ outfieldah evah in Bawston sports history and the world because Tawm Brady, Larry Legend, Nomah, Sam Adams, Matt Damon, Battfleck, chowdah and Dunkin’ Iced Regulahs! No one denies this!
Eduardo Rodriguez – 1.0 IP, 2 hits, ER, BB, K. Left the game in the second with migraines. Ed-Rod has had issues with this before, so don’t expect Boston to rush him back. I could see Tanner Houck being a real steal filling in until Chris Sale is ready. Yeah, seems like they have options.
Gerrit Cole – 5.0 IP, 6 hits, 3 ER, 2 BB, 8 K. Wasn’t quite as sharp as last time out but the Sawx are a tough assignment at Fenway back-2-back starts. If the Yankees have any chance of climbing back into this race it will be on Cole’s back.
Adam Duvall – 2-for-4, HR (22). Three bombs in the past week. Duude is hot hot hot! Duvall that and a bag of Takis! Spicier the better! The cheese makes my fingers neon, that’s how you know its fire.
Joe Musgrove – 6.0 IP, 6 hits, 2 ER, BB, 4 K. Unfortunately for me I drafted the one Padres starter I shouldn’t have, Snell, and missed out on all Musgroove’s Musgoodness.
Mark Melancon – 1.0 IP, 1 hit, K, SV (30). THIRTY SAVES! It’s not even August. That’s honestly more saves than 3 of my fantasy teams. Why do I keep going back to the Phillies pen. I am sucha masochist.
Tyler Mahle – 6.0 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K. I don’t want to burst any Cincinnati fans Reds bubble but can this team stay competitive without Castellanos healthy? Do any of us really believe in Jesse Winker’s MVP abilities?
Heath Hembree – 1.0 IP, 3 K, SV (7). Struck out the side. Double H is quite literally a different pitcher in a save situation. Just don’t put him in a tie game. Or bring him in the seventh. Save situations only, pls and ty. He’s got a 1.86 ERA, 0.83 WHIP since July 1 with 6 saves. Grey told you to BUY. Yes, you should add him.
Harrison Bader – 2-for-3, HR (7). Harrison’s hitting over .400 in the past week with a home run! Bader? I hardly know her!
Kyle Farmer – 3-for-4, 2 runs, HR (8). Farmer raking!
Kris Bubic – 6.0 IP, 6 hits, ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 3rd win. Has now pitched back-to-back quality starts! Back-2-Back like that Drake song I can’t remember the name of. To be fair, they were against the Orioles and Tigers, who are less than imposing offenses but he gets the White Sox next week and you probably want to stay away from that. Still, I’ll be watching that start closer than the Loki finale, in that I won’t really be watching at all, rather just listening to Jonathan Majors talk and tell me how the next 10 years in the MCU will go.
Alex Cobb – 5.0 IP, 7 hits, ER, BB, 4 K. A few weeks ago I wrote Cobb was the only Angels starter I’d own, and of course after it went to print I immediately thought of that other guy, Shoehei, that hits all the home runs. So I want to clarify that I would in fact, 100%, definitely own Shohei too.
Rasiel Iglesias – 1.0 IP, 2 hits, BS. Woof. Speaking of Brohtani. Since he didn’t play last night, what if Shohei had come in to save the game? Would Angels’ fan(s) have blown their collective minds? Because I would have. Sounds like an awesome moment, make it happen, Maddon! Just once!
Jack Mayfield – 1-for-4, HR (3). That’s back to back homers for the 30-year old utility man! Ted Lasso would call that a hitting streak since we’re being super positive here. I’m thinking were the Angels really so flush with options that they had to let Pujols walk?
Rowdy Tellez – 2-for-3, run, 2 RBI. Rowdy hasn’t lit the world on fire since his trade but he is batting .375 in the past week. I’m still hoping for a Trevor Story for Tellez trade so the Brewers can say they’ve got a Story for Tellez. These are scenarios I think about daily.
Tyrone Taylor – 1-for-4, HR (8). He’s hitting .385 in the past week! Don’t call him Tyrod!
Freddy Peralta – 4.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 51 pitches. His first start since dominating in the All Star game, not sure why he couldn’t go deeper in this one but it was the White Sox so we’ll give him the pass. Maybe Milwaukee is preserving his arm for their obvious run to the postseason in September?
Lucas Giolito – 6.0 IP, 6 hits, ER, 5 BB, 3 K. Not what you wanted to see coming off the complete game versus Houston where he walked no one but Lucas was very much in this game until his bullpen blew it in the seventh. He’ll be blasting Olivia Rodrigo in the locker room and it’s best we don’t bother him for a few days.
