RADIO
Tom Bellucco discusses performances from yesterday's games and analyzes what to do with slumps and surges in the 2016 fantasy baseball season.
With the Mets and Pirates game postponed, we were left with a nine game slate for Monday night. Still, there was plenty of excitement to go around. Let's jump right in.
Here are some of the MLB players who succeeded Monday... and some who didn't.
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Studs from 6/6/16
Mike Wright (SP, BAL): Wright pitched a gem against the Royals, allowing one unearned run through seven innings on five hits and two walks. He only struck out four, but the outing was more than enough to get him a win. Danny Duffy pitched well for the Royals too, as he struck out nine Orioles in 6.1 IP.
Orioles Power Hitters: Three solo home runs from Matt Wieters, Mark Trumbo, and Manny Machado as well as an RBI double from Adam Jones accounted for the only runs the Orioles needed in this one. It's tough to keep these guys from going yard these days. Trumbo has 19 dingers already!
Carlos Beltran (OF, NYY): Brian McCann and Starlin Castro hit back-to-back solo shots and Jacoby Ellsbury collected three hits, but Beltran was the hero on Monday. His second hit of the night, a three run blast to take the lead, won the game for hte Yanks in the bottom of the eighth inning. The ageless wonder strikes again.
Michael Fulmer (SP, DET): However many Fulmer doubters were left are likely quiet on Monday night after his impressive performance against a dangerous Toronto lineup. He went just six innings, but they were scoreless and included just two Blue Jays hits and three walks. Fulmer struck out five and threw 88 pitches in the Tigers' blowout win.
Justin Upton (OF, DET): Plenty of Tigers hitters performed well on Monday, but Justin Upton makes me smile the most. He went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, three RBI, three runs, and a stolen base. Welcome back! The streaky veteran is finally turning things around, and it seems that patient Upton owners will be rewarded soon.
Cub's Top Half of the Order: Dexter Fowler went 3-for-4 with two runs. Jason Heyward hit his 100th carer home run, and it was a two-run shot. Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo both collected three hits, and Bryant missed two home runs by inches. Lastly, Jorge Soler went 2-for-2 before leaving with an injury. Let's hope he's OK.
Jon Lester (SP, CHC): Lester dominated, as expected. He made it through eight scoreless innings in 95 pitches, allowing just four hits and striking out nine Phillies. He's showing no signs of slowing down, turning in high caliber starts all season long.
Jose Altuve (2B, HOU): Altuve put on a nice showing, going 3-for-5 with a three-run shot and a stolen base. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get Houston the win.
Nomar Mazara (OF, TEX): This could be your Rookie of the Year folks. Mazara went 4-for-4 with four singles and two runs on Monday to bring his average up to .319 on the season. Joey Gallo who?
Desmond Jennings (OF, TB): This is the second time Jennings has made one of my recap articles, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. Regardless, he went 3-for-4 with a solo shot, two RBI, two runs, and a walk. Do with it what you will.
David Peralta (OF, ARI): It was great to see Peralta homer and get a multi-hit game in his first contest back from the DL. Those are two potential hurdles for struggling players who get injured, and he cleared them easily. Maybe he's about to get hot.
Trevor Bauer (SP, CLE): Bauer keeps showing glimpses of a great strikeout pitcher, and he did it again on Monday. He went 7.2 innings against the Mariners, striking out 10 and allowing just a run, five hits, and a walk. We know his upside, but consistency has always been the question.
Gerardo Parra (OF, COL): Parra did some work away from Coors Field on Monday. He collected two hits, including a solo home run. Parra also stole a base in the contest. This is the power and speed upside we dreamed about in March.
Tyler Chatwood (SP, COL): Chatwood allowed just one hit and one earned run while walking four and striking out five through eight innings. That's a pretty good line considering what the Dodgers did to Matt Wisler in that same park on Sunday. If only Rockies pitchers could have away games all the time.
Duds from 6/6/16
Lorenzo Cain (OF, KC): Cain went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and a walk. Mike Wright isn't a terrible pitcher, but three strikeouts is not acceptable from your three hitter. He needs a hot streak yesterday.
Alex Rodriguez (DH, NYY): A Rod went hitless again with two strikeouts. He remained in the cleanup spot, but between his lack of productivity and his injury, I don't see a reason for the Yankees to keep hitting him in the middle of the order.
Mat Shoemaker (SP, LAA): This wasn't a terrible start by any means. Shoemaker did go 7.2 innings without walking a batter. However, eight hits allowed and four earned runs with six strikeouts against the Yankees was not ideal following the massive hype surrounding the pitcher after his last three starts. Still, this outing shouldn't steer owners away. Shoemaker is still must own until further notice.
J.A. Happ (SP, TOR): Another poor start was surely coming for Happ, and this spot made a lot of since against a red hot Tigers lineup. Happ's high contact rate did him in, as he allwed six hits in five innings for six earned runs. He also walked two and struck out three. Happ will be a fine pitcher in good matchups, but good hitting teams will take advantage of him like this.
Blue Jays Hitters: The only two Blue Jays to get a hit? Michael Saunders and Darwin Barney (he had two). That's not good. Granted, the stud hitters got some rest after this one turned into a blowout, but this offense is not what we had gotten used to last season. There's still plenty of time for them to turn it around, but hopefully it won't cost them a playoff spot in the process.
Carlos Correa (SS, HOU): The young stud is watching his batting average plummet, as it's down to .262 after Monday's 0-for-4 game. He has shown plenty of upside, but the inability to produce consistently week-to-week is starting to draw some sophomore slump calls.
Chris Archer (SP, TB): Although the 12 strikeouts in six innings is fantastic, Archer walked three batters, and allowed two of the five Arizona hits to leave the yard. These are the very frustrating outings for Archer owners, as we can see the upside, but he's not able to execute pitches the way he did last year.
Williams Perez (SP, ATL): Whenever you allow six earned runs to the Padres you should be on this list. Perez did this, but it was kind of expected because, well, he's just bad.
Robinson Cano (2B, SEA): Bauer got the better of Cano in this one, as Robbie went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. A hot start has us second guessing doubts about Cano, but what if he's simply switching his production from second half of the season to first half? I guess we'll find out.
Trayce Thompson (OF, LOS): Another 0-for-4 with three strikeouts came from the young man in LA. Thompson has largely been able to keep his strikeout percentage down, so this game may be a fluke. Either way, he's still playing for a job with the amount of depth the Dodgers have in the outfield.
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