There must be something about Minute Maid Park that turns Yu Darvish into a nearly unhittable pitcher. Maybe it’s the home team’s collectively horrible approach, maybe it’s the oranges in the train, or maybe it’s the fact that Yu Darvish has had his most filthy stuff at the right time. If you'll recall Opening Day, on April 2 Darvish got within one out of tossing a 15-strikeout perfect game against the Astros at Minute Maid. Monday, Darvish once again struck out fifteen while allowing just one hit, a solo homer to Carlos Corporan in the eighth inning that would be the only damage he allowed through eight innings. Closer Joe Nathan posted a clean ninth inning to preserve win number 12 for Darvish and save number 35 for himself. Darvish is now 3-0 with 35 strikeouts over his last 22 innings pitched and has amassed a league leading 207 K over 153.7 IP thus far. He’s on pace for 280+ strikeouts in just over 200 IP which is fantasy gold.

What to Make of Mejia

The Mets are notably terrible, but slightly less terrible than the Phillies, which is laughable when you look at their respective salaries. At any rate, there is a glimmer of hope for the Mets, and that shining silver lining is their promising future rotation. A rotation headlined by super-stud Matt Harvey, a renewed Dillon Gee, Zack Wheeler and a now “mostly healthy” Jenrry Mejia rounding out a very solid rotation.

Mejia has been solid since rejoining the Mets, posting three quality starts in four games. He’s allowed only six earned runs over 24.3 IP for a 2.21 ERA with a 22:3 K:BB ratio and a 1.06 ERA. Obviously, pitching for the Mets means poor defense and little run support and both ripped a potential second win from Mejia’s grasp on Monday as the Mets could muster only two runs and played shoddy defense in the sixth that allowed the Dodgers to pull ahead for good. I would take a shot on Mejia if you need some SP depth; even though he is pitching with a bone spur, it hasn’t seemed to affect his game.

AL Hot Shots

• Miguel Cabrera homered on the first pitch he saw on Monday, but starter Chris Sale settled down to go the distance with six K in a 6-2 win over the Tigers.
• Mariano Rivera got the night off which gave David Robertson an opportunity to secure a shaky save in which he retired two of the five batters he faced while the crowd clamored for the Sandman with chants of “WE WANT MO!” Such is New York.
• Andrew Albers finished what he couldn’t last time out during his major league debut, tossing a complete game two-hit-shutout over the Indians. He only struck out two, but he’s been awfully good in his first two starts with 17.1 scoreless innings.
• Curtis Granderson popped his third homer in a 2-for-3 night at the plate giving him five RBI total.
• Scott Feldman lasted only 5.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) in a no-decision against the D'Backs.
• Billy Butler slapped his 11th homer and has heated up lately, hitting .480 over his last 25 at-bats with 6 XBH.
• Josh Reddick did not hit three or two homers in my starting lineup. He was 0-2 with 2 BB. Awesome.

NL Hot Shots

• Cole Hamels had a complete game shutout intact until a two out RBI in the ninth. He struck out nine, allowed six hits and walked one for his fifth win. He also smacked a triple.
• Cody Asche hit a three-run home run and stole his first base the Phillies 5-1 win over the Braves Monday.
• Cameron Maybin was pulled from his rehab game in Tucson with pain in his left knee. It seems like a longshot that the speedy outfielder will be back this season.
• Kenley Jansen struck out three over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn his 18th save on Monday against the Mets. He’s allowed just one hitter to reach base since July 23.
• Adam Eaton connected for a walkoff homer to give the D'Backs a W after closer Brad Ziegler allowed the Orioles to tie the score in the ninth.
• The Rockies unloaded on the Padres with a 14-2 good ole fashioned buttkickin’ lead by starter Jhoulys Chacin who spun 8 innings of one run ball. He was backed up by strong offensive showings from Dexter Fowler (3-4, 2B, 3 BB, 4 RBI, 2 R) and D.J. Lemahieu (3-4 HR, 2B, SB, 2 RBI, 3 R).
• Mat Latos struck out nine Cubs over eight scoreless innings to pick up a victory on Monday pushing his scoreless innings streak to 15.1 IP.
• Hanley Ramirez most likely won't play the field or start until Friday; he was available to pinch hit Monday.

Answer to yesterday’s trivia question:

Will Venable has out-roto’d Giancarlo Stanton, Jean Segura and even Joey Votto over the last month with a .352 BA, 4 HR, 5 RBI, 4 SB and 10 runs scored for the Padres. Stay thirsty my friends.

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Follow Shawn Caswell on Twitter, or don’t: @CasKnowsRoto