RADIO
Every day, we will be taking a quick look at the best and worst fantasy baseball performers from yesterday's games. Several contests needed extra innings to be decided, leaving us with some wacky stat lines to discuss.
Here's a quick look at those who impressed on Wednesday, and those who want to pretend the day never happened.
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Fantasy Baseball Studs
Josh Donaldson (3B, TOR): Donaldson has officially recovered from his May slump. He extended his hitting streak to eight games, going 2-for-4 with a solo homer, two runs, and a stolen base.
Edwin Encarnacion (1B, TOR): Encarnacion also homered and stole a bag, scoring all three times he reached base in a win over the Phillies.
DJ LeMahieu (2B, COL): LeMahieu fell a homer short of the cycle, driving in two runs and scoring a pair himself to pace the Rockies in their victory over the Yankees…
Nolan Arenado (3B, COL): …and he had plenty of help from Arenado, who went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBI.
Rougned Odor (2B, TEX): Odor homered twice and drove in three runs to help the Rangers beat the Athletics. He's hit five homers since returning from suspension.
Melvin Upton Jr. (OF, SDP): Upton was a perfect 3-for-3 with a homer, two runs, and two RBI as the Padres took down the Marlins. The dinger was his third in the last six games. Despite carrying an OPS below .700, he’s been useful in fantasy leagues thanks to ample category juice (nine homers, 13 steals).
Clayton Kershaw (SP, LAD): Another day, another dominant outing from the best pitcher on the planet (7 1/3 innings, 11 strikeouts, one walk). Ho hum. Ivan Drago, your thoughts?
Johnny Cueto (SP, SFG): Cueto’s had himself a pretty great year so far as well. Last night was his eighth straight quality start: seven innings, nine strikeouts, and his 10th win.
Buster Posey (C, SFG): Posey went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base, which was all the support Cueto needed. He’s slightly underachieved this year but has collected eight hits in the last three games.
Joe Panik (2B, SFG): Panik had three hits, scored twice, and stole a base. He’s now had multiple hits in four of the last five contests.
Stephen Strasburg (SP, WAS): Strasburg tossed seven strong innings, striking out eight and allowing only one run. He didn’t come away with the win thanks to the bullpen blowing a lead in the ninth, but the Nationals ultimately prevailed over the Cubs anyway.
Adam Jones (OF, BAL): Jones continued his recent surge, going 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in a loss to the Red Sox.
Hanley Ramirez (1B/OF, BOS): Ramirez was a big reason for said loss, as he keyed Boston’s five-run third inning with a three-run shot. He also singled and walked.
The heart of the Mets’ order: Yoenis Cespedes, Wilmer Flores, Kelly Johnson, and Matt Reynolds combined for 11 hits, eight runs, two homers, and eight RBI. Outside of Cespedes, this outburst didn’t help many fantasy owners…
Noah Syndergaard (SP, NYM): …but it was more than enough for Thor. He pitched into the ninth inning, striking out 11 against zero walks and allowing just one earned run.
Tim Anderson (SS, CHW): The latest rookie callup went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, sparking the White Sox to a win over the Tigers. He’s 8-for-25 with three doubles so far, though he’s yet to even attempt a steal.
Eric Hosmer (1B, KCR): Hosmer went 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBI as the Indians took down the Royals.
Drew Smyly (SP, TBR): Smyly had his best game in over a month, striking out 12 and allowing two runs in 6 2/3 innings.
Freddie Freeman (1B, ATL): Freeman hit for the cycle in his seven at-bats, driving in a run and scoring twice himself to help the Braves beat the Reds.
Jay Bruce (OF, CIN): Bruce had two hits, two runs, and two RBI. More like Jay Deuce, amirite? …Let’s move on.
Fantasy Baseball Duds
Corey Seager (SS, LAD): A rare off night for the hot-hitting shortstop, as he struck out in three of his four plate appearances. But Kershaw was on the mound, so it didn’t actually matter much.
Kyle Seager (3B, SEA): Corey’s older brother didn’t fare any better, going hitless in five at-bats and striking out twice.
Jimmy Nelson (SP, MIL): Nelson was tagged for eight runs (six earned) in just 3 2/3 innings. He allowed 11 batters to reach base and struck out just two.
Anthony Rendon (2B/3B, WAS): Rendon has been hot of late, but last night was a tough game for him: 0-for-5, two strikeouts, three runners stranded.
Corey Kluber (SP, CLE): Kluber’s up-and-down season continued, as he allowed eight runs in five innings of work. He did strike out seven batters, but that doesn’t really take the sting out of the ratios.
Logan Morrison (1B, TBR): LoMo did win the game with a walkoff walk in the 13th, but before that he was 0-for-6 and left six runners on base.
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