Andrew Vaughn – 3-for-4, HR (11). Vaughn is a guy I’d like to own everywhere but despite ESPN’s 40% ownership, he’s not available in any league I’m in so ho hum. I’ll probably own him everywhere NEXT year.
Kyle Tucker – 1-for-4, HR (18). Banging on a trash can! Three bombs and a steal in the past week! That’s three straight games with a homer and here’s another guy I want to own everywhere next year. Look at me already gushing about my 2022 line up. I’m excited for my future, ya’ll! I have goals! Don’t hate!
Bryan Reynolds – 2-for-5, HR (18), 2 RBI. I sneeze at Reynolds but his .307/.390/.526 triple-slash with 18 homers is really nothing to sneeze at. Unless you’re allergic to run production. I can’t help it! Is it allergies? IS it COVID? Oh no!
Thairo Estrada – 2-for-4. Five game hitting streak! Own all the Giants, seems to be decent strategy for 2021, and who am I to tell you different! Grey told you to BUY and Thairo is slashing .361/.439/.583! That will help your fantasy team!
Yusei Kikuchi – 6.0 IP, 6 hits, 3 ER, BB, 12 K. The 12 Ks were a career high and Yusei seems to be getting better as the Mariners’ offense gets worse. After getting creamed by the Yankees and Angels in his past two starts its good to see Lisa Loeb’s favorite player getting back on track.
Frankie Montas – 6.0 IP, 4 hits, 3 ER, BB, 10 Ks. Frankie says “Relax, I betcha I can strike out 10 Mariners without even trying!” I like your odds, Montas!
Cal Raleigh – 1-for-4, HR (1) and Luis Torrens – 1-for-4, HR (12). A pair of catcher bombs for you C-eligible addicts out there. Don’t say I never do anything for you!
Matt Olson – 1-for-4, HR (26) and Matt Chapman – 1-for-3, HR (12). The bash bros were in sync Friday night and Chapman rocked his first home run since June 29! Chapman has a 24-game on-base streak, a stretch which has produced just one extra base hit. Yeesh. How even? But sounds like a buy low opportunity to me.
David Price – 5.2 IP, 4 hits, 3 ER, BB, 4 K. DP’s longest outing of the year. Assuming we don’t see Trevor Bauer again this year outside of a courtroom, Price is definitely worthy of an add if he’s out there as the Dodgers continue to stretch him out to be the starting pitcher they’re paying him so much money to be.
Charlie Blackmon – 3-for-4, HR (6), 3 RBI. Trevor Story and Elias Diaz also homered. Chuck Nazty put together what may have been his best game of the year Friday night, and now has two homers and two steals in the past week. Speaking of buy lows, is it too late on Blackmon? Blackmon has had a big month of July as he tries his darndest to get some team interested in trading for him. Best of luck, Charlie!
Sam Hilliard – 1-for-1, HR (3) BUY. Pinch hit go ahead home run in the 9th. Surely, with Bud Black on the COVID list this is Sammy’s time to shine! Is it a coincidence the Rox are playing well without him? It must be. Bud Black is an All Star manager, have some respect!
Zach Plesac – 6.2 IP, 8 hits, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K. Chalking this one up to shaking the rust off, yes still, and this was actually the deepest Zach has gone into a game since May, which to me is encouraging. He gets a tough assignment in South Chicago next week. Time to Plesac up and and show the Sox what you got, Zach. You’re a Guardian now!
Nelson Cruz – 1-for-4, 2 runs, HR (20). Nelly bringing a little of that Country Grammar to St. P and didn’t waste any time mashing bombs! That’s kind of his thing.
Wander Franco – 3-for-5, run, RBI. What light through Wander window breaks. It’s the east, and Franco is the sun! Also, how great a trade was Cruz for Tampa? If the Yankees made that trade we’d trash them so hard for adding a 40 year old who can’t field, but for the Rays–it’s perfect!
Jose Ramirez – 2-for-3, HR (2), 4 RBI. WE. ARE. GUARDIANS. Thanks for that, Tom Hanks. Are you even from Ohio? Why are you doing this to us? To be fair, Guardians is not the worst name they could have picked…but, well, it’s not great. I thought the Cleveland Rocks was a real winner. They should take a page from Washington’s playbook and just never pick a new name out of spite. This tweet seems to sum it up nicely. Still, I do enjoy how much it upset Donald Trump. Uh oh, Cleveland, you lost a FORMER fan. #disgrace
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!
